Captain Fawcett has an outstanding brand identity. As well as creating award-winning gentleman’s grooming products, the writing, design and social media have a unique narrative flair, combining British humour and heritage with a contemporary take on what it means to be a gentleman in the 21st century. 

SO, what’s the secret to creating an iconic brand? Captain Fawcett founder, Richie Finney, spilled the beans… 

The journey began, quite literally, with beans! I was using empty baked bean cans (thoroughly washed!) to blend my own Moustache Wax, intended purely for personal use. My wife, Christine Greenwood, an Emmy & BAFTA award-winning hair and make-up artist, took the wax on set. People loved it but I had no sense of any commercial value. I started with 100 jars, little did I know what wonders would follow! 

Richie shared his top 10 tips for building a brand that is memorable and iconic.

1: Be authentic

25 years in the Sound Department of the British Film Industry gave me an understanding of immersive experience. If you believe in a world from the inside out, you can be true to it without affectation. When an actor is immersed in their character, even if they’re improvising off script, they say what their character would say. So, by living your brand, you can’t really go wrong.

2: Deliver superb customer service

When people are delighted, they talk about it and your customers become your cheerleaders. Word of mouth recommendations are of huge value. 

3: Build a trusted team

Early on, you have complete control but when you expand you need some humility. Find people with skills you don’t have, who really get what you’re doing.

4: Be consistent

Reinforce your brand with repeated images and phrases. Create your own catchphrases, such as ‘Keeping A Stiff Upper Lip Regardless’®. With repetition they’ll become widely recognised. Arguably, that familiarity is when a brand starts to become iconic.

5: Collaborate

Instead of paying influencers, work with colleagues and ambassadors who have a vested interest and genuine belief in your brand. It brings integrity to your relationships and helps extend your customer base.

6: Be philosophical

The stronger your brand identity the more polarising it can be. Some people will be attracted, some repelled. You can’t be all things to all men. To thine own self be true.

7: Blend product branding with aesthetic

Your logo, colour palettes, and tone of voice should be recognisably yours. These might evolve so there’s room for poetic licence! But don’t dilute your core storyline.

8: Utilise social media

Barbers are about the shop, the physical experience. So be what you say you are, and deliver what you promise on social media or you’ll be found out. 

Don’t be afraid to share lows as well as highs. Humans buy from other humans. And stick to platforms you can manage, better to show up consistently on one platform than drive yourself crazy creating content for everything. Social media is a tool, not your master.

9: Quality is king

It has to be a top-quality product. Fancy packaging and a terrible product immediately lose trust. Get the product right, then work on beautiful presentation. Share samples with respected experts in your field and earn their genuine endorsement. Again, it’s about conviction and trust.

10: Have fun!

Profit is but a result of your initial and enduring idea. However, it’s never guaranteed, so make sure you enjoy the ride. Money should not be the motivation although, with a combination of hard work, surrounding yourself with excellent people, a pinch of good luck and an element of success, it may well be the consequence.

Final tips?

“Enjoy the journey because fuck knows what the destination is.” 

Curious about the legacy of the Captain? Or fancy trying some products? Find out more at captainfawcett.com, the home to a simply delectable range of first-class gentleman’s grooming requisites. 

For wholesale enquiries please email sales@captainfawcett.com & mention BarberEvo for 10% off your first order. 

Benefitting a change is coming scholarship program, this collaboration highlights one of the industry’s top creators and gives kids support for college & vocational programs.

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Andis® Company, a leading manufacturer of barbering and styling tools and education for professional barbers and hair stylists, has joined forces with award-winning barber and educator John Mosley, known professionally as “Popular Nobody,” to launch its most unique collection yet. One of Andis’ leading Global Educators and 2022 NAHA Educator of the Year, John uses his influence to inspire creativity among professionals and this new collaboration, featuring three limited-edition tools, highlights his artistry and encourages others to create their way. 

“Kicking off our Creative Collab Series with John and his Popular Nobody brand is incredibly exciting. Andis is always looking to inspire and encourage others to create their way, so when we spoke with John about the idea of creating a custom clipper with a common vision to support a great cause, we were excited to bring it to life,” said Angie Vlasaty Peterson, Andis VP of Marketing. “We think people will really love what we’ve done with John and B. Clark Customs.”

Branded with the signature Popular Nobody “Atlas” Gorilla logo and a design based on a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted colorway by B. Clark Customs™, this special-edition release includes custom versions of the Master® Cordless Li Clipper, the Cordless Envy® Li Clipper, and the Slimline® Pro Li Trimmer. Each tool for this collaboration was chosen by John with professional creators in mind. It combines some of Andis’ best-selling tools with the imagination and style of the Popular Nobody brand wrapped using fresh, modern colors, and a surprise black light glow design. Tools in the collection include:

Master Cordless Lithium-Ion Clipper

Andis Company’s most popular professional clipper, The Master Cordless, offers high-speed power, constant speed technology, and an adjustable blade for unbeatable precision that make it perfect for skin-tight fades and tapers. With a 90-minute cordless runtime and a durable aluminum housing, the Master Cordless Clipper delivers premier-quality cuts with the aesthetic edge of Popular Nobody style. 

Cordless Envy Li Adjustable Blade Clipper

With 2 hours of cordless runtime on a 90-minute charge, the super lightweight Cordless Envy Adjustable Blade Clipper is designed with the craft in mind. The lightweight design is ideal for smaller hands and for comfortable all-day use. Decked in a unique Popular Nobody colorway, this clipper embodies creative freedom. 

Slimline Pro Li T-Blade Trimmer

A sleek, lightweight profile and extra-sharp carbon-steel T-blade mean this trimmer was built for ultra-close, precision detailing. The Slimline Pro Trimmer boasts an ergonomic design perfect for controlled outlining, designing and touchups on the neckline. Also showcasing the Popular Nobody graphics, this trimmer completes this incredible, artful set of tools. Dedicated to giving back to his community, John has pledged $10,000 of the proceeds from this collaboration to A Change is Coming, a Texas-based 501c non-profit foundation that provides scholarships to Black and Brown youth. Andis will also be making a matching grant of $10,000 through its Andis Foundation to support the group’s work.

Of the donation, John said: “There comes a point in your career where you realize your success wouldn’t have been possible without someone else helping you. As an Andis Global Educator, I have seen how teaching others to be successful makes a difference. This creative collab with Andis is a great expression of artistry and giving back and A Change Is Coming is the perfect partner to benefit from this project.”

Available while supplies last, these limited-edition tools will be sold separately on the Popular Nobody website. To learn more about Andis® Company, follow them on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. To keep up to date with John Mosely and Popular Nobody, follow him on Instagram. 

We are inspired by the dreamers and visionaries remaking our world today, because creativity makes the world a better place. We are creators and together we shape the world.For more information, visit the Creative Collaboration page on the Andis website.

About Andis® Company

Andis® Company is a fourth-generation, family-led business and a market leader in barbering, styling and animal grooming founded in 1922. Its industry-leading clippers, trimmers and styling accessories are used by both professionals and DIYers across the globe.  The #1 preferred brand for textured hair, Andis remains committed to leading the category while ensuring quality, durability and innovation. Andis believes that creativity makes the world a better place and takes pride in developing tools and educational resources that help everyone create their way. To find a local distributor or retailer, call 800-558-9441 or visit www.andis.com.

State-of-the-art school to be located in Chicago, IL.

Wahl Clipper Corporation is pleased to announce plans are underway to open the Wahl Barber Academy. This first-of-its-kind barber school is scheduled to open in the Spring in Chicago, IL. 

The Academy is in partnership with Pivot Point Academy which will operate the school and oversee curriculum. The Wahl Barber Academy will continue a legacy of industry firsts by being an elite barbering institution designed to train the next generation of barber professionals.

“Education has always been a cornerstone of Wahl’s philosophy. The opening of the Wahl Barber Academy furthers our commitment to providing the educational excellence needed to succeed in the barbering industry,” said Lance Wahl, senior vice president of professional sales & marketing at Wahl Clipper Corporation.

The Wahl Barber Academy will equip future barbers with the skills needed to perform at the industry’s highest levels. With its reputation for developing exceptional new hair and beauty professionals, Wahl found in Pivot Point Academy a partner that matches its commitment to excellence and a shared drive to improve the beauty and barber industry.

“The Wahl Barber Academy was designed to create well-rounded, exceptional barbers. The students will learn hair cutting, shaving, grooming and basic skin care, along with the business skills necessary to prepare them to succeed in the men’s grooming industry,” said Denise Provenzano, managing partner and co-owner of Pivot Point Academy.

Wahl and Pivot Point Academy have assembled a team of leading licensed instructors who demonstrate technical skill and the ability to inspire and motivate students. Provenzano oversees faculty recruitment with Pivot Point Academy’s Master Barber & Lead Educator Ken Washburn and School Director Michelle Lamantia.

The award-winning team at Interworks Architecture is designing the modern-industrial 6,183-square-foot educational space located at 8501 W. Higgins in Chicago near O’Hare Airport, and easily accessed from the CTA blue line.

In addition to offering world-class education for future barbers, the academy will serve as an advanced training center, hosting educational opportunities for industry professionals and Wahl’s global team of educators. Classes will begin in Spring 2023 and guests will be able to schedule hair and grooming appointments with the next generation of leading barber students starting shortly thereafter.

A private grand opening celebration is slated for Friday, April 14, in advance of America’s Beauty Show.

The votes are in and counted and the NHBF is delighted to announce that Amanda Lodge-Stewart, Director, Link Training Academy, has been elected as the new President.

Joining Amanda are new elected NHBF board members: Samantha Cunningham (Shine), Joanne Johnson (Bliss Hair Design), Jamie Mettyear (Mettyear’s Day Spa). Carolyn Sweeney (Creations) was re-elected for a second term.

The new President and board members have been elected for a three-year term and will be installed at the NHBF’s Annual General Meeting in London on Sunday 29 January.

NHBF President Amanda Lodge-Stewart commented: “It is a great privilege to be appointed to act on your behalf, representing our thoughts, feelings and ambitions for our hair, barbering and beauty sector.

As the NHBF President, I will focus on raising the quality, culture and reputation of our sector, I will explore issues around business growth and sustainability for the benefit of our employers, business owners and members. I will actively seek feedback and input from members on the issues we face and the priorities for our businesses and will represent us wholeheartedly in sector debate, driving policy change, which is led by the industry, for the industry.”

@nhbfsocial

NHBF

After seven years of dedicated service Keith Conniford is retiring as Registrar of the Hair & Barber Council. Keith is being replaced as Registrar by Gareth Penn and David Drew becomes Chairman.  

Having initially signed up for two years Keith remained at the helm of The Hair & Barber Council for seven years, which included successfully guiding the Council through the unprecedented challenges of Covid. 

Commenting on Keith’s retirement, David Drew, Chairman elect of the Hair & Barber Council said: “As a State Registered Hair & Barber Council Master cCaftsman since 1994, and an elected Hair & Barber council committee member for the last 17 years, I would like to express my thanks to Keith for the enormous body of work that he very consistently, professionally, and diligently performed, not to mention the amount of sacrifice and sheer hard work in supporting our State Registered members and the hair and barber industry in general during the pandemic!

“I have had the pleasure of both getting to know Keith personally plus working with him, he will be a hard act to follow!”

Keith Conniford added: “It has been an honour and a privilege to work together with the Council, our members, and the industry this past seven years, but I believe it is the right time for the future development of the Council and me personally to now step down.

“Having navigated the Hair & Barber Council through two of the most challenging times for our members and the sector, namely Covid and the current cost of living crisis, there are new challenges that are and will face our industry in the future that will require definitive sight and vision.

“Our relationship with Westminster is the strongest than it has ever been with Ministers, BEIS and MPs actively seeking our help and guidance I firmly believe we are closer to our aim of compulsory registration than ever before. I wish Gareth and David great success in their respective roles as Registrar and Chair, I will miss you all enormously and this great industry that I have been part of for over 50 years.” 

Gareth Penn the new Registrar steps up from being the Finance Chairman and has considerable sector and industry experience as Managing Director of the Good Salon Guide since 2004. Commenting on his appointment Gareth said: “I am hugely excited and energised by the potential that the Hair &  Barber Council has and I am looking forward to building upon the excellent work that Keith has done over the last seven years. 

“Keith, ably supported by Susan Scott, has worked tirelessly to push compulsory Registration and I’d like to join David Drew in thanking Keith for his dedication and hard work.”

The Fellowship for British Hairdressing Project Men team were delighted to travel to Wahl HQ for an action packed two days with Project Leader, Simon Shaw.

On day one the Project Men Team Members had an introduction day with Simon, where he introduced the year ahead and provided a tour of Wahl HQ before a cutting demo. The day then followed with a cutting demo from Award Winning Barber, Wahl UK Artist and Matakki Mentor, Dean Greeson.

On day two, it was time for Emma Curd, Director of Matakki Scissors and Project Men Brand Partner, and Sam Campagna, Wahl UK Educator and Matakki Scissors Mentor to take the reins. Emma talked through the Matakki brand and the importance of using the correct scissors and Sam provided a cutting demo for the team.

Project Team Member, Elettra Guggeri said, “My first two days with Project Men have been so inspiring. It was great to meet the man himself Simon Shaw, our Project Leader, and the rest of the team, as well as getting to know about the brands we’re going to be working with. 

It’s such an honour to be sponsored by a long-established brand like Wahl and a premium steel scissors brand like Matakki. 

I really enjoyed the training day with Dean Gleeson, we went straight into practicing what we’ve just learned. I had to come out of my comfort zone by using a few new clippers techniques that I’m definitely going to bring back to the salon. 

The second day with Matakki Scissors and Sam Campagna was really inspiring. Emma from Matakki put us at ease and was very informative about the brand we’re going to be using. Sam is one of the top Educators in the barbering industry and I enjoyed watching his work and learning about his approach on men’s hair and cutting techniques. 

I’m really excited about what’s coming next and the amazing creatives I’ll get to connect with”.

PROJECT MEN Team Leader: Simon Shaw

PROJECT MEN Team Members:

• Rees Bryla, Sarai Hair & Beauty
• Thomas Griffin, Nashwhite
• Kyle Dodson, Beasley’s Beards & Barnets
• Elettra Guggeri, Richard Ward

Brand Partners: Wahl Professional, Matakki Scissors, Captain Fawcett, BarberEVO, The Barbers Arms, Barber Connect

Menspire has announced the opening of its new location in Glasgow. Which has been a long-term goal of the brand’s Aberdeen location director Andy Dawson. Menspire Glasgow opened in Renfrew Street in the city centre, in January, and behind the chair will be Andy @andydawson_, Jeffrey Batista @jeffreybatista_ and James Ewen @james.ewen_

Andy has spent the last five years building the Menspire brand in Scotland with the vision to expand nationwide, starting with Glasgow and he is extremely proud to see it come to life. 

The new location is predominantly a barbershop but Andy will be using it as an education space, much like the Aberdeen location, as he continues to offer Menspire Academy Education in Scotland.

Andy said: “All in all I’m thrilled to bring Menspire to Glasgow as it’s always been a goal of mine and that of my business partners, Josh and Sam.”

Manager at the new location, Jeffrey Batista said: “I’m extremely grateful for this opportunity and can’t thank Sam, Josh and Andy for making me part of it. It’s a dream of mine for so long to work with this incredible brand that inspires me every day.”

Menspire is an award-winning provider of barber education designed to unlock student’s potential through a structured process and has locations all over the UK and also now in the States. 

For more details go to www.menspire.co.uk

The next generation of charging, the NEW Wahl Professional Power Station™ allows you to charge three tools at once.

Wahl Professional has unveiled a new solution for the growing number of tools being used by barber professionals: Wahl Professional Power Station™. Barber professionals commonly use many different tools throughout the day, and during a single haircut. In response, Wahl designed the most efficient charging station on the market. The innovative Wahl Professional Power Station quickly charges three Wahl Professional cordless clippers, trimmers, or shavers — in the time it takes to charge one — with one space-saving cord. It also includes one USB-C port, perfect for charging a phone or payment processing device. The new Power Station comes with multiple tool inserts – three clipper, two trimmer and one shaver insert – allowing you to mix and match any combination of Wahl Professional tools to charge. It comes with direct-contact charging which is the fastest, most efficient way to recharge your Wahl Professional cutting devices. And the space-saving design means your workstation remains tidy and uncluttered.“I love that the customizable and interchangeable system lets me choose which tools to charge and when. I can change my setup as often as I like,” says Wahl Professional Educator, Nieves Almaraz (@howtofadehair). “This new Power Station allows me to charge three tools at the same time, and it keeps my workspace neat and professional by eliminating cord clutter.” Barbers and stylists who want fully charged tools and an organized workspace can purchase the Wahl Professional Power Station February 1 for $199 at wahlpro.com or by visiting their local distributor.

Get your copy here!

The newest issue of BarberEVO North America is OUT NOW! We have the latest in product launches, marketing, event updates, and new year trends. Packed full of ace designs and awesome features that give you everything you need to know to reach success in 2023 and beyond.

IN THIS ISSUE

It’s always our pleasure to feature the industry’s biggest brands – keep an eye out for more gorgeous shoots and incredible looks from Wahl, Andis, STMNT, Layrite, JRL, and American Crew.

Not to mention some exciting product announcements and tool guides from 18.21 Man Made Grooming, Gamma+, Captain Fawcett, RED Pro, and Hairskeen.

ON THE COVER

As seen on this issue’s front cover and in the Final Cut, Wahl Professional has just launched their global Future Makers campaign! Wahl Professional brought together the best barbers and stylists from around the world for five days to learn, share and collaborate, and to create inspirational and educational content that will not only unite the global Wahl community but celebrate individuality and differences.

BARBERS TOOLKIT

The industry’s best and brightest barbers and session stylists reveal all in our Barbers Toolkit feature. This is where we take a deep dive into their tool bags to find out what tools and products they use to create incredible looks time after time – whether that’s for clients in their chairs or models in front of their cameras.

Expect sneak peeks from Josh Hawk, Kyle Pemberton, Paul Wilison, Tyler Kelbert and more. Spotlight brand mentions go to Ace High, Hairskeen, Samsons Haicare, and Washi Scossors.

NEW YEAR, NEW TRENDS

We have everything you need to keep on top of trends this year. Our experts are some of the industry’s best barbers – they give great insight to what will be most and least popular in 2023 so you know where to focus your efforts.

Grab your copy of the magazine for intel from Taylor Leven in her trend forecast as well as Frank Soto and Ivan Zoot. 

You’d be a fool to miss out! 

MARKETING

Marketing can seem intimidating, but you’re probably doing the basics already! Social media, Google, apps, and booking platforms like Vagaro are your keys to getting your name out there.

Love it or hate it, we all know how big of an asset social media is in our industry. Marketing expert Shelby Barriball takes us through how to present yourself online – and why Vagaro helps you look your best.

We also want to give a shoutout to our exclusive interviews with both Marvy Marv and Danny Robinson who each help you master the art of marketing. Our columnist Tyrik Jackson also does an in-depth look at how to reach as many people as possible online.

We hope you enjoy this issue! You can order your print copy here.

After an exceptionally successful year, the Fellowship’s live regional showcase event – Hair & Vision Presents is back with new content, new locations and new presenters for 2023.

Throughout this year Hair & Vision will be visiting Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds and London providing Fellowship members throughout the UK with a venue that is easily accessible to them. Everyone is welcome at Hair & Vision, Fellowship members can attend for free as part of their membership status and non-members who are looking to find out more about becoming a Fellowship member and see some inspiring education can attend for £19.95. 

Each Hair & Vision event has its own theme; cutting, textured hair, men’s hairdressing or colour as examples and will be hosted by a member of the Fellowship or the sponsor of the event.  The content of the evening is diverse and will vary from event to event, but one thing that you can rest assured of is that the evening will leave anyone who attends inspired and motivated. Fellowship members will be invited to take part in Hair & Vision, presenting their latest looks and sharing their ideas and inspiration with others.  There will also be an opportunity to meet your hair heroes and chat to them in a relaxed informal setting and members of the Fellowship Executive Board will be on hand to answer any questions you have. 

Dates are constantly being updated on the Fellowship App or Website and the first Hair & Vision Presents Let’s Talk Texture sponsored by Avlon/Uberliss is taking place on Monday 27^th February in Leeds.  Co-hosted by Fellowship President Robert Eaton and Avlon’s Jacqui MacIntosh, the event will feature textured hair experts – Brandon Messinger, Lathaniel Chambers, Anthony Grant and Claire Chell. 

The second Hair & Vision Presents will be held in London on Tuesday 28^th March at the Hunter Collective. Providing our southern members with the  opportunity to experience the Let’s Talk Texture theme sponsored by Avlon/Uberliss and co hosted by  Fellowship President Robert Eaton and Avlon’s Jacqui MacIntosh and featuring Avlon artists Claire Chell, Anthony Grant and Pashcan’el Mitchell. 

Book your tickets now via the Fellowship App or via https://fellowshiphair.com/book-tickets/