Johannesburg – A haircut to some people may seem like a mundane grooming experience that must be endured to maintain a neat appearance, but to the men wielding the hair clippers, it’s an art and an expression of their skill and creativity.
Sheldon Tatchell, the founder of the popular barbershop franchise, Legends Barbershop, has taken the craft and the business of cutting hair to the next level.
Legends Barbershop has not only established itself as the leading barbershop in South Africa, as rated by the African Hair Awards Council but has also grown its footprint outside local borders as far afield as Botswana.
His empire now includes hair and beard grooming products and accessories, which can be found in some of South Africa’s retail chain stores.
Tatchell started his business cutting hair on the stoep in front of his cousin’s internet café in Eldorado Park, South Africa, and saw it as his vehicle out of the township.
In a Facebook post, Tatchell stated: “I was 14 years old when I turned to barbering as a way to escape the reality of poverty that surrounded me.”
He persevered and began doing house calls on his scooter, driving up to 40km to service his customer base. This element still exists in the form of a fully kitted-out mobile with all the amenities to make having a haircut a luxury experience. There is even a PlayStation and television on board.
Tatchell now looking to impart his lessons on entrepreneurship, ingenuity and perseverance can only bode well for the prospects of aspirant barbers looking to emulate his success.
vusi.adonis@inl.co.za
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