Taylor taylor barber shop - making history

Taylor Taylor Barbershop in Sheffield has done amazingly well to remain at the top of its game for more than a century – particularly as it almost didn’t make it into the 1920s! As co-director Nick Taylor recounts: “In 1907 our great grandfather, Albert, opened the family’s first barbershop on George Street, Sheffield, as J Taylor. It was situated across the road from the Crucible Theatre and was a large, busy shop. Unfortunately, during the first world war it was destroyed when Sheffield was hit by bombing.” Undeterred, Nick’s great-grandfather opened two more barbershops in 1927, one in Sheffield’s Surrey Street and a second in the city’s Grand Hotel – at the time a place to be seen by some of the biggest names in sport and show business. Sadly, the shop at the Grand closed its doors in the 1970s. Today the Surrey Street shop is a local institution and still incredibly popular. Says Nick: “It has definitely stood the test of time and is still thriving with eight barber chairs, still operating on a walk-in basis.” The business subsequently passed through the hands of each generation of Taylor, until it became Nick’s turn to take over the reins, along with his two older brothers, Paul and Matthew, and two cousins, Daniel and Josh. The business now comprises three barbershops and two successful ladies’ salons, trading under the name Taylor Taylor Hairdressing, employing a total of 45 barbers and hairdressers. Nick first became involved with the company when he was 16. He’s now 37. “That was when my official involvement began but I had been helping out for years before that,” recalls Nick. “I used to go down to one of the shops after school and take my friends with me and give them haircuts! “My dad used to ask me: ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do?’ but I always knew it was the job for me. Barbering is part of my family history and is in my blood. I am extremely proud of where it has come from and I share the same passion now as I did when I first started. I love the atmosphere and the banter of the barbershop, as well as the professional and creative side. I love interacting with people – in fact, my father always said the best barbers are the ones that can deal and interact with all walks of life.” boundless energy Nick’s enthusiasm and natural skill meant his ­career within the company developed rapidly. “I was involved in anything and everything,” he recalls. ”I would stand behind the chair cutting hair all day and would work after hours to improve my skills.” This love of training is something Nick has carried with him now that he is the teacher. “Over the years, we have spent a lot of time on training and educating the team, which has given my brother, Paul and myself more time to concentrate on growing our business,” says Nick. “This has also given me the opportunity to work in the American Crew education team, travelling around the UK and around the world working alongside some amazing barbers and hairdressers.” Education is about to become even more of a focus, with Nick and his brother Matthew fronting a brand new hairdressing and barbering school. Says Nick: “Our aim is to give high-quality education which will not only deliver the relevant qualifications but above all make apprentices ready to work on the shop floor, something we feel has been lacking for a long time. “The barbershops attract all types of clients, we go for all markets, we have generations of ­clients who recommend their family and friends, and as we are based in the city centre, we attract city gents, professionals, students, musicians and everybody else.” maintaining traditions With a history spanning more than a century, Nick and the team ensure this tradition is reflected in the look of all the barbershops. “The format and layout of the barbershops has never changed and never will. There are a lot of original features in them, including furniture, cut glass lighting, front-wash basins and original equipment. The shops need to be kept looking clean and smart, which is hard when they get so much use. Every year, we try and invest money in to them without losing their originality and character.” Not that Taylor Taylor is stuck in the past. ­Services comprise a mix of the old and the contemporary, including classic and on-trend hair cutting, specialist hair pieces, shaving, face massage and now threading and colouring. The shops are also undergoing refits, with one now completed and work due to start on the Surrey Street shop early next year. While the company has also expanded into women’s hairdressing, for Nick, barbering remains at its heart. “For me, barbering is the centre of the business and the oldest,” he says. “The barbershops and ladies’ salons are all in close proximity and work well together. The guys come to the barbers and the ladies go to the salon, simple!” Simple it may be, but it’s a concept that has stood the test of time. Subscribe to HJ and HJ Men for more inspiring features