Can barbershops and hairdressing salons save the high street?

New research from male grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge suggests barbershops could be used to entice consumers back to their local high street. The survey found 95% of men still visit the high street to go to a barbershop or hairdresser. The number of shoppers visiting UK town centres and high streets has been in decline for many years thanks to online shopping, the growth of out of town retail outlets and the global economic crisis. However, most men admitted they will visit the high street to go to their barbershop or hairdresser, the pub came second with 76% and the restaurant/coffee shop came third with 54%. The gym took the fourth spot on 39%, while the bank was fifth with 35%. From the 2,126 UK men surveyed, 93% said they visit a barbershop or hair salon at least once per month. A third (33%) even admitted to making fortnightly trips to smarten up their styles and socialise with like-minded regulars, while 10% see their barber once a week. Overall, only 12% of men surveyed visit the high street on a daily basis, 21% make the trip once a week and 27% go once a fortnight. When asked to identify the biggest challenges facing the high street, the overwhelming majority (84%) cited the rise of online shopping. A lack of suitable car parking (67%) and the convenience offered by the out of town supermarkets (63%) were two other challenges that were identified. The Bluebeards Revenge spokesperson Nick Gibbens, said the findings highlight how important the barbering and hairdressing industries are to the local economy as well as the communities they serve. “Barbers and hairdressers offer services that you can’t buy online so they have survived the online boom. The industry is also thriving here in the UK as men spend more money than ever on male grooming services such as wet shaves, haircuts, beard trims and facials,” Nick explained. “Hair trends are also playing an important role as more guys are visiting barbers for shorter styles that need regular cutting to keep in shape. Looking ahead, with the festive season now upon us, we’re expecting barbershops to be as busy as ever with men spending big to ensure they look dapper for the party season. Barbershops and salons are filling up shops that could potentially be empty so they are proving pivotal in the battle to save the high street and bring men back.” Keith Conniford, the CEO/registrar of the Hair & Barber Council said hairdressing salons and barbershops were still the mainstay of the high street and as such played a hugely significant role in the economic prosperity of our cities and towns throughout the UK. He explained: “It’s great to see the hairdressing and barbering industry thriving in today’s difficult economic environment but we are keen to raise the professional standards of the industry, and therefore we encourage all barbers and hairdressers to become state registered so we can properly regulate the sector and ensure good practice is met.” Tom Chapman, an award-winning barber from Torquay in Devon, has experienced the barbering boom first hand. He said: "We have an ever increasing amount of male custom making its way through our doors as every guy wants their part of the barber boom. The standard is rising at a fast rate and top barbers are raising the bar." Long live the barbershop!