BNZ Campaigns
April 2019.
We were lucky enough to collaborate with BNZ. Read on for the article published in Kia Ora Magazine.
“After two stints of growing barber-shop chains, Paul Bartolo decided bigger wasn’t always better. But after hitting on a concept that incorporates training for new barbers, he now has international ambitions.
London-born Bartolo started out as a hairdresser in his home city three decades ago, but switches to barbering in New Zealand in the ’90s. He opened his first shop in Auckland and, as barbers’ haircuts regained popularity, expanded into a four shop chain. Heading to Melbourne, he built another chain, employing 25 staff.
But the challenges of running a rapidly growing business took their toll. Burnt out, he returned to Auckland, where he resolved to keep his operation unique, boutique and more lifestyle-friendly.
In 2014, he established his seven-seat Bespoke Barbers shop in O-Connell St in the heart of Auckland’s CBD and decided to diversify by offering barbering and training from the same premises. Since then he has developed a barber training programme aimed at people wanting to be steeped in the culture of a quality barbering operation.
Concentrating on the branding and training curriculum, while staying up to date with international trends, he’s established what he says is the best of the 11 shops he has had. “It’s been an amazing ride.: Among the programmes on offer is a four-week intensive course, a shaving workshop that instructs in the use of an old-fashioned “cut-throat: razor, and a “clipper and blade” course that caters to the experienced stylists from hairdressing salons. “Stylists are looking at us barbers and saying, ‘there’s a cool thing happening in barbering. How do we get a share of that?’”
Typically, three barbers will be at work at the same time as three students are under instruction at other chairs in the shop. Bartolo finds the model more personally rewarding than in a conventional barbershop operation because he gets the opportunity to pass on his knowledge. “It's a real buzz.”
Running the barbershop and training in parallel means the students are immersed in the experience of real-world barbering.
Bartolo has been encouraged by the response he has had from BNZ staff at the nearby Queen St branch. “They sense that you’re passionate about it. They generally really want to help you.” He was also surprised at how simple the process was to arrange an overdraft. “I was surprised at how quickly it was done.”
He has plans to grow into further premises and has identified an opportunity to expand the concept to Australia and China. He is looking to bring onboard staff with the experience to support a push into overseas markets. The feedback he gets from Chinese customers suggests to him that there is huge potential for teaching modern-style barbering skills in their homeland.”
