It’s an industry that contributes an annual estimated £6.6bn to the UK economy, according to the Hair & Barber Council, but never more was the value shown of the hair and beauty industry than in the national lockdowns.
It’s been a tough time for the barbering trade. Even post-lockdown, revenues have continued to be affected by last-minute cancellations and no-shows – exacerbated by the ongoing effects of COVID-19. Savvy stylists and salon owners are now being creative in diversifying their income streams.
One way in which barbers are both generating additional sales and positioning themselves with greater credibility is through personally branded, specialist products. Many turn to our client DB Agencies, who offer barbers a simple solution to launching an exclusive range of high-quality products, custom branded.
We talked to DB Agencies’ director, Debbie Bell.
Please can you tell us about your business:
We help the barbering trade create their own private-label styling and grooming range, building both their brand and their income. Rather than stocking branded products in their shops, which customers can find easily online, we help them to create bespoke products that feel exclusive and highly professional.
We trade as Your Brand Hair Products, offering white-label products for hair, shave and beard, skincare, eau de parfum and PPE, as well as custom scissors. Our clients can select from our range of high-quality, eco-friendly products and supply us with artwork (or have our team design it for them), and it’s as simple as that. We deliver their bespoke branded range, ready to retail.
As well as established customers in the UK, we also trade internationally.
How long have you been trading?
DB Agencies was founded in 2008. We’ve experienced rapid growth in the last few years as we’ve expanded to international clients. We’ve recently moved premises to a brand new, purpose-built facility to accommodate our continued growth. What began as a start-up by my husband, Dennis, has now grown to a team of 22 and we continue to see growth despite a challenging few years for the hair and beauty trade.
How have you worked with Champion Accountants?
We’ve worked with Champion for more than six years, and, simply put, they’ve supported us with full accountancy and advisory services. I’d describe the relationship with Champion as a partnership. They show genuine interest in our business and have been proactive in offering advice and support – that’s not the case with all accountants. It’s really refreshing that they don’t just look backwards but are involved in discussions that look forwards, for example, as we continue to invest in R&D, and help us to make improvements.
It’s been personal too. We’ve found the whole Champion team to be friendly, reliable and, importantly, quick to respond – speed is important for us as a fast-paced business. There have also been occasions where some of the Champion team have come into our business to support in-person.
What advice would you offer to other businesses when it comes to accountancy?
Find a team that can offer you a partnership and understand your business’ needs. Champion has worked flexibly and with versatility. They also understand the complexities of us as an international trader, dealing with multiple currencies. It’s so important to have that backbone of stability when you’re a growing business.
To find out more and to see how Champion Accountants can help you and your business, please contact David Hardy on 01253 768 718 or david.hardy@championgroup.co.uk.
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