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RUGER

Founded by brothers Alan and Reece Beak, the newly designed RUGER provides a minimalist, Scandinavianinspired space where their training in traditional Italian barbering and Afro-Caribbean style is put to good use

THE GREAVES BUILDING, HARTSHEAD STREET, LEES, OLDHAM OL4 5EE

WHEN DID THE BARBERSHOP OPEN?

We finally opened the barbershop in October 2022.

WHEN YOU ACQUIRED THE PROPERTY, WHAT WAS IT BEING USED FOR?

It was empty and falling into ruin; previously it was being used for a mixture of commercial and residential purposes. The bottom floor was offices and a garage, and the middle and top floors had been turned into living areas.

WHAT WAS YOUR BUDGET?

The budget for the entire renovation was £250,000. As we all know budgets are never kept to, and due to the rise in costs of labour and materials we have since doubled this figure.

IS THE BARBERSHOP MEANT TO APPEAL TO ANYONE IN PARTICULAR?

The simple answer is everyone. We wanted to create an environment so that people from every walk of life would be comfortable here.

DOES THE BARBERSHOP LOOK DIFFERENT IN SEPARATE AREAS, AND IF SO, WHY?

Yes, we wanted to create two areas – an east wing and west wing. One side has a more industrial and unrefined look and the other is more clinical and refined. We like to call it reforesting the balance of life or order vs chaos.

WHAT MAKES THE SPACE UNIQUE?

The space stands out through the people who helped create it. Everything you see is either bespoke or sourced from designers who you wouldn’t associate with the hair industry – making it hard for anyone to replicate or find easily.

WHAT INFLUENCED THE DESIGN?

The design was influenced by the Scandinavian movement of interior design, combining minimalism with raw materials.

WHAT IS THE COLOUR SCHEME AND WHY DID YOU PICK IT?

We chose a colour scheme that was very basic but with a big impact. The tones we went for are all quite neutral and earthy. The walls are in pebble – light enough to give good light refraction and the illusion of ample space, whereas the recesses are a ‘mud’ colour and dimly lit, to create a warmer and cosier environment. This can be seen to good effect in our backwash.

TELL US A BIT ABOUT THE DESIGNERS, AND WHERE YOU BOUGHT THE FURNITURE AND ARTWORK?

The design company called YOUTH STUDIO gave us a very detailed and precise plan for areas such as the workstations, shelving, lighting and seating. One of the directors involved, Liam McGroarty, has been amazing in helping us bring the design and vision to life.

HOW MANY CHAIRS ARE THERE?

In total there are eight chairs and stations, with the space to put another inside the barbershop when the work has finally been completed and we can continue to expand.

DESCRIBE THE LIGHTING IN EACH AREA, WHY IT WAS CHOSEN, AND WHAT EFFECT DOES IT HAVE?

We wanted to have different tones of warm light and daylight white light. For this reason, we used different types of lighting, such as spotlights and LED panels that are at head height and eye level to laminate the clients and make the work much easier.

WHAT ARE THE WALLS COVERED IN AND WHY?

Away from the coloured walls and in keeping with the specs from the designer, we used different wall covers like stainless steel. This gives the shop a very clinical and futuristic feel. We also have a very specific plaster which we bought from a company based in Denmark, called St. Leo. The plaster is made using stones from the Dolomites and gives a very natural and rustic touch to the walls.

WHAT IS THE FLOOR MADE FROM AND WHY? 

The east wing is the unrefined section of the barbershop, so for this side we opted for a polished concrete flooring. We achieved this by using two different coloured screed compounds and then covered it with epoxy resin. The west wing floor is covered with terrazzo tiles, as specified by Liam (our designer).

DO YOU HAVE ANY REGRETS OR THINGS YOU WOULD DO DIFFERENTLY?

I don’t have any regrets when taking on the building, it has been a true labour of love and the hard work and determination that has gone into the project has made me so proud. There has been lots of blood, sweat and tears, but the investment will last a lifetime. It’s good to do the hard work now and reap the benefits later in life. The mistakes that have been made in the process only serve as valuable life lessons. It’s been an incredible journey – not one I’m rushing to go through again – but hopefully in years to come it will have been worthwhile.

This article appears in Jan/March 2023

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This article appears in...
Jan/March 2023
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MOVING FORWARD
Welcome to the January – March issue of Modern Barber
NEWS
The latest industry updates
THE RETURN OF SALON INTERNATIONAL
On 8-10 October, we saw the return of Salon International at ExCeL London showcasing three days of creativity, education and inspiration
BACKBONE BARBERSHOP, AUSTRALIA
Sean Hayes’ journey has taken him from rural West Cork to the Gold Coast in East Australia
THE INDUSTRY’S FINEST
Dapper Dan celebrated an impressive display of talent at the Professional Barber World Series
IN WITH THE OLD
Modern Barber spoke to masters of old-school barbering to hear their thoughts on the industry today
ENERGY MADE EASY CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO BE A MEMBER?
With energy prices at an all-time high, and this being a traditionally quieter time of year, it’s a good time to check your tariff to make sure you are getting the best deal
RUGER
Founded by brothers Alan and Reece Beak, the newly designed RUGER provides a minimalist, Scandinavianinspired space where their training in traditional Italian barbering and Afro-Caribbean style is put to good use
REAPING THE BENEFITS
We spoke to barbers who believe in the power of retail about the dos and don’ts of selling products in your barbershop and how this can help your business go from strength to strength
TOP OF THE CROPS
We caught up with two winners from the 2022 Modern Barber awards to talk about their craft and what inspires them
BETTER TOGETHER
We chat to three brothers who are reinventing what it means to be a barber
GEAR
From cuts and colour, to care – these products have got it all covered, helping you to provide top-notch services to your clients.
PORTFOLIO
Six stunning collections that show the talent in our industry
THE 10 MINUTE CHAT
Tariq Howes, BaBylissPRO Ambassador and owner of Avenue Male Grooming, Cardiff, chats to Modern Barber about his start in the industry and what keeps him motivated
TAKING CARE
Matt Elliott is giving up his free time to provide additional care in residential homes
TAKING THE LEAP
Deone Luke had worked at a barbershop for two years, when she felt the call of self-employment. We reveal her journey and ask if she has any regrets…
FINDING YOUR SELF BELIEF
We talk to Laurence Edmonds about where his barbering journey began
FIVE TIPS TO MAXIMISE YOUR BARBERSHOP PROFITS THIS WINTER
Christmas is just around the corner, and now is the time to make sure that you are maximising your profits over the festive period
MY BIGGEST CHALLENGE
Self-taught barber, Toastie Styles, tells us about the challenges she has faced learning her craft in her own way
SOAPBOX
Dean Gleeson tells us why he changed his mind about creating collections
FIT TO FOLLOW
MB has been keeping a close eye on all your amazing work across social media – to prove it, here are six of the best accounts we’ve seen over the past few months
Looking for back issues?
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