TAKING THE LEAP | Pocketmags.com

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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…

Two years into my time at Nu:Era, a barbershop in Walsall, I had a stable and growing client base. I toyed around with the idea of being self-employed, but just kept it as an idea because I was scared of the unknown. I was working long hours and late nights and I loved it -Istill do. But being employed meant I was only getting the hourly rate and when you’re doing graveyard shifts, you have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

I spoke to one of my clients about being self-employed and they kept telling me to go for it, but I was unsure. In lockdown I saw how many people struggled and knew it was a risk. But sometimes life’s all about risks, right?

At first I was scared to ask my boss (Hannah McKnight, owner of Nu:Era). I felt like after being employed for so long it was rude of me to ask. It’s silly when I think about it now, but I asked the question with no expectations.

There was uncertainty on my boss’s part, as self-employed barbers haven’t always worked well in the shop. But as my employer, she trusted me and knew I had no ill intentions. The conversation went well, and we both agreed chair rent was the way to go.

Hannah supports me and we have a great relationship. I now rent a chair at Nu:Era, I work five days a week and have full flexibility and control of when I work. If I wanted to, I could work seven days from 7am-10pm. I look after my own wages, take days out when needed and I have more financial freedom.

Being freelance also means I can push my brand further. I can go to the barbering events without worrying if someone can cover me and I can grasp any opportunity thrown at me with both hands, because it’s only me I have to worry about. Individually, my clients now have their own loyalty cards. It’s great being able to give back to clients, because they’re the biggest factor in making my dreams happen.

Of course, there are challenges to being self-employed. I’m constantly checking my timetable to see how many bookings I have and questioning whether I’m going to have a good or bad week. The appointments always get filled, but nothing is guaranteed. And taxes equal stress but I’m learning as I go along. Being ill is also something you have no control over, and having to take days off and cancel, refund, and reschedule clients can be hard.

But I have absolutely no regrets, going self employed isn’t for everyone, but I did this at the right time for me in my career. I was at a point where I couldn’t grow until I took the leap. Since being self-employed I’ve attended and performed at multiple barber shows, I’ve been sponsored by a product company, who push and support me so much, I did my first-ever shoot with photographer Liam Oakes and I worked with The Lions Barber Collective which was on ITV news. I’ve had so many opportunities and can truly say that going self-employed was the best thing I ever did. 

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
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