BACK TO MY ROOTS

DEREK SHORTALL, OWNER OF SHORTIES IN LOWER CLAPTON SHARES HIS EXPERIENCE OF GETTING STARTED ON HIS OWN

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB?

River Island was my first, classic Saturday job. I was in retail for a long time. I went to university and studied business and Spanish for a year but I didn’t really love it. I dropped out and went from River Island to Top Man for four years before moving on to retail management level roles in Dublin until I was 29.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE ON A CAREER IN BARBERING?

I grew up in pubs and that was my way of life, but I never had too much of an interest in getting involved myself. All my friends started moving over to London in 2011 and my Dad (who also lives in London) said, why don’t you come as well? I managed one of his pubs for four years, but when I was 32, I was looking to pivot, however I didn’t know where to go. I had a friend that was a barber, and she recommended that I try it. I remember thinking no straight away, but one day I was sitting in the barbershop watching my barber and decided to sign up to the London School of Barbering.

HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?

I expected to be better because I’m creative. I couldn’t even hold scissors. I started working with a company called Get Smooth. They were a barberUber type thing. I’d rock up at people’s offices or event spaces and cut people’s hair. But I was terrible. I was blagging it and then I started at a shop in Stoke Newington called Man Cave. Incredible shop. I was there for four years and after a year and a half, I took over as manager. Then I went to Ruffians, and I loved it so much. The experience for me was everything I thought I was missing, and I wish I’d done it earlier.

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGE?

When I see other shops that have been built as a pair or not by themselves, I envy that because there was so much of it that was lonely and intense. I had no one to really springboard off. I was so busy keeping what I was up to quiet, I felt like I couldn’t talk to anyone, couldn’t talk about my finances, couldn’t ask for advice because we don’t have that kind of culture. Everyone’s trying to keep themselves safe. Things were going wrong left, right and centre which was my fault because I was too green.

WHAT IS THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’VE EVER RECEIVED?

Worrying about something is only worshipping the problem. I overthink everything, but I keep it very much internal. My mind works so quickly that sometimes if I let too many people’s opinions in, it frazzles me. My circle’s small but I surround myself with good people - you’re only as good as the people that you surround yourself with!

WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D KNOWN THEN THAT YOU KNOW NOW?

The way in which I approach things now is that I’m more reactive and I enjoy where I am in the moment, rather than thinking about what’s next. I always worked hard in any job that I’ve ever had. I’ve always had that mentality. And that’s not necessarily the safest way to work mentally. I get that now. I understand. I think that’s a deficit to your headspace. Mya (barber at Shorties) said to me “I think you love the space more than you love cutting hair” and there’s elements of that which are true. I love the industry so much, but I also love Shorties aesthetically. In terms of where I see myself going, I absolutely love cutting hair. I’ve signed up for a training course early next year. I found with setting all this up, I wasn’t really allowing myself any time to do any courses and grow as a barber.