A YORK barber has opened its second city centre location – with staff members travelling across the world to join their team.
Blak Bear, a popular city centre barber shop, has opened its second location in York city centre in Bridge Street.
The chain, which now has four stores across York, Harrogate, and Selby, was started by train driver Sam Taylor in 2018, who planned to open his own business with a friend and barber.
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However, after his friend pulled out, Sam opened the shop alone – working with local barbers and growing the brand to attract young professionals and students, with no fixed hours and flexible hours for the barbers.
Sam said: “Hairdressing is not like any other industry - it’s something that people will always need.”
The brand has since blossomed, being nominated in The Press Best Barber competition last year and continuing to expand – with two new shops opening their doors in the past eight months.
Sam said: “Everyone thinks that we moved, but we were just full up in Walmgate.
“I’ve brought Connor and Joey along from Walmgate – we’ve got a lad moving from New Zealand to work here and two new apprentices starting soon.
“This wasn’t actually planned, but I walked past the shop, saw it was to let, and thought to myself that this needed to be a Blak Bear.”
Across the brand’s four shops, they have 20 different barbers – all of whom are self employed and pay ‘chair rent’ – with many of them starting at the shop as apprentices and staying as they built up their brand.
Sam added: “Having a shop at either end of town is great – we can send walk ins to Walmgate if there’s no room and vice versa. The lads have been pretty full so far, it’s busy.
“This shop has more chill vibes than Walmgate – we have free refreshments, a PS4, and comfy sofas. I designed the shop myself, it gets people in, and the barbers can keep their clients.”
Bookings for Blak Bear can be made in person or through the Blak Bear’s website.
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