Overcoming the critics to open The Old Barber Shop

When 23-year-old Laura Duggan posted in a popular Facebook group that she was planning to open The Old Barber Shop, the response was mixed. Here’s what happened next.

Interview, portraits and promotional film by Sarah Plater as part of the Mayor’s ‘#SEEBicester – Shop Enjoy Experience’ campaign.

Laura asked members of the Facebook group what new ideas they’d like to see incorporated in her forthcoming launch of The Old Barber Shop. While some contributed suggestions, others bemoaned the arrival of ‘yet another’ barber’s.

However, as Laura trained in Bicester, worked in Bicester and currently lives in Bicester, the town means everything to her, and that’s where she wanted to set up shop.

“Bicester’s a growing town,” she says, “and more barber shops mean less waiting time and more choice for locals and residents from surrounding villages.

“Barbering is what I’ve always loved to do, and Bicester is where I love to be, so it’s always been my dream to start my own barber shop here.”

Laura smiles. “And, to be honest, seeing the negative feedback made me feel even more determined to succeed.”

A Family Effort

Laura’s mum and dad have been helping her turn her dream into reality every step of the way. The family worked seven days a week for the last few years, saving up the funds needed to get the business off the ground. After getting the keys to the premises in February 2018, the three of them worked day and night to get the shop ready to open in just two weeks.

“We’d be in our dungarees, painting the walls at 2am on a Saturday and Sunday morning,” Laura says,  “and people would be coming out of the pubs and staring in as they walked past!

“My parents are still very much involved in the business. They are very active behind-the-scenes, fixing anything that gets broken and helping me with the paperwork. Their support is what makes everything possible.”

The Old Barber Shop waiting bench

Laura had a specific vision in mind from the start: traditional styling with a modern twist. She wanted a huge wooden bar to make an impression when customers walk in the door, and an even bigger red waiting bench, where customers could sit in comfort until they reached the front of the queue.

The hard work paid off. On the very first Saturday after opening, the bench was full.

“I glanced over and saw the queue on the bench. People were laughing and chatting and it was just as I had imagined it would be. I caught the eye of my colleague and we both raised our scissors in the air in celebration, with the biggest smiles on our faces.”

No appointment necessary

Laura’s clients range from toddlers right up to a gentleman who’s recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Treatments start from £8 and go up to £28 for the shop’s signature package, called ‘The Works’ (shampoo, cut, finish and hot towel shave).

“Barber shops don’t have appointments, so you never know who will walk in each day,” Laura says. “Sometimes you turn around and there are ten people waiting. Other times, twenty people walk in at once. That’s what I love about barbering – how busy and unpredictable it is.

“On a Saturday morning I get here at 6.30am, and there are people queuing outside the door before we open at 7am. From then we’re cutting and shaving as one big team, and we don’t stop ’til 5.30pm.”

The Old Barber Shop is fully accessible, with a ramp available on request (simply knock on the window and the staff will slot the ramp in place) and an accessible barbering station for people in wheelchairs.

And, if you’re lucky enough to be there after 3pm on a Friday, you’ll be offered a complimentary beer. Cheers to that!

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Interview and portrait by Sarah Plater. Sarah Plater is a qualified professional portrait photographer and published freelance writer. She is the co-author of Foundation Portrait Photography and Mastering Portrait Photography and the writer/editor/publisher of Go To Sleep: Peaceful Thoughts for Anxious Minds. Find out more at sarahplater.com.

For more information about The Old Barber Shop, head over to their website or Facebook page.

This piece was created for the ‘#SEEBicester – Shop Enjoy Experience’ campaign led by new Mayor, Sean Gaul, to promote and support the town centre.