A Harrogate barber has taken his business on the road in a former ambulance.
Christopher Anderson, who ran Bespoke Barbers on Westmoreland Street, has opted to take on clients in his new van.
The move comes as his shop in Harrogate closed its doors on December 23.
Mr Anderson, who ran the barbers for eleven-and-a-half years, said it took some consideration to take the business one the road.
He said:
“Over a year ago I started to seriously think about the possibility of professional van life.
“With a great deal of research and procrastination the dream became a reality. It has been hard to share my vision and thanks to a great deal of patience and support I’ve made it.”
The Bespoke Barbers van.
Mr Anderson described it the move onto wheels as a steep learning curve, but added he was glad to have done it.
For more information on Bespoke Barbers, visit their Facebook page here.
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Harrogate’s bodybuilding barber lifts another national title
Harrogate’s bodybuilding barber David Steca has won another national title.
Mr Steca, 63, finished first in the over-60s category at the IBFA British Championships in Gateshead last weekend.
It is the latest success in a remarkable career that has seen him become one of the most successful bodybuilders in the north of England.
Mr Steca, who owns Steca No6 in Harrogate, is now focusing on the NAC British Championships in Middleton, Greater Manchester on November 13. Success there would earn him a place at next year’s World Championships.
He weighed a peeled 84kg in his latest appearance on stage, and insists he is too young to quit.
David Steca (centre) takes first place.
He said:
“It’s never unachievable and you’re never too old!”
Besides being a competitor, Mr Steca is also a personal trainer who has helped numerous aspiring physique competitors in the Harrogate district.
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Harrogate’s bodybuilding barber set for world championships
Harrogate’s bodybuilding barber David Steca is preparing to fly to Italy this weekend to take part in an over-60s world championships.
Mr Steca, 62, wrote another remarkable chapter in his story last weekend when he finished second at the IBFA British Championships in Gateshead.
The result qualified him to compete at the world championships in Rome.
Mr Steca owns male grooming salon Steca No 6 in Princes Square, Harrogate.
Besides bodybuilding, he also competes at polo.
Showing tremendous rear conditioning.
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Mr and Miss Harrogate cancelled due to low competitor numbers
Bodybuilding barber David Steca has cancelled plans to stage a Mr and Miss Harrogate competition on August 1.
Mr Steca, who is a multi-titled bodybuilder, intended to stage the event in a in a marquee near his home in Menwith Hill.
But he announced on social media the event will not take place. He said:
“After much deliberation, I am sad to announce the cancellation of the show. Competitor numbers are very low, which would not make for an entertaining day.
“It’s a shame but it needed to be entertaining and the numbers need to work.
“Thank you to all the generous sponsors who came forward to support the day.”
Mr Steca, 61, owns Steca No6 in Harrogate and another salon in Leeds.
Besides being a barber, he also trains physique athletes for competitions.
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Ripon hairdressers prepare for the long road back
A long road back from lockdown and lost trade lies ahead for Ripon hairdressers Deborah Chalmers and Sharon Bielby.
The friends own and run hair and beauty businesses less than 100 yards apart on North Street, Ripon.
Deborah’s Love Hair & Beauty Boutique depends heavily on the wedding market.
Sharon, whose shop bears her name, is a barber who cuts men’s and boys’ hair.
For both, the priority following the stop-start year of 2020 and the closed-down first quarter of 2021, has been to keep their heads above water.
Now they are buoyant at the prospect of reopening in six weeks time on 12 April and finally earning some money again.
Their loyal and now long-haired customers have kept in touch and they are looking forward to a busy post-lockdown period.
Deborah, who ensures brides and their bridesmaids look beautiful for the big day, told the Stray Ferret:
“It has been a very difficult time.
“The shop was shut for long periods and just about every wedding booking I had for last summer was cancelled because of the pandemic.”
She used a government small business grant to pay for overheads while living off the crumbs that came from the dramatically scaled-down wedding table.
Sharon Bielby reflects on a difficult year, as she gets ready for the many customers in desperate need of a hair cut.
The same applies for Sharon, who said:
“It has been a case of surviving on the barest minimum, while staying positive and thinking about the many customers who just can’t wait to get their hair cut again.”
Her shop will have an appointment-only policy in place from reopening day. She joked:
“I will probably have to allow extra time for each customer, because they will have a lot more hair to cut!”
Deborah, who has created her own brand of lip balm as a reopening thank-you gift for her customers, is looking forward to a very busy summer.
She said:
“From mid-June, the government is easing the restrictions on the size of gatherings and that’s good news.
“Couples who postponed their plans, still want to get married and share their celebration with family and friends.”
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An additional factor gives Deborah hope that she can make up for some of the lost business she has experienced over the last year.
She said:
“With Saturdays like gold-dust in the wedding calendar, people are now arranging their weddings for other days of the week.
“That means I will be handling hair and beauty for up to four events a week, compared with a maximum of two Saturday weddings a week in a normal year.”