Bullhead Barber’s
On the cutting edge – Nikos Mariolis of Eastbourne’s brand new Bullhead Barber’s tells us about his journey opening Bullhead Barbers, the first salon of its kind in the town, with the help of a Start Up Loan from Let’s Do Business Finance.
Bullhead Barber’s & Male Grooming is a male barbers with a difference, which you can feel as soon as you step in the door – a far cry from what you might expect for a typical male barbers, Bullhead greets clients with a lavishly decorated interior, and a focus on pampering its customers at its core. The newest addition to South Street prides itself on being at the forefront of the modern day male grooming industry, combining owner Nikos’ passion for making his clients feel beautiful with an ethos of quality, not quantity, in a relaxed and classy atmosphere. The services don’t stop at hair treatments either; with a kitted-out treatment room at the rear of the salon offering everything from luxe facials, botox, fillers, facial and body hair removal, as well as massages, manicures, pedicures and teeth whitening.
A new look on life
Nikos’ love of cutting hair spans back to 36 years ago, from taking an interest in cutting his mother’s hair at the age of 15. He moved on to cutting friends and other family members’ hair, growing his passion, and realising his talent spanned beyond simple cuts to complicated styles and colouring.
“I just love the feeling when a haircut is just perfect, and my clients look themselves in the mirror and feel beautiful.”
Not realising he could go on to make it a career yet, Nikos moved on to university to study and gain degrees in Teaching and Business Management, all the while continuing his hobby of cutting hair in the background. Dedicated to studying, he never stopped learning about new techniques, methods and trends for hairdressing; even attending workshops and free seminars alongside his studies.
After taking voluntary redundancy at his company in 2020, Nikos decided to make a change. Feeling negative effects of the corporate world, he wanted to turn his passion for cutting hair into a full-time career. With a spring in his step, he turned back to studying to gain the right qualifications and finished his degree with honours, giving him a solid foundation to pursue his goal.
“I started dreaming big and decided that I needed a place where I would be able to express my passion, and do what I really love.”
Securing funding with help from Let’s Do Business Finance
Ready to create a space in which he could cultivate his passion, Nikos started searching for a home for his business. He got in touch with the team at Let’s Do Business Finance, where he received support from business manager Chris Smith in his application for a Start Up Loan of £12,000, which would be used to secure and fit out the premises on South Street in the centre of Eastbourne town, as well as cover any solicitors fees.
“Let’s Do Business Group gave me the motivation and the means to start feeling important again and ready to be my own boss, in charge of my own life and future. My Business Manager, Chris Smith, not only visualised my dreams, but also made them come true. Thank you for being a creator of my new exciting journey.”
As an official delivery partner of Start-Up-Loans on behalf of the British Business Bank, Let’s Do Business Finance can provide finance to businesses who have been trading for under 3 years, and applicants can apply for up to £25,000 over a period of up to 5 years, at a fixed rate of 6% APR to help launch and develop their business idea.
Securing the £12,000 Start Up Loan enabled Nikos to kickstart his dream for Bullhead Barber’s and create the luxe and sleek fit out of the salon that he had envisioned. He intends to use one of the chairs in the space for himself, while renting the other two out to other local stylists that share the same passion for male grooming that he does. The kitted out grooming treatment room in the rear of the salon is available to other professionals to rent, ensuring that Bullhead Barbers & Male Grooming really gives the all-round experience of pampering and feel-good me-time that Nikos envisioned.
“We were so pleased to be able to support Nikos in his exciting new venture. It was great to pay a visit on Launch day and see first hand how the funding was used. I must say how impressed I was with Salon, and this is a testament to the efforts of Nikos. He is very passionate about his business, which I am sure will be a complete success.”
In-keeping with Nikos’ love of learning, he always wants to keep growth and development at the forefront of the business.
Once Bullhead has taken off and grown a solid clientele in its Eastbourne base, Nikos hopes to add to the number of available chairs in the salon, which in turn would provide more available appointments for prospective clients. As times change and more trends emerge in the beauty industry, he wants to introduce new treatments to Bullheads’ already diverse offering, cementing it as a staple in Eastbourne town for years to come.
“I have some great ideas to introduce that are fresh and innovative in the industry, and there is a gap at the moment, so I believe I will make the difference.”