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Cape Town - Celebrity barber Sheldon Tatchell is well-known for cutting the hair of Johannesburg's elite and now, The Legends Barbershop owner will be setting up shop in Cape Town.
Coming from humble beginnings, the 29-year-old's growing client list include some of South Africa's hottest, and happening celebrities like Kwesta, Cassper Nyovest and Riky Rick.
Tatchell has come a long way; from operating a small business from a shopping mall sidewalk in Eldorado Park to opening eight stores and employing 60 men and women, across the country in the short space of seven years.
His business The Legends Barbershop, which also operates from an exclusive mobile barber bus, will soon be opening its ninth store on 24 November in Long Street, Cape Town.
The mobile barber shop has been a really big hit with his clients, and boasts facilities like uncapped WiFi, PS4 and complimentary drinks.
Tatchell chalks up his success to a "desire and drive to serve people," saying: "That has always been my main focus. I put in the same amount of effort each and every time time, and strive to deliver a cut that is as perfect as possible. I aim to deliver an experience like no other - A legendary haircut."
But the road to success was not a smooth one, while on honeymoon in 2011 his partner at the time made some poor business decisions, and when he returned the business had closed and his employees were left unemployed.
But that did not discourage Tatchell from reaching for his dreams, and he says that building and maintaining relationships with his customers has played a major role in his expansion and in 2014 he resigned from his full-time job to focus on his barbershop.
He says: "Building a relationship with your client is very important. A haircut says one thing, but to have a relationship with your customer says another thing. One client, I have been serving for 12 years."
Known as "the barber to the stars," the father of two's first celebrity client was Kermit Erasmus from the Orlando Pirates, and since then his client base as grown to include LootLove, Reason, Anatii, Masechaba Ndlovu and Nasty C.
The master barber calls the opportunity to work with these celebrities "a humbling experience."
"It all goes back to building and fostering relationships. They've all helped us so tremendously." Some of the celebrities he says he enjoyed working with the most are Kwesta, Riky Rick, Nasty C and DJ Fresh."
And on his client bucket list, Trevor Noah is right at the top.
About his new barbershop opening doors on 24 November in Cape Town, he says: "There has been a demand, and we saw it as an opportunity to reach more people."
I asked the Tatchett about what grooming trends we can expect to see going into summer, to which he replied: "We will be experimenting with colours and introducing grey and blonde. We're looking to see lots of really bright clolours. Of course, your fade, and hairline need to be on point, and beards need to be lined-up."
(Photos: Supplied by The Legends Barbershop)
