Malone Barber Co
Cutting his own path to barbering success
Despite refusing to take any short cuts, young barber Finley Leonard opened his fi rst salon in Wellingborough earlier this year – at the age of just 18. With the help of his own barber, Lewi Willliams from Hendrix
Barber Co, who died in April aged just 31, Finley started learning his trade at just 14 and still at school. Cutting hair became a passion and once school was fi nished he joined Hendrix where he began building up a client base. By the time he was 17 he had taken up an offer from The
Horseshoe and was operating from an outbuilding at the back of the Wellingborough pub, and by the time he was 18, had saved enough money to open Malone Barber Co in Silver Street. “I have never been academic and didn’t have a clue what I
wanted to do when I left school,” said Finley, “but once I started to learn how to cut hair, from then on, every day after school and every Saturday, I’d be in there, learning as much as I could. “Because I wanted to show I’d done it properly I applied for an
apprenticeship, but college wouldn’t have me because I didn’t have my Maths and English GCSEs. I worked hard that summer to pass them, and got on the apprenticeship. “You don’t have to do it that way, but I wanted to show I’d learned
the job properly.”
Starting his own salon at T e Horseshoe helped Finley build his
client base. He cuts hair and does beard trims and nasal hair trims for customers of all ages, but understands best what’s on trend and what styles younger customers are looking for. Regular visitors include Northampton Town FC’s Sam Hoskins,
along with a few of his teammates. Finley also sponsors two junior Whitworths teams as well as the Irchester adult squad. “Once I was established, I just saved every penny I could and when the salon came up at the end of last year, I knew it was a risk but I’d wanted my own place for a while, so I just went for it.” He now has three chairs at Malone Barber Co, working alongside
another barber, as well as now having his own apprentice, who trains after school and at weekends the way Finley did. “I have been really inspired by my Dad, Liam Leonard,” said
Finley. “He’s built up his own business and always earned money for the family and he showed me that working hard is how you get what you want. “Eventually, I would like to have more salons, spread a bit further
afi eld. T en one day I would like to travel the world cutting hair and working my way as I go.”
Find out more about Malone Barber Co on Facebook or @malonebarberco on Instagram
ALL THINGS BUSINESS | 36
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
