Shepherds in Birmingham city centre is a triumph of industrial chic and Scandinavian-inspired design.
Shepherds takes inspiration from modernist and Scandinavian styles with its clean white walls, pure and simple wooden shelving, and a framed art feature wall. Shepherds owner David Sturgeon has successfully created a space that looks beautiful but not busy and takes inspiration from the turbine hall at the Tate Modern.
“I was keen to create a space where you truly appreciate the effort and love that went into its design,” explains David. Small details like specially-designed art and the tight colour scheme bring David’s ambition to life. He says: “The warm yellow shade reflects the friendly, welcoming service we hold at the very heart of the Shepherds experience. The grey and black tones reflect the efficiency and confidence we have in our service." The hexagon black and white floor tiles create a natural divide between retail and barbering services and are inspired by New York barbershops and delis.
Previously at a London barbershop chain, David managed six stores and ran the training and development of the in-house team. During his time with the brand, he identified a gap in the market. He dreamed of creating a place where old fashioned wet shaves could be offered alongside modern hairdressing in an authentic, retail environment and this was how Shepherds was born.
The barbershop sits in the beautiful Piccadilly Arcade which sees a large footfall of office workers and houses a bespoke selection of independent businesses.
The renovation of the unit took a total of five months as David designed and built the shop predominately by himself. The process wasn’t without its ups and downs – a faulty boiler and a flood made it a rollercoaster renovation. Fortunately, the calm has arrived after the storm.
In fact, calm is a word that David often uses when he talks about the barbershop. “I kept the reception and waiting area simple, calm and uncluttered,” explains David. “The salon only has three barber chairs and we only have three waiting chairs. We are an appointment-based salon and we don’t want to have queues of clients waiting. We want to maintain a calm atmosphere.” A peaceful, stylish refuge for modern gentlemen’s grooming is exactly what David has created with Shepherds.
David’s Top Tips
Know your budget. At the start of the project I was so immersed in the construction I didn’t keep on top of my spending. I feel that I could have managed my budget better for opening costs.
Be part of the construction. Get your hands dirty, there is no better feeling than enjoying the results of something you’ve made yourself.
A well-structured business plan is key. Remember it is not only for day one – it’s for every day.
