A Kilmarnock barbers are celebrating a quarter of a century ‘Handling Hair’ this month.
The John Finnie Street shop, owned by husband and wife Brian and Karen Handling, is toasting 25 years in business with some of their most loyal customers.
Over 30 long-serving clients were in the shop last week to join staff for a picture to mark the occasion.
Opened in March 1993, Handling Hair was originally situated in Nelson Street after Brian and Karen left Croppers – having plied their trade there for 10 years.
Eleven years later, they relocated to John Finnie Street where business is still booming.
Brian and Karen, as well as current staff members Paige Houston and Hannah McDonald, are kept busy day-in, day-out by customers young and old – and some of those have been on the 25 year journey too.
Said Brian: “We feel lucky to have lasted as long in business as we have done.
“That’s thanks to our many loyal customers who have been with us since the very beginning, as well as the others who have joined us along the way.
“With there being around 100 hairdressers in Kilmarnock nowadays, we are very grateful for the great customers we have here.
“And for many of them it’s a different colour of hair I’m cutting now compared to when we first opened!”
The team at Handling Hair are members of the Kilmarnock Business Association.
Brian got the chance to meet Prince Charles in May 2012 on behalf of the group.
As well as that, Ayrshire College have a tie in with the shop and some of their hairdressing students visit on work experience regularly.
As part of the anniversary celebration, Handling Hair will be having a raffle for their customers.
There is a voucher for the Jefferson, hair products and other goodies up for grabs.
The team will also run other promotions as the year goes on.
Brian added: “We have had some wonderful times over the past 25 years and we want to say a big thank you to everyone – staff and customers – from over the years.
“We’re looking forward to the future.”
