Laois Chamber CEO Caroline Hoffman caught up with Laois Chamber member Gary Devane, owner of Portland Barbers located in Laois Shopping Centre, Portlaoise.
Tell us a bit about Portland Barbers and the services you offer?
Portland Barbers is based at 26A Laois Shopping Centre and we offer a wide range of services to our loyal clients, including traditional gents cuts, boy cuts, fades and beard trims, as well as hot towel shaves.
Portland Barbers opened its first store in 2001, how has the business evolved in that time?
Portland Barbers celebrated 20 years in business in December 2021, and celebrations will be held soon.
Over time, we had to evolve in order to keep up with the everchanging trends within the industry. Although we attended many seminars and workshops, we still never lost our code of “old traditions – new techniques’, and as with all the modern trends the traditional training that was instilled never changed.
We have also tried to be one step ahead of the game, and in the last few years we have developed our own App where clients can download and book in for their haircuts with their chosen barber thus saving time and not waiting.
We also have a receptionist to greet our customers and assist anyone who would like to book an appointment or have any other related queries.
Can you highlight some recent key achievements/news at Portland Barbers?
Portland Barbers has won many awards over the years and in 2019 won The Irish Hair & Beauty Awards’ Men’s Stylist of The Year.
Only within the last two weeks we won the EU Business News Irish Enterprise Awards 2022 ‘Barber Shop of the Year – County Laois’.
In 2019 we opened our hair Clinic www.portlandhairclinic.ie where we deal with hair and scalp issues including hair loss in men.
We are the only clinic to offer the CNC Hair Replacement System for Men, a revolutionary prosthetic 3D Hair Replacement System that lets clients live life to the full without compromise.
What trends in the hair care services have you observed in your time as Owner of Portland Barbers?
The biggest trend we have seen is the skin fade and today we can see trends starting to move towards more of a tapered look and also the odd mullet, as it takes some man to be able to wear a mullet cut!
What is the most valuable piece of advice you can give?
The most valuable piece of advice is to value yourself and your work, get good training and never ever stop learning.
Always be a team player as without a good team behind you, it’s nothing.
Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time with Portland Barbers?
In 5 years’ time I see Portland Barbers being even more successful. With our ongoing training and our commitment to always evolve, we aim to be one of the top names in the industry.
Visit www.portlandgrooming.ie
Business News roundup
The Abbeyleix Climate Action Project has been awarded the prestigious Supporting Sustainable Communities award in the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards.
The range of offerings at the Solas Eco Garden Centre Farmers Market in Portarlington continues to expand.
Congratulations to VIMAR Digital Marketing, Most Client-Focused SEO Digital Marketing Agency 2022 Winner in the EU Business News Irish Enterprise Awards.
ecently, released, the Transitional Protocol will help businesses manage a safe return to the workplace. It includes guidance and best practice on maintaining a Covid-19 response plan, communicating with staff and measures to prevent infection. Read here.
Have you seen the Connect 2 Laois brochure? Laois is Ireland’s strategically best placed county for doing business outside of Dublin. Find it here.
Business Supports
The Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme has been extended until June 2022. If you are a primary producer, you could be eligible to apply for a loan from €10,000 to €1 million up to 5.5 years. Find out more.
The Fáilte Ireland Strategic Tourism Transport Business Continuity Scheme will support tourism transport operators including Coach Tourism Operators, Tourism Chauffeur, Limousine Services, Tourism Vehicle Rental & Escorted Private Tours
The SEAI Energy Management guide outlines a step-by-step approach to reducing energy costs and boosting your bottom line.
What’s Coming Up?
LAOIS CHAMBER NETWORKING – Register for Laois Chamber’s next Networking Event, taking place in the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise on Thursday 24th February 2022 from 8.30am to 9.30am.
We will be joined by Zandra Horgan of HFS Accountants and Customs, who will give a presentation on accounting, EU customs and exports. Registration is essential, please e-mail info@laoischamber.ie to register.
LEAN FOR MICRO – To learn how you can optimise your business for maximum results with the Local Enterprise Office LEAN for MICRO programme, check out here.
NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT – The Local Enterprise Office Laois’ ‘New Product Development Programme’ is a brand new series of blended workshop sessions to help your Laois Business design and create new products for market.
Their blended online and onsite workshops, with MakePort – Makerspace Portarlington and Portarlington Enterprise Centre, will enable you to create a development strategy for your product ideas and assist you in visualising and prototyping your products.
Taking place on 10th and 31st March, 09.30am – 1pm (Online) and on 24th March 9.30am – 4.30pm (Portarlington) Find more course information and book now here.
The Laois Today Business Briefing is brought to you in association with Laois Chamber. Interested in joining Laois Chamber? Visit www.laoischamber.ie or e-mail info@laoischamber.ie .
