So this week we caught up with Scott Michaels from Hairbond who i have to say is the busiest man on the planet at the moment along with his team which includes his brother Stefan and some previous “in the chair” interviewees which include Dieuwertje Lynndy and the Geordie Barber Chris Moon.

 

SO SCOTT THANKS FOR AGREEING TO SIT IN OUR CHAIR, NOT EVERYONE WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE SO CAN YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT YOURSELF PLEASE.

 

I am a former hair stylist and salon owner who created Great Britain’s fastest growing hair styling brand Hairbond.

 

Since the launch of Hairbond in Oct 2010, I have executed over 30 international distribution territories globally. My sales results have grown from a standing start to a retail value of over £15m since the brand launched in 2010.

 

I have implemented marketing campaigns with sports stars Simon Mignolet ,James Anderson, Tony Jeffries as well as coordinating a number of professional photo shoots. I have arranged TV and movie product placements throughout Hollywood.

 

I created our Hairbond Artistic Team and enabled them to perform at multiple international trade shows.

 

I promoted the introduction of new products by launching Hairbond trademarked Jack The Ladand Dimensions globally in 2014 and now set to launch Hairbond USA with our USA company SM Laboratories INC in 2015… I said all that without taking a breath……. smile emoticon

 

SO LIKE MOST PEOPLE IN THE INDUSTRY YOU STARTED OFF ON THE TOOLS, WHAT MADE YOU TAKE A SIDE WAYS STEP IN TO CREATING YOUR OWN RANGE STYLING PRODUCTS.

 

One of the reasons why I love our industry so much is because it constantly reminds me why I do what I do.

 

The idea of creating Hairbond was to create the best “British made” hair product brand possible, I love this industry as I started off sweeping floors at 15 years old for £5 a day.

 

I still pick up a pair of clippers every now and then. There has been times along our journey where you will have faced with extreme obstacles and setbacks with. Creating Hairbond has been the most difficult journey I have been on as it is constantly spinning plates as well as constant progression. Its not a job but a way of life.

 

I am lucky to have talented people working with me and sharing the work load.

 

WHAT MADE YOU CHOOSE THE NAME HAIRBOND AND WHAT IF ANYTHING IS UNIQUE ABOUT YOUR PRODUCTS AND WHATS HAVE BEEN THE HARDEST THINGS ABOUT ESTABLISHING THE BRAND..

 

Bond “Love of Hair” – James Bond “Secret Hairstyling Agent” – Bond Street – Prominent British landmark. I also understood to grow the brand we needed to collaborate with people so the word “Bond” is essential. It works on so many levels…

 

Constant investment. Since we launched 5 years ago we have put over £1m back into the brand to establish Hairbond as a market leader and that figure keeps growing.

 

I pay myself the same basic wage as all our other staff as its all about reinvestment. Owning your own hair care brand is not a get rich quick idea but a constant building process..

 

The repercussions are we have to work on a budget and we need to be clever on where we invest. I wouldn’t have it another way .

 

SO WE SEE HAIRBOND HAS SOME PRETTY HOT AMBASSADORS PROMOTING THE BRAND (IM ON ABOUT LYNNDY BY THE WAY NOT CHRIS MOON ALL THOUGH HE DOES SCRUB UP WELL) WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN YOUR AMBASSADORS AND IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE WHAT DO OUR READERS HAVE TO DO TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF BECOMING ONE

 

The social media I think is most effective is “Whats App” Over the last 12 months our Hairbond Creative Director Chris Moon started to assemble a network of Hairbond Ambassadors who had their own business, love Hairbond and wanted to work closely with the brand in its promotion.

We set up a Hairbond Whats App group and it has been amazing. our ambassadors have really stepped up their game and we network regularly as well it gives the ambassadors a chance to work with us at industry shows.

 

SCOTT THE INDUSTRY IS REALLY PICKING UP MOMENTUM AT THE MOMENT WHERE DO YOU SEE BOTH THE INDUSTRY AND HAIRBOND IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

 

Our plan long term is to be the biggest and best haircare brand we can be. Whether that’s moving into new overseas markets or moving into the electrical market.

 

Our concept is simple that we do not compromise on quality. I personally think we will be number one for hair styling as people always go for quality in the end. 

 

In my experience traveling the world meeting with our 30 international distributors I believe our industry is the strongest in the world. I think gone of the days where everyone is fighting for £5 haircuts like 10-15 years ago.

 

The truth is the consumer whats quality and our industry is supplying it.

 

WE HAVE TO STOP AT 5 QUESTIONS SCOTT, HOWEVER BEFORE WE GO WE NEED TO KNOW HOW SHAWN IS DOING SINCE RETIRING FROM THE WORLD OF WRESTLING IN THE WWF………….. SHAWN IS RELATED TO YOU ISN’T HE.

 

Unfortunately Shawn Michaels is not a relative but I believe he copied my surname though.

My friend and Hairbond fan Wade Barrett is a fantastic wrestler in the WWE so if I need help tracking him down when I am back over in the USA later this month he is on hand to help.

 

If you have any questions for Scott please drop them in the comments box below and he (Or one of the hair bond team as i know hes busy at the moment) will get back to you.