We Mean Business: ‘We’ve had to put our prices up to keep our staff,’ says long-standing barber shop
The owner of a long-standing Northampton barber shop says she has had to put their prices up to keep the staff members providing the high quality service they are known for.
Launched in February, the Chronicle & Echo’s new campaign hopes to help curb future business closures after a bleak start to 2026 across the town.
The twice-weekly stories spotlight what Northampton stands to lose if your favourite businesses were to close down, highlight the biggest challenges they currently face, and encourage greater support from the powers that be and the community before it is too late.
G’s Barbers, located in Billing Garden Village, is a female-owned venture offering all aspects of gents barbering services – from haircuts to face shaves.
It was founded by Gaynor Smith back in November 2012 and she has more than 30 years of experience in the industry.
As Gaynor is from Thorplands, it made sense to establish her business nearby and she was drawn in by the new and unique huts installed at Billing Garden Village at the time.
Let’s take a look at what Gaynor had to say…
How would you summarise your experience of running an independent business in Northampton at the moment?
“It’s really good but at the same time it’s tough at the moment,” she said. “With the climate changing and everything going up, like national insurance and minimum wage, it’s difficult.
“There are so many barbers around, at least 20 plus extra barbers in the town now, but we’ve got loyal customers and great people who have kept us going for the past nearly 14 years.”
Although G’s Barbers has had to increase their prices recently to cover all the expenses that have gone up, Gaynor is pleased to remain “competitive” in a saturated market.
What are the biggest challenges you currently face as a business owner, and what impact do these have on the daily running of your venture?
Gaynor continued: “Bills, electricity, rent, stock costs and wages, but our staff are worth it. We’ve had no choice but to put the prices up slightly. Certain barbers’ prices are lower than us but we try to give the best quality service we possibly can. We’ve had to put our prices up to keep our staff.”
What more do you believe could be done by the local authority and national government to minimise your current challenges and ensure your survival throughout 2026?
“Barbers are saying the same thing,” said Gaynor. “They need to regulate our trade better. Anyone can open a barber shop, you don’t need a professional NVQ anymore. Anyone could open one if they really wanted to and start cutting hair. There are so many popping up.
“There are that many to choose from that it’s not doing the ones that have been round the longest and learnt the proper way any favours. There are six-week courses out there now and it took me two years to train for my NVQ. It’s killing our trade.”
What do you believe Northampton stands to lose if your business were to close down? What unique offerings do you bring to the town that would be sorely missed?
Gaynor said: “The community side of things. We get to know our customers and some become friends. There’s a community feel at Billing Garden Village and a lot of the clientele from the local area know our names.”
What small actions can our readers and the Northampton community take to support your business in 2026?
“Support us to keep going and stay local,” Gaynor concluded. “We have noticed some people have gone from four week to six-to-eight week haircuts, and we understand money’s tight.”