A face known to many in Armagh, you could guarantee someone you know has sat in this particular barber’s seat at one stage in their life.
Mark McSherry – proprietor of The Barber SRSB at Lower English Street in the city – is one of the longest standing barber shops in Armagh.
Mark has been serving fresh fades and trims for over two decades – seeing countless hair trends (the good and the bad) in those 25 years!
We caught up with Mark to find out the highs and lows of his career to date and some secret skills you may not know he has!
Why did you choose being a Barber as a career?
I actually came into barbering later in life. Before that I worked as a carpenter, joiner and building contractor for many years. Ironically, barbering was something I could have chosen when I was younger, but football won out. As a teenager I was on Glenavon FC’s books and because Saturdays were the busiest day in a barber shop, I would have had to give football up. In the late 1990s I decided to retrain as barbering was always something I wanted to do. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
There are a few things I’m proud of. Gaining my City & Guilds qualifications in Hairdressing and Barbering and receiving an award for my achievements, which led to being featured on BBC Newsline, was a proud moment. Going on to teach and lecture City & Guilds Level 2 Hairdressing and Barbering, as well as Level 3 Shaving at Newry College, was something I never imagined when I first picked up a pair of clippers.
I’m also proud that I wasn’t afraid to start again later in life. Changing careers isn’t easy, but it opened doors and opportunities I never expected.
Most recently I was honoured to receive a Judges’ Special Recognition Award from the barbering industry. I have also received a Scouts Ireland Community Award for charity and community work, an award only presented every seven years, and in 2015 I was honoured to receive the final Armagh City and District Council Mayor’s Award for Services to the Community. Receiving recognition is always appreciated, but helping people has always been the most rewarding part.
One of my greatest achievements is simply still being here 25 years later. In a time when many small businesses struggle to survive, I’m proud to still be serving customers and welcoming generations of families through the door.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
Without doubt it’s the people. A haircut or shave is only part of the service. I enjoy the conversations, the friendships and seeing people leave smiling. Sometimes you can tell when someone is having a bad day and if you can lift their spirits, even for a few minutes, that’s just as important as the haircut itself.
One area of my work that gives me particular satisfaction is helping clients who suffer from hair loss through hair replacement systems. Hair loss can have a huge effect on a person’s confidence and self-esteem. Seeing someone look in the mirror and smile again, or regain confidence they thought they had lost, is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. It’s about much more than hair – it’s about helping people feel like themselves again.
What has been the biggest challenge in your job?
Maintaining high standards every day. Clients have lots of choices, so you have to keep raising the bar and never become complacent. If you provide a good service, treat people well and keep your standards high, clients will come back. To do that, you have to genuinely love what you do.
What is the most helpful advice that you have been given?
My granny always used to say, ‘You give good, you get good’. It’s a simple piece of advice but one I’ve tried to live by all my life. Treat people with kindness and respect and good things tend to come back around.
If you could choose anything else to do, what would it be?
I’ve always liked working with my hands and creating things, so I’d probably still be doing something practical. But if I wasn’t a barber, I’d love to have been a nurse or worked in a care home. Helping people and giving something back has always been important to me.
What do you think your best quality is?
Being myself. I’m easy-going, honest and straightforward. I believe in treating people how I’d like to be treated and not pretending to be someone I’m not. Most importantly, I try to be caring and kind to others.
Name three things that you like doing outside of work?
That’s a hard one, but these three maybe:
•Working on my house and DIY projects
• Restoring and riding classic Vespa and Lambretta scooters, which has been a passion since I was 16.
•Following Manchester United, my favourite team, and getting across to Old Trafford whenever I can.
Tell us about a secret skill that we don’t know you have.
Most people know me as a barber, but not everyone knows I can turn my hand to most things.
My background as a joiner means I enjoy renovating, building and fixing things. Another hidden talent might be presenting shows as a DJ on Armagh City Radio and sharing my love of music with listeners every week. After all it’s good for the Soul!
What is your most prized possession?
My family and my son mean more to me than anything, and I can’t not mention my dog Shadow…although I know they aren’t really possessions.
The older I’ve got, the more I’ve realised that good health is something we should never take for granted. Life is short, and health is at the top of any list for me all day long!
Beyond that, my Vespa and Lambretta scooters have been part of my life and passion for decades and hold many great memories.
If you were to watch a band or singer live, who would it be?
I’ve always loved live music and have been lucky enough to see many of my favourites over the years. This year alone I’ve got Billy Ocean, The Commitments, The Blades and Dexys coming up. If I had to choose, though, it would always be The Specials and The Who, my top two bands growing up…Thankfully I’ve seen both many times and I’d never get tired of them.
Dead or alive, who would you most want to meet and why?
My first choice would be my two grandfathers, who both passed away young before I had the chance to know them.
As for famous people, it would have to be Elvis Presley. I’ve always loved his music and to me he’ll always be The King. Seeing him perform live and having the chance to meet him would have been unforgettable.
