A BARBER shop in Chard that has been open for almost 19 years has been named the Chard and Ilminster News Hairdresser of the Year 2025.
Hair’s Johnny is a local gents Barber in Unit 5 Springfellow Gallery Holyrood Street, Chard, offering a trim to anyone in Chard and the surrounding areas by appointment only.
John or "Johnny" Hewitt the owner said in an interview with the Chard and Ilminster News: “I am very pleased, obviously it was kind of a shock, it’s a popularity contest and its nice to know that people voted for me.
“It feels good hearing it. I feel very honoured.”
READ MORE: Chard and Ilminster News Hairdresser of the Year announced
Hair’s Johnny has been open for almost 19 years, with Mr Hewitt having worked as a barber in Chard for the last 25 years – starting as an apprentice in 2000 and then opening his own shop in 2006.
He said: “When I started in 2000 sweeping the floor, I started at the bottom, worked my way up.”
Whilst Covid-19 and the lockdown was a struggle for all businesses, John found that despite missing interacting with his customers on a more personal basis changing to an appointment-only system helped his business grow.
He said: “I was really unsure if it was ever going to work – it was always a walk-in barber – then covid struck and forced me to go to appointments and since then I feel that the business has exploded.
“The hardest part of covid was not being able to communicate with my customers.”
In the lead up to winning this award John has also seen the business boom with non-stop bookings, appointments and meeting new faces.
He hopes that through being named the Hairdresser of the Year he will be able to bring in even more new people and has said that the award has helped boost his passion.
He said: “The business has really blown up in the last 24 months, it’s crazy.
“I am hoping to draw in new faces. It would be nice to see new faces along with my regulars as well.
“It has never felt so good business wise, like passion for the job as it is now and winning this tip it that way now. I am 41 years old; I have been doing it since I was 16 – I feel more passionate now than I ever have done.”
When reflecting on the keys to his success John Hewitt said he feels consistency is key and getting to know his customers.
He said: “Being consistent in your work and trying to go the extra mile [is key], trying to remember people, their name or a little about them so when they sit in the chair you can ask how their children are, knowing they have children.
“That way they are not flying in and out and being forgotten, you are trying to make them feel important when in the shop.”
The certificate is currently displayed in his shop in “pride of place” and John has thanked the community for all their support over the years.
He said: “A massive thank you to everybody who took the time to vote. It really does mean a lot.”
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