The 360 Company Blog

Joshua's Kids Cuts

Having your hair cut has never been so much fun

Remember when you were young and your mum took you for a haircut? It probably wasn't your favourite pastime. A lot of waiting around and then trying to sit very still while you had a quick short, back and sides.
But imagine if you could have visited a salon decorated with flags and balloons. A place where you were given biscuits and sweets when you arrived, played with toys or had your nails painted while you waited, met Captain Jack, Batman or Spiderman, then sat in a chair shaped like a car and watched a kids' DVD while your hair was trimmed.
Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Let us introduce you to Joshua's Kids Cuts.

Inspired by Teletubbies

This is no ordinary hairdressing salon. Opened in 1998 as a barber's shop in Mumbles, near Swansea, owner Joanne Joshua-Bevan, thought it would be nice to add a TV and video as an extra perk for customers. On discovering how hugely popular the children's videos were proving, she decided to give the shop a complete makeover to become a child-focused zone.
After moving the barber's side of it, for the older generations, to the unit next door, Joanne got to work with some redecoration. And so Joshua's Kids Cuts was born.

The Wow factor

Over the last 16 years it's developed into the most amazing place for children. Decked out in a circus theme, the salon is bursting with life. Bunting hangs from the walls, along with funky shaped lights, and shelves brimming over with masses of toys. Brightly coloured butterflies, bumble bees and pom-poms spring down from the ceiling. There's a child-sized sweet trolley, glitter nail varnish bar, play kitchen, and rocking horse for children to amuse themselves with while they wait.
Said owner, Joanne, "The reaction from kids and parents when they first visit is 'Wow, we've never seen anything like this.' It can be difficult taking children to have their hair cut, so the idea is to make it as much fun as possible for them here."
It's proved so successful that the room can also now be hired privately as a fabulous kids' pamper party location.

Worldwide customers

Clients are aged anything from birth up to 100. Those that want to can progress to the barber's unit next door as they get older. They don't just come from the Mumbles area, either.
Said Joanne, "We have regular customers from London, Scotland, Sweden, Singapore and Dubai. People travel to visit friends and family in the area and then make sure they always include a haircut at our shop during their stay." A Visit from Spiderman

What next?

Well aware that you shouldn't sit back on your laurels in business, Joanne is constantly coming up with new ideas.
"We redecorated again last year," she explained, "and we've just added a park bench painted in bright colours to match the circus theme."
And after a visit from Peppa pig during the last half-term, Joanne is already thinking about which characters to book for the summer holidays. Perhaps we'll pop in for a trim so we can find out who it is.

Take a look around Joshua's Kids Cuts in the tour below. Or visit in person at Castleton Walk Arcade, Newton Road, The Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4AX Tel: 01792 367774
Find their website at www.joshuasofmumbles.com, Facebook at facebook.com/joshuas.kidscuts and Twitter at @joshuascuts.

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Date: 27 June 2014
Author: The 360 Company