Legends Barber Founder Sheldon Tatchell on Building a Legendary Brand in South Africa
Sheldon Tatchell started cutting hair when he was 14 to escape the realities of living in poverty. Learning his skills from the local barbers in the area, Sheldon would cut hair for free to master his craft. In 2011, Sheldon set up his pop-up barbershop on the stoep of his cousin’s internet Café, cutting hair on the weekends while he worked at Standard Bank. He would ride his scooter to people’s houses at night, after work, to cut hair until he eventually realised that this was his calling and he quit corporate to pursue his passion full time. And Legends Barber was born. Within the first 3 years of operating, Legends had expanded to 5 stores and has now grown to over 70 across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, and Namibia. Sheldon’s passion lies not just in his Barbershop empire, but in the impact he is making on those around him. He set up the Legends training and development centre to empower aspiring barbers who, upon graduation, would get the opportunity to work at a Legends Barbershop. It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Sheldon though, soon after opening his first shop, it was closed down after leaving it in the care of his business partner at the time, leaving him with nothing. As an entrepreneur, this moment made Sheldon question if his dream was a step too far. Today Legends Barber is the number 1 rated barbershop in South Africa, with competitors looking to Legends for the next innovations in the industry. Their line of hair care products has disrupted global FMCG brands, being available in major South African retailers such as Takealot, Dis-chem, Clicks, and Spar. Sheldon is a pioneer in his field, where others would never look at haircare as a scalable business, he has built a R500 million+ brand with a vision of 200 shops, a billion in sales, and a Legends Barber in every African country. In this episode, Sheldon discusses his journey from humble beginnings to leading a barbershop empire, touching on key topics such as the influence of his upbringing, the anticipated growth of the African personal care market, and Legends' unique selling propositions. He also shares insights into his approach to innovation, the role of mentorship, and how he maintains the culture and standard of excellence within his growing franchise. Additionally, Sheldon talks about his experiences at The Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship and his ambitious vision for the future of Legends Barber.
