Four years ago, this conversation caused a lot of anger in the comments. Looking back, I think the pressures I was describing have become harder to ignore. I’ve had some brilliant conversations with @thenoblebarberpodcast over the years. Often, a short clip from a much longer discussion became the talking point. On one occasion, I argued that haircut prices would need to reach £40–£50 for many shops to grow beyond the VAT threshold while supporting decent wages, overheads and a worthwhile profit. The comment section was wild. It was a conversation about what it actually costs to build a sustainable business. In my final interview, I warned that squeezed margins would push more people towards self-employment and make it harder for businesses to bring new people into the industry. I also expected more barbers to turn towards education, mentoring and other revenue streams as earning a sustainable living from cutting became harder. Teaching has real value. But we should ask what ha...