A fleet of mobile barbershops has landed in Greater Manchester, offering haircuts, beard trims and a safe space to talk about mental health.
TRIM-IT is the UK’s first app-powered mobile barbershop service, and after first launching in London has now made its way up north, partnering with a network of local barbers.
You can order a barber to your home, office or even the gym using the app or the website, with a fully heated barbershop-on-wheels coming straight to you.
Each one-on-one experience, with a barber of your choice, includes a full service and complimentary product, depending on stock.
TRIM-IT’s barbers are offered mental health training
As well as helping local barbers to build their own businesses, TRIM-IT has partnered with men’s personal care brand Harry’s, who stock the mobile barbershops with products and connect TRIM-IT with Shout, a support service that provides mental health training to the barbers.
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It means that you can get a fresh trim, wherever you are in Manchester, as well as a space where you can open up.
Richard, one of TRIM-IT’s barber partners, said: “Manchester being my home and birthplace, knowing how amazing Mancs are as people, I knew they would love this concept and embrace it so much.
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TRIM-IT has built a network of barbers in Manchester
“Barbering is such an amazing service – to give one person a service where they can relax, take the stresses of day to day life off their shoulders.
“Get to the end and they almost become a different person with a smile on their face, feel great about themselves and to just be able to cheer someone up or just give them a good conversation.
“Giving something back has been something that I wanted to do and have done in the past in terms of trying to give back a little bit, especially around this time of year because I know a lot of lads do struggle.
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Each of the mobile barbershops is fully heated.
“Personally, I went through some difficulties when I left the military myself, I really struggled with a lot of things, so basically when I moved back to Salford the Royal British Legion helped me out quite a lot and did quite a lot for me so being in a position where I can give back now is a big thing.”
Another barber partner, Abdul, said: “It’s not just a barbershop, it’s a place I like to make people feel safe, comfortable and relaxed.
“I’ve always found speaking to a stranger about mental health is easier than a family member.
“I’m all ears and my barber van door is alway open for those struggling to speak out.”
Christmas can be a difficult time of the year for many people – Shout is a 24/7 text message support service where you can talk to a trained volunteer.
Text ‘MATE’ to 85258 to start a conversation.
And if you want to speak to your barber from the convenience of a mobile barbershop, you can book an appointment through booking.trimit.app.
Featured image: TRIM-IT
Style
An exclusive pop-up vintage clothing and charity market is coming to Manchester Arndale
Danny Jones
Love shopping locally, independently and sustainably and from the likes of traders and regional markets? Well, this one is tailor-made for you (pun intended), because a Greater Manchester favourite is coming to the city centre.
Better still, you can do your bit for charity whilst you’re at it.
That’s right: Salford’s former but ever superb CharitySuper.Mkt is making its way from Media City to central Manchester for the very first time.
Popping up at the Arndale for its city centre debut, Exchange Court will be taken over by a sea of indies and vintage clobber for three whole days.
Credit: Press shot (supplied via Charity Super.Mkt)
Boasting not only some native but even national history, the UK’s first multi-charity pre-loved fashion store boasts countless curated charity finds.
From second-hand gems and desirable denim, to retro and cult favourite football shirts and more, there’ll be plenty to get your hands on – all whilst supporting charities from nearby and all over the country.
Co-founded by Northern designer Wayne Hemingway MBE – whose Red or Dead footwear brand and fashion label began inAfflecks Palace and over on King Street – the Manc roots behind this run deep.
Notably, this upcoming and limited-time-only event marks a significant milestone for the initiative, too, as this will be their biggest activation since their highly successful two-month stint at the Quayside shopping complex.
The popular residency was only relatively short-lived, but it’s safe to say that it was much-loved and well-received by plenty more than justSalfordians.
Getting underway this month, the pop-up will kick off from 9am on Friday, 10 July, running across the entire weekend.
Participating charities include The British Heart Foundation and the RSPCA, who have already seen support through more than 10,000 vintage items being resold in an effort to raise important funds from theMedia City pop-up alone.
This also meant that more than three tonnes of textile waste were diverted from landfill, and over 25 tonnes of CO₂ emissions were offset, not to mention upwards of 4,500 cubic metres of water were saved in the process. Brilliant stuff.
Making its maiden appearance in Manchester city centre, this summer’s Charity Super.Mkt atManchester Arndale is a must-not-miss; you can find the opening times for each of the days down below:
Cult beauty brand P.Louise to open world-first megastore in Manchester
Daisy Jackson
Viral make-up brand P.Louise has finally got the keys to P.Louise City, a world-first immersive beauty megastore in Manchester.
The brand-new destination for all things beauty will be launching an enormous retail space at Trafford Palazzo, spanning a whopping 19,000 sq ft and two floors.
The Manchester-born brand wants to combine shopping, entertainment, education, and community under one roof, hoping to recreate the magical feeling of ‘walking through the gates at a Disney park’.
The news of P.Louise City follows its retail reinvention with Boots stores across the UK, where they installed pink castle facades, giant gondolas, branded lorries, and loads more.
Now, the number-one-rated TikTok shop beauty brand is opening a world-first ‘beauty playground’, with immersive environments, interactive experiences, content creation opportunities, and education spaces.
P.Louise founder and CEO Paige Williams said: “We have had opportunities to go into retail before but I have always said we’d only do it if we could do it our way.
“Launching in Boots was a huge milestone for us because it brought P.Louise to the high street for the very first time, but P.Louise City takes that experience to another level. This isn’t just a store, it is our world brought to life.
“Everything we do is about creating memorable moments for our community and giving them bigger and better ways to connect with the brand they love, and that’s exactly what P.Louise City is all about.”
Leandra Dwyer, Asset Manager at Peel Retail & Leisure, said: “The opening of P.Louise’s first permanent flagship store at Trafford Palazzo marks a significant milestone for the brand and a proud moment for our team.
“The bold and immersive retail concept set to launch at P. Louise’s city store aligns seamlessly with the core vision of Trafford Palazzo – to deliver an extraordinary blend of experiential shopping and entertainment at TraffordCity, the UK’s foremost retail and leisure destination.”
P.Louise City is set to open at Trafford Palazzo in Manchester next month.
The Manc -
20th December 2021 
