Modern Barber

What Modern Barber does

Modern Barber is a UK-based digital trade media title serving the barbering industry, operated by M Squared Media Ltd and owned by the Professional Beauty Group. The platform delivers editorial content covering business advice, training and education, trends and inspiration, barbershop interiors, mental health resources, and industry news to working barbers, barbershop owners, and apprentices. Following the wind-down of print editions in late 2024, the title transitioned fully online in 2025.

The company monetises through two primary streams: digital advertising and sponsored content on the modernbarber.co.uk platform, and event-based revenue from the Modern Barber Awards, the Modern Barber Stage at Salon International, and Barber Connect. Revenue is generated via ticket sales, sponsorship packages, exhibitor fees, and category sponsorships from grooming brands such as Wahl, ANDIS, American Crew, BaByliss PRO, and STMNT Grooming Goods. Distribution is multi-channel, combining the website, Instagram, X/Twitter, and email newsletters with in-person event activation across the UK hair and beauty sector.

The company is privately held, headquartered in London, and operates with approximately 9 employees. It functions as part of a broader Professional Beauty Group portfolio that includes Hairdressers Journal International and co-operates with Trades Exhibitions Ltd on industry events. No external funding rounds, M&A activity, or AI/technology capabilities are disclosed in the available data.

Name

Modern Barber

Legal name

M Squared Media Ltd

Website

https://modernbarber.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Modern Barber is a UK digital trade publication and event operator for the barbering industry, owned by Professional Beauty Group. It serves working barbers, barbershop owners, and apprentices with editorial content, the annual Modern Barber Awards, and presence at Salon International and Barber Connect.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Barbering Industry Trade Media

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSALABAI

Barber Training, Apprenticeship & Education

Home & Personal Services/Personal Care & Beauty Services/Barber Shops

SECONDARYEDAOALAC

Barbering

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Beauty, Cosmetology & Personal Care Training

Keywords

• Barbering industry media
• Barber industry news
• Professional barber education
• Barbering trade events
• Barbering content platform

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Digital Magazine & Content Platform: Modern Barber transitioned to a fully digital platform in 2025, moving all content online. The platform serves as an editorial and educational resource for the barbering industry, monetised through advertising, sponsored content, and event partnerships.
2. Events & Awards: Modern Barber organises and hosts events including the Modern Barber Awards, the Modern Barber Stage at Salon International, and Barber Connect. Revenue is generated through ticket sales, sponsorship packages, and exhibitor fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Modern Barber is a UK trade-media brand that publishes a digital magazine and editorial platform delivering barbering industry news, business advice, education and training resources, trend inspiration, barbershop interior coverage, and mental health content for working barbers and barbershop owners. It also produces industry-facing live experiences through the Modern Barber Awards, the Modern Barber Stage at Salon International, and Barber Connect, generating revenue from advertising, sponsored content, awards sponsorship packages, and event partnerships.

Product overview

Modern Barber is a digital-first media platform serving the UK barbering industry, operated by Professional Beauty Group. The company offers a portfolio of products including a digital magazine with industry news, trends, business advice, and inspiration; the Modern Barber Awards (annual industry awards); Barber Connect (trade exhibition); and presence at Salon International. Additional offerings include educational content, the Raw Talent Barbering Competition, and mental health resources for the barbering community. The platform transitioned from print to fully digital publishing in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Modern Barber Digital Magazine A digital trade magazine delivering UK barbering industry news, trends, business advice, training resources, inspiration, and community content to professional barbers and barbershop owners.
• Modern Barber Awards Annual awards ceremony recognising outstanding customer service, treatment delivery, and innovation in the UK barbering industry across categories including Newcomer, Social Barber, Educator, Team, Shop Interior, Manager, Client Experience, Business Leader, Photographic Image, Community Hero, and All Round Barber.
• Barber Connect Trade Exhibition An industry trade exhibition providing education stages, competitions, and networking opportunities for the UK barbering community, with Modern Barber programming the dedicated Modern Barber Stage.
• Modern Barber Stage at Salon International A dedicated exhibitor space and education stage for the UK barbering community hosted within the Salon International hair-and-beauty trade exhibition, featuring live demonstrations, educational content, and the Modern Barber Awards ceremony.
• Barbering Education Content A dedicated education content hub covering barbering techniques, textured hair training, clipper mastery, styling tips, college guidance, and industry insights for professional barbers.
• Raw Talent Barbering Competition A barbering competition designed to showcase and recognise emerging talent within the industry.
• Mental Health Support Resources Mental health support resources and content for barbers, including awareness-week programming, expert guidance, and community support information.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 300 leading barber industry figures attended the Modern Barber Awards 2024
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• WahlmajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Wahl has been announced as the sponsor for the Modern Barber Stage at Salon International 2026, supporting one of the key educational stages at the UK's premier barbering trade event.
• Salon InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Salon International is the UK's premier hair and beauty trade exhibition, at which Modern Barber hosts the Modern Barber Stage featuring educational content, live demonstrations, and the Modern Barber Awards ceremony. Wahl is sponsor for 2026.
• Barber ConnectmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Barber Connect is a key industry event co-presented with Modern Barber, featuring the Modern Barber Stage with live demonstrations, education sessions, and a competitions area. Modern Barber curates the stage content and sponsors categories including Community Hero.
• Professional Beauty GroupcoreOthers · 1 January 2025Modern Barber is part of the Professional Beauty Group, which also publishes Hairdressers Journal International. The Professional Beauty Group manages the group's digital and event presence in the hair and beauty sector.
• SuperdryminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Superdry hosted a fashion brand launch event at the Murdock London Soho barbershop, featuring influencers, journalists, and celebrities including David Gandy and Ronan Keating. The event was covered in Modern Barber.
• ANDISminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023ANDIS sponsored the Newcomer and Client Experience categories at the Modern Barber Awards 2024, providing category sponsorship and prize support.
• American CrewminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023American Crew sponsored the Educator and Team categories at the Modern Barber Awards 2024.
• STMNT Grooming GoodsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023STMNT Grooming Goods sponsored the Shop Interior and Photographic Image categories at the Modern Barber Awards 2024.
• BaByliss PROminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023BaByliss PRO sponsored the All Round Barber category, the top individual award at the Modern Barber Awards 2024.
• Barber BladesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Barber Blades sponsored the Social Barber category at the Modern Barber Awards 2024.
• M Squared Media LtdcoreOthersM Squared Media Ltd is the owner and operator of modernbarber.co.uk, alongside Trades Exhibitions Ltd. Together they operate exhibitions, conferences, awards, and magazine publications for the hair and beauty industry.
• Trades Exhibitions LtdcoreOthersTrades Exhibitions Ltd co-operates with M Squared Media Ltd to run exhibitions, conferences, awards and magazine publications including Modern Barber, Salon International, and Barber Connect.
• NHS (UK National Health Service)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMurdock London barbershops collaborated with the NHS for the 'London, you good?' campaign aimed at 18-25-year-old Londoners offering mental health tips. Murdock London's barbers have been featured in Modern Barber's mental health content.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Behind The Chair: Long-established US professional hair industry publication combining digital content, print, awards, and education. Directly comparable in business model: trade media, sponsored editorial, and annual awards serving professional stylists and barbers.
• Hairdressers Journal International (HJI): UK hair industry trade publication operated within the same Professional Beauty Group as Modern Barber. It uses the same magazine-plus-events-plus-awards business model, making it the closest direct comparable for editorial product, audience monetisation, and parent-company context.
• Professional Beauty (UK magazine): UK beauty industry trade title also part of the Professional Beauty Group. Comparable digital magazine, advertising, and event-driven revenue model, and shares audience overlap with Modern Barber through the Salon International platform.
• Salon Magazine (UK): UK salon industry publication providing news, business advice, and trends to salon owners and stylists. Comparable audience (UK-based hair and beauty professionals) and similar editorial-plus-advertising revenue mix, though it overlaps Modern Barber's barbering niche rather than competing head-on.
• Modern Salon: US-focused professional hair and beauty trade publication offering digital content, education, and industry events for stylists and salon owners. Closely mirrors Modern Barber's trade-media-plus-education model, though at greater scale and broader scope.

Broad incumbents

• ESTETICA Magazine: International hair and beauty trade publication distributed in multiple languages. Comparable as a global trade-media brand monetised through advertising and events, though it spans the wider beauty vertical rather than specialising in barbering.
• American Salon: Established US hair industry trade publication covering salon business, trends, and education. Overlaps with Modern Barber's editorial scope on trends, business advice, and product launches, but serves a broader hair industry rather than a barber-specialist niche.
• Beauty Launchpad: US beauty industry trade publication covering hairstyling, trends, and product news for professionals. Comparable in offering trade editorial and education to professional stylists, but oriented to a broader beauty audience than Modern Barber's barbering focus.

Others

• Schwarzkopf Professional (Igora / Essential Looks): Major professional hair brand that publishes trend-driven editorial content, look collections, and education for stylists and barbers. Listed because it both advertises in Modern Barber and competes for audience attention as a brand-owned content channel.

Regional players

• Barber Expo: Trade exhibition focused on the barbering industry with live education, demonstrations, and product showcases. Comparable as a barbering-industry event monetised through exhibitor and sponsorship revenue, but US-centric and event-only rather than a year-round content platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ModernBarberMag
• Instagraminstagram.com/modernbarbermag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/modern-barber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Modern Barber