Ealing Hairdressers, Heathrow favoured and Red 4

Say it Loud and Proud 

I quite often hear bits of the Jeremy Vine Radio programme (BBC Radio 2 weekday lunchtimes) - I like the sincerity that the host brings to the topicality of the show.


Last week I think it was I heard an interview of one of the guys from South Ealing's M&M hairdressers, the 'salon' has hit the news in the past for its' Mickey take of the North Korean dictator's short back and sides haircut (his father's was even worse) - seems it brought about an intervention from the staff of the nearby embassy (it's rather oddly a 'normal' looking house on the North Circular Road).


They've got a winning formula for publicity and bring a smile to the face of passers by  - The display now is of the two leading contenders for the US presidency .

M&M Hair Academy display an even handed approach to US politics 

Heathrow favoured

So the government has made a sort of decision on London's airport expansion, Zac Goldsmith is calling a sort of referendum (No 'official Tory will oppose him the Richmond By-Election).

It does seem puzzling that the opinion that the Prime-Minister had about the extra air traffic previously has now been revised.

Of course Crossrail leads to Heathrow 

There are two pretty big questions that do need answering:

1) Is extra airport capacity needed in the crowded South East?

 and if it is

2) Why are the Tory Government  not going with the quicker, cheaper speedier alternative - Gatwick that 'solution'  destroys far less homes and has a lower impact on the lives of the people living in the  capital?

This story has I feel quite a lot of (air) mileage in it!

Red 4

25 years of the Big Issue and a Red vest..

Sometimes it feels like 'Us and Them'.

More on retail and Red 240

Street Performers add ambience

One of the things that rang a bell with me around the recent coverage of Mary Beard's grey hair was the revelation that hairdressers have a very big interest in the colouring of hair.
I had for a while assumed that hairdressers, particularly women's  were well protected against recession and technological change, scratching the surface of course it becomes clear this is not the case - if money's tight increasing the time between cuts from 6 to 7 weeks will hit the bottom line of many establishments pretty hard and the charges for tinting/coloring can be quite  substantial - hairdressers (and their suppliers)  want women to spend money on their appearances.

In London Chinese New Year brings visitors

It's not just for women either the move away from men having  a daily shave at the local barbers has altered that business too - a fashion for long hair means less cuts as well - the growth of  beards even hits retailers like Boot's and manufactures like Gillette who are selling less blades, they may promote 'beard oil' and other grooming extras but it's not going to fill that blade revenue hole.

 So this weeks' 'news' that retail is going to change its pattern of employment is not too much of a surprise to me, those in the business and those who shop - but the changes could be faster and bigger than many anticipate.

I, for one as well as having adjusted to 'customer driven payment  tills' am using online increasingly - if I shop its often as an 'experience' where I can engage (positively) with the process and surround myself with kindred spirits in a pleasant atmosphere - a shopping trip is now linked to a snack or meal as a default - perhaps the next step is to make these 'comfort' breaks something more either approaching entertainment or linked to a 21st century salon.

I'd be really interested to hear from people who have been part of something that goes beyond the mall or farmers'  market- an event they'd happily be part of on a regular basis- we'll see if I find out something that's not a book or food festival but is driving retail footfall.

Red 240

A bookmaker with a red sign

No there is no F in Red