Sheldon Tatchell

Youth in Business and Entrepreneurship

Nominee's Province:
Gauteng

Age:
32

Project Name/Description:
Legends Barber

More info:
https://www.facebook.com/SheldonTatchell

Sheldon Tatchell from Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, started cutting hair in his mother’s bedroom at the age of 14, charging a mere R20 per haircut and today the base price is R120 depending on the style. At age 32, he owns a haircutting business, Legends Barber, with a footprint of 65 outlets across South Africa and other parts of Africa – Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana, and growing. The business, whose head office is in Randburg, Gauteng, currently employs more than 500 people, including trainees. Tatchell says has always been passionate about hair and being of service to those around him. “It is amazing how easy it is to create long-lasting relationships when you provide a customer with the consistency they desire because that is their biggest frustration when it comes to hair care,” he says. To date, Legends Barber has built relationships with legendary names like the recently departed musician, Ricky Rick Makhado, who appears in the company’s advertisements; Dis-Chem Pharmacy which distributes Legendary Products at its outlets nationwide; and Moja Love television channel, where his business was featured in May this year. In terms of business achievements, Tatchell says that money was never the aim. “My greatest achievement is building a successful yet sustainable business and brand. Providing a safe space to equip and nurture hair-grooming skills is at the core of this business,” he says. “It gives me so much joy knowing that I am contributing to the alleviation of youth unemployment in various communities.”