'We're so proud to still be a part of the High Street': Oswestry barber reflects on changes to town as she celebrates 18 years in business

Sher Mills, who runs Icon Barbers on Cross Street in Oswestry, says she believes the business is now the town's longest-serving barber - and while she says Oswestry's historic town centre has "taken a hammering", she paid tribute to the loyal customers who are keeping the town's independent businesses, like hers, up and running.

"Once the other remaining barbers closed down last year we suddenly dawned on us that we're longest-serving," she said.

"About 18 years ago I just saw this empty shop and I thought it looked like a good place, as it was next to a sports bar and the Coral betting shop. I went for it and it just took off. We had 50 customers on our first day! 

"When I opened up it was a different town then, we had Littlewoods and Woolworths and many other bigger stores. 

"The high street has taken a hammering, working from home has hit it as well. We used to get a lot of office workers who used to come in. It disappeared after Covid but working from home is changing a bit now so hopefully we might get more feet on the streets."

Now, she says the outlook for small local enterprises is tougher than ever, with fears over incoming changes to National Insurance contributions and minimum wage rules which may impact smaller businesses.

But she added she still loves the hustle and bustle of day-to-day shop life - as well as the home visits the business also carries out to customers who aren't able to visit in person.

"If you're a chatterbox like me then you love it! I've just been to one of my housebound customers, it's not just a ten-minute haircut - it's actually not financially viable sometimes - but you just feel that you've done your good deed for the day. Loneliness is a terrible thing and you hear every story under the sun in this job.

"We try to keep our prices as low as possible but what's happening in April [changes to minimum wage and National Insurance contributions announced in the budget] it's going to be a case of riding the storm. But we do have a nice loyal band of customers who support us through thick and thin. 

"We're onto second-generation customers now, so people bringing in their kids, which makes you feel a bit old I must admit!"

"We're proud to still be part of the town and we just want to say thanks to all of our fantastic customers and my great team of staff."

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