Barber buzzing after scooping top prize

Kaya Khoshnaw and cousin Razhan (also known as Martin) Khoshnaw at Empire barber shop

A barber’s shop has proved that it is a cut above the rest after it was crowned winner of the Wigan Post’s Barber of the Year competition.

Raz Khoshnaw’s Empire Barber Shop, on Market Street in Hindley, claimed the accolade after garnering the most votes from our readers.

He today told of his pride and delight at scooping the prestigious prize after only 19 months in business.

The salon successfully fought off tough competition from second placed Dads and Lads and Mini Mikes, third, both based in Wigan.

Mr Khoshnaw, 33, who specialises in Kurdish-style haircuts, said he was “proud” to have won the award.

He said: “We’re all so proud and happy to have won.

“We have worked really hard to win this and it’s not easy to have done so because there is a lot of competition in the area.

“These days you get a lot of barber shops in all towns and cities so it’s very hard to be number one, especially after only opening 19 months ago but this win just goes to show how successful we’ve been.”

Mr Khoshnaw has been cutting hair for around six years now, having spent more than four years working at Ebo’s Barbers in Bolton.

It was then in August 2018 that he opened Empire where he works with his cousin Kaya Ahmed and three other members of staff.

He said the secret to the thrir success was “looking after it customers.”

He added: “We’ve worked really hard to improve everything and to make sure our attitude is the right one.

“We always want to look after our customers and we have a lot of loyal ones who want to come back.

“We pride ourselves on doing Kurdish, middle-Eastern style haircuts and like to feel we offer something different to everywhere else. I’m delighted we’ve won.”

Mr Khoshnaw said he wanted to thank all those customers and readers that had voted for his business.

He was correct in highlighting how much competition there is on the borough’s streets.

While many retailers have been struggling in recent years, there has been a huge surge in men’s grooming over the same period which has led to a proliferation of barber’s shops all over the country and many of them were vying for prizes in this year’s Wigan Post contest.