Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow But the Reason Behind It Mattered More Than the Hair
Back in 2019, The Fox and Hounds pub in Syston was packed with friends, family, customers, and locals waiting to watch Phil Coleman lose all his hair for charity.
The clippers were ready.
But before anyone else could step forward, Phil’s 6-year-old granddaughter Bella grabbed them first (with the help of a grown up).
She couldn’t wait to see her grandad bald.
People laughed. Phones came out. The atmosphere was warm, noisy, and light-hearted.
But behind the smiles was something much more personal.
At the time, Phil’s wife Lorna had recently lost her stepdad to cancer, while her dad and Phil’s dad were also terminally ill with the same disease.
Like so many families, cancer had stopped being something happening “to other people.”
It was close.
It was painful.
And it had become part of everyday life.
That day, Phil took part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s “Brave the Shave” fundraiser, eventually helping raise more than £1,500 for the charity.
The event itself lasted a few hours.
But the reason behind it stayed with people much longer.
Why We Wanted To Share This Story Again
When people visit a blinds company website, they usually expect to see products, prices, and promotions.
And that matters.
But businesses are built by people long before they are built by products.
They are shaped by families.
By difficult moments.
By communities.
And by the experiences that quietly influence how people treat others every day afterwards.
This story originally appeared in the British Blind & Shutter Association’s Openings magazine, and we wanted to share it again because it still reflects something important about Barlow Blinds today.
Being part of the local community matters to us.
Supporting people matters.
And some of the most important things a business ever does happen far away from the showroom, the factory floor, or the fitting diary.
More Than Just A Fundraiser
Looking back, Phil later said one of the biggest things he remembered was not the haircut itself.
It was the conversations.
Once people started talking openly about cancer, stories appeared everywhere.
Customers.
Friends.
Neighbours.
Families quietly supporting loved ones behind closed doors.
Some were grieving.
Some were frightened.
Some were trying to stay positive for the people around them.
Events like this often raise money.
But they also do something else.
They remind people they are not dealing with difficult things alone.
A Family Business Built Around Families
At Barlow Blinds, we often talk about trust, honesty, and helping customers properly.
But values like that do not come from mission statements.
They come from real life.
From the experiences people carry with them outside work.
Sometimes that means helping customers solve practical problems like overheating rooms, privacy, glare, or energy efficiency.
And sometimes it means supporting causes that matter deeply to the people around us.
Because homes are personal.
And the people inside them will always matter more than the products at the windows.
Why This Story Still Matters Today
Several years have passed since this article first appeared in Openings magazine.
The hairstyles may have changed.
But the values behind the story have not.
Barlow Blinds is still proud to be a Leicester family business built around people, relationships, honesty, and community.
And we believe those things matter just as much today as they did back then.
About Openings Magazine
This story originally appeared in Openings, the official magazine of the British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA), the Authority on UK Shading..
Barlow Blinds are proud long-term members of the BBSA, with Phil Coleman serving on the BBSA Management Committee and helping support standards, education, and consumer awareness across the industry.
Lorna Coleman – Accounts Director
Lorna is a Director at Barlow Blinds and manages the company’s accounts and finances. She began her career on the factory floor making blinds, later moving into the showroom and office. Having worked across several parts of the business, she now ensures the financial side of Barlow Blinds runs smoothly.
