From World Champion Hairdresser to £50M Exit: Craig Hubert on Building a Beauty Empire

Brad sits down with Craig Hubert, a former world champion hairdresser who built a multi-million-pound beauty brand and sold it to a Canadian group 12 years later. From cutting hair in his father's barber shop to owning commercial property across Chelmsford, Craig shares the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, the power of emotional intelligence in business, and why he still cuts hair two days a week despite building multiple successful ventures.\n\nDiscover why hiring people better than yourself is the best investment you can make, how asking the right questions can transform your service business, and why understanding what your clients truly want matters more than copying your competitors.

This is a masterclass in building businesses with heart, staying authentic to your values, and creating something meaningful beyond just the numbers.\n\nKEY TAKEAWAYS\n\nHire People Better Than You: The best money Craig ever spent in business was hiring a CEO, FD, and other leaders who were better than him in their respective areas. Knowing your strengths and filling the gaps with top talent is how you scale without becoming the bottleneck.\n\n

Stop Assuming What Clients Want: The biggest mistake service business owners make is assuming they know what their clients need instead of asking them. Focus on the outcome your customer actually wants, not just what your competitors are doing.\n\nKnow When to Walk Away: Craig's lowest point was a clothing shop that burned through cash for two and a half years. He ignored his gut, let ego take over, and kept funding a failing business. The lesson: stop sooner, listen to your instincts, and don't throw good money after bad.\n\nBuild Backwards from the Exit: If you want to sell your business one day, structure it like a buyer would want to see it from day one. Craig built his cosmetics company with people better than him in every key role, which made it attractive when the time came to sell.\n\nInvest in Yourself First: Before pouring money into assets, invest in personal development, self-awareness, and understanding your values. Know what you want, what you don't like, and filter out the noise so you can focus on what truly matters.\n\nBEST MOMENTS\n\n"I'd always been super competitive and had the ambition and belief that I could go to a certain level. Even though I wasn't very bright at school, the desire and passion was there."\n\n"There's only so much I can earn from standing there cutting hair. I've always been interested i