When we first interviewed Kade Burgess for the Bedford Clanger back in 2012, he was an award-winning barber making a name for himself on Midland Road in Bedford.
With a sharp eye for detail and a passion for the industry, Kade spent the next decade-plus building House of Kut into a beloved town centre hub on Castle Lane, where clients from all walks of life come not just for a haircut, but to talk, reflect, and connect.
Fourteen years later, after 22 years behind the chair, Kade is taking the next step in his career with the launch of Kade Hair, a trade wholesale platform built by a working barber, for barbers.
A Grassroots Evolution: Built Behind the Chair
The idea for Kade Hair didn’t come from a corporate boardroom or a marketing agency; it grew organically from thousands of hours spent, clippers in hand, on the shop floor.
Having worked with high-profile clients, from stepping in during Paris Fashion Week and jetting to Hawaii for A-list styling to working with top TV actors and filming a World Cup advert with Head & Shoulder, Kade knows the tools that truly deliver.
“I’ve been cutting for 22 years now,” said Kade.
“You’re in there 10 to 14 hours a day. The knees get bad, your back gets bad, so you start thinking about the next phase of your career.
“I’ve used all these tools for years – clippers, trimmers, essentials like Barbicide and gloves that every shop needs every month. I wanted to put the best, most reliable tools in one place so barbers can buy from someone they actually know and trust.”
Local boy done good
For Kade, expanding into wholesale isn’t about taking over the market, it’s about creating a sustainable business model that allows him to give back to the local community and create jobs right here in Bedfordshire.
His aims include creating local jobs, working with colleges to supply kit and mentor students and sponsoring grassroots competitions.
“I’m not trying to take over the space; I’m just trying to be a part of it and give back,” explained Kade.
“If I can help people in the industry, help our local barbers and give a young barber an opportunity or a bit of a hand to get started, that’s what gives me purpose.”
From a single styling chair on Midland Road to A-listers and high-fashion runways and now a barbering wholesale hub, Kade Burgess’s journey proves that real success comes from staying grounded, keeping it local, and lifting others up as you grow.
Kade Hair wholesale supplies, clippers, tools, and salon essentials are available online at kadehair.co.uk.
