MOCHA BARBER

From Farm to Fades with Heiniger Professionals

When people hear the name Heiniger, most don’t immediately think of barbershops and salons. For almost 80 years, Heiniger has been known around the world for producing some of the most trusted clipping equipment in the equine, grooming and agricultural industries. Founded in Switzerland in 1946, the brand built its reputation on quality engineering, innovation and creating tools that simply get the job done – day in, day out. And while clipping horses and creating skin fades might seem worlds apart, they actually have one thing in common: professionals need tools they can rely on. That’s exactly what led Heiniger into the hair and barber industry. Bringing decades of experience in clipper technology, Heiniger Professionals was created to deliver the same performance, precision and reliability that made the brand famous, but tailored specifically for hairdressers and barbers. Fast forward to today, and Heiniger Professionals is making serious waves across Australia

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Mocha Group Welcomes Kayla Zigic to the Team!

Mocha Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Kayla Zigic as our new Media and Content Producer, a role that reflects the continued growth of our business and our commitment to connecting, celebrating and supporting the professional hair, beauty and barbering industries across Australia and New Zealand. As Mocha Group celebrates its 21st year in business, this appointment represents another exciting milestone in the company’s evolution. Today, Mocha Group reaches more than 15 million people annually through its digital platforms, while continuing to deliver 16 issues of industry-leading content through its printed magazines across Australia and New Zealand. Kayla’s appointment strengthens Mocha Group’s ability to tell the stories that matter to our industries, bringing the people, businesses, brands and innovations of the hair, beauty and barbering to life through video content, interviews, magazines, event coverage, media partnerships, email and digital storytelling. With a career ranging from social media in the government sector to global

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DEPOT IKONS Crowns Craig Smith at Expo4Barbers

The DEPOT Ikons Styling Competition was created to celebrate individuality, technical skill and creativity within Australia’s barbering and hair industry, giving professionals at all levels the opportunity to showcase their work on a national stage. Designed to be accessible and inclusive, the competition moved away from a traditional stage-first format, instead allowing entrants to submit their work through a photographic entry process. To enter, competitors purchased the official DEPOT Ikons Entry Pack and created a look using the four DEPOT styling products included. Each submission required front, side and back imagery, along with a self-portrait, professional bio and product feedback, all uploaded through the dedicated DEPOT submission platform. Following a strong response from across the country, five finalists were selected to compete live at Expo4Barbers, where they battled it out in front of an engaged industry crowd. The finalists were judged by respected industry professionals Josh OP, Gareth Philpot and

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What Would You Do With Your Life Back?

By Louise May – Editor in Chief for Mocha Group Missed calls. Lapsed clients. Ads that go nowhere. Enquiries sitting unanswered in your DMs. And a mind that never fully switches off, even when you’re home. Aura 300 is the AI platform that’s giving salon owners something they didn’t know they could ask for: their time, their revenue, and their peace of mind, all at once. Picture this. It’s 6:30pm on a Friday. The last client has left, the team has packed up, and you’ve locked the salon door. On the drive home, your phone lights up. A booking enquiry. Then another. A client asking about Saturday availability. By the time you sit down to dinner, you’ve answered three messages and missed a call, and you haven’t actually stopped working since 8am. This is the reality for most salon owners. The business doesn’t stop when you do. The phone doesn’t

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The Big Barber Bash Made Its National Debut Across Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth

Three states. Three iconic venues. Over 500 barbers and hairdressers attending and competing. In April 2026, The Big Barber Bash made its national debut – and the Australian barbering community turned out in force to be part of it. Six hours of look-and-learn education, live competitions, panel discussions, prizes, DJs, food trucks, and photographers at each stop. The kind of night that reminds you why you got into this industry in the first place. Founded by Carmelo Francese of Inspire Brands, TBBB was created with a clear vision: to bring world-class barbering education, competition and community directly to the industry across Australia. Emceed across all three states by Mocha Group’s GM, Jarred Stedman, the tour was open to all, built for everyone, and designed to grow the craft from the ground up… “The Big Barber Bash started out as an idea,” says Carmelo. “In the next two or three years,

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FREE WORKSHOP AT THE LOFT BARBERSHOP

The Loft Barbershop is proud to announce a free, look and learn community workshop on Sunday, 7 June.  Designed to empower parents and guardians with a practical skill that can make a real difference to the family budget. With the cost of living continuing to rise, regular trips to the barbershop can quickly become a luxury that many households struggle to justify. This workshop aims to change that, giving parents the confidence and technique to deliver a clean, professional-looking short back and sides at home, without the salon price tag. “You don’t need years of experience to give your kid a solid haircut. You just need the right guidance — and that’s what this day is all about.” The workshop will be taught by one of Australia’s leading barber educators and will walk attendees through the fundamentals of the short back and sides — one of the most classic, versatile cuts

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Gamma+ Launches Associate Program Across Australia and New Zealand

Gamma+ has announced the launch of its new Ambassador and Associate Program across Australia and New Zealand, reinforcing its commitment to education, innovation, and connection with working barbers and hairdressers. Founded in Italy, Gamma+ creates high-performance grooming tools for working barbers and stylists, combining precision engineering with modular design and powerful motors. Its reputation has been built through education, competition, and real-world testing by a global ambassador network, enabling the brand to evolve quickly and establish itself across Europe, North America, and Australia–New Zealand. Since 2020, Gamma+ Australia and New Zealand has been led by Carmelo Francese, who says the new program marks an important step forward for the brand in the region. “This program is about backing the barbers who are doing the work every day in shops, on stage, and in the industry. It’s not just about visibility – it’s about skill, credibility, and contribution. We’re building a

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Phorest Celebrates Launch of “Phorest Collections – AI Edition”

Elevating Salons, Spas and Clinics Through Human-First Innovation  Phorest, a leader in salon, spa and clinic management software, has announced its latest drop of features in their Collections series, Phorest Collections: AI Edition. This sophisticated suite of AI tools has been designed to support businesses with high-tech efficiency whilst amplifying human connections across the business. AI Features that Amplify Client Connection As the industry navigates a new world filled with AI noise, the Phorest priority remains human connection. The latest drop of AI functionality is designed to help streamline processes, lift the administrative burden, in turn, allowing professionals to reclaim their time for customer care and artistry.  “At Phorest, we believe AI should be an amplifier for the people in this industry, not a replacement,” said Ronan Perceval, CEO of Phorest. “With the AI Collections, we are automating the high-volume, low-ROI tasks, and empowering teams to walk into every appointment

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Brisbane Gears Up for Australia’s New National Barbering Event

Precision fades, creative freestyle cuts, and rising young talent will take centre stage in Brisbane on 7 April as The Big Barber Bash launches its inaugural national tour.The event will bring together barbers, hairdressers, apprentices and industry leaders for a night of live demonstrations, career conversations, and high-energy competitions inside the iconic Barber Temple, South Brisbane.Competitors will go head-to-head in three timed challenges — Fast Fade, Freestyle and New Gen — where barbers must deliver flawless cuts under pressure in front of judges and a live audience.Created by Carmelo Francese of Inspire Brands, The Big Barber Bash was designed to bring barbering education, competition, and industry connection directly to working professionals across Australia. With strong interest already building, final registrations are now open for Queensland competitors and attendees. Click Here for The Big Barber Bash Tickets & Registration

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