Summary
Michaels began his career as a hairdresser in Lancashire before founding Hairbond in 2008. He positioned the British styling brand through professional hairdressers and barbers rather than supermarket distribution, capitalising on the shift in men's grooming towards premium products. Hairbond has since sold millions of products internationally, with distribution across the Netherlands, United States and other markets, and counts England cricketer Jimmy Anderson among its ambassadors.
The UK men's grooming market reached £2.3 billion by 2025, representing 6% value growth in a single year. Hairbond is preparing its first major product expansion in five years, introducing three new formulations—Drifter Professional Hair Crème, Forger Putty and Vector Hair Gum—each designed for different styling requirements and developed over two years.
In 2017, Michaels turned to reviving Stylo Matchmakers, a British football brand historically associated with players including George Best and Bobby Moore. Rather than treating the revival as a retro clothing opportunity, Michaels committed to manufacturing football boots, requiring investment in factories, tooling, materials and distribution infrastructure.
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Common questions
- What is this article about?
- Scott Michaels, originally from Morecambe, has built a track record of identifying overlooked commercial value, from founding haircare brand Hairbond in 2008 to reviving the heritage football brand Stylo Matchmakers in 2017. His approach centres on identifying authentic demand and building credibility through professional channels rather than celebrity endorsement alone.
- When was this published?
- This article was published on 2 September 2026.
- Who published this article?
- This article was published by Business Manchester.