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## Case Study: The Strand Collective (Sydney, NSW)
**Profile**: Four-chair salon specialising in lived-in colour and dry cutting. 12 stylists, coastal humidity.
**Challenges**
- Mixed scissor brands with no service log.
- Constant corrosion issues from salt air.
- No central supplier contact list.
**What we delivered**
- Scissor audit using the [Starter Kit Personas guide](/blogs/buying/starter-kit-personas/).
- Stockist plan anchored in the [Sydney directory](/pages/stockists/sydney/).
- Maintenance protocol with the [Rotation Planner](/blogs/business/scissor-rotation-planner/) and [Warranty Tracker](/blogs/business/scissor-warranty-tracker/).
- On-site workshop covering ergonomics, tension tuning, and sharpening scheduling.
**Results (6 months)**
- 80% reduction in emergency sharpening calls.
- Zero corrosion claims thanks to nightly care and silica gel.
- Stylists report less wrist fatigue; three upgraded to crane/sword combos confidently.
**Stylist quote**
“Switching to a structured rotation with real maintenance logs saved our December. Everyone knew which pair was service-ready and who to call when the reps toured. Game changer.”
## Case Study: Fade Lab Barbers (Melbourne, VIC)
**Profile**: High-volume barber shop, focuses on fades and beard work.
**Challenges**
- Apprentice kits needed a staged upgrade pathway.
- Sword blades losing edge mid-week from lack of rotation.
- Sharpening schedule clashing with AFL finals.
**What we delivered**
- [Barber Shear Upgrade Roadmap](/blogs/buying/barber-shear-upgrade-roadmap/) tailored to three experience levels.
- Seasonal planning using the [Stockist Playbook](/blogs/business/seasonal-stockist-playbook/) and Melbourne supplier list.
- Group training on the [Scissor Tension Troubleshooting guide](/blogs/wellness/scissor-tension-troubleshooting/).
**Results (3 months)**
- Apprentices rotated backups without prompting; sword blades stayed sharper 30% longer.
- Sharpening booked two weeks before finals—no downtime.
- Shop lead now mentors others using our toolkit downloads as training materials.
**Barber quote**
“We finally had a system that matched how barbers actually work—long blades for power, detailers for refinement, and a plan to keep them sharp.”
## Want your story here?
If you’ve applied our guides in your salon and want to share the outcome, reach out via [Work With Us](/pages/work/) or the [contact form](/pages/contact-us/). We’d love to showcase how you keep shears sharp and hands healthy.