At the end of this year, Stetten will lose an important point of contact: after 48 years, the hairdresser Gabi Bock will close the doors of her salon forever. There is great horror among the many customers – and Gabi Bock also has mixed feelings and tears.
For an incredibly long time, the 74-year-old from Stetten was the master of combs and scissors, hair dryers and blow dryers. He began his training as a hairdresser in Schweinfurt 60 years ago and successfully completed it three years later. After an apprenticeship in Würzburg and the master’s exam in 1969, he set up his own business in Stetten six years later.
In Werntaldorf she managed to take over the barbershop of the “old Rudolf Putz”. At first it was actually just a room with four seats, which he converted into a modern hairdressing salon in 1982 and further developed as such. However, “Salon Gabi” remained a manageable business, although it certainly washed the heads of several thousand people over 48 years. “During that time I had three apprentices and Sonja Schraud stood by my side for 28 years,” says Bock. Sister Brigitte keeps books in the background and organizes business.
What has changed over the years
What has changed in the hairdressing industry over the years? Contrary to expectations, Gabi points out that customers are much happier these days, even though lately the demands have increased and the work has become more complex. He also refutes the assumption that there were many more women than men among his clients. “With the latter, everything went and goes a little faster,” he says.
A hair salon is definitely more than a service provider: it’s also a meeting place, although Gabi says she never paid attention to gossip while working: “When clients were out, I actually forgot everything again “. The meeting place often includes a long-term loyalty. One customer said decades ago Bock gave him his first haircut for his first communion, as well as his wedding reception.
He can’t find a successor for his salon
These days mixed feelings prevail among the boss and especially among the customers. “Yes, of course, tears come to my eyes again and again when I think back on such a long time,” says Gabi Bock. She will miss the people in the hairdresser’s chair very much, the contact with them and also with her colleague and friend Sonja. She also thinks it’s a shame she couldn’t find a successor for her own salon, as there is also a clear lack of young people in the profession.
Gabi Bock will continue to live on the first floor of her property with her sister Brigitte for the next year and will go on longer or shorter trips as often as possible. Also for Stetten the times will not be very “hairy” in the future, after all there are two more opportunities to “let your hair out” with the “Salon Heidi” and the “Urban Hair”.
