Business
Bridgnorth barber to offer ‘pay what you can’ haircuts
A Shropshire barber is offering “pay what you can” haircuts in December, to help people struggling ahead of Christmas.
Marcus Lewis-Roper opened MLR Adonis Barbers in Bridgnorth seven weeks ago, and will work longer hours – from 09:00 to 21:00 GMT – on 22 December, offering the service to those who need it.
“I know that Christmas is quite a tough time for some people, including people that have got children, people that are on their own… people can’t really afford much,” he told the BBC.
“I feel that offering a haircut out actually makes people feel good about themselves, you come into the barber shop and you want to better yourself and make yourself feel better.
“They don’t even have to pay for their haircut if they don’t want to, they can pay a pound, they don’t have to pay anything, or they can pay the full price.”
He said a few long-standing clients had offered to pay for other people’s haircuts on the day too.
“It’s nice to see people from the community coming together to support each other.”
The cuts, done in 30 minute slots, are organised via a booking system, to make the experience more private.
“That time that they book the 30 minute slot will be their time and their time only,” he said.
“They can then go to the box that’ll be put in the window – I’m just happy they’re leaving feeling good about themselves.”
Miles DavisDevon political reporter
BBCA gin producer and drinks maker is concerned the chancellor might increase tax on spirits again in the Budget.
The previous Conservative government increased excise duty by more than 10% in August 2023 and Labour increased the tax by another 3.65% in 2024.
Mick Skerratt from Exeter Gin said another increase in duty would be a tough blow to take at a time when all other production costs are increasing.
HM Treasury said the majority of UK spirits were exported and so not liable for UK alcohol duty.
Mr Skerratt said: “It would put a massive pressure on us as a business and also to our customers.
“There’s only so far that a margin can stretch and profitability will be affected.”
The gin producer said the spirits industry was being “used as a bit of a cash cow for the government”.
He said: “We’re in a cost of living crisis and there’s a tipping point to what people are prepared and able to pay and it doesn’t help anybody – it doesn’t help the consumer and it doesn’t help us as a small business.”
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on UK Spirits, which was set up to support the industry, said the number of distilleries in the UK had tripled in the past seven years, from 350 to 1,050, which it described as “a modern British success story”.
The group said excise duty accounted for about 70% of the price of an average bottle of spirits sold in the UK.
The group’s chairwoman, Labour MP Carolyn Harris, called for a complete freeze on excise duty in Wednesday’s Budget and for the remainder of this Parliament.
She said: “By not freezing duty we’re putting all distillers in a position whereby they’re going to have their business threatened or they’re going to create unemployment which would be no good for the economy.
“It makes sense to me to freeze the duty so at least the industry can move on from where they are now and start to thrive and survive.”
Duty on beer has been frozen or reduced at every Budget for the last 12 years and the APPG said the discrepancy in changes to taxation on beer and spirits was unfair.
Brewery boss Alan Collyer said any changes to duty on beer had little impact compared to the wider problems facing small businesses.
Mr Collyer, owner of Exeter Brewery, said: “These pennies here and there really don’t make a significant enough difference to drive people back to pubs.
“You’ve got the contrast between very cheap alcohol in the supermarkets compared to increasing costs of a pint of beer in a pub and it would need substantive change to make people think it was worth going back to the pub again.”
A spokesperson for HM Treasury said “our distilleries are vital to Britain’s economy”.
“We’re making it easier for them to thrive: no export duty, lower licensing fees, reduced tariffs, and a cap on corporation tax,” they said.
New Delhi: As India’s manufacturing ecosystem accelerates toward greater scale and sophistication, factories are increasingly turning to modern material-handling technologies to stay competitive. Manual load movement once the norm on most shop floors is no longer sufficient for today’s high-volume, fast-paced production demands. Manufacturers are now embracing advanced solutions such as Electric Overhead Travelling (EOT) cranes to save time, improve workflow management, and unlock higher productivity.
With automation, digital controls, and precision-engineered systems becoming more accessible, these cranes are helping industries streamline operations, reduce downtime, and enhance workplace safety, making them indispensable tools for the next generation of smart factories. EOT cranes, commonly visible in workshops and industrial sheds, play a vital role in lifting and transporting materials with precision. With rising production volumes, tighter delivery schedules and stricter safety norms, industries are adopting these systems to reduce physical strain on workers and streamline day-to-day operations.
A key driver behind this growing adoption is the emergence of Indian manufacturers who design cranes suited to local factory environments. Over the past three decades, companies such as LOADMATE have supplied EOT cranes, electric chain hoists and wire rope hoists to a wide range of sectors, from engineering and fabrication to textiles, chemicals and heavy manufacturing. Their familiarity with local usage conditions has resulted in systems that are robust, economical to maintain and aligned with Indian industrial requirements.
According to Manish Agarwal, CEO of LOADMATE, customization has become an important factor in equipment selection. “Every factory has its own layout, workflow and load-handling needs. When lifting systems are designed around these specific conditions, the result is better efficiency and better safety. Indian manufacturers are able to understand these needs more closely. The availability of service teams and spare parts within the country also gives long-term confidence to plant owners,” he said.
According to experts, imported cranes are often harder to service and more expensive to modify. For MSMEs operating on tight schedules, local manufacturers have filled a crucial gap by offering solutions tailor-made for load capacities, spans, duty cycles and operational environments. This allows factories to upgrade without major alterations to infrastructure, making the transition more cost-effective.
This shift mirrors a larger nationwide trend. As Indian factories adopt leaner processes and modern automation, reliable lifting systems have become integral to improving throughput and reducing downtime. The preference for domestically built cranes has also helped minimize delays related to maintenance and spare parts availability, challenges that previously disrupted production cycles.
Last Updated:
Equity benchmark indices slip on Friday, ending a two-day winning run, as weak global cues dampened investor sentiment.
Why Is Stock Market Down Today?
Equity benchmark indices slipped on Friday, ending a two-day winning run, as weak global cues dampened investor sentiment. The BSE Sensex declined 400.76 points to settle at 85,231.92, while the NSE Nifty fell by 124 points to end the day at 26,068.15.
Among the 30 Sensex shares, 17 stocks closed in the red. Among the top losers were Tata Steel, Bajaj Finance, HCL Tech, Bajaj Finserv, and BEL falling by up to 2.58%. On the other hand, the gainers were Maruti Suzuki, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors PV, ITC, and Asian Paints rising by up to 1.17%.
Key factors behind Friday’s market decline
1. Nifty Metal index slides
The Nifty Metal index fell 1.4% after the government extended exemptions from mandatory quality-control rules for certain steel and stainless-steel grades — a move expected to increase imports and pressure domestic prices. Except for Adani Enterprises, all constituents traded lower, with Hindalco leading the decline.
Hindalco was also the top loser on the Nifty 50, dropping over 2% to ₹783.45, after a fire at its Novelis aluminium plant in Oswego, New York, on November 21. Novelis — which contributes nearly 60% of Hindalco’s revenue — had already recorded a $21 million charge in Q2 due to an earlier fire. The Oswego unit supplies aluminium for Ford’s F-150 truck line.
2. Selling pressure hits IT stocks
IT shares also declined as concerns over stretched valuations resurfaced. The slump in US tech stocks overshadowed Nvidia’s better-than-expected quarterly results, adding further pressure to domestic IT counters.
3. Weak global cues
Asian markets were broadly lower on Friday, tracking the sell-off on Wall Street. South Korea’s Kospi plunged more than 3%, while Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped over 2%. Markets in Shanghai and Hong Kong also opened weak, extending the negative global sentiment. Overnight in the U.S., all major indices closed in the red, with the Nasdaq Composite falling 2.15%, the S&P 500 down 1.56%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing 0.84%.
Currency movements further weighed on sentiment. The yen hovered near a 10-month low, though it saw a brief rebound after Japanese Finance Minister Satsuki Katayama hinted at possible intervention to limit excessive volatility. The U.S. dollar continued to strengthen and was on track for its strongest week in more than a month. Meanwhile, Japan’s latest stimulus package is projected to have an overall economic impact of $265 billion, adding another factor for markets to consider.
4. Fading hopes of a U.S. rate cut
Renewed uncertainty over US monetary policy also weighed on sentiment. Stronger-than-expected September job growth reduced the likelihood of a December rate cut. Higher U.S. rates typically pull capital away from emerging markets like India.
Adding to the caution, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in a speech at Georgetown University, flagged risks to the financial system — including the rapid expansion of private credit and hedge-fund activity in the Treasury market — without providing clarity on near-term rate moves.
5. Volatility spikes
The India VIX jumped 13% to 13.68, signalling heightened uncertainty and potential for wider market swings.
Despite the early decline, analysts noted that markets remain close to record highs, and buying on dips could emerge later in the session, supported by improving earnings and firm domestic flows.
Nifty Technicals
On the technical front, Anand James, Chief Market Strategist at Geojit Financial Services, said the breakout above a month-long range keeps Nifty’s 26,550 target intact. However, Thursday’s move above the upper Bollinger band — followed by a close below — points to limited upside in the near term.
A failure to hold above 26,237 or a drop below 26,160 could shift momentum to the bears, with downside levels at 26,028–25,984, he added.
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a…Read More
Aparna Deb is a Subeditor and writes for the business vertical of News18.com. She has a nose for news that matters. She is inquisitive and curious about things. Among other things, financial markets, economy, a… Read More
November 21, 2025, 11:19 IST
Read More
2025 MLS playoffs conference semis preview: Can Cincy trio best Miami’s Fab Four?
Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt reveal if ‘Jungle Cruise’ sequel in works
Devon gin maker fears further tax increase in Budget
-
Tech6 days agoNew carbon capture method uses water and pressure to remove CO₂ from emissions at half current costs
-
Politics1 week agoBritish-Pakistani honoured for transforming UK halal meat industry
-
Business6 days agoThese 9 Common Money Mistakes Are Eating Your Income
-
Sports6 days agoTexas A&M officer scolds South Carolina wide receiver after touchdown; department speaks out
-
Business7 days agoWhat’s behind Rachel Reeves’s hokey cokey on income tax rises?
-
Tech1 week ago$25 Off Exclusive Blue Apron Coupon for November 2025
-
Sports7 days agoApple scrapping MLS Season Pass service in ’26
-
Fashion1 week agoAfter London, Leeds and Newcastle, next stop Glasgow for busy Omnes