In my past I've had the opportunity to work in some of the best salons and barbershops in central Florida. I started my career as a color tech for Toni & Guy, then I went on to work for an Aveda Salon in my town. After that I worked in a shop that was booth rent that was a Paul Mitchell focus salon. Within working in these salons I mastered all education systems. I was in process of becoming a Paul Mitchell educator 3 years ago. They released a men's collection and I wanted to jump on board with the team, due to my barbering experience I had growing up. I didn't see eye to eye with the cutting style Paul Mitchell had to offer, so I stepped away for. The salon world to master my trade in haircutting and barbering.
After my ex and I broke up I moved to Puerto Rico for a few months. Out there a guy by the name of Manuel Santiago, a 30 year vet barber took me underneath his wing. I learned and mastered the art of barbering.
Since then I've focused my trade on the constant perfection of what I do and what I love.
Being fortunate to work in the best salons in central Florida had taught me the business ethics I need to survive in the cut throat industry that I'm in. As well, proper customer service skills. Even being injured, I have personally passed down my clients to my apprentice and have booked appointments for my return. I am now currently prebooked a month in advance and only have 1 hour of my day to talk new customers or walk-ins.
I have a client that's been with me for years. One of my original clients. He's an investor. He's always pushing me to move forward and start my own barbershop or hair cutting studio.
So I get a call from him today. He asked how I was doing and told me him and a friend wanted to talk to me. A couple minutes later he shows up with his friend. We go to a coffee shop and he introduces me to his friend and states how he's an investor as well and asked me to tell him my dream and my professional goals.
I started off my telling them my concept of how I wanted the structure of my shops to be; the name I want to call it, "Bandits". I want it to be a corporation that can be franchised. I want only employes that have put on hard time to be able to franchise. I want the shop to be a hair cutting studio or and barbershop. I want each of my shops decor to be rustic and cater to the demographics of the town. I want to offer insurance, 401k's and I want it to be booth rent. I want everyone to have portfolio's on a iPad. I want to shop seasonal photo shoots and get the community involved with the shop. Marketing done in all forms and an education system setup within shop to train all my employees.
Dino my client, looks over to Wes his buddy. And whispers something in his ear. Wes gets up to make a phone call. I look at Dino and say, "did I say something wrong?" Wes comes back and says whatever you need to live your dreams, let me and my colleagues join you to assist you to make these goals possible.
Tomorrow I will have Wes, Dino and Wes's security assist me in making a business proposal. My body victor will be driving from Miami to design logos to present. I will as well be driving to Orlando to check out locations and Tampa as well.
I've worked hard all my life for this moment and in a blink of an eye, everything just comes together.
