Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Huthmacher
Alan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I moved to Houston from Portland, Oregon, about a year and a half ago. Our hair salon, Yobe, has been open for six months, just outside of Pearland. My journey began when I got my hair license at 24, so I’ve been in the industry for about 10 years now. Hair has always been a passion of mine—I used to cut my own hair and enjoyed cutting my friends’ hair on the side. I started at a corporate salon and was proud to receive the “Repeated Customer Returns” award with 75.2% performance growth within one year in the region during my time there. This recognition really motivated me to continue improving my skills. I then transitioned to more upscale salons.
In August 2023, I moved to Houston with my girlfriend, eager for a fresh start. The name Yobe actually came from my grandma, who owned a salon in Japan. Her salon was named after our hometown, Yobe, and it was a place where everyone felt like family. During my time in Japan, I was fortunate to be trained by Sassoon Academy through my grandma’s connections. She passed away in 2017, but her spirit lives on in my work. I still have hair scissors wrapped up that were passed along to me as a reminder of her.
My partner has been instrumental in bringing my vision to life by handling the business side and helping to create that familial atmosphere combined with professional quality at Yobe.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Running a business has certainly been more challenging than working for someone else. There are many aspects to consider beyond just providing excellent customer service. One of the biggest challenges has been hiring the right people who share my values to create a dream team. Setting boundaries as a leader is crucial. Initially, I was too friendly with my staff, which led to a lack of respect for boundaries and unfortunately, some had to be let go.
Training is another critical component. Ensuring that my team delivers the same high standard of service as I expect is essential. Marketing now extends beyond myself to the entire team, which is a significant shift. Observing where improvements are needed and providing support is critical because, ultimately, if the team doesn’t perform well, it affects the customer experience and the business’s success. Management plays a crucial role in this.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At Yobe, we specialize in a wide range of hair services, from cutting and coloring to perms and special treatments for both men and women. While our prices are reasonable, we never compromise on quality. Our expertise in men’s haircuts goes beyond simple styles; we’re known for our creativity and versatility, offering trendy options like mullets, low fades, and modern perms. We take the time to tailor each haircut to the individual, considering their head and face shape to ensure the perfect cut. Our team excels in working with blonde hair, even transforming very dark hair into beautiful shades of blonde. Staying current with customer trends is essential to us, and we proudly feature a Master of Color and a Women’s Specialist who specializes in perms.
What truly sets us apart from others in the industry is our genuine care for our clients and our unwavering passion for what we do. We believe that when you love your work, the results speak for themselves.
Our commitment to quality over profit is what makes us truly unique. We recognize that while financial success is important, it is not our primary motivation. Instead, we focus on building strong relationships with our clients, ensuring they feel valued and understood. This philosophy allows us to create a welcoming environment where clients can relax and enjoy the experience. In essence, we are most proud of the strong rapport we build with our clients and the transformative experiences we provide.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I believe risk-taking is beneficial if you have a solid understanding of what you’re doing—otherwise, it’s just gambling. Moving to Houston and opening my salon was a significant risk because I started from scratch in an unfamiliar city. Despite the potential for failure, I embraced the challenge as an opportunity for growth. Confidence in my skills prepared me somewhat for this risk. It’s important to keep honing your skills and excel in one area to mitigate risks. You don’t need to know everything, but having a team where each person excels in their role is invaluable.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yobesalon.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yobesalon/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562838076978
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/yobe-salon-no-title?utm_campaign=www_business_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)
