Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Hopkins.
Joshua, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago until I moved to Dallas while in high school. Shortly after graduating, I moved back to Chicago, where I finished college with my bachelor’s degree in IT from Robert Morris University. Like most, I had a hard time getting my career started being fresh out of college, so I began to cut hair and work random jobs to get by. I can laugh about it now but I used to make house calls clear across town for only $15-$20 (lol). Finally, getting my first job in IT, I still maintained the clientele I built while making house calls. The more I kept cutting, the more I fell in love with the craft and what could be done with a pair of clippers. I would study videos and pictures from barbers who’s work I admired in order to make myself better. Fast-forwarding a few years, I started to dislike working in Corporate America and love cutting even more. Getting laid off from a job, I decided I wanted to move back to Texas and begin barber college so that I could get my license and make the moves I needed to make. Barber college was a journey, to say the least, relocating to Houston and getting a new apartment, I needed to start working again, so I held down a full-time job with IBM while going to school full-time as well.
Finally, graduating from barber college, I began cutting in a few local barbershops where I got the chance to build a solid clientele. I set myself apart from other barbers here in Houston with my style of cutting, paired with my passion for quality customer service. I’ve learned that by making your clients comfortable while giving them a great cut, experience and conversation, it’s bound to make you stand out from the rest. By my third year living in Houston, my name and brand began to spread through the city. Instagram following began to jump through the roof and the clientele began to grow as well. Feeling like I needed a change, I moved into a private suite where I was able to give my clients a different experience. Here, I could give you privacy, great conversation and quality service in an artsy designed space. My clients turn into friends and family; they have become some of the best people I’ve ever met.
Great, 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?
It has not been a smooth road at all, I’ve struggled with initially finding a stable place to make my barber home while cutting in Chicago along with learning the right way to market myself. Another big struggle was learning how to get people to take a chance on the “new barber” so that I could show them my skills. Once I was able to get my marketing down and building a clientele, I decided to relocate to Houston, where I knew I’d have to start all over again. Everything improved dramatically once I decided to get a brand manager and focus on the detail and quality with my cuts.
ShakeTheBarber – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am my own brand and business that operates under the name “ShakeTheBarber.” I specialize in exceptional customer service, giving a comfortable experience and last but not least, an amazing cut. I’m most proud of the type of clientele I’ve created. I aim to have a professional and respectful groups of clients. I never have to worry about disrespect. We always have a great time and amazing conversations. What sets me apart is my inviting personality and my style of barbering, there’s no one like me, I give a completely different vibe when you step into my suite.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memory has to be when me, my older brother and all of our friends would walk miles to the community swimming pool and spend the whole day there… Fun times.
Contact Info:
- Address: Salon Village Suites
1801 S Dairy Ashford Rd
Suite A29 Houston, TX 77077 - Website: https://booksy.com/en-us/instant-experiences/widget/174680?instant_experiences_enabled=true&ig_ix=true
- Phone: 6309355484
- Email: shakethebarber07@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/shakethebarber?igshid=d65vpbg2jw59
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shakethebarber-1905888713070524/
Image Credit:
Texx Henry
@kapcherdbyhenry
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