Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Jefferson.
Eric, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
My professional career started in corporate America where I worked in property management for six years. I absolutely hated it! One day, I decided I had enough of my manager and this job I despised, so I walked out of the office and quit. It wasn’t the smartest thing I had ever done considering I had no backup plan. I just knew I didn’t want to be there or anywhere like it.
Honestly, I had NEVER cut hair before. I had never even considered barbering a real profession. It wasn’t until I sat down and had a conversation with a barber and shop owner who explained to me how he has been taking care of his family for years by cutting hair. Soon after, I decided to go to barber school, more as a means to an end than a career move. I figured I would cut hair until I decided what I wanted to do as a career. Since I had no experience at all, I was fortunate to have a great instructor who really gave me a strong foundation to learn and grow from. I graduated barber school and became a licensed master barber in 2010, and I have been cutting hair professionally since… I 2016, myself and my best friend, master cosmetologist Danielle Darden opened Beauty and A Beast Hair Studio LLC in Sandy Springs, where we continue to operate.
Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been hard, but it requires patience. I’ve spent years being a sponge and learning everything I could about cutting hair and being a barber. I started in a barbershop in an area saturated with barber shops, where the average price for an adult hair cut was $15. I had to learn how to get clients because there weren’t a lot of walk-ins coming. Trying times and experiences are the reason we are able to create a comfortable work environment we have at Beaty and A Beast Hair Studio. Hindsight has proven that the only L’s you take in business are Lessons, not losses.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Beauty and A Beast Hair Studio story. Tell us more about the business.
Professionally, I am known as Easy the Barber. In 2016, my best friend, stylist Danielle Darden and I opened Beauty and A Beast Hair Studio, an exclusive natural hair suite located in Sandy Springs, GA. It is important to note that He’s the Beauty, and She’s A Beast! We consider ourselves the best of both worlds as a barber and stylist that tag team to create amazing looks for men and women with natural hair. I cut both men and women, but I admittedly enjoy being recognized for my women’s haircuts. My women clients have definitely helped to bring more attention to what we do at Beauty and A Beast. We provide a relaxing, yet professional environment, in an intimate setting where the focus is always on the client. I feel Danielle and I have created an ideal work environment, and we have used our experience and technology to design a business model that has proven both lucrative and efficient.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
There is a huge shift occurring where clients are willing to pay more for grooming services. The beauty industry is now a multi-billion dollar industry, so there is unlimited earning potential. The other side of this coin is that professionals are being held to a higher standard. The days of sitting in shops for hrs before being serviced are gone, Clients are now booking appts in advance and paying for their services in advance, so the professionals have to meet these standards by ensuring they are providing value enough to justify what they are charging. I foresee the industry will continue to trend upward. Professionals will continue to push this culture forward, and clients will demand more than just a haircut from their barbers. Sounds sweet, doesn’t it?
Contact Info:
- Address: 6690 Roswell Rd. Ste 404
Sandy Springs, GA 30328
(located inside of Salons by JC) - Website: www.bandbhairstudio.com
- Phone: 4702855026
- Email: erichjefferson24@gmail.com
- Instagram: @easythebarber
- Facebook: Easy the Barber
Image Credit:
Sammy Tarantino @sammytarantino
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