Connect
To Top

Meet Akbar Yungai of Respected Roots in Buckhead

Avatar photo

Today we’d like to introduce you to Akbar Yungai.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Akbar. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I started from humble beginnings working as a bellman for Marriott’s Renaissance Brand. This was the beginning of a beautiful journey for me. At the time, I was working solely on tips, so I really had to learn how to hustle and engage with people pretty fast. You can’t get fed with a closed mouth you know. I realized quickly that having genuine connections with guests and being well-informed about the area I worked in… typically gave room for me to receive much larger tips compared to not saying anything at all. From there on, I worked for several other prestigious hotels like the Ritz Carlton acquiring great skills along the way. Being in the hotel business made me more of a charismatic guy, which had a major impact on my life.

My confidence, style and personality grew stronger from an ample amount of experiences I obtained. Being in the hospitality field had its many ups and a few alarming downs and as time passed, I felt like it was time for a career change. After all of the awards, numerous five-star reviews and encouragement from peers there was nothing left for me to accomplish. Occasionally, I spend some time on Instagram and one day. I noticed that there were a wave of people getting sponsorship deals with particular brands. The idea of me getting this type of deal made me imagine how life could be. Not just any deal… it had to be with brands that I truly believed in. Around this time, I really started to take my appearance really serious.

I started growing my beard thicker, more frequent haircut appointments with Will Stamm of ProFreshional Cuts and hired Carlos Daniels for personal training. One day, I decided to visit a hair show with my good friend Ernest. He also rocks a thick beard like me. We were excited to see what kind of experience this would bring. As we walked into the venue, the first booth we saw was Respected Roots decked out in matte black with Royal Gold colors. I thought to myself “Damn!… these guys are clean!”. We met the owners Jason Hawkins and Jaret Patterson who introduced us to the best beard balm on the market. I couldn’t believe how good it smelled and the texture was amazing! I tried several beard products in the past, but nothing was as good as Respected Roots. 

We didn’t waste any time, so we both bought a container of the original beard conditioner (which is still my favorite till this day). We shopped around for a while meeting other great entrepreneurs like Adele, owner of Creole Vegan who showcased her world-class vegan crab cakes. The event was incredible, and I was excited about the products I purchased. I started to share my experience with Respected Roots to close friends and family. In that moment, a light bulb went off in my mind. I reached out to Jason about becoming a brand ambassador and let’s just say, “the rest is history”. It’s crazy to think how one DM can change your life.

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?
Fortunately we’ve had a pretty smooth road thus far. All businesses have their challenges however we embrace them because they strengthen our camaraderie & build our confidence. The road trips, long working hours, & weekend sacrifices are things that we had to overcome but we truly look forward to enjoying these moments.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Respected Roots Story. Tell us more about your work.
At Respected Roots, we consider our company to be The Golden Standard of Grooming. As the store manager, I oversee the flagship store at Lenox Square Mall. I also produce creative projects such as branding photoshoots, videos, etc. People know me as one of the prominent faces of the brand because of my charisma, strong customer service acumen & hospitality. I’m extremely proud of our team along with our work ethics. However, the one thing that I’m most proud of is our grand opening month at Lenox Mall being successful, which captivated a large group of diverse cultures. We even caught the attention of well-known brands that eventually led us to securing more store locations throughout the country. What sets us apart from others is our consistent effort to demonstrate our appreciation for our customers. We use top of the line ingredients in our products, ensuring that we provide a completely healthier option for your skincare needs. What I’d consider one of our biggest strengths is our exceptional customer service. The professionalism is always above and beyond; as we greet customers by name, inform them about all our products, include them in branding photos and provide a platform for them to connect with us. Respected Roots is more than a brand, it’s a culture.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
Without a doubt it’s the impact that we’re making with our customers & the community. Our customers mean so much to us, so I truly love when I’m able to read the testimonials about how our products changed their lives for the better. A customer stopped by our Lenox store and she loved our products so much that she said, “she was going to be a customer for life”. She is one among many people who stated the same thing. At the end of the day, we want to continue strong sales numbers, but these are the moments that mean the most to me.

Pricing:

  • Respected Roots Hair Moisturizer – $15.99
  • Respected Roots Beard Conditioner – $18.99
  • Respected Roots Body Butter – $19.99
  • Respected Roots Foaming Co Wash – $22.99
  • Use Promo code: RRAKBAR & receive 20% OFF today!

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Jarmal Harris, Raquita Weathers

Suggest a story: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.

Related Items

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More in