Exploring Life & Business with Richard Smith of The Smith Grooming Brand

Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Smith.

Hi Richard, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
By The Grace Of God, I started my journey after I graduated Armwood High School. I was 18 years old and I moved in to live with my father in DuPont, GA. He gave me a clipper and a trimmer and the rest was history. I joined the US ARMY the year of 2014. In the service is where I got the chance to grow my skillset due to soldiers constantly needing haircuts. In 2018, I enrolled in Barber School, downtown Atlanta. By The Grace Of God, I graduated in 2020 and obtained my Master Barber’s license 3 months after graduation. After completing barber school, I sought and gained employment at a High End barbershop in Sandy Springs. Worked there for a little over a year and went solo. I invested in a loft style studio in Dunwoody and haven’t looked back. My skills are sharp and my clientele is top tier. I’m thankful to The Lord My God for all he’s done for me and for every blessing he’s bestowed me along the way. Without The Lord, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Absolutely not, barbering is a competitive business and you have to grind for everything you get. In Atlanta, barbers are a dime a dozen. Some of the struggles I personally went through were trying to survive GREEDY & SELFISH owners (in school & in the shop) retaining clients despite having to relocate from Henry County to North Atlanta for a higher wage in our profession, balancing school work while working in the shop, maintaining and upholding professional bearing while working in unprofessional environments (common in barbering, especially when starting out) one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, most importantly of all, is staying grounded in the ways and the word of The Lord. There are many distractions and much temptation in barbering, especially in Atlanta, GA.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about The Smith Grooming Brand?
What you should know is that in my business, The Lord is my foundation. He’s the reason for my creative ability and gives me strength to pick the clippers and be the best I can be for the people he’s blessed me to groom.
The Art Of Fading is my specialty, doesn’t matter the race or the texture of hair, if it grows, I can blend it to perfection, by The Grace Of God. What I’m known for and what sets me apart are 3 things; My acknowledgment of The Lord, my skillset & my customer service I provide to my clients.
What I’m most proud of from a company perspective is the fact that I’ve grown and maintained a great and fruitful clientele throughout the years! A barber is limited if his clippers can’t touch the canvas. Readers should know that my brand offers the works; hot towel shaves, facial steaming, razor lines, and mean fades! Readers should also know, I’m nothing without The Lord my God and he’s delivered me from tribulation into peace & abundance many times, and I’m so thankful for that.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was a neighborhood kid, loved going outside, playing ball, riding bikes, movies, cartoons, video games, selling candy and cutting grass, hanging with the fellas, hoping our moms would get us the new Jordan’s. Mom always had me and my brother, Blake in Church or Bible study. We already knew what time it was once Sunday morning and Wednesday night came around (haha)

Pricing:

• • Men’s cut range from $60-$75
• • Memberships range from $120-$150
• • CEO services are $100 flat (the works)

Contact Info:

• Website: https://smithgrooming.booksy.com
• Instagram: @thesmithgroomingbrand

Image Credits
I credit all images to Bridge 11 Productions, Keosha Johnson, & staff.