Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaun Corbett.
Hi Shaun, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I come from an abusive upbringing with non-consistent places to live and drug-addicted family. My mother worked two jobs while life just happened for the rest of us. Due to physical abuse, I left home at the age of 15yrs old and never looked back, so the streets became my family. Without proper guidance and parental support, I fell victim to pretty much all of the traps laid out for young black men: I became a teenage parent, started dealing drugs, learned to self medicate, nearly losing my life, I got shot and then finally found myself celebrating my 21st birthday in prison. Sitting in my cell, I knew that I didn’t want this to be the rest of my life. I just didn’t know what the change was going to be or how to change paths. I just knew I needed and wanted a change. Upon coming home from prison, I worked odd jobs and small hustles to keep food in my stomach and shelter over my head, but couldn’t land a secure job. That changed once I decided to take it upon myself and didn’t check the “convicted felon” box, I finally got the chance to explain myself and I got hired! I stayed at that job for 4yrs, until it went out of business. Now, I am the owner of five barbershops located in Walmart Stores in NC & SC, two of them will open in Georgia in December 2021 and on the opening and franchising 95 more barbershops all over the country.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Upon coming home from prison, I worked odd jobs and small hustles to keep food in my stomach and shelter over my head, but couldn’t land a secure job. That changed once I decided to take it upon myself and didn’t check the “convicted felon” box, I finally got the chance to explain myself and I got hired! I stayed at that job for 4yrs, until it went out of business. Now, back to square one again and no plan at all, I began my search hoping to strike gold again because I knew for a fact I did not want to return to prison. Earlier that year while encouraging a friend who had the passion to become a barber, I filled out an application to the new local barber school and completely forgot about it. One day, the school called and asked if I was still interested in the opportunity and I had absolutely nothing going on at the time. I accepted the invitation to attend and enrolled in a scholarship contest the school hosted. I was not prepared to participate in the contest, yet alone in school as I had no clippers, no model, just the desire to not return to the streets. With more help from the school on the day of the competition, I showed up with clippers and a model and left a partial scholarship to barber school and never looked back.
Has it been a smooth road: absolutely not! I have seen every peak and valley entrepreneurship has to offer and has it been rough? Yes! However, the journey has also been fulfilling because we did it the right way, through supporting and giving back to the community. I also have had the pleasure to meet and work with some amazing people along the way, so there is nothing I would change.
Now, I am the owner of five barbershops located in Walmart Stores in NC & SC, two of them will open in Georgia in December 2021 and on the of opening and franchising 95 more barbershops all over the country.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
As of August 4, 2019 my barbershop, Lucky Spot Barbershop became of the first African American owned and operated barbershop within Walmart stores nationally, ( that is registered solely as a barbershop) and later structured a deal to open a 100 over the next 10yrs. On December 1, we are on schedule to open up our fourth and fifth barbershop in Atlanta and Peachtree City.
The thing that sets us apart from other shops, is that we are not just about booth rent or just about allowing whatever to go on in our shops just to get paid, instead we are a safe place for all to come and feel comfortable. We have created a culture of excellence in barbering that is infectious. We build our community through our barbers because we aren’t just looking for the “celebrity barber “; we are looking for good people that have goals of management and ownership. Honestly speaking you can teach a good person to be a great barber and then that great barber and great person spreads that culture, thus creating change within their ecosystem.
Our Brand: At Lucky Spot, we pride ourselves on being a home and starting place for first, second and third chances at life and careers thus creating businessmen and women using the business of barbering. Through honesty, respect and accountability, we will focus on setting and accomplishing goals as a team as well as individually while maintaining a professional image and work environment. It is our vision to reinvest our men and women back into our communities as pillars of pride with dignity and honor. We vow to work to restore respect within the barbering industry.
What matters most to you?
What matters to me most: Over the years I have become a pretty good businessman, but what I’m most proud of is that I have become an investor! Not just an investor in things and businesses, but I invest in people! I invest in people that invest in themselves then we both invest in our community, and together we collectively do it all over again in other people. When I can take a convicted felon like myself, a person that society has written off with the only jobs available to that person are jobs making minimum wages, and put them in position to make $1300 a week and more; this is what matters to me. Most importantly, their children, customers and community look at them with respect, pride and most of all hope for the youth coming up, that makes all the difference to me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.LuckySpotBarbershop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@Luckyspotbarbershop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuckySpotBarbershop
- Twitter: https://www.Twitter.com/@DaLuckySpot
Image Credits:
Raphael Basisa Dana Sidberry Shaun Corbett
