Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Hammond
Hi Charles , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. I started cutting hair at the age of 15 years old on my grand parents back porch. I use to cut my own hair for while. Till one day a friend ask could I cut his hair. I was like ummm I don’t know. He said u make yours look like that. He said the same for me. I said ok. So before u know it I was cutting my neighborhood every Saturday morning. I was the 5 dollar guy. Till one day grandfather came outside on a Saturday while I was cutting hair. Keep in mind I Had multiple people waiting. He (grandfather) snatched my clipper cords out of the plug socket. Then he said stop bootlegging on his back porch. I mean in the middle of a hair. So life kind of went on. I became a mobile Barber. Till one day a guy Told me about a Apprenticeship program for barbering called Abram Friedman occupational center Downtown Los Angeles. So I got in contact with the school and paid 500 Dollar registration fee. I was in. The program was for 18 months. So I went through with flying colors and Past the State Board exam with a 94 percent. I received a 94 in 1994. What a coincidence. After that I experiencing multiple shops. Till the day that I step out on my own. Open my 1st shop. LA CLASSIC CLIPS BARBERSHOP. In my neighborhood. Wow what a great accomplishment. Did that for 7 years and became a Leader for my community. People still talk about that today. In 2005 I sold that shop to my cousin Beverly Baker. Then moved to the ATL. Atlanta Georgia. What a leap of faith. My plan was to have by coastal businesses. Till I realized it was going to take some time to establish myself in Atlanta. After thinking about it. The best decision was to sale and start over. So I trusted God and step out on faith and stated a new journey. So I got hear in Atlanta in 2005. I knew this was the place for me. No family to depend on. Just wanted to invest in myself. The first shop I went to was First class BARBERSHOP in Lithonia Ga. Stayed there for a year and a half. When I started there It was multiple shops being built but this one particular franchise really stood out call Rick styles and Cuts. I took a break one day from the shop I was working in to go see what was going on at this shop being built closer to my house. I walked in to the location. I was amazed at what this owner was creating. Just so happen the owner was at this location overseeing contractors. I walked up to this person and introduced myself. Mr Rick styles and Cuts ( Rick Walker) was in the flesh. We chop it up for second. Then out the blue he said do I have time time to take a ride. I said let roll. He took me to another location that was being built simultaneously. I was like wow this brother was making some serious moves. Got to other location and it was just a brick shopping plaza being built . What I admires about him was his vision on what he was going to do with this location. I saw it like if it was already done. He said what do you think about it. I said I see it and like it. But me being a visionary aswell. I suggested a tweak in the blueprint. He was like I like that ideal. Couple months later that location open up. I was the 1st person in this 28 chair Barbershop and Salon. I spent 10 and 1/2 years there. Then one day I woke up to a phone call of client saying he wanted to open a shop with me. He was about to retire from corporate
(Turner). I prolong for a while. Then decided one day I was ready for the next chapter. So we did it. HEADLINERS BARBERSHOP came to life. It has been 8 & 1/2 year now. Happy to say it going very strong. 3 years ago my partner ( Kevin Somerville) got out and left me some ownership. And we are still blessing the community of Snellville ga. now.
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?
Before I open HEADLINERS. I went through a divorce with two young children That left me broke. I was starting over again. But I didn’t give up. I had kids that needed me. Trust and believe I wanted to run and hide under rock. I couldn’t. I was the ROCK. So I fault and scrapped and trusted God to get prepared for what he had for in-store for me. There was a lot of up and downs. But that was my strength builder.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The HEADLINERS BARBERSHOP Brand is all built from trusting GODS Gft that he gave to me over 40 years ago. And it still alive today. As I continue to be a leader in my community. I realize I’m a example that multiple people are watching. I am Blessed to say that I have clients still sitting in my chair after 18 years. I’ve watched kids that got in my chair on their 1st haircut to now coming home from college and I had to wait on Mr. Charles. I’ve been committed to multiple families. I specialize in making people fill good and look good….
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
By going to my social media on Facebook and Instagram… I’m old-school call me and set a appointment 4046838838. Ill be there.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Headliners_barbershop_llc
- Facebook: Chuck Hammond
Image Credits
Mother
Grandparents
