Today we’d like to introduce you to Korey Finney.
Korey, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I started cutting at the age of 14 yrs old in my mother’s kitchen. After I graduated from Northampton High School in 2006, I attended Champs Barber school in Lancaster PA, where I learned the art of barbering and the barber business. After graduating from barber school, I stayed in Pennsylvania for a year and a half and worked at a barbershop in York, PA. I always had in mind that I would return back home (Esva) and Opened up my own barbershop. In February 2009, at the age of 21 I opened up Uppa Cutz Barbershop in Exmore VA. While being an Entrepreneur, I always found ways to give back to the community, such as back to school giveaways, community Fish Fries, and discounted haircuts for back to school. I always tried to be the best that I could be in my barbering career. In 2012 I won first place in the H&M hair battle in Chesapeake, Virginia.
As business was expanding and going well, I had an uncle who owned a successful heating and air conditioning business in Atlanta. He was also from the Eastern Shore, he stopped by my barbershop in August of 2014 and stated, “ Nephew you are doing good here I see, but you can do great in Atlanta. Come and see me.” So in September 2014, I took a trip to Atlanta, and I was very impressed to see how great African Americans were living and how great their businesses were thriving that I left Atlanta and went back to Virginia with a new outlook on things. On December 1, I left everything I knew in Virginia and was Atlanta bound. To fast forward a little bit after getting settled in Atlanta, I worked with my uncle at his business for a little while and realized that it wasn’t for me. So I tried selling insurance, and after small conversations with one of the managers, he realizes I was a barber and he asked me to cut his hair. I did a great job cutting his hair, and one of the female employees stated: “ what the he** are you doing here, the way you cut you need to be in a barbershop.” So after that conversation, I quit that job and went back to my first love and what I did best, which was barbering.
In November of 2015, I landed a job on the East side of Atlanta (Decatur) at Professional Barber and Beauty. While working there, I attended the Bronner Brothers Hair Show for the first time and entered the Kiss Express Cut and Color Competition and won 3rd place. By April, I won first place at two different competitions for two weeks in a row. The first was a Glitz and Glamor Barber Show in Decatur. The second was the beard competition at the International Natural Hair Show, where I was recognized by Uncle Jimmy’s Grooming Products and I became a “ platform barber and brand ambassador,” and appearing at more hair shows and selling the companies products. I left the Decatur barbershop in February of 2018 and finally became a barber in the city of Atlanta at Salon Eshelon owned by hip hop artist Young Joc. While working at the shop, I was Joc’s barber along with other cast members of the Love and Hiphop tv show, such as Safaree and Tobias Tate. Other celebs whom I’ve cut are Shad Moss (Bowwow), Actor Brandon T. Jackson, and a host of producers, rappers, artists, and professional athletes. One of my most famous clients is Jermaine Dupri. In February of 2019, CBS Sports and Delta Airlines hired me to be the barber for their SuperBowl Commercials alongside Jermaine Dupri and Rapper Lil Jon. I will never forget where I came from so much so that I went back home to the Eastern shore of Virginia and opened another barbershop, Dream Team Barber Shop, where I still cut at when I go home.
At the beginning of 2019, I left Salon Eshelon to pursue my own dreams of having my own space here in Atlanta. So I opened Top Notch Grooming Lounge, where I’m now the owner and operator.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
When owning your own business, no matter what business it is, you will face different/difficult obstacles. One obstacle, in particular, that really took me back and showed me that anything worth having and keeping comes with hard work., was when I first moved to Atlanta and I only had been here for a few months, I went completely broke. I had never been broke before in my life. Being broke showed me that I had a talent at my fingertips and I had to put my footwork in and grind to get to where I wanted to be and achieve the goals I had set for myself. During the trying times, you have to stay motivated and work hard, you can’t give up on yourself because failure should never be an option.
Please tell us about Top Notch Grooming Lounge and Dream Team Barbershop.
I love being an entrepreneur. I am a licensed professional barber. That specializes in giving high-quality grooming services/haircuts to my clients. I am known for my sharp lineups, color enhancement, great customer service, and excellent professionalism. I am most proud of launching my color enhancement “The Sauce Color Enhancement”. What sets me apart from the rest is my personality and the way I interact with people.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My family deserves a lot of credit. Without a good support team, you don’t have anything I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of my family and friends. They play a big role in my success. Another mentor that I looked up to is my barber Instructor Champ Hall. He showed me how to become a good barber but a great businessman And to always conduct good business.
Pricing:
- Men Basic cut w/o beard $30
- Men Basic cut with beard $35
- Adult grooming package $45 hair cut , color enhancement, hot steam towel with essential oils,and facial massager
- Teenager cuts $25
- Kids cuts $20
Contact Info:
- Address: 3240 South Cobb Dr., Smyrna, GA
- Email: www.koreyfinney@gmail.com
- Instagram: @Koreythabarberman
- Facebook: Korey Finney
Image Credit:
Safaree, Shawty Shawty, Stefon4u
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