Today we’d like to introduce you to Simone Johnson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I went to college for graphic design so art has always been a passion. I worked in management for The W Hotel in Midtown for six years. I was getting burned out and slowly losing interest but I was passionate about customer service and being a creative.
I kept trying to pinpoint what I could wake up and do everyday that ignited that passion and creativity but still have a work-life balance. I spoke to my barber Ree at Legends Barbershop that had been cutting me for six years and I let him know I had been interested for quite some time. He instantly told me what tools to buy and referred me to a reasonably priced barber school by the name of CEI Hairschool. I didn’t quit my job at the W so I could use that money to pay for school. Due to working long days and tight schedule I could only enroll in the flex option to go one day a week for 12 hours and do work online.
Eight months in I didn’t see much progress in my haircuts and I was tired of waking up to a job I was no longer happy to go to. I drew up my logo for my brand Barber Sense and got it registered as an LLC. I pushed my Barber Sense brand with getting hats made and branding myself on social media. I typed up my resignation letter, prayed and cried because I knew that this wasn’t going to be an easy road but I knew if I wanted to create the life I wanted to live that this was necessary… I took up a P/T job as an on-call Banquet Server so that I could control my life better and started cutting in a barbershop to make money to pay off the rest of school. After quitting my job, I went to school everyday and cut in the barbershop four days… I was able to finish school in three months and was licensed a month later. I knew after being licensed and working in a traditional barbershop that I didn’t want to be a traditional barber so I invested money I had saved and took up Next Level Learning with Professional Grooming Specialist Yisrael Wright.
I learned several grooming and skin care techniques that I applied instantly and made more money than I did working in hotels. I was quickly outgrowing my first barbershop and had been doing research on moving to another location sooner than later. One day I stopped into rapper Killer Mikes The SWAG Shop on Edgewood and I met a barber by the name Fresh. I introduced myself as a new barber and told him my story of working in hotels and my journey thus far. He was intrigued and really liked my energy so he introduced me to the shop manager. She interviewed me and said I would be perfect for their new barbershop experience inside the Statefarm Arena. She reviewed my portfolio and trusted that Fresh was bringing an asset to the team. I knew that this was for game nights only so I still had to find a barbershop to cut at full time.
A few weeks later I ended up moving to another location but that didn’t last long due to the owner shutting it down unexpectedly. I got discouraged and didn’t want to keep moving around from barbershop to barbershop. I made the executive decision to elevate my environment for my clients since my brand, customer service, services, and professionalism demanded a high-end look and feel. I joined Sam Glickman at his new Privado Grooming Saloon in Downtown Atlanta. I had already started to build a relationship with Sam from attending his educational barber conference named The National Barbers & Beauty Symposium. He had offered to mentor me and already had an amazing group of barbers that were welcoming and were open to sharing knowledge with me as well.
This was a tough transition being that this was a new location and it was my 2nd time moving in a year. I communicated effectively to all of my clients and I had some that followed me and some that didn’t. Sam and his team encouraged me that it would get better. I also did my groundwork by connecting with the local businesses and boosting awareness that I was in the area. My girlfriend finds networking events for us to attend and we continuously keep pushing Barber Sense. I still go back to my barber school to speak with the students and share my journey. I encourage them and let them know it won’t be easy but give it your all every single day and your hard work will not go unnoticed. I pride myself on being humble, grateful and spreading positivity to each and every client and connection I make on this path.
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?
After outgrowing my first barbershop and moving to another location, it was shut down in three months unexpectedly. Will Stamm said, “A barber that moves alot loses alot”. That stuck with me and I got super down and discouraged but I’ve had a strong support team from girlfriend to my family. They really kept me going on some dark days.
I also went from making salary to not knowing how much money I was going to make a day. I just knew I wanted to cut hair and build something that outlived me… a legacy.
Please tell us about Barber Sense.
I am a professional grooming specialist and my companies name is Barber Sense. I operate out of suite inside of Privado Grooming. I specialize in hair, skin, and scalp grooming for men and women. I provide more than a haircut by offering a 24K Gold Facial to hydrating scalp and beard treatments to make my clients look and feel good. The Barber Sense Experience is about stimulating all of the senses. I pride myself on keeping spirits high and fades tight.
I am proud that being six months in a new industry I have been able to grow so quickly by just being a student of life.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Playing basketball with my cousin and friends in our neighborhood from sun up to sun down on Saturdays. Just being a kid with no worries no pressure just doing what I loved all day long.
Pricing:
- Men & Women Haircuts $30+
- 24 K Gold Facial $65
- Organic Beard Treatment $35
- Scalp Treatments $35
Contact Info:
- Address: Privado Grooming Saloon ( Suite )
320 Sunset Ave NW Atlanta, GA - Website: https://getsquire.pro/simone-johnson
- Phone: 6782718403
- Email: melo.barbersense@gmail.com
- Instagram: @BarberSense
- Facebook: Barber Sense
- Yelp: Barber Sense
- Other: https://barber-sense.business.site/?m=true
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