Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Roberts.
Justin, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I always thought of becoming a barber but got a late start. I went to college (twice) because I felt like it was what I was supposed to do after high school and I had the opportunity to continue playing football. When I was done with college I started working and spent several years working jobs I didn’t enjoy.
I inquired about barber school online and received the course catalog but never pursued it any further. After getting married and moving to a new house I unpacked our living room and the barber school catalog landed on the coffee table once again.
When my wife saw this she encouraged me to finally take the leap and follow my dream. At 29 years old I quit my job and enrolled at the Massachusetts School of Barbering in Quincy. In the first few weeks, I wondered if I had made a horrible mistake, those fears were alleviated quickly when I fell in love with barbering right away.
I can honestly say its the best decision I’ve ever made. Making such a huge career change helped me take control of my life. I became consumed with barbering and engrossed myself in the barber community. I pushed myself to learn and get better.
I lost weight, had children and developed as a barber and businessman. Barbering has fulfilled me so much. It allows me to be creative, develop new relationships and most importantly be proud of how I provide for my family.
Has it been a smooth road?
Things have not always been smooth for me. I had never picked up a pair of clippers before I started barber school. I didn’t become licensed until I was 30 Years old. It seemed at times I would never catch up to people who had been cutting hair for years.
Fortunately, I got placed in a busy shop out of school owned by someone who was willing to teach me and let me make my mistakes. Like most professions barbering is all about the experience. Hard work and determination always pay off and I was soon on my way to becoming a skilled barber. I also have been able to find many like-minded people within barbering.
People with tons of experience to those just starting out who love what they do. Among these peers, there are no stupid questions and most are willing to lend any advice they have not only about the meat and potatoes of cutting hair but also the trials and tribulations we face a long the way. Having support from the tight-knit barber community near and far has been a great help for me over the years.
More recently I have faced the challenge of starting my own business. I had decided to go off on my own and despite knowing the business of barbering, preparing a business plan, and carefully crafting my approach unforeseen expenses and problems arose. I found a great location but it needed some rehab after being vacant for a number of years.
I had never dealt with something like this before so before I got too deep into anything on my own I had a couple of contractors come take a look at the space, secured the guy I wanted and thought I would be ready to roll within 6 weeks. As is the case in most construction projects that was not the case! the first contractor bailed on me after leaving me in limbo for a number of weeks.
While cutting one of my faithful clients I was bemoaning my situation when he suggested giving his dad a call because he could help me out. Thankfully things worked out and they were able to get me straightened out with the work I needed to be done.
Another common thread of construction projects that became clear is things always cost more than expected, A number of issues arose throughout the renovation that was unforeseen. Thankfully, I was able to resolve them and get the doors open before I ran out of money!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My company is Champions Barbershop. I have been open since October 2017. Champions is a traditional barbershop with a modern touch. I specialize in service. I want to make my customers not only look great but that they’ve had an exceptional experience in my shop. I pride myself on being a master barber, which to me means being able to execute any haircut, on any type of hair at any time.
The thing that sets Champions apart from other barbershops is attention to detail. Barbering has exploded over the last several years. Men are spending more time and money on their appearance than ever before. The high demand for our services has led to some barbers to put out mediocre work and lose sight of their customers.
I never want a client to feel rushed because I’m busy, or that they didn’t get the haircut they wanted because I wasn’t paying attention when they were describing how they wanted it to look. The feeling of getting a fresh haircut should always be a positive one and the customer should never feel cheated.
Taking the time to make sure the client and I are on the same page before I ever pick up the scissors or clipper is tantamount. Lastly, I believe the finishing touches here are what keeps people coming back. A traditionally tapered neckline instead of tapered or blocked.
Using product and a hair dryer to create the style I’m looking to create. Hot lather and a straight blade shave on the neck. These are small things that may take a few extra minutes but let people know you care about their appearance and take pride in your craft.
The thing I’m most proud of so far had been how quickly I’ve been able to become a part of the community very quickly. Its been great to have my sons’ friends come in and have them tell them how great it was to get a haircut.
I’ve been able to integrate into the town pretty quickly. There is a state college down the street and a diverse and growing suburban community that lets me serve people from many walks of life.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Bridgewater is a town in transition. It was once a rural farm community that has grown quite a bit in the last 20 years. There are some growing pains going on but overall I would absolutely recommend someone opening a business here. The community as a whole has been fantastic and they support small businesses very well.
Pricing:
- Haircut $20
- Senior haircut (Tues-Thurs( $15
- Kids haircut (18 & under) $15
- Haircut & Beard trim $28
- Hot lather shave $30
- Haircut and shave $40
- Neck trim $10
- Beard trim $10
Contact Info:
- Address: 98 Spring Street Bridgewater, MA 02324
- Phone: (508)807-4742
- Instagram: Champions.barbershop
- Facebook: @championsbridgewater
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