Today we’d like to introduce you to Athan Fotopoulos.
Athan, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started cutting hair my junior year of high school. It started off as a hobby and then I realized, I want to do this the rest of my life. I graduated high school in 2009 and my parents pushed me to go the college route which wasn’t what I wanted to pursue, they continued to push me that route so I figure why not? I’ll give it a shot for them. After a year and a half of community college, I sat down with them and had a talk. I let them know how unhappy I was and that I still wanted to pursue being a barber, after a long talk they agreed to send me to barber school and I was ecstatic! I was so overwhelmed with happiness and was so excited to start the new journey in my life. After I finished the 7-month program from New England Hair Academy in Malden, MA in 2010, I worked as an apprentice barber for two years and I’m now a licensed master barber for the past six years and I’m so happy with the decision I made because I get to do what I love every day. College isn’t for everybody and I’m so glad my parents realized that and til this, they continue to support my decision day in and day out.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Like I said before it wasn’t easy to convince my parents that I wanted to pursue being a barber and throughout the process, it took them a little while to hop on board. Even as an apprentice barber it takes a while to build a clientele and be successful so it wasn’t easy, it took long hours, late nights and lots of practice to get to where I am today but I don’t regret my decision ever.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
For the first six years as a barber, I worked at another shop but after making a business decision to better myself and grow my clientele, even more, I switched shops and at Messinas it’s an amazing shop and I work with a great group of guys. Every day, the shops packed and we continue to get guys in and out of the shop with a smile on their face and a great haircut. Every day our clientele continues to grow and we strive to be the best every day. We do everything from men’s regulars, beards, hot towel shaves & fades. We always make sure to put our clients first and keep them satisfied always. What sets us apart from any other shop is our professionalism, haircuts and just the way we interact with every single person that sits in our chair.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
How I define success is being happy with what you do for a living, how you provide for your family and making people feel good about themselves in the industry I’m in. If you go to your job every day and you make good money but at the end of every day, you say to yourself “Man I really hate my job” are you that successful? What people don’t realize is you can make a ton of money and be unhappy with yourself and your job but like they say “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Being able to wake up every day excited to go work and not feel like your actually working, that’s what I consider success. In the U.S. money is endless you can make money doing anything nowadays but until you find something that really makes you happy doesn’t ever give up until you find that.
Pricing:
- Men’s haircuts range from $20-$45
- Kids haircuts range from $15-$25
Contact Info:
- Address: Messinas Barbershop
60 Maple Street
Danvers, MA - Phone: (978)304-1851
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