March 9, 2020

Meet Abel Olmos of The Barbashop in East Austin, Texas

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Abel Olmos.

Abel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in the Dominican Republic and lived there until the age of 15 years old. I moved to the Bronx with my family with little to no English, and at that time I navigated New York City the best way I could. My parents always told me to surround myself with good people. I always remembered that and will continue to do so. I paid my way through college on my own while working for a non-profit. I learned a lot of lessons at that non-profit, but I knew that wasn’t for me. My environment was violent and there was a lot happening simultaneously, which gave me the desire to find an escape and turn uncertainties into a positive outcome. I consider myself someone with great taste and always like to visualize ideas and turn them into reality, which is what I l commit to. One of those ideas was to leave NY and move to a city that I never have been to and wanted to know what life would be like if I never landed in New York. I arrived in Austin, Texas just because I heard there’s a lot of live music, so I thought that was a cool place to start, but finding things that remind me of home can be difficult here, so I decided to make it myself and that was The Barbahsop. Barber shop culture is so heavy in the East Coast and it’s part of everyone’s lifestyle. No matter what your background, financial stage, and what you want to do there’s a barber shop for you. Opening The Barbashop and turning it into a business took 3 years of saving and a lot of overtime put in. We are coming to our 1-year anniversary in April and it has been such a great ride! We’ve been faced with both challenges and rewards, but both have taught us so much. Having the official title of Brand Manager comes with a lot of pressure because you are the brand and the brand is you.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been a smooth road. One of the things I’ve always know is that no matter what you do if you’re going to do it right, it’s going to be hard. Some of the struggles are the beginning stages of the business, Not knowing what to do or where to start. There is always a learning curve and you have to be open to face that and accept it. For example, building the right team. We didn’t know who or what our ideal barbers would be like, so we invited all who were open to joining our team, to come and check out the shop and space where we reside. Our company culture and values play a huge role in our everyday existence. With such a strong focus on this, we were able to find like-minded individuals to join our team. The energy is unreal!

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is a barber shop called The Barbashop. Located in the Eastside of Austin, Texas. I am the Brand Manager. My role is to produce an elevated customer experience with the shop. From the customer’s first interaction with our website to booking their appointment online, and to the actual in-person visit with our barbers. I make sure that the customer is experiencing their journey within our brand standards. That is what makes us special. There is a certain feel when you walk into The Barbashop because everything is curated and thoughtful. Nothing feels like a mistake, it feels intentional and thoughtful. Our barbers are one of the most talented barbers in Austin, I stand behind that! Those guys are the best people to have around. They are humble, talented, friendly, and stylish. We are proud of what we have done one year into this business.

What were you like growing up?
I was very energetic! I grew up playing baseball and that played a role in my competitive spirit. I Always have a positive outlook on life and I make sure I continue to share that energy in the healthiest way I can. Growing up in NY allowed me to develop that hunger to be at a higher level with what’s around me.

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