Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Garcia.
Joe, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
So in 2020, I was working a dead-end job, working 10-12 hours a day. Making about $10 an hour. I felt like I needed to make a change. I wanted to have more control over my schedule and make money for myself. I decided I wanted to be a barber; I looked into barber school and saved up as much as I could to quit my job. I was able to go to school full time and driving with Uber after school to pay for bills. As I was in barber school, I started seeing how much money I was spending on clippers and noticed how much money other students were spending also. That’s what gave me the idea that I wanted to get into retail, also. So this guy would come to the school selling clippers and barber products, and it was then that I knew what I wanted to do. I tried getting into selling Barber Supplies, but I didn’t know anything about business or where to get my product. So, I did research but was still unable to figure out how to buy wholesale. I eventually gave up on the retail part and focused on my barber career. So, I ended up finishing barber school, got my license, and started working at a barbershop. Once Covid hit, it shut down all the barber shops. I was unable to make money for bills, so I started Uber driving again full-time. One day as I was driving, I had a rider in my back seat, and we passed by this warehouse. I looked over and noticed a beauty supply warehouse; I thought to myself, after I drop off my rider, I’ll come back and check out the warehouse because I knew it wasn’t a regular store; it was more like a wholesale warehouse, and I wanted to see what I could find out. I drove back to the warehouse to see If I could try to figure out how to start buying wholesale from them. So, when I got there, I was so nervous waiting in the parking lot trying to decide if I should go in or not or even what I would say if I do go in. I was embarrassed to go in because I didn’t know what to say, but I told myself it was now or never. I went in and told them I wanted to make a purchase. They told me they could not sell to the public, so I responded to them with I’m currently in the process of starting my own business, and I just wanted to make sure I have all my paperwork ready and asked what all did I need to make my purchase. Once they told me, I went home that night and started my business. I applied for all my paperwork, and it took two week for everything to get approved. The day I got my paperwork in the mail, it was one of the most happiest days of my life. I went to the warehouse and made my first purchase and bought two products that Cost me around $1,100. I started doing mobile going to barber shops and colleges, Selling the little product that I had. I saved up all the money I made to buy more products and to expand my business. I would post my products all over social media, my business slowly started growing; and by this time, the barber shops started to open again. I stared cutting hair full-time again while selling products in between my spare time. My business started growing to where I was not able to do both at the same time. I needed help. I eventually asked my girlfriend to help; she quit her job to help run the business. She went out every day to barbershop and colleges selling our products. It got to the point that we needed a physical location to run our business. We stared looking for buildings to lease, we found a perfect place where I could cut hair full-time and run the business. One year after starting my business and making my first purchase, we have a physical location with over 100 products in-store and a barber shop where I cut hair and me, and my girl run the store full time. We are currently starting to brand our own line of products and focusing on growing the business.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, it was most definitely not a smooth ride. My girlfriend became pregnant and was making deliveries around 8 and 9 months. Two weeks after having our baby, we moved into our physical location and had to renovate the shop, such as painting and moving supplies into the store. Everything was new to us with starting a business; we had to learn how to promote and also setting up. Our website was one of the most difficult things we had to do. Keeping up with taxes, learning the register, and budgeting our money, all while having a newborn at the shop.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
My profession is being a Barber; what makes me the most proud is how I can run a business with my family. The thing that sets me apart from others is that I know clippers because I’m an actual barber. I know how they work from the inside out. Compared to others who just sale supplies. I can explain to a customer what would be best if there are any issues with the products they have.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you, and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
I started my business right in the middle of Covid, so I have to adjust to the way of doing business. As a barber, my clients come to me. So, me doing retail I had to learn to get out there and reach out to customers.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dfwbarbersupply.com
- Instagram: DFW Barber supply
