Our guest on this episode is a barber extraordinaire who is innovative and talented, yet humle and grounded. Joining us from his barbershop, The Coil, in Chicago, Antionio is here to share his journey to salon ownership - and what lead him to become the successful barber he is today. You might know him as @barbergawd on Insagram, or as one of the 2021 Faces of Sola, but we know him as one of the most genuine and inspirational people we’ve crossed paths with.
In this episode, Antonio opens up about his experience moving to the south side of Chicago at 14 years old and how there was a lack of positive mentorship. But despite the challenges he faced, Antonio used his experiences to fuel his passions and purpose.
Through his work behind the chair and a drive to make a difference in the lives of others in the next generation, Antonio has created a community of empowered people who not only look good, but feel good.
Press play on this episode to get the inspiration and motivation you didn’t know you needed.
In This Episode
[2:10] - Antonio has made such an impact on the Sola community and we knew his story needed to be shared.
[3:42] - Growing up, Antonio admired his uncle and aspired to follow in his footsteps.
[6:26] - By spending time with clients every couple of weeks, Antonio has made connections with young people in his community as a mentor.
[8:00] - The experience he provides in the chair gives his clients confidence.
[9:40] - Antonio offers a subscription based VIP list that locks in appointments.
[11:20] - Because he sees 14 to 18 people a day, Antonio delegates tasks to others in his network to help build his product line and app.
[13:17] - Antonio felt the need to branch into his own business with Sola so he could do things his own way and keep growing.