Today we’d like to introduce you to John Aldaya.
Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Served in the US Navy. When I got out in 2013 after tours in Iraq and Afghanistan I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. I did find a job in orthopedics. It was good money but not what I wanted for a career. I was talking to my barber and he told me go to barber school become a barber. I never cut hair in my life. I wasn’t sure but after 6 months of thinking it over. I knew I wanted something more in my life. I decided yes let me try barber school. It took awhile to find a school that took the GI bill but after I found one I enrolled. Barber school took 1 year to complete. When I earned my barber license I started working in a 27 chair shop. Then I went back to instructor school and worked in a 2 chair shop. After earning my instructor license I started teaching at the barber school I attended. Almost five years teaching and running the school I decided to open my own barber school.
I found a small place to rent opened the doors with 21 students enrolled. I ran out of space quick. After one year I moved into a much bigger place and now have been open starting my fourth year Jan 2 of this year.
I enjoy helping people elevate their lives for the better.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Opening a business from the ground up is has plenty of challenges. How to find students and cliental for students to practice on.
Funding for everything we would need to be operational.
Mental strength to get through all the paperwork and hiring process.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about All Around Barber School?
We are local Veteran owned and operated business.
We specialize in providing students with a career that will be successful. We are know as a school that will give an education and a place that the students can always call for any help in the future.
What set us apart is a flexible school schedule. We are open 12 hours a day so a student can work and still achieve the goal of being a barber.
I’m most proud of building a school that has helped many students become successful.
We offer a great experience as well as learning more than the curriculum offers. We go over money management,
how to own a barbershop as well as working in a commission, 1099 or hourly employment.
We have guest speakers in for banking, life insurance and barber shop owners talk with the students as well.
Besides the barbering career we offer haircut services to the public. Haircuts, shampoo, hair color, perms, facials, and light massages at an affordable price.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
The biggest risk was financial. I built this business with my own money. No investors or loans. I have to be all in. This is how I provide for my family.
The other risk was spending so much time away from my family to get this business off the ground.
Pricing:
- haircuts $10
- Shampoo $10
- Head shaves $15
- masks $10
- hair color $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allaroundbarberschool.com
- Instagram: allaroundbarberschool
- Facebook: allaroundbarberschool
