Celebrity Barber and Entrepreneur Charlie McCoy has worked with titans of industry for years. You can learn more in the Artisan Barber Journal. During 2020, Charlie to lean on those relationships like never beore.
The key to the success of a business often lies in its management, and how well-managed the business is, maintaining consistency, knowing its audience wants and needs, and maximizing its marketing. However, for the founder and C.O.O. of Artisan Barber, Charlie McCoy, it goes beyond that. In his years of creating an inviting environment at his barber shops, Charlie has found that his faith has intertwined itself into the success of Artisan Barber.
There are two biblical lessons that Charlie carries with him when running his businesses; loving thy neighbor, and practicing goodwill. A few months after the start of the pandemic, Charlie sat down with Ian Quinlan, host of the podcast, βYou Are Not Alone With Ian Quinlan'' where the two discussed how Charlie has consistently practiced these lessons in his work, especially since the start of Covid-19.
A few weeks after the shelter-in-place was implemented across the country and his barber shops were forced to close, Charlie discovered the major opportunity he had to transcend his businesses into the digital space. With his clients reaching out to the Artisan Barber team asking how to cut their own hair at home or even requesting trims, Charlie invited them to his barber shops and gave them haircuts while also filming that content for the Artisan Barber YouTube channel.
This act not only served the clients who visited the barber shops that are operating under Covid-19 safety precautions, but also those who felt more comfortable staying at home. For customers this was a boost in their spirits after the darkness the Coronavirus left and for Charlie he was able to see the positive impact has had on people over the years. Prior to filming he would ask the visitors what their experience with Artisan Barber was like and he discovered that his businesses were more than just barber shops for people.
As Ian said in the podcast, Artisan Barber is a βpillar of the communityβ where people can congregate, establish relationships and network. Charlie had originally planned to wait out the pandemic and get back to business once things settled down, but he realized that his community needed him and was reaching out to him for help. Referencing the book of Genesis, Charlie shared how he learned from the story of the Angel of God and Jacob that in order to receive blessings from God one must struggle, and contend and wrestle with life. Charlie did not back down in the face of the pandemic and Artisan Barber and his new endeavors have him to thank for that.
Even before the pandemic Charlie has practiced loving thy neighbor and uplifting his community by hosting events that they would also benefit from. Artisan Barberβs Lower East Side location is known for its enticing art gallery and with it, Charlie has showcased the works of local artists opening them to opportunities of having their work purchased and invites local students to use his walls as a canvas. Much like Ian said in this podcastβs episode, βCharlie invests in his city through goodwill.
β Charlieβs beliefs are ones that his own team can testify that he lives up to. Will Rodriguez, who started working with Charlie in December, also spoke on the podcast to attest to Charlie and the work environment he creates. For Will, as a minority itβs important that he works in a place he feels empowered, and Charlie executes that flawlessly. Additionally, Artisan Barber is also a creative space where being artistic is welcome and those were huge factors as to why Will works there.
Β Artisan Barber encompasses everything that Charlie stands for. He has made sure that since its opening in 2017, it aligns with his beliefs and that the community and people surrounding his barber shops benefit from it. In these unprecedented times he has seen his businesses weather this storm and come out stronger. His community has rallied behind him by donating to Artisan Barberβs Go Fund Me, seeking out services and remaining present at all times. Artisan Barber is the community and Charlie is the one to thank for that.
