Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal care but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Paul McGee, owner of McGee’s Barbershop, located in Nepean, ON, Canada.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

We are a community-based barbershop specializing in classic barber cuts. We support the local community, including charities, schools, and community associations. Our customers are predominantly from the neighborhood and range in age from young children to octogenarians. We pride ourselves on providing a welcoming and clean environment to serve our customers.

Tell us about yourself

Barbering is my second career. I spent my main career with a large multinational company. I have always had a passion for barbering and chose to enrol in classes to learn the trade in 2018. I wanted to have more control over my efforts and spend my time daily with people on a different level. Customers come to a barbershop to maintain their look, leave feeling good and interact with others. Originally I had considered barbering as a part-time interest, but it quickly developed into something that I wanted to pursue full-time. My biggest motivation comes from being in the shop daily to meet the customers and service their needs. Developing the relationships and their trust is paramount.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

I think the biggest accomplishment is developing a loyal clientele. By providing a welcoming, inclusive environment, I think we have been able to attract a regular clientele that trusts us with their grooming needs. We opened on July 2, 2021, in the midst of the pandemic. It was an uncertain time, but the ability to open in less than ideal conditions and build a business that has supported itself and provided a needed service in the community has been a very rewarding experience and has given me a great sense of accomplishment.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the hardest things is trying to be everything to everyone. Operating a seven day a week business is very demanding on your time. The one difficult thing is the time away from family. You are gone early in the day and don’t return until after dinner time. Helping with household chores takes a backseat sometimes, but I am grateful for the support of my family through this process in the first year.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Do your homework! I think everyone dreams about being their own boss, but there is a lot more to it once you start down that path. The time commitment to be successful will likely be underestimated.
  2. Write a business plan. What do you want to offer? Who are your customers? Who is your competition? What services do you want to offer? What differentiates you in your business from others that provide the same service
  3. Hire good people. Be selective. It’s easy to bring someone on board but do they have the skills you need? Are they loyal? Do they share the same passion and vision as you?

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

As of this writing, we have just completed one year in business. It has seen its share of ups and downs and uncertainty, but it’s been worth every second. Not everyone gets the chance to build something like this and take a chance to fly on their own. If the success of the business as well as the support and encouragement of our family, friends, and loyal customers continues, it will surely continue to grow this year

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://mcgeesbarbershop.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mcgeesbarbershop1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcgees_barbershop/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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