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Las barberías pueden ser espacios sagrados donde los jóvenes y los hombres cultivan el sentido de comunidad.
Steve Evans, propietario de Stevie E’s Place en Akron (Ohio), vivió esta experiencia de primera mano cuando era niño. Su padre lo llevaba a menudo a la barbería local para le cortaran el pelo. El dueño de la peluquería tenía una política estricta: Los clientes que llegaban tarde tenían que esperar hasta el final del día para sentarse en la silla. Evans admite haber llegado tarde de vez en cuando, pero mientras esperaba, aprendió lecciones inestimables y descubrió sin darse cuenta su pasión de toda la vida.
“Just sitting there watching them for hours, seeing the connection with the customer, seeing the reaction afterwards, and just being able to show what you could do in your own way, it was inspiring to me,”
Steve Evans, Owner, Stevie E’s Place
Años más tarde, Evans se convertiría él mismo en barbero. Después de 10 años trabajando en una barbería local, el propietario eligió a Evans como su sucesor una vez que estuvo listo para jubilarse. En 2018, Evans asumió la propiedad del negocio y lo rebautizó como Stevie E’s Place.
Desde que se hizo cargo de la tienda, Evans dice que ha aprendido que para mantener una pequeña empresa no sólo hace falta pasión, sino también capacidad para crear equipo y un profundo compromiso con los clientes. Su experiencia nos da un ejemplo de cómo otros empresarios noveles pueden hacer crecer sus negocios y construir su propio legado.
Opening up shop
Taking over an established business required Evans to seek advice and support from people he trusted. Coriano Johnson, a long-time customer and State Farm® agent[AG1] , was one of the people Evans turned to.
“Steve told me about it [the business], and I said, ‘I can help you.’ I said, ‘Let’s talk about insurance so you can protect your new business.’”
Johnson helped Evans set up his small business insurance, walking him through what his policy options can be. Like Evans, Johnson says it’s important for first-time entrepreneurs to get the right policy customized to fit their needs. For Evans, that meant property and liability coverage, covering equipment such as his barber tools, chairs and set-up booth.
Evans says his relationship with Johnson was critical to helping him properly set up his business. Developing and nurturing good relationships—whether with State Farm[IG4] customers or his community—has also helped Evans grow his business.
As a business owner, Evans says it’s crucial to “stand firm on your word” and always show up for your customers.
“You’ve got to be consistent. You’ve got to be here, whether or not the guys show up, it’s on you to be there. The doors need to be open. The responsibility is on the owner, which can be tough sometimes, but that’s just part of business.”
Steve Evans, Owner, Stevie E’s Place
Evans se enorgullece de crear un entorno limpio, seguro y acogedor para sus clientes y utilizó fondos de un préstamo de la Administración de Pequeñas Empresas para actualizar el aspecto del taller y comprar herramientas nuevas. Los clientes se dieron cuenta y a menudo comentan lo bonita que está la tienda, pero lo que hace aún más feliz a Evans es cómo su negocio se ha convertido en un elemento básico de la comunidad y cómo es capaz de conectar con las generaciones más jóvenes.
“It’s important for me to be out in the community,” he says. “I love being in my barbershop, but when I do have the chance to step away from behind the chair and be out and around people and see what’s going on, that really does it for me. I’m not just in it for the money. I’m in it to help change lives any way I can.”
Learning and growing as an entrepreneur
A big reason for Evans’ success so far is because he realized early he couldn’t do it alone. He says first-time business owners also should seek help from other experienced professionals, such as an accountant or bookkeeper, which will allow them to focus more on their craft.
“You can’t do it all on your own. You’re going to need help. It takes a lot to manage the business and do the work at the same time,” Evans says.
Johnson says that like Evans, every new business owner should make sure they are insured for their needs.
Business owners also should consider sitting down with their agent on an annual basis to review their policy and to help the business owners evaluate that their coverage still aligns with their needs. Significant revenue growth, new employees, new purchases, or a change in the business’s location are all events that could trigger a policy review, Johnson adds.
Effective financial management can be crucial for a business to be successful, but so is the right mindset. Evans says it’s important to realize the first five years can be tough. When he was first starting out, Evans often told himself failure wasn’t an option. Six years in, Evans’ deep belief in himself has paid off. His advice for other entrepreneurs is to be just as resilient.
“Don’t give up on your dream. Continue to develop your craft,” he says. “Don’t get complacent, but be willing to grow and stay focused.”
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