Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Garver.
Hi Nick, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Born in Titusville Pa May 22 1978 , moved to Erie for kindergarten and 1st grade and then back to Titusville. My family was poor, we lived in housing developments until 1991 when we moved to Oil City.
At age 31 I moved to Erie and worked for Famous Hair and Steak-n-Shake until I saved up enough to lease my own business space for my barbershop. My first shop was 3132 Peach St, I was the for 2 years before moving to 29th and Cherry for 6 years, then covid happened and I moved my shop to W26th to save for my dream shop and final shop.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road , I had to invest in myself repeatedly to fail repeatedly and learn from my failures. Opening my 1st shop, I dealt with a landlord that expected commissions based off of what I was earning even though I signed a basic landlord/tenant lease agreement. My 2nd shop was my first multiple chair shop in which ai really didn’t know how to do payroll or manage a proper pay system. My third shop I shared with an older gentleman that just didn’t want change or to update the interior of the shop and my 4th shop, I signed the lease March 13th of 2020 and the Covud shut down came 3 days later on the 16th. My wife was 8 months pregnant with our son Grayson at the time. I still paid my rent for the business and our house by cutting hair in the basement of our home. I eventually opened up prior to Erie County going “Green” and was interviewed by Erie News Now, I got flack from the Erie County Health Department and the State Board of Barber Examiners but nothing ever came of it. I stood up for what I believed in and provided for my family.
I was at this location for 6 years, the first 2 years I paid of debt from Covid and the last 4 years I saved 30% of my income in order to build my dream shop that I have today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I consider my profession, although part of the service industry, an art and craft. I enjoy meeting new people and helping them look better and feel better about themselves.
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
My wife Jeanette is my biggest supporter by far. Many times I have wanted to through in the towel on what I recently created with my dream shop and that woman believed in me when I wanted to stop believing in me. She seen my potential and called it out when I was tired and gave me the courage and fight to keep pushing.
I also owe gratitude to Ceasar Ruiz , owner of Ruiz Barber Shoo in Erie Pa for showing me my true potential and allowing me to work under him to obtain my barber manager license.
Pricing:
- ●Haircut – $26
- ● Haircut & Beard – $33
- ● Face Shave – $20
- ● Ad on Straight Razor service- $5 – $10
- ● Facial Massage – $30
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.garversbarbersandmore.com
- Instagram: @garversbarbers
- Facebook: Garver’s Barbers & More
- Other: https://share.google/Ku98ThFAJGC96Oub5
Image Credits
Taken by: Nick Garver
