Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas Spradlin.
Douglas, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started my career in Chicago in 2010. I started managing corporate salons like Supercuts and Hair Cuttery for my first three years. I’m met my husband in 2013 and moved to San Francisco and beginning of 2014 where I worked at a very busy barbershop. I really focused on my men’s cutting and Beard work while there. I came to Lawrence in July 2015. I worked at a place called Downtown Barber until 2016. Right before I left there I pulled Bernie Sanders off the street while he was there for a rally and I got to cut his hair ! This was Such an amazing moment for me. I opened Standard Grooming Supply in April 2016. I started in a 200 square-foot windowless shop at 719 Massachusetts in the back of a building. I hustled on the streets and handed out my card to anyone I thought would be a great potential customer for me. This is how I got my name out. This is how I got people to see who I was. I offered people out in the street beard trims and chatted them up. After three years, I moved to a larger location in the bottom of an office building located at 901 Kentucky, a historic building. Continuing to slowly build my name and my brand. I moved into this new location in 2019 in September little did I know what was headed for us all. After the 10 or 12 weeks we were mandated to have off for the pandemic, I went back to work. I’ve always worked by myself since opening my business and my new shop had many windows. This was a true blessing. I got to keep my windows open and let my clients feel safe. I was there five years and decided to move to Baldwin City Kansas and open up a storefront. I am now located at 616 High St. Baldwin City Kansas. I have been a male focused shop u til now. I’ve expanded my store. I now carry women’s apparel, shoes, luggage, bedding, fragrances, watches, accessories, and an amazing sanctuary area. I continue to look forward to the future and maybe another location and to continue to build and focus on teaching people how to love themselves and to be better humans. .
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?
It has been pretty smooth. I have a very smart husband who is very supportive and to encouraged me to do everything slowly. I never got a loan for the business when I first started out. I paid cash for everything and slowly built stuff in that manner. This really helped me be able to Grow and not be in debt and to try things out to see if they would work or not.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I cut hair and sculpt beards all day. I have made my own line of multifunctional beard oil for 10 years now. I am known as The Beard Mechanic. I guess what sets me apart from others is Me, Myself. I don’t follow trends. I try to give men the hair and beard to works for them and compliments them. My goal at my shop is to help men first through a haircut and a beard trim. Learn how to love themselves. I have bedding, clothing, accessories, shoes. All of these things are to help. Men also understand how important it is to love yourself and all of these ways to sleep on good sheets to walk in really great shoes that fit you to have good health and wellness practices to emotionally physically, and spiritually show up for yourself every day and what that looks like for you as an individual. . I carry Boll and Branch sheets, True Botanicals skin care, Lems brand shoes and boots, and much more. I hand pick everything in the shop because I care. Many of the items I buy are American made and local or local to the region. I want to continue to show up for my community and show others the possibilities.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I would love to sit down and chat with people on how they could do that this year I participated in the third annual Baldwin city fashion show. I got to meet and collaborate with people from all around the area and to be inspired by other creatives. I love to do things that benefit the community and that build other people up so please feel free to reach out or stop by the shop and I would love to be a part of raising money of building community of helping inspire people I like to do haircutting events that are free to children or people in need I sometimes cut hair at homeless shelters and for disabled people sometimes I go to their home. It’s really about giving him back and living with purpose. .
Instagram: @thebeardmechanic
Www.standardgroomingsupply.com
Email:
[email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.standardgroomingsupply.com
- Instagram: @thebeardmechanic
- Facebook: Standardgroomingsupply
