We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joe & Kayla Flores a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joe & Kayla, appreciate you joining us today. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

We chose the name Tailored Barber Company because we wanted it to reflect the class, care, and attention to detail that defines our brand. Our shop combines the timeless charm of an old-school barbershop with a modern update. We believe in the power of looking your best to feel your best—dressing for success is not just about style, it’s about confidence.

As personal image consultants, we understand that you can only be trusted with someone else’s image if you take pride in your own. When you walk into a high-end establishment like a luxury restaurant or a five-star hotel, you expect a certain level of professionalism and attention to detail. We wanted our clients to experience that same sense of refinement when they walk into our shop. Tailored Barber Company is all about crafting an experience where our clients leave not only looking sharp, but also feeling their absolute best.

Joe & Kayla, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

This tells the full story without getting too into the weeds.
Feel free to use this. Or contact me with any questions. -Kayla Flores

Tailored Barber Company: Craft, Community, and Unwavering Integrity

Tailored Barber Company isn’t just a barbershop; it’s a reflection of passion, hard work, and a commitment to community. Founded by Joe Flores. Tailored started as a one-chair operation inside a tattoo shop in Ogden, Utah, but today, it’s become a thriving multi-location business. The story began over a decade ago, when Joe Flores was just 13 years old, cutting hair for friends and family. By 2011, when he entered barber school, he already had a full clientele, which laid the foundation for what would become Tailored Barber Company.

“I never got into this for the money,” he says. “I got into it because I had a passion for the craft, for the industry, and for the relationships I was building in my chair.”

In 2016, after a year of working in a small one-chair shop, he took a leap of faith, knocking down a wall to expand the space and add four more chairs. This became the official launch of Tailored Barber Company. From day one, the mission was clear: make the client the priority, build relationships, and create a sense of community. This ethos has been a constant driving force throughout every expansion and challenge the company has faced.

One of the key things that sets Tailored Barber Company apart is its high standard of service. Whether it’s the meticulous attention to detail or the commitment to treating clients with respect and professionalism, the team ensures that each person who walks through the door feels like a priority. The professionals at Tailored also take great pride in their appearance as image consultants, and are dressed in business attire to ensure their level of success. The focus is on more than just great haircuts—Tailored is about elevating the entire grooming experience.

In 2017, Joe married his long-time partner, Kayla Flores, a licensed cosmetologist with a business degree, who immediately became an integral part of the team. Together, they expanded Tailored Barber Company and faced a series of challenges that would have deterred most businesses. In 2018, they moved to a larger location in Roy, Utah, to accommodate their growing team and loyal clientele, transforming from a small 500-square-foot shop into an expansive 2,000-square-foot space with 11 barber stations.

But the biggest test came in 2020, when COVID-19 hit. The pandemic brought uncertainty to the business, but Kayla and Joe rose to the challenge with incredible innovation. They launched their own line of grooming products, from matte and shiny pomades to beard oils, balms, aftershaves, and tattoo balms. This initiative helped the business stay afloat during the toughest months of the pandemic, while still maintaining a high standard of service for their clients.

Then, as if COVID wasn’t enough, Tailored Barber Company faced an unexpected hurdle when they had the idea to expand into the tattoo industry. With a legacy rooted in a tattoo shop, the couple saw an opportunity to combine both under one roof. However, Roy’s zoning laws stood in the way, restricting the number of tattoo shops allowed in the city. Determined to make their vision a reality, Kayla took on the challenge, lobbying city officials for six months, gathering over 1,500 signatures, and presenting their case in front of the city council with a unanimous decision of approval. In 2022, Tailored Tattoos officially opened.

“Kayla was my backbone through everything,” Joe reflects. “She believed in this from the start, and her drive and determination made it all possible. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”

The success of Tailored Barber Company continued to grow, and in 2023, they opened Tailored Barbering Apprenticeship Academy to help foster the next generation of barbers. As the company expanded, so did their commitment to providing education, mentorship, and opportunities to young barbers. The goal is not just to cut hair but to change lives, especially for those who come from less-than-ideal backgrounds like myself and many of my colleagues. Barbering can save your life, and also change your life and Joe is proof of that.

With the launch of Tailored Barber Co. II, The Collective in June 2024 in Ogden, Utah, the story has come full circle. This new location is not only home to barbers, barber apprentices, and tattoo artists but also a space for creative professionals from all disciplines. It’s an environment that encourages collaboration, growth, and community—values that have been embedded in the DNA of Tailored from the beginning.

What makes Tailored Barber Company truly special is the unwavering commitment to integrity, respect, and passion for the craft. “It’s about more than just the haircut,” Kayla says. “It’s about the relationships you build, the community you create, and the positive impact you have on others.”

Looking ahead, Joe and Kayla remain focused on continuing to grow the business while staying true to their roots. They want their clients to feel valued, respected, and always leave with a sense of confidence and pride. Whether you’re getting a haircut, beard trim, or tattoo, the experience at Tailored Barber Company is about much more than just the service—it’s about becoming part of something bigger.

“We’re not just a barbershop,” says Joe. “We’re a family. We’re a community. We’re here to make people feel good about themselves, inside and out. And we’ll never stop striving for excellence.”

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

After cutting hair for 19 years, how did you build your clientele, and how has that process evolved?

When I first started cutting hair, social media wasn’t the powerhouse it is today, so I had to rely on word of mouth, handing out homemade business cards, and referrals to build my clientele. The old-school methods still work, and that was my foundation. I was busy because I put in the work, showed up, and built genuine relationships with my clients.

Fast forward to 2025, and while social media plays a bigger role now, the core of success remains the same: it’s about doing the footwork. To stand out, you still need to engage with your community—pass out business cards in local stores, run referral programs, and introduce yourself to potential clients face-to-face. Social media is a powerful tool, but it can’t replace the personal connections and the effort you put into getting your name out there.

The key is being willing to go the extra mile. Do more than the next guy, and success will follow. It’s about putting in the time, showing up, and genuinely connecting with people—whether that’s online or in person. If you commit to doing the work, you’ll see the results. The hustle never stops.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tailoredbarberco.com
• Instagram: tailored_barber_co
• Facebook: Tailored Barber Co., Tailored Tattoo, Tailored Barber Co. II Ogden

Image Credits

Brittni Strickland