We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brandon Lockhart a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brandon, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s talk legacy – what sort of legacy do you hope to build?

I hope to build a legacy of resilience and success. I grew up in mobile homes and public housing during my early years of life. Often times your value is determined at a young age, and the mental image you have of yourself and your self-worth is established during these years as well. For me, growing up in low-income households and being different from other kids my age was a devastating realization and something I ultimately decided I was going to change. Through resilience and grit, I have managed to crawl out of the dark psychological pit I was born into. This has become my life’s purpose—to change the trajectory for myself and my next generation through hard work and resilience.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I founded Lockhart & Co. December 6th, 2022, with the mission to restore the art of classic barbering in Denver. Prior to starting Lockhart & Co. I was the driving force in the restoration of traditional barbers in Central Illinois by founding Lockhart’s Barber College—the premier barber college in downstate Illinois—and a chain of award-winning barber shops, known as Lockhart’s Barber Shop.

I was able to set myself apart from others by putting my clients first and building genuine relationships with them, creating a professional atmosphere with a classic ambiance to differentiate myself from others, and conducting my operations with the utmost integrity.

I am most proud of the work I was able to do in Central Illinois. This was very purposeful work and impacted the lives of many people. I have watched many lives change for the better because of the businesses I have created. Some of my most significant awards included Business Expansion of the Year and Micro Business of the Year from Greater Decatur Chamber of Commerce, #1 Barber Shop and Trade School several years consecutively from Herald & Review Readers’ Choice Awards, and 20 people under 40 who make a difference in Central Illinois from the Mid-Central Business Journal.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

When I decided I was going to open my first barber shop, Lockhart’s Barber Shop, in 2012, I didn’t have much money in my pocket. In fact, I only had $1,000 to my name. My wife, who was my girlfiend at the time, let me borrow every penny she had saved, which was also $1,000. I knew I was going to need at least $3,000 to start the business, so reluctantly, I aksed my girlfriend’s father, Dennis, to lend me the additional money I needed. Fortunately for me, he lent me the money. When others were doubting me and talking behind my back, he supported me, and that still means the world to this day. As we began putting the shop together, we realized we needed more money for the decor, so my wife and I started working at a local farm cleaning out goat stalls, pulling weeds, and various other “dirty work” until we made enough money to finish the decor. The shop was able to open and became profitable in the first month. The rest is history.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When I decided I wanted to go to barber college I didn’t have a lot of money saved or any help from family. My wife (girlfriend at the time) moved with me three hours from home to attend the closest barber college, in Moline, IL. We had to live in some pretty tough conditions to turn my dream into a reality. It required some resilience and faith. We lived in a tiny studio apartment in a rough area of town. I rode the bus to school and she walked to work, in the rain and snow. It was a bit demoralizing at times. We lived in a trailer that leaked from the roof in several areas. I remember seeing cooking pots littered all over the ground to catch the dripping water from the ceiling when it would rain. We couldn’t afford much of anything. We were poor and alone, but we were also thriving because we were chasing a dream that required resilience and faith—this gave us purpose, and having a purpose helped us endure.

Contact Info:

• Website: lockhartandcompany.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/lockhartandcompany
• Facebook: facebook.com/lockhartandcompany
• Other: Square booking site: lockhart-co-barber-shop.square.site

Image Credits
Tim Gillies Photography Paul Miller Photography