We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Armani Robbins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Armani below.

Hi Armani, thanks for joining us today. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

If I could go back in time, I really wish I would’ve waited to start my business. I opened up Mani Maker Services in August 2022 after I had quit my last job and decided to become this entrepreneur. In reality, I was not even close to ready to being capable of opening my business – I didn’t have any money to get materials & supplies, no real guidance to help during the process, I was literally just a gal and a dream. Although it was a struggle to get things started up, it was still rewarding that I was even able to accomplish the start up of my first business. I feel like if I did start a little later, even this year, it would have been a bit more successful. I recently had a small setback but we’re working through it! But there are definitely seasons in this industry where folks just won’t get their hair done. That was a huge wake up call & something I didn’t pay attention to until I felt the pressure on my business & myself. If I started this business later, it would’ve just allowed me to be a bit more knowledgeable & aware of the demographics in the area, how often these clients are coming in & how much they are paying when they come in. All in all, I still wouldn’t trade this business or the risk I took to start it for nothin – it’s definitely made my experience, an experience!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Well, for those who don’t know, I am Armani Robbins. I’m a 25 year old barber & cosmetologist. I got into the hair industry first through my mother – she’s done hair all her life and advised me that a trade would never go away, I would alway have a job. I went to Cosmo school in 2017 and then Barber school in 2020. For me personally, I just enjoy the transformations of these clients as well as the small connections I make with all of them. I’m a pretty interactive person so when I can engage with clients and make their day, I’m all for it. Right now, I’m solely focused on barbering – shaves and cuts but I also offer box braids and silk press as well for the ladies. I feel when people book with me they know that they’re in a safe & fun space. They can vent, cry, scream or laugh with me. The trust and me being so easy to talk to and so empathetic, that’s what sets me apart from anyone else. I am trustworthy and I give non biased feedback. I love talking with my clients.
I am most proud that I’m still here handling my business. With any setbacks and other issues that have taken place during this first year of my business, I have been resilient. I have maintained my business through everything. Although the business isn’t where I want it quite yet, we are still elevating and moving forward to become more than just cuts and shaves.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

To me, the most effective strategy for growing your clientele is literally word of mouth. Get all of your clients to put in a good word for you to their friends and family. Other people talking good about you is what allows new people to be like, “oh okay let me try her out!” I have gotten all my new clients just on the convenience of the location. I love when all the mamas talk about me to their friends because that’s how I have gotten many of my kid clients. You can market and advertise yourself all you want and need but at the end of the day, people want to hear about others experience with you! So give your client a great first experience so they run and tell all their friends how great you are and they should try you out. It works!

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

About 2 months ago, I really started to struggle with literally everything in my life – personal things, finances and my business. I noticed that I hadn’t really been that busy since January even but I really thought I would be okay and everything would just pick up and go back to how I needed it to be. The pressures of paying this business rent on a weekly basis, my monthly personal expenses and then my problems really caught up to me and I was so lost. I didn’t know what else I could do but to just stop my business, I mean at this time it was like okay, do I want to have a place to live or a place to do my business at? That’s what it came down to. So I had to move out of my place of business and I ended up moving into another suite with a friend. I was definitely humbled but also reminded that all things come with time and we cannot rush that time frame. Long story short, even though I had to reevaluate and adjust my path, that didn’t stop my business. When you’re in between a rock and a hard place you choose what’s best for you. Mani Maker is still up and running, yes we are working on some things still but we aren’t ever letting nothing or nobody stop us!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mani-maker-services-llc-101408.square.site/
• Instagram: instagram.com/mani.makerservices
• Facebook: Mani Maker Services LLC

Image Credits
Mercedes Williams @mercedeslenzphotography