We recently connected with Dré Perales and have shared our conversation below.

Dré , appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?

I feel like when creating a brand or a product I spent to much time on perfection… nothing is perfect. You can always adjust and grow along side your product and vision. What is important is to be authenticity.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I started my interest in barbering around 1993 / 1994 my mother was a cosmetologist. I started with cutting my own hair and my friends hair. But I never really thought of it as a career just something I did. I was going to attend school but when I took a tour of a local cosmetology school barbering wasn’t offered so I didn’t want to really focus on that as a career path so the idea was abandoned. Around 1996 my interest in music and tattoos sparked I had been playing brass instruments since the 4th grade I enjoyed playing Jazz/Dixieland I was influenced by Louis Armstrong and Louie Prima but my interest in rock and roll and punk rock music took over so I transitioned to playing guitar and bass guitar and later met a friend Cody Miller that was a tattoo artist and my band mate he had noticed my interest in tattooing since I was heavily tattooed in 1999 which was very uncommon and encouraged me to learn the craft. Around 2009 i decided a career change after 9 years of tattooing. I felt that I needed a more stable career that wasn’t effected by the economy tattooing was a luxury and I asked my friend/mentor Ernie Garcia to help me in my path of barbering i attended John Wesley Barber school in Long Beach California under Tom Rodriguez and graduated in 2010. My interest in music art tattooing and history aligned with my vision of becoming an entrepreneur and in 2012 I opened Tip Top Barber Shop paying homage to a local barbershop in Whittier where president Richard Nixon got his haircut when he practiced law in Whittier California where I grew up after visiting the local museum and seeing the shop on display I knew it was the perfect name for my business and brand. 2013 I open my second location Tip Top Uptown 2014 I opened Tip Top Tattoo in fullerton California and 2015 i decided to start a mens grooming line with my friend mark malott who owned an art and apparel company that I had been doing business with since around 2007 called black market art company the partnership was very natural and felt right since our respect for art and tattooing was the same in 2015 tip top industries was born our focus was to build a brand around our interests and lifestyles Art and apparel Tattoos Surfing Skateboarding Southern California kustom Car Kulture and to create an authentic mens grooming line. I’m most proud of being a father a friend although I do so many different things my family is most important. outside of work I enjoy family time and raising my kids with my fiancé Karen Costleigh who is also a very talented accomplished tattoo artist and barber we have an amazing family dynamic and push each other to elevate both of our crafts along with being a family. In 2020 I opened Tip Top Oakley in Cincinnati Ohio and in 2024 I opened tip top barber/tattoo in over the Rhine Cincinnati Ohio. It has truly been an amazing adventure thus far. The best part of this journey has been the amazing people I’ve met and the relationships I’ve built not just in the United state but on a global level.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

I feel like in order to manage a team you have to work alongside them. Your work ethics and attitude is contagious. As leader you set the bar and standard. Putting together the right team is just as important you have to find like minded individuals whose passions and dreams align with yours, most importantly you have to align with their passions and dreams also without them there is no you. I think people get lost in business, business is just business you have to invest in your people and relationships.

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

I think 2020 was very challenging for everyone especially with entrepreneurs uncertainty is probably one of the hardest challenges. Tip Top is only still standing because of the people who work there. Hard times create strong people. I truly knew who was about themselves and who was about the greater good. When we came out of covid our mutual respect had grown and our love for one another was very apparent with the barbering and tattoo industry being hit the hardest with multiple mandated closures and restrictions. no one abandoned ship and I am truly greatful for my team which became family.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Tiptopindustries.com
• Instagram: @Tiptopbarbershop @tiptoppomade @dreperalestattoo @tiptoptattoocincy @tiptopotr @tiptopoakley
• Facebook: Dre Perales

Image Credits

Jeremy Kramer
Ty Wess