We were lucky to catch up with Perry Meeks recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Perry thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

The newest trend in salons and barber shops are personal suites. We can all remember back in the day going to the salon or barbershop with our mothers and fathers into a one-room environment with 6 salon chairs, shampoo bowls, and hair dryers. The smell of hairspray and shaving cream greeted you at the door along with the chatter of shop gossip and top 10 hits playing on the radio. Today, everyone wants their own space. Times have changed into people wanting everything to be exclusive and private. It’s luxury over socialization.
Personally, after experiencing both salon styles, I miss the old way. Barbershops and salons have been the corner stone of the community for centuries. It’s always been a place where people would come to vent and get free therapy or just stop by to play and game of dominos or cards. Community is one of the most important variables in any city. Living in a growing society like Atlanta, a sense of community and togetherness are things I don’t want us to loose along the way.
At The Grain, although we have suites, I made sure our salon also had a common space in our design. This way, everyone can gather throughout the day or at least see each other in passing.
It’s one of the things that people admire most about our salon – the warm feeling of family and fellowship.

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?

The Grain has been around for about 6 years. In 2013, I started as a barber at Atlanta’s infamous Salon Ramsey and began building a team right inside of my tiny suite which I ran like real salon. After 6 years of cultivating and establishment in the community, we began outgrowing the space. In 2020 I was able to acquire a building in Buckhead, Atlanta and The Grain opened. In no time we became a staple in ATL and coined as the first, black openly “accepting” salon in Atlanta which we are very honored and esteemed. Our goal was to offer a salon space where EVERYONE feels welcomed and seen no matter their background. We have received numerous awards as well as features in television and news articles because of our stance in the community.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

As a manager, you are no good to your team if you cannot understand their position. It is very important to have walked in the shoes of your staff so that you can guide them with the steps that you have once taken. This way you will be able to empathize with them and then in turn offer solutions based on experience. Once they see and understand that you have threaded the same waters, you will earn their trust and loyalty. One thing to always remember as a manger is that you are there to serve, not boss. If you equip your team with everything they will need for their success, provide encouragement, and be there for guidance if/when they need it, your business will succeed.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

We are living in a day where everyone wants to be an entrepreneur. No one wants to work for “ The Man” anymore (whoever that is). We want our own! We’re tired of working to make someone else richer. We want to create a business legacy that we can hand down to our children so they won’t have to work at these corporate plantations! However, it’s what we’ve known as financial security forever. Our parents & grandparents have drilled in our minds to find a good job with benefits and a 401K! Because of this, stepping away from the alleged safety of a 9 to 5 can be a scary jump….so here’s the secret: Just do it! Nike said it best.
I never called my business a side-hustle because I don’t believe in side-hustles.
If you side hustle your way to your new path you’re not ever going to commit. Successful entrepreneurship takes 100% of dedication! Just 30% is not gonna cut it. You have to trust your ability. If you truly BELIEVE you can be successful at something that you are a natural at, why not bet 100% on yourself?!
I can speak these words with such ease because I’m on the other side of my jump now. I’ll be real. After you jump, it gets hard af. But that’s the most important part of the journey because this is the work that will build the muscle you’ll need to endure and overcome. I failed more than I succeeded in the beginning but that only lasted for a season. I even lost material things along the journey (which is the biggest fear for jumpers) but I was later able to replace them – It’s just stuff folks! You can get it back.
With consistency and determination you can only scale upward and once the work is done, the reward of having your own is freedom. Everyone should experience freedom in their lifetime.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thegrainmidtown