The Alimond Show

Hany Metry of Leesburg Barbershop - From Egyptian Roots to Haircut Harmonies: Building Trust, Nurturing Community, and Transforming Lives One Trim at a Time

Alimond Studio

Ever wondered how a simple haircut can change lives? Join us in an inspiring conversation with Hany Metry, a resilient barber from Egypt who turned his passion into a thriving business in America. From opening his first barbershop in Egypt in 1996 to establishing a successful unisex barbershop in Leesburg in 2019, Hany recounts his journey filled with both challenges and triumphs. He shares his unique approach to making children feel comfortable during their first haircuts and how he built his business from scratch, leveraging platforms like Google Business to attract new customers.

Hany opens up about the profound personal connections he has formed with his clients over the years, transforming his barbershop into a therapeutic space where trust and genuine care take center stage. Listen to heartfelt stories of clients growing from children into adults, and discover the invaluable life lessons Hany has learned from his diverse clientele, ranging from professionals to tradespeople. This episode is a testament to the power of resilience, trust, and community in the barbering profession, and how one man's dedication can make a significant impact.

Speaker 1:

I am Hany Mitri. I am a barber since 1991. I opened my barber shop in Egypt, which is my back home, in 1996. I came to America.

Speaker 2:

From where I'm sorry.

Speaker 1:

From Egypt.

Speaker 2:

Egypt, okay, okay.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so I came to America in 2009. I worked for several salons until I opened my own barbershop in 2019. And I'm cutting hair and that's what I can do for all my life. It is my only job and I really love it.

Speaker 2:

That is awesome, and what are the type of services that you provide at your barbershop? Typically, barbershops are for men, so is it only for men, or if women want to, they can come in, or how does that work over there?

Speaker 1:

That's right. It's mainly for men, but I have some women clients come to get the service for hair color and haircut. So I provide haircut shampoo, deep conditioning and hair color. So it's unisex barbershop, yeah, and do you do kids or anything like that?

Speaker 2:

Tell me about that Um and um yeah, and do you do kids or anything like that? Tell me about that. And what type of services do men usually come for? Is it just for, like shaving hair? Um, any like face towel stuff? Talk to me a little bit about that.

Speaker 1:

So what I do is haircut for men and women. Hot towels after shave like hot shave, so I have to use a hot towel after, let the client feel good, feel fresh. Yeah, also, I like to cut kids' haircut. I like to cut kids haircut.

Speaker 2:

I like to cut kids too. It's so funny.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, yeah, and they're getting me an amazing time to that right?

Speaker 2:

yeah, I feel like sometimes, when it's your first time, maybe, getting a haircut as a child, you think that it's gonna hurt because it's your hair, but it's like, no, no, it doesn't hurt. I've seen videos online where people like, will film it and the kid is like crying because, like they don't want their hair cut or they're just like who is that Right? So do you have any kids?

Speaker 1:

I have two boys, but they're growing now. Okay 26 and 24. Yeah, but sometimes when I get a kid for the first time and he doesn't want, to get a.

Speaker 2:

I don't cut him, just I talk to him. Laugh with him. Yeah, him lollipop.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, make it like nice time, a nice fun experience. Not scary me. Then he feel better to come back to get her yes, oh, my god.

Speaker 2:

No, that is awesome. I love that you do that and that you like cutting the kids hairs. Um, so tell me a little bit about a background of yourself. I know you said you came from Egypt, but how did you get started with your business? For other entrepreneurs who are listening, how do you just start that, because I'm sure it's not easy when you're coming from another country, right, and you don't know anybody. Did you have family? Did you have a coach? Did you have a mentor? How was the process of making your own business and getting it started?

Speaker 1:

Yes. So what happened is we applied for five years to get the green card lottery, to come to America with a green card, which is a big gift from God, to come legally to America. We applied five years and finally my wife got the visa for immigration. We both were applying, applying, but she won, because a woman always lucky maybe we are which is happy for her yeah, yeah, yeah I was so happy for her, so we came Came in 2009.

Speaker 1:

I worked for salons maybe for six or seven years, and after I switched to be a self-employed, I was renting chair in salon. I built my clientele and one of my clients told me about Robinson's Barbershop in downtown Leesburg Okay, and he told me Mr Lester has been retired, maybe for two years or so. Okay, I met Mr Lester, I got agreement. And I met the landlord, ms Person. I got agreement.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

And I asked my clients before I move what do you think if I move? Is Lisburg away from you? Because most of them live in Ashburn. They told me, no, do it. Yeah, just 10 minutes more. So actually they're so loyal and nice clients. I really love and appreciate them. Loyal and nice clients, I really love and appreciate them. 90% of them moved with me so I didn't have to start building my clientele from scratch, so they support me until I get new clients from.

Speaker 2:

Eastburg. I love that. That is so great. So right now, your current barbershop is where. Where's the location?

Speaker 1:

It's for Loudoun Street.

Speaker 2:

Okay, so it's here in Loudoun.

Speaker 1:

And downtown Eastburg.

Speaker 2:

Okay, awesome, great. So it's not too far from us. We want to make sure that we get that information out and, as far as marketing goes, do you post anything online through social media or YouTube, anything like that?

Speaker 1:

yeah, actually my google business. I have a google business account and it helps me so well because I get a lot of clients from google business. So when, when I ask them, how do you find me? They're telling me they just go on Google like barbershop in Leesburg, and because I have good reviews, my barbershop pops up first, which is I'm grateful for that. Yeah, so pops first. So Pops First. So they pick me up, they read the review, they contact me, I make an appointment by phone, so I get more clients actually from Google business.

Speaker 2:

Okay, pretty cool. Pretty cool. That's awesome. Everybody has like. Every different entrepreneur has different things that work for them. Some it's just not online word of mouth. Some people it is online it's Google, some people it's Instagram, facebook. So it's it's interesting for me to hear about what different methods for different industries work for each person, so thank you for sharing that. What are some current trends that you are seeing with men when they go in that they're like okay, they're asking a lot for this. This must be something new, like what's a new cut or something that you're seeing.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it's. It's a very popular haircut these days for high school and college guys as taper fade, taper fade. Keep it growing at the top, on the top. Yeah, yeah, keep it growing on the top.

Speaker 2:

I'm sorry and bang a little bit of a bang.

Speaker 1:

Okay, we're bringing the bangs back so this is the most popular hair okay, I love it.

Speaker 2:

No, thank you for sharing that.

Speaker 1:

I'm always curious what the guys are like into so yeah, by the way, I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you about something no, please tell me yes yeah, for a long time, since 1991, I do eyebrow threading you're familiar with yes, I am, I've had it done I'll be happy to take care of your eyebrows. You have a very nice eye thank you.

Speaker 2:

Right now they're looking crazy because I've been overdue. It looks awesome. Thank you, appreciate it. Yeah, so you do eyebrow threading. Is it for guys and women, or just both can, if they want to, both okay, cool, yeah, pretty nice, yeah, um, when did you start adding that? Do you find that like a lot of men do it?

Speaker 1:

yeah yeah, a lot of men do it, but it's maybe more women okay, more women interested in eyebrows yeah yeah, but but in Egypt every barber has to do eyebrow trading because it's a very important thing in Middle Eastern countries, Okay, eyebrows trading shape the eyebrows.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, got it Nice. And how many employees do you currently have, or it just yourself?

Speaker 1:

talk to me about that for now, just for me, just me, because most of most of the barber and hairstylist now they prefer to be a self-employed okay so not easy. Not easy to find a barber to work with you, not like before, because most of people like to have his own suite, like salon suite or small barber shop. Yeah, to start his own business okay, gotcha okay.

Speaker 2:

Have you ever considered maybe getting some help, or are you just gonna like do it solo?

Speaker 1:

I guess, what's happening is actually it's, it's uh. When I started, when I started working in the bar in the barber shop, it was in 2019, so it was just a year before covid. When covid came a. Of course, I prefer to keep a for to provide my clients the best protection for their health is not get two clients at the same time. For COVID, wise, what happened is I worked with appointments for a long time, so I like to keep it that way to not get two appointments or two clients or multiple clients in same time. So, since COVID, I like to keep it that way, because my clients feel comfortable to come when no people are around.

Speaker 2:

I feel that Sometimes when I go get my hair done, there's like a lot of people and I have to go wet my hair and I feel like I look so silly. I'm just like, oh, I look like a wet rat right now and everybody can see me. So I think that's great, that you're being mindful and thinking about that, so I'm sure they appreciate that. Or sometimes they're like embarrassed. No-transcript. Five, seven years.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, what's happened is I'm getting new clients every day, which is good. I'm happy for that, so grateful. But I'm looking at when I get more. I hope to find another borrower to share me and get the client who I can't handle because I work six days a week.

Speaker 2:

Wow.

Speaker 1:

Yes, so a from 10 to seven, sometimes before hours, sometimes after, when I get more. I don't like to say no to my clients.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Some of my clients have. They might get meeting or family emergency, has to travel or so. So I don't like to say no, so just I hope to find them in the barber who shares with me yeah, well, you're probably really busy, so thank you for making time to be here.

Speaker 2:

I know it's probably like ah, I got clients, let me come in, so thank you for for doing that. Um, do you have any insight or tips for anybody who is an entrepreneur or a business owner that you had maybe issues with your business when you were first starting out, and what was that struggle and how did you overcome that Anything that was difficult while starting your business?

Speaker 1:

It's, it's it's like every business, every business business. It's, it's, it's like every business, every business, um, every new business. When you start you, you, you got to be patient. You have to be patient, um, because you need at least like six to ten months to build your clients. So, just when you build your clients, it's it, it's easier to run the business. Just you need to support yourself financially for at least six months until you build your clients.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yes, and also what I like to do always is the customers always right, clients always right. So what I like to do is listening so good to my clients before I start cutting yeah yeah because if I can't understand what he needs, I won't be able to give him what he needs. So I like to give him at least five minutes to understand completely what he wants, to make a picture in my mind about the haircut that he wants to be provided.

Speaker 2:

Okay, okay, no, that's good, that's it's good to that. You want to understand and have good communication with your client to make sure that you're able to deliver the style that they want. So, um, yeah, it looks like customer service is really important to you, and listening to your, to your clients, I think that's awesome and I think that is a a good um skill to have as a business owner. So, yeah, what do you like to do outside of work? I know you said you work six days a week. Do you set boundaries for yourself when you like to relax, or is it all just like work?

Speaker 1:

work, work, work. For me, actually, I don't like a for a long time. I I work back to back, so I am NOT taking any break, or so. So just when I, when when I get a gap is like 30 minutes, this is my break. But and I don't like to like my sometimes my clients wants to come at specific time, so I don't like to say, no, this is my break time, or so.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, because as long as I appreciate my clients, it's return. Yes, they appreciate me too, so I like to go. What makes my clients feel convenient?

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

For haircut time tools. I like to keep the barbershop always clean. Yes, my tools always clean. Everything around is clean. They make my clients trust me more.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

So clients always first yeah.

Speaker 2:

No, I love that. Is there anything about yourself that you would like to share with our listeners that maybe I didn't talk about Something that you would like to share for people to know who are listening?

Speaker 1:

between you and your hairstylist or your barber is so personal because he's the only handyman can touch your body, like your hair, your face, your eyebrows, and he's the only handyman you can talk to him. So, for example, if you go to a mechanic or you can leave your car and come back to pick it up and go, but, for example, but the barber or hairstylist is the only person you stuck with him the whole time the whole time. Yes, yeah, maybe for men it's 30 minutes, 45 minutes, for women it's hours. Yes, yes.

Speaker 1:

So if you don't, if you don't love your hairstylist or barber, you would never come back that is true personality is very important, trust is very important and in and by by by time, is not your hairstylist anymore, is your best friend? Yes, because I come, I cut my clients for more than 12 years. Wow, so can you imagine I see some of them every two weeks, every three weeks, every month, for 12 years. We talk about kids, we talk about schools. We talk about schools, we talk about vacations, we talk about food, life, life. Yes, that's right.

Speaker 2:

Oh, my goodness. So that means you watch them grow and see different stages of their life and that's really impressive that you have such a loyal clientele of yours that you've been with for 12 years and you see them like month-to-month basis, week-to-week basis. That's crazy. That's incredible.

Speaker 1:

So you must be doing something right, because they're coming back. That's right. Yeah, I love that. No, that's right. I remember when I I I opened my barber shop in in egypt, which is my back home, in 1996, so I was. I have some clients. I was cutting them when they were in elementary school.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

When I left Egypt in 2009,. I cut their kids.

Speaker 2:

Wow, a new generation. A new generation, that is so cool.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, it was amazing to see the little kid in elementary school goes to middle school, high school, college, get job, get married and get kids. Oh my God. So that's why it is not only haircut, yeah, a relationship and, as you mentioned, it's, it's, it's a lot.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, oh, my gosh, that's so intimate. I love it. I love that you have such a close relationship with them. I think that's just that's so intimate. I love it. I love that you have such a close relationship with them. I think that's just that's amazing. Sometimes that can get lost in our, I guess, current society. Everybody's so caught up with, like themselves and, like I, got to go, go, go. But when you're with your barber, like you said, you have to sit there, take a moment and reflect, and maybe sometimes people want to share stuff with you too. So that means a lot because they won't. Just sometimes maybe they don't even tell their wife or their parents, and they're trusting you, right. So you have the key to all the secrets. It's pretty cool, cool power there. Yeah, you're welcome. And now my last question is is there maybe like a saying, a mantra or anything that inspires you that you would like to share with our listeners? Like something, a quote or anything that inspires you?

Speaker 1:

Yes, it's, it's, yeah. Actually, after, after after long, long time in this career, I really like being a barber for communicating communicating with people. Actually, I have met so many great people. I hear so many great stories from people, so many great stories from people. So I owe my clients because they're teaching me a lot, a lot of things I would never get it if I didn't meet them. So when I came to America, it's new country, new language, new rules, new laws, so everything is different. To be honest, I learned a lot, a lot, a lot of things from my clients.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

So I really owe my clients more than they think.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, I have, like some of them, lawyers, doctors, engineers, mechanics, handymen, retail yeah, so many jobs they work. So everyone gives me a story from his eyes, from his concept, from his experience. Yeah, from his concept, from his experience.

Speaker 2:

Yeah.

Speaker 1:

So I appreciate all my clients for getting me a lot of experience. Yeah, I wouldn't get it if they didn't teach me, yeah, so I really appreciate that Okay.

Speaker 2:

So it sounds like they're your inspiration, all the things that they say and tell you. I love that. Well, thank you so much for being on the podcast and making time. I know you're a busy guy, so, again, thank you so much for being on the podcast and making time. I know you're a busy guy, so again, thank you for being here. It was a pleasure to get to know you and talk to you. Thank you for having me. Absolutely, yeah.