Today we’d like to introduce you to Enrique Oscar Gonzalez.
Hi Enrique Oscar, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started like every other barber typically does, I had a cheap pair of Walmart clippers in high school and started cutting friends and family for a couple of dollars here and there. After high school, I decided to go to barber school right away. I was eager to get started working for myself. Soon I realized barbering meant a lot more than just cutting hair, it meant learning to be more social and approachable as well as being very tedious about cleaning and keeping others as safe as possible. I was blessed to work at a local barbershop whilst still in school. I was there to learn and watch the barbers see how they conducted business and carried themselves. Soon after starting work at the shop, I attended my first barber competition which I then decided to get my first tattoo. For me, fatboy isn’t an insult nor is it just a brand or label, to me it’s something that reminds me that no matter where I end up or go the name fatboy tattooed on my arm signifies my family. At this point, I was rolling with the name and soon started creating my own content under the name fatboy cuts. Although I do not own my own shop, I do own my name and business, I am currently working on getting the rights to my name and a business license for myself so that I can expand my business.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
This industry and journey has been far from smooth, like most barbers fresh out of school clientele is very scarce. At times I was cutting 1-4 clients in a week, I sat at the shop watching clients come and go watching the other barbers work their takes off and all I could do is sit and ask questions. Things started to pick up from 1-4 clients a week to 1-4 clients a day, then the world stopped. Like most businesses, I was shut down I had to put the clippers down. I stopped cutting hair for a whole three months and seemingly lost my skills. All the hard work I put in to have a steady clientele was wiped away due to Covid.
We’ve been impressed with Fatboy Cuts, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Currently, I don’t own a barbershop of my own, but I have created my own business being Fatboy Cuts. I am most known for barbering but most people know me as an all around fun and chill person who they can always converse with. One thing I’d say sets me apart from other barbers is I’m not afraid to fail and make mistakes, no haircut is genuinely perfect there is always something that can be ever so slightly tweaked to make it better. I’m just proud that people even call me fatboy, I mean years of being known as Oscar whether its in sports or on the streets it was to me just a name not much to it. Fatboy to me is hard work and family, everyone can known Oscar but I want people to remember that I worked hard to create the name Fatboy. Currently, my services are as basic as basics get, I offer haircuts, beard work and eyebrow work. Soon I want to expand back into facial and skincare make my services a luxury experience.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
It’s gonna be rough at first and you’re gonna doubt yourself but if you keep pushing and showing up not only your clients will respect the work you have put in other peoples clients will take notice and when they aren’t available, they’ll remember you’re a hard worker and they can rely on you. I wish I knew that there’s no such thing as being the best, there is always room for improvement instead of settling, I should’ve done a little bit more to be great.
Pricing:
- Adult haircuts are $30
- Haircuts and beard $45
- Kids and teens are $25
- Eyebrows are an extra $5
- Vip services are $75 but it’s a luxury not necessity
Contact Info:
- Email: gonzalezoscar008@gmail.com
- Website: https://booksy.com/en-us/424040_fatboy-cuts_barber-shop_103746_la-mesa
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oscargman75/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC_eTTkpPK2yUtFjKPIVJ6fA
