Brotherhood Barbershop Covid-19 Relief
Donation protected
Due to COVID-19 we were forced to close our business for the last three months. Initially, this was not a problem because we were led to believe there would be some type of relief by way of the government aid that was launched (PPP) to offset the cost for being closed. Long story short we were not able to get a PPP loan for our barbershops. Our overhead every single month to run our barbershops located in Sherman Oaks and Las Vegas tally over $8,000. That amount builds up very quickly when you're not generating any money to offset that.
Now I know as a business owner we should have money put aside for emergencies and unforeseen risks, but this global trauma we are all experiencing was beyond our imagination.
For any business owner this would be rough to bounce back from without help and extra resources. I've had my fair share of wins and losses in this business and other industries, its very stressful, draining and so unmotivating to have to go through hurdle after hurdle for a business that you have put your all into. It's tough to admit being near a breaking point but here we are.
I'm not one to complain or ask for anything especially when it comes to my business because I know everything that happens is just part of the journey. So either way I have always found a way to grind it out and fix the situation or bounce back in time but i'm tired of doing it that way. I don't want to climb out of even more debt because of this, I don't deserve to be in more debt because of this.
I have a lot of friends and family that have asked for me ways to help me or my business since my barbershops were shut down and I always told them I was fine and would figure it out because I honestly thought I would be taken care of by the government ( I don't know why I thought that) and I never thought the shutdown would last this long.
Friends and family have offered to send me money to help offset cost I had but I never like accepting handouts when I know there individuals thats in way worse situations than I am in. I've always found the challenge in bouncing back but I've realized it shouldn't always be that way or I shouldn't always think that way and just be open to help
Here are a few things on how Covid-19 has affected our shop now and for the near future:
- We have to supply each client with there own personal cape everyday. So if some cuts 10 clients in a day they will need 10 capes. Capes are costly and I would do plastic capes because we like to showcase our work and plastic capes won't be a good look.
- All appointments must be booked online, which will slow down a big piece of daily income.
Clients being scared of Covid-19 will slow up appointments and will cause our daily number in clients.
- Most important to us is our staff/the barbers they will see their clientele and revenue decrease which they need to take care of their households and bills.
- This will make it hard to cover the upcoming rents because the revenue just won't translate the same.
There are so many other things that I can list that will affect our barbershop and other business similar to ours.
One thing I absolutely don't like is asking anyone for money without providing them with a product or service. So here are some ideas we have for anyone that wants to make any size donation it doesn't matter the size.
1. You can donate and ask that we use it to give someone a FREE haircut which would be paid for by you. This will help individuals get a service that they might not be able to afford at the moment. This will help keep our staff busy, help us build and obtain new business to pay bills and get through these hard times.
2. Buying Gift cards or any products on our website. If you don't live in the area or state you can have us give them away.
3. Products if you want to mail in products such as unused capes, combs, brushes things that will need to get switched out regularly now for sanitation purposes.
Our barber shops serve as a safe haven for young teens, provides income for barbers and have honestly helped change a lot of individuals' lives over the last 8 years we have been in business. Our business has always been for the community and always will be.
These donations will help us catch up on rent, utilities, meet new COVID-19 regulations, put clients in our chairs for the barbers and help offset clients that we have lost over the past 3 months.
So I am asking for family, friends and the community to support since the government isn't.
P.s. I know there are a lot of other barbershops and local business that are going through the same thing and some may be scared to ask for help, which I had to put my pride as side to ask for. So check on your local business and see how you might be able to encourage them to reach out for help and not to fold.
Anre Anduha, Founder and Owner of Brotherhood Barbershop, LLC.
Now I know as a business owner we should have money put aside for emergencies and unforeseen risks, but this global trauma we are all experiencing was beyond our imagination.
For any business owner this would be rough to bounce back from without help and extra resources. I've had my fair share of wins and losses in this business and other industries, its very stressful, draining and so unmotivating to have to go through hurdle after hurdle for a business that you have put your all into. It's tough to admit being near a breaking point but here we are.
I'm not one to complain or ask for anything especially when it comes to my business because I know everything that happens is just part of the journey. So either way I have always found a way to grind it out and fix the situation or bounce back in time but i'm tired of doing it that way. I don't want to climb out of even more debt because of this, I don't deserve to be in more debt because of this.
I have a lot of friends and family that have asked for me ways to help me or my business since my barbershops were shut down and I always told them I was fine and would figure it out because I honestly thought I would be taken care of by the government ( I don't know why I thought that) and I never thought the shutdown would last this long.
Friends and family have offered to send me money to help offset cost I had but I never like accepting handouts when I know there individuals thats in way worse situations than I am in. I've always found the challenge in bouncing back but I've realized it shouldn't always be that way or I shouldn't always think that way and just be open to help
Here are a few things on how Covid-19 has affected our shop now and for the near future:
- We have to supply each client with there own personal cape everyday. So if some cuts 10 clients in a day they will need 10 capes. Capes are costly and I would do plastic capes because we like to showcase our work and plastic capes won't be a good look.
- All appointments must be booked online, which will slow down a big piece of daily income.
Clients being scared of Covid-19 will slow up appointments and will cause our daily number in clients.
- Most important to us is our staff/the barbers they will see their clientele and revenue decrease which they need to take care of their households and bills.
- This will make it hard to cover the upcoming rents because the revenue just won't translate the same.
There are so many other things that I can list that will affect our barbershop and other business similar to ours.
One thing I absolutely don't like is asking anyone for money without providing them with a product or service. So here are some ideas we have for anyone that wants to make any size donation it doesn't matter the size.
1. You can donate and ask that we use it to give someone a FREE haircut which would be paid for by you. This will help individuals get a service that they might not be able to afford at the moment. This will help keep our staff busy, help us build and obtain new business to pay bills and get through these hard times.
2. Buying Gift cards or any products on our website. If you don't live in the area or state you can have us give them away.
3. Products if you want to mail in products such as unused capes, combs, brushes things that will need to get switched out regularly now for sanitation purposes.
Our barber shops serve as a safe haven for young teens, provides income for barbers and have honestly helped change a lot of individuals' lives over the last 8 years we have been in business. Our business has always been for the community and always will be.
These donations will help us catch up on rent, utilities, meet new COVID-19 regulations, put clients in our chairs for the barbers and help offset clients that we have lost over the past 3 months.
So I am asking for family, friends and the community to support since the government isn't.
P.s. I know there are a lot of other barbershops and local business that are going through the same thing and some may be scared to ask for help, which I had to put my pride as side to ask for. So check on your local business and see how you might be able to encourage them to reach out for help and not to fold.
Anre Anduha, Founder and Owner of Brotherhood Barbershop, LLC.
Organizer
Anre Anduha
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA