Barbers have been a cornerstone of communities for generations. Not only do they provide a necessary service for people to maintain their appearance, but they often become a trusted confidant for their customers. While many barbers are skilled at their craft, there are some who are truly extraordinary. These barbers go above and beyond in their work and have become legends in their industry. Let’s take a closer look at what makes these barbers stand out.
According to a recent survey, the average person will spend over $25,000 on haircuts in their lifetime. That’s a lot of time and money spent in the barber’s chair, so it’s important to find a barber who truly understands your needs and can help you look and feel your best. In the United States, the barbershop industry is a $5 billion industry, with over 70,000 barbershops operating across the country. With so many barbers to choose from, it takes a truly extraordinary barber to stand out from the crowd.
What sets extraordinary barbers apart is their commitment to their craft and their customers. They take the time to listen to their customer’s needs and preferences and use their skills and experience to create a look that is both stylish and practical. But being an extraordinary barber is about more than just cutting hair. It’s about creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all customers. Barbershops are not just a place for grooming but also place for socializing and building community. Extraordinary barbers recognize this and go to extra mile to make their customers feel comfortable and valued. They create a space where people from all walks of life can come together, share their stories, and connect with others in their community.
Such an extraordinary barber is Mervis J. Miller II. He was born on September 30, 1982, in the state of Georgia, where he spent his formative years in the city of Richmond Hill. In 1998, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he graduated from Northwest Family Academy. His passion for the art of barbering led him to enroll at the prestigious Paul Mitchell Barber College, where he honed his skills and graduated with flying colors.
After completing his education, Miller embarked on a mission to make a name for himself in the barbering industry. In 2005, he founded Chop It Up Barbershop in Woodinville, Washington, which has since grown into a chain of establishments with multiple locations in three different states. Among these locations are six in Washington (Kirkland, Lynnwood, Tukwila, Everett, Wenatchee, and Bellevue), one in Richmond Hill, Georgia, and one in East Detroit, Michigan.
In addition to his thriving barbershop business, Miller served as the official barber for the Seattle Seahawks, an American football team, for seven years, from 2007 to 2014. During this time, he worked with some of the biggest names in the sports industry, including Marshawn Lynch, Kam Chancelor, Russell Okung, and Walter Jones, among others. Mervis J. Miller II is not your ordinary barber. He’s the mastermind behind the term “Grand Master Barber” and has taken his business to new heights with his own website, Grand Master Barber, and Instagram page, @grandmasterbarber. Miller’s talents go beyond the barber chair, as he’s also an artistic painter, and some of his pieces are available for purchase at various Chop It Up Barbershop locations.
In 2017, he launched The Barber Game Podcast, which aims to promote the culture of the industry and support the well-being of the barber community. Miller’s entrepreneurial spirit also led him to co-found Zawadi Spirits Distribution in 2020, which will sell ultra-smooth, gluten-free vodka six times distilled with high-quality sugar cane. Not only that but in April 2020, he published his book “Tip the Scale: Make Moves for Permanent Results,” which uses a metaphorical balance scale to weigh life’s obstacles and business barriers. On the balance scale, with a compass representing the direction and a clock representing time, Miller’s philosophy encourages using time wisely to achieve lasting success.
The barbering industry has come a long way, and extraordinary barbers like Mervis J. Miller II have played a significant role in shaping it. Miller’s entrepreneurial spirit has led him to diversify his business ventures, from selling ultra-smooth vodka to publishing a book that encourages readers to use their time wisely to achieve lasting success.
Overall, extraordinary barbers like Miller are not just skilled at their craft but also community builders who create spaces where people can connect and thrive. Their contributions to the industry will undoubtedly continue to inspire and shape the next generation of barbers, whose expertise will be far beyond the barber’s chair.