Hair Fit for a Prince
How Students Can Benefit from Small Business
Jamie Fisher
Issue date: 3/10/10 Section: The Pulse
With the economy as rough as it has been, it is not surprising to hear of people going out and making their own jobs, or starting businesses on the side, just to help make ends meet. The extra cash earned can mean the difference between having gas in the car and paying the cable.
This is how it is for FSU junior, Prince Acheampong, who runs his own barber service out of his apartment. "I have a three-bedroom apartment, but only two of us live here so I use the empty room as the barbershop."
Prince has been doing this as a side job during the school semesters since he was a freshman. He was motivated to learn how to cut hair when he came to Frostburg and had trouble finding a barber.
Now that he has a business going, he takes the extra time to refine his skills by learning new techniques from his barber back home or searching the Internet so he can keep customers happy.
How much does a haircut cost? Five dollars. He understands money is short for students so he is flexible about when students pay him if they are having money troubles. He even has a special. The first haircut is free at the beginning of each semester, and if students bring him 3-5 other customers, they get another free haircut. He charges three dollars for shape ups, and after he learns how to cut them, he will charge two dollars for designs. If students cannot make the walk to his apartment in Bobcat Court, he is willing to come to them for only five dollars extra.
In an average week, Prince is able to make $35-50. If an event is coming up and people want to look professional, he makes more than $45 dollars a week, which he said, "is enough to pay for gas or cable."
The economy has had an impact on his barber service. "When I first came here, haircuts were free since I was still learning. But then sophomore year, I charged seven for a haircut and five for shape ups. I realized it is much easier for students to have a five in their pockets than other bills, so I cut the price. According to him, there are two other students on campus that cut hair, but he is the cheapest. Does that mean his haircuts are lower quality?
This is how it is for FSU junior, Prince Acheampong, who runs his own barber service out of his apartment. "I have a three-bedroom apartment, but only two of us live here so I use the empty room as the barbershop."
Prince has been doing this as a side job during the school semesters since he was a freshman. He was motivated to learn how to cut hair when he came to Frostburg and had trouble finding a barber.
Now that he has a business going, he takes the extra time to refine his skills by learning new techniques from his barber back home or searching the Internet so he can keep customers happy.
How much does a haircut cost? Five dollars. He understands money is short for students so he is flexible about when students pay him if they are having money troubles. He even has a special. The first haircut is free at the beginning of each semester, and if students bring him 3-5 other customers, they get another free haircut. He charges three dollars for shape ups, and after he learns how to cut them, he will charge two dollars for designs. If students cannot make the walk to his apartment in Bobcat Court, he is willing to come to them for only five dollars extra.
In an average week, Prince is able to make $35-50. If an event is coming up and people want to look professional, he makes more than $45 dollars a week, which he said, "is enough to pay for gas or cable."
The economy has had an impact on his barber service. "When I first came here, haircuts were free since I was still learning. But then sophomore year, I charged seven for a haircut and five for shape ups. I realized it is much easier for students to have a five in their pockets than other bills, so I cut the price. According to him, there are two other students on campus that cut hair, but he is the cheapest. Does that mean his haircuts are lower quality?
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