Today we’d like to introduce you to Rome Fermin.
Rome, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I picked up my first pair of clippers in 1991. My dad started to complain about me wanting a fresh fade every week (cuts were 10 bucks back then) and so I was like “look man, I know it’s a lot, but if you buy me a pair of clippers, I’ll cut my own hair.” I’ve always been pretty good with my hands. I was (still am) an above average artist, so I figured it can’t be that hard. So pops went out and bought me a cheap’ol 30 dollar Wahl home pro from Zayre (throw back) and I plugged those suckers in and just started hacking away.
I’ll admit, the first few haircuts were horrendous! The clippers would get so hot (because I was taking like 3 hours) that I was burning my scalp! When I would mess up, I just shaved it all off and cracked at it again when my hair grew back! The kids at school wasted no time making me the butt of their jokes, but soon enough, my fades got better and the word eventually got out. Kids were like “hey man, that’s a dope cut, can you do that on me?” and I was like “only one way to find out!” Pretty soon, I had half the baseball team (I played baseball for South Ridge Senior High at the time) in my parent’s patio waiting in line for their fresh fades!
Fast forward 20 some odd years later, after leaving the Army and jumping around from shop to shop, I got frustrated with the barber industry because of its lack of professionalism and how stagnated it became. I felt I needed a new challenge so I tried my hand in the medical industry. I managed an oral surgery practice for about 7 years, and that’s where I believe my knack for running a business was born. After the doctor retired, I left for Thailand for about a year to teach English and do some soul searching, and when I returned to the states, I met my wife, had a baby, and purchased the little barbershop that sits next to my parents’ shoe repair shop (Eureka Shoe Repair).
When I purchased the shop, I was about to go belly up. The inside decor was stuck in the 90’s and it seemed like the people in the community either didn’t care to step foot in the door because of past experience, or something about the shop just didn’t appeal to them. So when I took over in 2014, I gave it a major face lift.
Got rid of 4 stations so that it can have more room for clients and we were left with 6 stations and much more open area. I chose the black and white color scheme (for its traditional feel and class appeal) and created the logo and branding myself. Once I was done with that, I started hiring barbers.
The hardest thing to do, and part of the reason I’ve was always hesitant to own a shop in the past, was because of the amount of unmotivated and unprofessional barbers that were flooding the industry. Although the barber game has come a looooooong way, we still struggle with finding barbers that are committed to the craft.
A lot of these guys cut hair as a side hustle…. but I knew I couldn’t open my doors and have these types serving our community. So I prayed….and prayed….and prayed some more. And slowly, but surely, those prayers were answered. I now have 5 amazing barbers who have been a huge part of our success story!! I have George “The White Dread” who is my manager and right hand man, then comes Ben “The Gringo” (the guy I almost didn’t hire because he sounded like an old Moon Shine smuggler when he called asking for a job, but when he showed up in his Harley, I was like, “yea…. this guy is gonna fit right in!!) Then I have Jean “The Magazine (we call him the magazine, because he actually got featured in some magazine in Peru. Don’t ask me which one though, cuz I don’t read magazines from Peru… *shrug*) And last but not least I have Nate “The Zohan” …Nate actually ran his mother’s hair salon for about 16 years (after she passed away) and just recently sold it.
I’ve known Nate and his brother since high School (I played baseball with his brother) and after selling his shop, he came to me asking for a chair, and without even blinking I was like “take the chair on the end” because it’s next to the hair washing station and because he likes to “disco, disco” like the Zohan!
We are just a bunch of characters who serve a bunch of characters in the Palmetto Bay community….and we all just love what we do!
Our brand is all about family and building relationships without all the gimmicks! We got where we are today, (and when I say we, I mean everyone that rocks a Grind Culture t-shirt) because of the amount of love and grind that we put in when those doors open.
I believe the reason we have the BEST reputation (and yelp/ google reviews in the area) is because we put our heart and soul into every cut, every conversation, and every interaction that we share at the shop.
Our customers genuinely love us and we love them too! And that my friend, is how we got where we are today.
Has it been a smooth road?
It wasn’t always smooth.
The first few months, it was just me and my pregnant wife (7 months) running the operation!
Sometimes I would do an average of 8 heads a day! I was coming out of pocket to help pay a portion of the rent and bills…. but I knew, with God on my side and some patience, that we would eventually grow and succeed!
After a couple months my son Giancarlo was born. He created like some magnetic, barber magic!! I would bring him to the shop in his stroller and place him next to me while I was cutting hair, and people were like….”awww, he so cute!”
And I just noticed people just started coming in to say hi to my wife and son! lol!
It didn’t take long until the word starting getting out, that there is a new family barbershop in town. One that doesn’t play loud obnoxious music and doesn’t use obscene language.
Needless to say, people began to flock to the shop and GC and Alex, my wife have (our family) have become a staple of our brand!!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a traditional barbershop with style. That means, we do just about everything under the barber sun!
Hot Towel Shaves, traditional men’s haircuts and all of the trending ones!!
We’re really known for our designs, under cuts and our proficiency with razors and shears!! Check out our Instagram @grindculturemiami. We actually have people coming in and showing us pics from our own Instagram and saying “hey, make me look like this!!”
Our shears and styling techniques along with our good energy is what sets us apart!!
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Miami has always been a barber friendly city. But now, barbershops are popping up on every corner!! So, my recommendation to anyone starting out in this city is to stay relevant!! Don’t get comfortable, continue learning and evolving as a barber/stylist!
Contact Info:
- Address: 9835 SW 184th St.
- Website: gcmiamibarbers.com
- Phone: 305-234-5202
- Email: gcmiamibarber@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grindculturemiami/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grindculturemiami/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/gc-miami-barbers-shave-and-grooming-co-palmetto-bay?osq=barbers
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
Cesar
October 13, 2017 at 2:19 am
I don’t recall where along Rome journey we met, but I know he was very young. He would cut my hair on my front patio.
Fast forward 20 somewhat years later, and I am honored to know Rome. To see the Man, Husband, Father he has become is the true success story… He has established himself, his family & shop as pillars in the Palmetto Bay (bka Cutler Ridge) Community.