Tommy Jimenez (27) took his first steps in hairdressing thirteen years ago. He started in his attic room in the parental home. Today he has his own barbershop called ‘TJ’s Barbershop’ on Oranjelaan.
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A cozy atmosphere, good conversations and a neat cut out the door. That best describes TJ’s Barbershop according to Tommy. The Zoetermeren entrepreneur started cutting his friends’ hair at an early age. And as the saying goes: you learn by doing.
Cutting from his attic room
The young hairdresser started cutting and organized his own training school, he says: “When I was fourteen I learned to cut via YouTube and asked other hairdressers for advice.” And the haircut went well for him, so well that after a while there were ten boys a day. “My mother thought it was getting a bit too busy and told me to get a haircut somewhere else.”
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Coincidence does not exist
After his high school years at the ONC Clauslaan, Zoetermeer decided to go to the ROC Leiden to study Mechatronics, which he soon regretted. But there he had a classmate with useful connections. He says: “The brother of a classmate had a hairdressing shop in Leiden and he asked if I wanted to work for his brother.” After a trial day, Tommy was convinced: “I thought, this is real the shit.”
Almost no landlord wanted to have a barbershop.
There is no shortage of customers
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After six years in the Leiden barbershop and two years with another barber in Zoetermeer, Tommy was ready for his own adventure. “During corona I received so many texts and calls from customers asking if I still cut.” There was no shortage of customers, but finding a new building was a greater challenge. “Almost no landlord wanted to have a barbershop. But eventually I found an office building on the Zegwaardeweg where I opened my business.”
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Hairdresser and psychologist
The location of the building was not ideal because it was somewhat hidden. Then a building became available on Oranjelaan, which he furnished in a modern and sleek way. “It is a lot busier at this location. At the end of the afternoon there is sometimes a traffic jam in front of the door.” Tommy has a diverse audience sitting in his barber’s chair. “Car mechanics, painters, you name it. Many people come here to tell their stories. I sometimes look like a psychologist.”
Never give up
He now employs two hairdressers and has no shortage of plans for the future. “I had plans to expand, but a barbershop is no longer what it used to be. People have become more picky and won’t let just anyone get their haircut. There is therefore no point in opening another business.” What does he dream about? “If the opportunities are there, I want to emigrate to America within five years.”
Tommy wants to be an example for young entrepreneurs. “The tip I want to give them? Never give up and you will always succeed.”