Meet Kevin Sapp | Owner & Master Barber at Sapp’s Barbershop

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kevin Sapp and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kevin, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My work life balance was once nonexistent, it was only work. Once I graduated high school up until the moment I prepared to open my own business which was about a 5 year time span, it was grind time. I was so goal driven that I didn’t give too much time to leisure/pleasure and any extra money I had was either saved or reinvested in assets. That immediately changed in 2017 when I opened my barbershop. I took a short trip to southern Georgia to visit my cousin, and never looked back! Road trips are my preferred method of traveling because I honestly like having control over what I want to do and where I want to go along the way. More importantly though, it helps me to slow down the pace in life. If you’ve ever driven from the Atlantic to the Pacfic ocean as I have multiple times, you know what I mean lol. To me, maintaining this work life balance is essential to my mental health and honestly, physical as well. Even though I absolutely love my career, the need to step away and hit the refresh button is actually what keeps the passion burning. When I leave and step away from cutting hair, it causes me to miss it. I’m able to see what I do on a day to day basis more clearly and identify both the healthy and unhealthy habits. Seeing that my average road trip takes about 60 hours of driving round trip, there’s plenty of time for me to analyze, brainstorm, and think things through. I’ve made a habit to take two major trips each year ranging from one to two weeks long, and then I take smaller trips in between that are normally the span of a weekend. On a day to day basis I only work a 7-8 hour work shift and make sure to take random days off or schedule half days so I can enjoy other things like family time and a social life. It also helps that I live well below my means so by keeping my expenses low, I really don’t have to work my life away. Keeping this balance in check is something I’m fully committed to and would encourage anyone else that is able to do the same.

What should our readers know about your business?
Fades, faith, family is the motto that we go by and the culture that we have established is what I believe separates us from the other local barbershops. Excellent customer service combined with quality haircuts has been our method to sustained growth. I have no true business background as far as education or internships so everything I have learned has been through creative thought, embracing constructive criticism, and continual research on other successful brands/industry trends. What I am most proud of is that despite opening the business as a single father with limited resources, we have grown to be one of the area leading barbershops with a strong community presence. I have always been a go getter and am always ready to take on a challenge which forces me to be stretched beyond my comfort zone and grow. To not be paralyzed by fear has been a very valuable learned lesson because quite often, the promised land that we seek in business is just beyond that mountain we are scared to venture over. Also, customer service is important and all, but the way you treat your employees has more value, so that is something I’ve had to put extra attention on in recent years and have seen the tremendous impact it has on the company when the team is happier. Sapp’s Barbershop is not your typical neighborhood barbershop. As the owner and operator of it and being a man devoted to living a life of faith in Jesus Christ, I strive to not separate my beliefs from the profession. In barber school we are taught to never talk about politics or religion, which to some extent I do agree if its only producing fruitless arguments and stirring up angry outburst. But, if we can have a peaceful respectful conversation, then I’m all for it because as barbers, we develop strong relationships with our clientele and the bond that forms through deep and meaningful conversations is what solidifies those connections. I am committed to making a positive impact on the people around us and hope to encourage those of any age group to pursue your dreams and do not let the opinions of others or fear hold you back. Sapp’s as a brand will operate in light of that and strive to reflect that vision on a day to day basis.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting the area and I had to keep them entertained for a week, unless they had something in mind that they wanted to do, I’d waste no time and get things moving. I myself am a simple man and a family man so it wouldn’t be a week of nonstop action and late nights so that week would probably look something like this;

Monday: Take on a tour around the Treasure Coast introducing them to loved ones and historical places
Tuesday: Catch the Sunrise, Spend a day on the water on a Deep Sea Charter fishing trip
Wednesday: Breakfast at Keke’s Get pampered at Sapp’s Barber Shop (haircut, hot towel shave, facial) , private mobile massages by Dana Soler through Calming Seas Massage Therapy, Benihanas for dinner
Thursday: Drive over to the Tampa Bay and St Petersburg area to enjoy Busch Gardens and eat at Bahama Breeze of Clearwater for dinner (stay the night in a 5 star hotel)
Friday: Drive over to Orlando to get a good shopping day in at the outlets and stay the night at the Rosen Inn International
Saturday: Drive down to Miami, walk around, and relax on the beach while staying at an Airbnb
Sunday: Go to Boomers in the afternoon and a Miami Heat vs Charlotte Hornets game at night!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely! I collectively have to give a huge shoutout to my clientele, because they are the ones that generate my success. Along with faithfully getting haircuts on a bi weekly basis they always offer valuable insights, advice, encouragement, and constructive criticism. They are all my mentors in some way shape or form so I can’t give the credit to just one person. If I had to name drop one person though, it would be my good friend Levi Sanders. He taught me how to utilize social media to grow my brand and he was literally there by my side through most of the process of getting to where I am now. He not only did all of the above, but also got his hands dirty and went to work as well.

Website: Sappsbarbershop.com

Instagram: Sappsbarbershop_psl

Facebook: Sapp’s Barber Shop