Business: Rafa’s BarberShop
Address: 950 W. 104th Ave., Northglenn
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Sunday
Founded: 2016
Contact: 720-364-8811,ڲǴǰ.dz/ڲ.DZ
Employees: 1
Interview with Karen Ochoa, co-owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
:My husband, Rafa, and I were working for another barbershop here in town for a while. We have a 2-year-old daughter together and we decided one day that we wanted to start our business to be able to give her something when she grows up. We wanted to make a good life for her, so we found this place in Northglenn and went for it.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: We’re very family-oriented and we create a comfortable, stress-free environment that makes our clients feel at home. A lot of times, people will show up way before their appointments just so that they can hang out with us and talk for a while. Our clients become our friends and family very quickly.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: We get to meet a lot of different people from all kinds of backgrounds. We get to know people who work everywhere doing everything and it helps us to learn more about them and more about different ways of life.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: Our challenge right now is that we’re growing too fast. Right now, Rafa is the only barber and we are hoping to hire more skilled barbers to help with the amount of growth and extra appointments that we’re getting. Our clients come in once and then they refer their friends and family to us, and we’re getting almost too busy. We’d like to get another person in here to help us expand.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: Rafa and I have had a lot of challenges getting to where we are now. We’re both Hispanic; I’m originally from Mexico and he’s from Honduras, and they way that society is right now, it was hard for the both of us to establish ourselves and become small business owners. It was hard, but everything is possible. I want people like us to know that anything is possible. If you really want it, you can have it as long as you work hard and never give up and always look for ways to make your dreams happen.