There are plenty of outlets for people to share their life stories, struggles, and victories. While therapists, blogs, and podcasts are the most common places you can find people sharing, one of the gems that people often overlook are salons and barbershops. People can engage in casual talks, free of judgment, and share freely without extra costs outside of haircare. Charlie McCoy has thrived in the industry, and knowing that there are others like him leaving religious organizations, has enabled him to create a unique environment.
Charlie McCoy is a master barber turned entrepreneur based in New York City. In the years before he became a master barber, McCoy had initially worked in the Jehovah’s Witness Headquarters as an elder and missionary. He remained in the environment for over a decade and often sensed that he could do more. McCoy felt so disconnected from the rest of the world, having grown up in the religion since birth. He decided to separate from Jehovah’s Witness to pursue his entrepreneurial interests.
With a little experience, McCoy had to figure out everything on his own. While he ran a summer landscaping business, bicycle shop, and barbershop in his teenage years, McCoy found that it would be more difficult to establish his brand as an adult. He took many risks and failed multiple times. As a result, McCoy was able to become business savvy and built many connections.
Charlie McCoy would spend years as a master barber and eventually brand ambassador for L’Oreal’s Kiehl’s. With the experience to be paired with his ambition, McCoy would leave the company to start his brand finally.
In 2017, he launched Artisan Barber, a luxury men’s grooming and lifestyle brand based in New York City. He would later open his salon Orchard & Ludlow in the Lower East Side of New York. The establishment acts as an online platform that addresses grooming lifestyle questions. Orchard & Ludlow also doubles as an art gallery, giving New York artists a platform to showcase their works.
The onset of the pandemic threatened industries everywhere and had forced businesses to close shop, but McCoy was not about to let it ruin his momentum. Despite the pandemic, he launched three new brands: Artisan Luxury Brands, Artisan Media Group, and The Grooming Alchemist.
Artisan Luxury Brands is a consumer goods company that sells cruelty-free products catered to their clients’ needs and wants. Artisan Media Group is McCoy’s creative marketing agency specializing in creating various types of content and includes video, photography, and social media content. The Grooming Alchemist is meant to be a men’s lifestyle hub where they can find all the answers to their questions about taking their lifestyle to the next level.
Charlie McCoy used The Grooming Alchemist to establish a community by working with artists in the surrounding areas. He created the Grooming Alchemist to become a safe space where other former Jehovah’s Witnesses could find guidance and inspiration. Having come from adversity, McCoy welcomes anyone through the door and teaches them how they can control their lives and set an aggressive mindset towards their goals.
To learn more about Charlie McCoy, you may visit his website.
