Today we’d like to introduce you to Micah Johnson and Andy Prost. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Andy and Micah have been close personal friends for several years before they started Idle Hands Grooming Company. A couple years prior to the beginning of the company they, along with Brandon Gregory, started a hair product company under the same name, Idle Hands. That is where it all started, in an apartment, on the 36XX block of Shaw. Micah had been working in the Grove for the last few years and had been working toward starting his own business and had finally decided to go out on his own. He and Andy decided to start the business together and had just received the keys to the building when the pandemic began. Micah’s current employer was forced to close and it pushed him and Andy to begin renovations on the shop. Just the two of them along with a couple of great local companies like Aarow Construction Services, Degenhardt Heating and Air, and their general contractor and friend (Kyle Marsden), did ninety percent of the renovations.
As for the business itself, they were really just trying to build a business and career that they could work in, together. As best friends and family.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been the smoothest road, due to starting our business in the beginning of a global pandemic. It was incredibly difficult to get anything done from March to July (we opened July 13th). But, in everything, there is a silver lining. We made it, we opened only a few short months behind schedule. And we also gained an incredible full staff of some of the most talented folks in the industry.
We were able to get started on our business with the best team, in the best neighborhood, with the best neighbors. So, no matter how rocky the road was in the beginning, we ended up coming out on top. So, thank you to all of our wonderful employees (new and old) and to our amazing neighborhood.
We’ve been impressed with Idle Hands Grooming Company, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
We are a full-service hair salon and barbershop (a grooming company). We do everything from barbering/clipper work to extensions and high-end color.
Truly, what sets us aside is the talent of our staff. The quality of work that walks out of our shop is next to none.
We are mostly proud of the environment and atmosphere we have built. Our team is tight-knit, fantastically talented, and laid back. We do our best to make every person feel welcome.
We do not allow any kind of sexism, racism, bigotry, homophobia, transphobia, or xenophobia in our establishment. We want every individual to feel comfortable inside the confines of our building.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Personally, for Andy and Micah, most people probably do not know that they are both college-educated in things completely unrelated to business. And while Micah is a fully licensed Cosmetologist, Andy had zero experience in the hair industry prior to opening Idle Hands.
Also, our brand is very local business forward. We carry our own line of products (different company, same name) and also carry sculpture art created by our good friend Fhar Studio. We hope to eventually carry more local businesses arts and goods.
Contact Info:
- Website: Idlehandsgroomingco.com
- Instagram: Idlehandsgrooming
Image Credits
Meghan Heckmann
InvestSTL Grant McKenna
visions2020.squarespace.com
Fhar.studio
