We recently had the chance to connect with Ashley Ellis and have shared our conversation below.
Ashley, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
What I think is misunderstood about Barbers and all service workers is our ability. We are here to provide service to the best of our abilities, but there are a lot of consumers who forget we are human. We all have our moments where a situations circumstances out weigh our skill and abilities.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ashley Ellis, I am assistant manager and barber at The Fireline Barber Co. This is a newly opened barbershop and we officially opened our doors March 1, 2025. My husband Tim is head manager and along side our good friends Chris and Marissa, also a husband and wife team, The Fireline was brought to life! We all came together with the same desire, a barbershop that not only upholds the tradition of the trade, it truly is a community. Real people, producing great service without unnecessary sacrifice. I have been in the industry for over 10 years and my husband has 20 years behind the chair. We are not only veteran owned but our veterans are also fire fighters which was how we got our name. The special thing about barbers is we are one of the few professionals that you truly get to know. I wanted to build a place where clients and staff felt comfortable, stress free, and confident. Helping open and run a business is something I never expected and comes with endless challenges. The connections I have made are irreplaceable, from the lovely couple that made this all possible to the clients that have followed and supported us from day one. What we offer is something a lot of industry professionals lose sight of, honest service at realistic prices. We don’t just offer the standard discounts available at any establishment, we offer discounted rates for our educators, military, veterans, brewery staff, first responders/nurses. We represent hard working people and community bond. We are working on growing our business and I do most of our social media along side my typical job tasks. One thing about The Fireline is we aren’t worried about fancy edits and flashy content but we do love connecting and if you want to see what we’re up to next, social media is where you can find it! If you want to see what our legacy is all about, I’d love see you in the chair!
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
Consistency and honesty are the building blocks of any relationship. Lack in either is what breaks most bonds in society. As a professional I have learned that being honest with a client even when it’s saying I can’t do what they’re asking has a better chance of maintaining integrity and trust. Providing consistent results maintains the longevity of each individual. Transparency goes a long way, you can’t connect with a result you cannot see.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If there was anything I could say to myself as I entered the hair industry it’s, stay true. Expectations that don’t align with you or the legalities of a licensed professional do not define you or your skill set.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That you have creative freedom and flexibility. These terms are frequently referred to throughout the stages of the hair and beauty industry. While both true and false the definitive of either is impossible to promise. Majoritively you are at the mercy of the demand. Sometimes one is sacrificed for the other and sometimes the meaning of either gets lost entirely. There is a lot more break than bend in this industry, creative freedom is more listen and adapt, while flexibility breaks down to availability.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
Honestly? The laughs. I’ve been barbering a long time. I’ve worked with a lot of barbers that have been doing this a lot longer than myself. We all share one thing with our clients, laughter. We share jokes, stories, etc. We don’t just create looks, we create memories.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://the-fireline-barber-co.square.site
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/the_fireline_barber_co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/The-Fireline-Barber-Co
Image Credits
The staff of The Fireline Barber Co.
