17-02-2025
Fellas Barbershop grows to 11 Utah locations, focuses on community and giving back
WEST JORDAN, Utah () — The Fellas Barbershop will soon be opening its eleventh location in Utah. Not only is it dedicated to having clients leave with a smile, but also to giving back to the community.
The Fellas Barbershop's newest location will be in West Jordan, with a soft opening on Feb. 24 and a grand opening set for March 21.
Ahead of this latest addition, ABC4 met with CEO and co-founder Mersadies Reber to look back at how The Fellas Barbershop began in Spanish Fork and its efforts to reach outward.
Reber said when she first started there weren't a lot of female barbers. But, after going to hair school, she felt strongly that is what she wanted to focus on.
In 2018, Reber rented a small space in Spanish Fork where she kicked off her business.
Her first barbershop grew bigger and, with the support of her husband, she moved into a bigger location on Spanish Fork Main Street. Over the years, she opened shops in several locations across Utah.
When it comes to The Fellas growth, she shared it's been a challenging but worthwhile journey.
'It was really hard,' she said. 'I didn't know how to make spreadsheets, so I watched lots of YouTube videos … I just had to learn how to grind really, really, really hard, and I worked every single day since I've opened the barbershop and I study every single day how to be a better boss, how to be a better leader,' she said.
She said that even with many more locations now, The Fellas treats every single one with the same seriousness and passion as the first, wanting to ensure every client leaves with a positive experience.
One factor of The Fellas growth, Reber said, is how it works with the community to try and make a difference. Reber said she had family in the military and that it was always something close to her heart.
'I knew I could make a difference just because I had over 100 people a day coming into my store,' she said.
For Veterans Day, The Fellas offers free haircuts for veterans, giving out about 100 to 200 per store, Reber said. The community has also gotten involved, with other businesses donating treats for veterans.
From there, it grew to helping more local heroes, such as working with local businesses for firefighter months — for example, businesses chipping in to give firefighters swag bags or pay for a month of services.
Reber said another focus for The Fellas is men's mental health, which they work on programs and awareness for. Reber said she loves how other businesses join with The Fellas to give back, making it a community effort.
'We almost never do an event by ourselves. I'm able to partner with other business owners no matter what location we're in. What I love about us is that we're never alone, we never make it about us …. Every time The Fellas does something, it's combined with multiple other businesses. It believes in the same mission, which is just helping out our community. Anybody who's involved or who needs help,' Reber shared.
The Fellas also offers business education for students and helps other barbers achieve their business goals. The company does not allow anyone to own a Fellas location unless it's clear they truly believe in it.
'You can't own a Fellas unless you've worked here for over two years and then we invest into our barbers for them to be their own boss and open their own store and become their own owner,' she said.
Reber spoke about what it's like being a female leader in a male-dominated industry, saying she wants women to know they can achieve what they're passionate about.
'Really own your feminism, even if you're in a masculine energy area,' she said.
Reber said she's looking forward to opening The Fellas latest spot in West Jordan and continuing its mission. Visit The Fellas website or Instagram for updates.
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