www.negociosnow.com
March 2020 15
Age: 30
Title: Co-Owner
Name of Organization:
Gentleman's Cooperative Gar-
ments, Grooming, and Events
Chris Flores co-owner and
master barber of Gentleman's
Cooperative Garments, Groo-
ming and Events.
Chris Flores was born and
raised in Chicago and is the lea-
der of the grooming division of
his business. What first began in
high school as a hobby using his
barber skills to connect with his
friends, made its way to beco-
me his life passion and full-time
career. His skills as a barber fo-
llowed him to college where the
bathroom of his dorm became
his studio.
A kinesiology major at the
University of Illinois Urbana-
Champaign, Flores continued
to develop his love for cutting
hair during college. His referral-
based clientele grew to more
than 60 clients a week by his
senior year. It was through his
hair cutting and personal in-
teraction skills where he really
learned about people and hel-
ped build his self-confidence
and empowered him to pursue
barbering school to get his li-
cense.
At 26, he graduated from
Denmark School of Barbering.
The early self-taught years was
invaluable as he mentored
other students and contributed
to the classroom learning en-
vironment. He soon became a
member of the advisory board
committee.
He has always had a passion
to strive above and beyond the
limits of the men's grooming
industry. Flores believes it is
important to continue to grow
personally and professionally
through networking and buil-
ding relationships with people
in all industries. He constantly
finds it fascinating to learn about
others through this business. He
has found a great sense of pur-
pose in his professional life by
helping others achieve the look
they are seeking. It makes his
quest incredibly rewarding.
He said proudly that
Gentleman's Cooperative has
partnered with Inner Voice
Chicago where they provide
clothing, tailoring, and haircuts.
They support people experien-
cing homelessness in their quest
to achieve and maintain enhan-
ced well-being, self-reliance and
a place to call home.
Chris Flores
Shaping
Success,
Snip by Snip
WORDS OF WISDOM:
"W
hile hard work, dedication
and determination will
inevitably lead to success, the
greatest life achievements are
those we learn from our failures.
Stay focused. The road to success
is not always easy."
