From One Barbershop to Two: How Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp Helped A+ Cutz Barbershop Expand and Succeed

Terry Gouard opened A+ Cutz Barbershop in Danville in 2016 with the goal of providing an exceptional barbering service to men and women. Fast forward to the present, and he has not only achieved this, but he’s also added to his team to offer hair braiding services, kids’ haircuts, and more. He’s also outgrown the single barbershop, and he now owns and operates two locations in town.

Attending the Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp in 2021 was a powerful catalyst for change in Terry’s career. At the time, he had already been in business for four years and was dreaming of taking the barbershop to the next level. “In so many ways, I became stronger and wiser in the business industry,” he says. “I’ve gained so many resources and relationships with other like-minded business owners. This class taught me to chase my dreams and that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.” He cites the “great class and amazing teacher” (referring to The Trep School CEO Tricia Teague) as his most significant sources of inspiration for growing his business and striving for greatness.

The seed funds from the Trep OnTrack program, funded by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority R3 grant, helped him secure a second location in Downtown Danville to expand A+ Cutz Barbershop. The $3,000 contribution paid the rent for six months at the new barbershop on North Street. According to Terry, a second location was always in the plans before starting the Trep OnTrack Business Bootcamp, but completing the program helped his dream come to fruition.

Terry’s mission in life and career is to impact the community positively. In addition to running two successful barbershops, he’s passionate about educating the next generation of professional barbers. He is currently preparing to pilot the first accredited barber college program in Danville in partnership with Danville Area Community College. The new barbering school is located inside the Village Mall.
Hop over to the A+ Cutz website to learn more about Terry and his team’s services and book an appointment. You can also follow the A+ Cutz Barbershop official Facebook page to stay updated!