Meet Elizabeth aka Lily of Valley Cutz Barbershop in Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Elizabeth aka Lily.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Lily. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Elizabeth but everyone calls me Lily. Barbering was actually my parents idea so shout to them for my success. I got my barber license in 2009, but started working at barbershops in 2012. In 2014 I partnered up with someone to open Valley Cutz in Sherman Oaks, CA. I have always been great at drawing and was so excited to draw our logo. So in my religion we believe that red and black protect us from bad energy/ people so that’s why I made our logo black and red I decided on the gold blade for prosperity. I remember showing my customers my idea and they loved it. So I found this amazing graphic designer named Raul Carreon and he made my vision come to life! The name Valley Cutz was also my idea because my family from Los Angeles always told me that my haircuts were the freshest. And I said that’s because its a valley cut and our cuts are the best. Things for Valley Cutz didn’t go too well because of who I partnered up with so we closed our doors in 2015. Which is when my son was born, I felt defeated and stop doing barbering. I dedicated myself to being a preschool teacher and mother. In November of 2018 I became a single mother of two. This was hard on me, but I had no time to cry I looked at my babies who at the time were nine months and three years old, and said I need to be strong I can do this. After almost 4 years I decided to do barbering to be able to provide the life style that not only I wanted for my children, but the life style they deserved. My mom has been my biggest motivation. She has always showed me that with faith, hard work, and determination anything and everything is possible. And with that I have now become the best version of myself. December of 2019, I decided that I should open a family business I had failed once but now I was more determined to succeed for my family. My mom said she would help so together, we have made my dream/ vision a reality.

In February 2020, we signed the lease and we were so excited to start this new chapter. Our family and friends had helped us put Valley Cutz together we had planned to do our Grand in April. But unfortunately Mayor Eric Garcetti shut us down in March. The landlord is still billing us for all this time that we have been closed. I hope he finds it in his heart to help us. I have tried many ways to get help, unfortunately our insurance company denied the claim for business hardship during COVID-19. So then I started a GOFUNDME page but that hasn’t been too helpful for what needs to get paid. Now we are honestly just praying for a miracle.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
This year has not been the greatest. Life has given me lots of hits. But like they say God only gives his strongest warriors the hardest battles. So things haven’t been easy but I am grateful for the love and encouragement my mom and children give me. They are constantly telling me how great and beautiful I am. Their love may not make things easier but it does keep me going.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Valley Cutz Barbershop story. Tell us more about the business.
Valley Cutz Barbershop is a family business which is located in the heart of Burbank, CA on Magnolia Blvd. We welcome families here and enjoy interacting with everyone. We love how our customers feel welcomed and love hearing all kinds of stories. At the shop we specialize on tapers, fades, line ups, kids cuts, beards, and designs. I myself am starting to learn to braid to add that to our specialties. What makes me proud is that we are family-based. Our friendliness is one of our most outstanding qualities, how we treat our customers as family whether their new or returning customers. Shout out to Barber Sal for keeping Valley Cutz Barbershop  alive and having our customers feel like family.

Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wouldn’t say luck, I would like to call it faith. Faith in God, my saints, family, and myself have brought us here. I hope to continue to have our doors open at Valley Cutz Barbershop. May the faith of my family help us through this pandemic and have our family business succeed for many years to come.

Contact Info:

• Address: 3309 W. Magnolia Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505
• Phone: 8184456663
• Instagram: Barberlily05 & Valleycutzbarbershop
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/valley-cutz-barbershop-burbank
• Other: https://www.gofundme.com/f/valley-cutz-barbershop-relief-fund

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