Leaving an organization is never easy, especially a religious one. People are often left without inspiration and guidance after devoting their lives to certain teachings and practices. Charlie McCoy understands what it’s like. Having left Jehovah’s Witnesses and starting a life away from their practices, Charlie provides a lifestyle with his grooming businesses to help others do the same.
Charlie McCoy hails from Oklahoma, and he began his entrepreneurial ventures in his teenage years, starting with a summer landscaping business and a bicycle shop in his garage. During high school, McCoy would take his first steps into the grooming industry by working as a barber. He would later open a barbershop while studying college.
After completing his studies, McCoy would work as a full-time member at the Jehovah’s Witness Headquarters for over a decade. However, he would leave the church to pursue a career in the grooming industry. McCoy had always known that he would eventually go out on his own to build a brand. To get there, he would have to start over and learn more to reach his goal.
In 2011, McCoy would join Roche Bobois and work as an inventory analyst. He mainly worked in the supply chain management department for almost a year before joining the L’Oreal Group. There McCoy became a master barber and brand ambassador for the luxury apothecary brand Kiehl’s.
For almost half a decade, McCoy thrived before deciding to venture out on his own. He would establish a community around his businesses by collaborating with local artists in the surrounding areas of New York.
Charlie McCoy would create two salons, Artisan Barber and Orchard & Ludlow. Both establishments can be found in the Upper East Side and Lower East Side, respectively. Orchard & Ludlow is more than just a salon as it also doubled as an art gallery, providing New York-based artists a place to showcase their works.
When the pandemic struck, McCoy had no doubts that he would be able to keep his businesses afloat. This year, he launched three brands, two of which fall into entirely different industries outside the haircare industry. Artisan Luxury Brands is a consumer goods company that functions in the same line as its parent companies. The other two brands are The Grooming Alchemist and Artisan Media Group.
The Grooming Alchemist is a men’s lifestyle hub where former Jehovah’s Witnesses can find guidance and inspiration after leaving the religion. The Artisan Media Group is McCoy’s creative marketing agency. They focus on creating various types of content, ranging from video and photography to social media content. Both brands are McCoy’s way of channeling everything he’s learned over the years about business and people into a new passion.
Since leaving Jehovah’s Witnesses, Charlie McCoy has been able to not only pursue his dreams but also impact the lives of others around him, from his employees to his future partners. Successful in achieving his goal, McCoy hopes to make his mark in the country and welcomes any former Jehovah’s Witness into his establishments.
To learn more about Charlie McCoy, you may visit his website.
