Meet camil. williams: Barber & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with camil. williams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi camil., can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My family’s legacy plays an important role in my life and in my decision to be a business owner. My grandparents were among the African Americans that traveled north to work in the factories and hotels during the Great Migration, where they were able to secure middle class stability for their family. As a result, my parents became the first in their family to obtain college degrees and opportunities to work in corporate America.

My parents are also extremely talented visual artists. My mother’s eccentric abstract paintings, my father’s sketch art of superheros and landscapes and my stepmother’s arts and craft works left a lasting impression that continues to inspire me to this day. However, they set aside their talent to pursue a traditional career path. My mother’s work as a clerk for the city, my father’s work as a computer programmer and my stepmother’s work as a project manager carried great esteem that I aspired towards. Take Your Daughter to Work days helped cement my interest in business. Still, I always questioned why my parents never did anything with their art. I thought their art was just as good—if not better than—many of the exhibits at the art museum that I frequently visited with my father.

I wanted to be like my parents. And for a while, I was just like them. Working full-time in an office and creating my art on the side. After (too) many years working in corporate accounting, I inevitably hit my glass ceiling and, as a result, my desires began to shift. I needed something that would allow me to be my full person, challenge me creatively and support my lifestyle. I began to wonder what I might accomplish if I gave myself (instead of my job) those eight hours per day. Ultimately, the decision to become an entrepreneur rested on giving myself a chance to further my family’s story. In merging the knowledge and experience I gained as an employee with my experience as an artist, I started creating my brand and planning my exit strategy from my office gig. Before leaving my job, I was fortunate to have in place the beginnings of a promising career as a barber and a successful online art and apparel store.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
COME.iLL Exclusive Shop offers premium barbers services in a private suite. I take great pride in creating a welcoming atmosphere for my guests with a relaxed and artistic ambiance filled with uplifting and soulful music, complimentary snacks and refreshments and an ever-evolving art exhibit. When I welcome you into the shop, you can trust that I have implemented COVID safety measures, that you’ll have my undivided attention as my only guest and that you’ll leave with a dope cut.

I am extremely proud of the strides I’ve made as a barber and shop owner, both personally and professionally. It is an extreme honor to create, network and build relationships with such amazing people. It’s a cool feeling doing what you love, knowing that you are also assisting someone else in reaching their goals.

Centering my guests is the most important factor to my success, while discipline is a major theme. I find myself frequently researching and updating my business plan to ensure that I am appropriately anticipating and investing in my guests’ needs and desires, as new trends emerge. This routine has helped me remain focused and pivot successfully during the pandemic.

Earlier this year, COME.iLL Exclusive Shop launched Gentleman Black, a targeted skin and hair care regimen for men (but also loved by women). And COME.iLL Apparel is a collection of t-shirts and hoodies that features some of my artistic designs.

My goal is to send you excited and confidently into your endeavors, looking and feeling like it’s already yours!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my friends and family come to visit, I try to expose them to the places I love in Atlanta.

For entertainment, we would definitely hit up the different festivals, like the Atlanta Jazz Festival, The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival or House in the Park. I have a few go-to restaurants like Agave for their scallops and medallions, Bole for their decadent Ethiopian cuisines or El Azteca for their piña coladas and authentic Mexican food. Still, I definitely cannot miss the chance to expose my guests to Harold’s Chicken, if only to laugh and compare it to the Harold’s in Chicago.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m giving my first shout out to GOD, because there were times when…. Still, I give special shoutouts to Kenya Felz Tolbert, my friend and first client, who always lifted me up and spread the word about my barber services; Desean Griffith, my baby brother, for helping me see my potential; and Simone Adams, my friend, for being a sounding board and strict accountability partner for the entire process. Thank you all! Mad love!!!

Website: www.comeill.com

Instagram: come.ill_cutz

Facebook: @comeillcutz