For KNUST alumnus Robin Ohene Adjeku, the journey into entrepreneurship began long before he established his business. What started as an attempt to cut his grandfather's hair eventually became a skill that would help him navigate financial challenges during his university education and, years later, inspire him to establish Aro Cutz, a mobile barbering business bringing grooming services directly to clients' doorsteps.
His story is one of recognising an opportunity in an unexpected place, developing a skill through practice and having the courage to build a business around something he genuinely enjoys.
Robin's introduction to barbering came when his grandfather invited him to cut his hair, despite knowing that he had no previous experience. Armed with a comb and a blade, he accepted the challenge. Although the first attempt was far from successful, he continued practising and gradually discovered an ability he had not previously recognised.
“After a couple of tries, I realised that I had a skill in me,” he said.
That early experience would later become particularly important during his time at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. Faced with financial difficulties at home while pursuing his university education, Robin returned to barbering as a way of supporting himself. What initially served as a means of meeting his financial needs gradually developed into something much bigger.
He began cutting hair for fellow students and other clients on campus. Through referrals and recommendations, his customer base grew, allowing him to earn from a skill he had once considered an ordinary pastime.
Looking back on that period, Robin recognised that barbering was more than just a temporary source of income. It was an opportunity to build something of his own.
“After uni, I realised that this is something that I'm good at and I'm passionate about, so I needed to turn it into a business,” he said.
That decision led to the establishment of Aro Cutz, a mobile grooming service designed around convenience and accessibility. Rather than requiring clients to visit a traditional barbering shop, the business operates on an appointment basis, taking grooming services directly to customers at their homes and preferred locations.
Robin's ambition is to build what he describes as the “KFC of barbering” — a recognisable and accessible service that makes professional grooming convenient for people wherever they may be.
“So currently, my goal is to create convenience and also make sure that people are able to access my services wherever they are, at whatever time they want it,” he said.
However, turning the idea into a business has not been without its challenges. One of the early difficulties he encountered was gaining the trust of prospective clients, particularly when approaching people who were unfamiliar with his work. Some were initially hesitant to allow someone they had never met to cut their hair.
Through consistency, improved service and positive customer experiences, he gradually built confidence among his clients. Repeat patronage and referrals became important in growing the business.
He also had to contend with perceptions surrounding the choice of barbering as a profession after obtaining a university education. For some people, the idea that a university graduate would pursue barbering as a business was difficult to understand. Robin, however, remained focused on his ambition and refused to allow those perceptions to discourage him.
“I didn't let that doubt or the naysayers turn me away from my passion and my goal,” he said.
His experience offers an important lesson for young graduates and aspiring entrepreneurs: a university education does not limit one's career possibilities, nor should societal expectations determine what a person considers a worthwhile pursuit. Sometimes, opportunities emerge from skills and interests that may initially appear unrelated to one's academic background.
Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Robin encourages young people to remain confident in their abilities, prepare for criticism and persevere through the uncertainties that come with building something from the ground up. He also acknowledges the importance of faith in keeping him grounded throughout his journey.
For this KNUST alumnus, the journey from cutting his grandfather's hair to building a mobile grooming business is a reminder that potential can emerge from the most ordinary experiences. What matters is the willingness to recognise it, develop it and pursue it with purpose.
As he continues to grow Aro Cutz, Robin's story reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of KNUST alumni who are creating opportunities, challenging conventional career expectations and turning their ideas into practical ventures.
“If your dreams don't scare you, you're not dreaming hard enough,” he said.