Averien Turner of Phoenix on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Averien Turner. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Averien, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day start with giving thanks to God for blessing me with another day. From there, I shift into parent mode—making sure my children are ready for school, that they’ve eaten, and that they have everything they need for the day ahead. After school drop-off, I head back home to prepare myself and get focused for my own day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Averien Turner, and I consider myself more than an entrepreneur—I’m a builder of opportunities. Together with my business partner, Jason Holloway, I co-own Cutties Barbershop and a restaurant. I also run Humble Clothing Company and serve as the president of the Little Humble Entrepreneurs Foundation, a nonprofit I founded to inspire and empower youth through business, mentorship, and hands-on experiences.

What makes our story unique is that everything we do is rooted in community. Cutties Barbershop isn’t just a place for cuts—it’s a hub where people connect. The restaurant is a space for bringing folks together over great food. Humble Clothing Company is about expression and culture. Through the foundation, we’re pouring back into the next generation, teaching kids to launch businesses, dream bigger, and believe in themselves. And now, Jason and I are expanding into a new mail and ship service to bring even more resources and convenience right into our neighborhood.

Because of this commitment, many in my community have come to call me the “South Side Neighborhood Nipsey Hussle”—a name I wear with pride. It reflects how deeply I care about building, giving back, and leaving a legacy that inspires others. For me, everything we touch—whether it’s a business, a program, or a conversation—is about making sure people leave better than when they came in.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
The person who saw me clearly before I could see myself was my mom. She recognized the greatness in me early on and saw my passion for cutting hair when I was just a young man in high school. While I was cutting hair for friends, she saw more than just a hobby—she saw a gift and a future. She believed in me enough to send me to barber school, and that opportunity set me on the path I’m still walking today. My mom gave me my first clear recognition, and her vision for me became the foundation for everything I’ve built since.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There was definitely a time I almost gave up. About five years after starting Humble Clothing Company, I hit a wall. In the beginning, I went so hard that I burned myself out. Eventually, I walked away from it for a couple of years. But during that time, I kept hearing from people who missed it, who wanted to see Humble back. The community’s love and support reminded me why I started in the first place. That’s what pushed me to relaunch and open up a physical clothing store. In the end, what I thought was the end of the journey became a restart, and it came back stronger because the people wanted it just as much as I did.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
What I’m most committed to—no matter how long it takes—is being a pillar in my community. My passion has always been for the people, because without them I wouldn’t have what I have today. I want to be remembered as a staple in my neighborhood, someone whose footsteps others can follow.

For me, it’s about more than business—it’s about being a physical example that others can look to and say, “If he did it, I can do it too.” Everybody needs help, and everybody needs understanding. If I can be that helping hand, that inspiration, and that reminder of what’s possible, then I’m fulfilling my purpose. That’s the belief that drives me every single day.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I was a genuine human being who truly cared about his people. I want to be remembered as someone who was always an open book—if you needed a mentor, I was there; if you needed knowledge, I shared it. I want my name to carry a strong presence long after I’m gone, not just because of the businesses I built, but because of the lives I touched.

My hope is that my legacy continues to live on as an example that people can reference, a reminder that giving back, lifting others, and building community is the greatest impact any of us can leave behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://LittleHumbleFoundation.Com
• Instagram: Little Humble Foundation/ Humble Clothing Co/Humble Headquarters
• Linkedin: Averien Turner
• Twitter: Humble Clothing
• Facebook: Little Humble Foundation/ Humble Clothing
• Yelp: Humble Headquarters/ Southern Fried/ Cutties Barbershop
• Youtube: All Facts with Ave & Bird

Image Credits
I want to send a big thank you to
Arizona Financial Credit Union. They were a big help with LHEF Little Humble Entrepreneurs Foundation.