From ‘fowl pen’ to Best of SVG

Webster ‘Southie’ Dickson had no idea that he had been entered into a contest. So, it came as a surprise to him when he found out that he had been selected as Best Barber for 2017 in Interactive Media’s Best of SVG Awards. The former van conductor believes that his many years of experience, relationship with clients, and the lively atmosphere in his barbershop puts him a cut above the competition. “It’s a fun place. When you come here, we have a lot of fun, jokes, a lot of conversations about life.”

Dickson, the proprietor of Shatta’s Barber Studio, which is located upstairs the Reliance Press building, had dabbled in barbering in his early years, cutting hair in his home village of Belair. “I used to trim close to a fowl pen, so they does still come and heckle me…‘well, now yuh reach in the air condition, yuh doh remember when yuh use to trim by the fowl pen’…” He considers it a fortunate accident that barbering became his career. “The van wasn’t working out for me, so one time I was walking down the street with some friends and I saw Top Shatta’s… I went into the barber shop, talked to this guy named Cally and he gave me a job.”

When he had just started, Dickson doubted that he could be successful in the business. He recalls feeling apprehensive about whether he would be able to pay his first rent at Top Shatta’s, but elated when he made enough money to do so with ease. He was later left in charge of the shop when his boss migrated, which he said provided him with the opportunity to grow. “That is where I start treating the customers nice and having a good rapport. A lot of people appreciate that.” As a testament to his humility, Dickson would later remove “Top” from the name of the business.

He expressed gratitude to God for his success and thanked his customers and Interactive Media for recognizing his work. “Once you love what you’re doing, any job, you’ll be successful. The boss will appreciate you, and,

you’ll make plenty more money,” he chuckled. Mr Dickson may be contacted at 526-1166.