Wrightchoice Barbers was formed in 2004 by entrepreneur Simon Chandler (Founder of Wrightchoice CSA). Simon’s reason for opening the shop was based on the fact that he and his seven sons (two step sons) had to get their hair cut on a weekly basis and this would cost him about £50 a week. So the idea to open a barber shop to provide for families such as his was born. Simon had experience from his childhood of the positive effect a barber shop had on the local black community. It was a place where fathers would take their sons to interact on issues that affect the community and this experience gave Simon even more motivation to open his own shop.

The shop was established in 2000 and its original name was skin fade barbers situated at the back of where the present shop is today. At the time, half the shop was a CD/DVD shop called Joys of Life Entertainment. The barber shop had one barber and at first there was a real shortage of customers. In fact, all the revenue of the business at the time paid for the barber’s expertise with no surpluses for the rent, or anything else for that matter. However after a period of a few years the business picked up, so much so that it was time to expand and move the barber operation from the back of the premises and take over the whole space. In 2004, the name skin fade barbers was dropped and the new look shop was named Wrightchoice Barbers.

Over the 8 years of the shop’s existence Wrightchoice Barbers has been the main sponsor of the Wrightchoice Community Sports Association. It would be fair to say that without the barber shop there would be no charity. It continues to fund salaries for coaches, pitch fees, kit & equipment as well as end of season presentations and tournaments, not to mention the running and maintenance of the charity mini-bus.

Wrightchoice Barbers has given many young black men and women job opportunities. It currently employs 3 full-time barbers who are also picking up valuable experiences in the business world and who one day might go on to own their own shops. Job opportunities offered by Wrightchoice Barbers have been key in the development of some of Reading’s top barbers and hairdressers who have gone on to work in other establishments.

The shop has also gone on to become a positive and important community base within the African/Caribbean and wider community also. We consider the shop a place which promotes social cohesion and a listening ear for young people. Young people in the community feel free and confident that there will be someone in the barbers they can come to and share any issues and experiences with and this all adds to the value of the establishment.

Its friendly atmosphere, professional work ethic and creative patterns and designs make Wrightchoice Barbers the leading Afro Carribean, Asian & European barber shop in Reading.