A LITTLE ABOUT US
HOMEGROWN HERO
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Styles of Man is truly a home-grown small business that has taken shape in the Delavan-Bailey community. Its story started several decades ago, in the heart of 15-year-old Hakeem Hicks. The owner of Styles of Man was once a young ambitious apprentice at a barbershop a few blocks from the building he would eventually own. As a teenager, Hakeem spent his nights and weekends in the shop learning the trade. Over several years, Hicks would work in a few more barbershops along East Delavan.
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The last shop that he rented a booth in taught him the operational lessons he needed to take the entrepreneurial leap. The owner of this barbershop was often negligent with regards to timely payment of bills and tending to the duties and responsibilities of property ownership. His negligence offered Hakeem knowledge. Unopened envelops and letters from collectors made Hakeem aware of the obligations that owning a building and operating a business required. Now, a talented and locally famous barber, the only natural next step for Hicks was to own his own barbershop and his own building. The inadvertent lessons from the delinquent shop owner, equipped Hakeem with both the insight into business operation and the confidence to take a bold yet calculated risk.
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