Veteran barber Danere Spence has struck out on his own for the first time.

Mr Spence, 45, has opened Imperial Cuts Barber Shop on East Broadway.

The shop is in the building that formerly housed Crow Lane Bakery.

Mr Spence spent six months renovating the space, including new plumbing, electrical, drywall, masonry and paint, before opening two months ago. He was assisted by his cousin, Kearion Gomes.

“I had to start from scratch,” he said. “It wasn’t an easy road to get everything together. I’ve finally reached that point.”

Mr Spence began his education as a barber at the age of 12. His father Eugene had a shop on Angle Street in Hamilton and taught the hair-cutting trade to Mr Spence and his brothers Kurvin and Karim.

“We grew up in the barber shop,” Mr Spence said. “Kurvin was featured in Jet magazine as the ‘youngest barber in the world’ when he was 10 or 11 years old.”

Mr Spence’s sisters, Gina and Saleemah are City & Guilds qualified as hairdressers. The five siblings operated Spence Hair Design on Union Street.

That business closed in 2007 and Mr Spence moved on to Ricky’s Barber Shop, operated by his uncle, from 2008 to 2016, before working at Quality Cutz for two years.

Clients from his former locations, as well as customers Mr Spence served as a mobile barber while setting up the new locale, have begun to find him.

“Business has been good so far,” Mr Spence said. “More and more clients from Spence Hair Design are coming back and I have picked up some new customers as well as having regulars from the last 30 years of hair cutting.

“I like the creativity in barbering, it’s an art, and I like to see the finished product and people’s joy and happiness after a good haircut.

“They feel refreshed and rejuvenated, and most say ‘you took a few years off me’.

“I also enjoy the social aspect, meeting a lot of different people. My clients are from all aspects of the community.”

Mr Spence’s shop has one barber chair, plus a waiting area with couch, chair and flatscreen television.

“The basics, that is all I really need, but I am going to put some pictures and plants in to make it more homely, warmer and more comfortable,” Mr Spence said.

Mr Spence cuts the hair of men, women and children, doing standard cuts as well as design work.

He also does razor shaves, and plans to introduce hot towel shaves in future.

Prices range from $18 for children to $25 for a standard adult cut.

The shop is open Monday to Saturday from 8am to 6pm. Appointments made outside those hours will be accommodated. Walk-ins are welcome. There is parking for cars and bikes on site.

Mr Spence also carries the all-natural hair and skin care product line distributed by his sister Gina, who runs a salon in Florida.

• Imperial Cuts Barber Shop can be reached at 599-0288, or by e-mail at danerespence73@gmail.com. The shop can also be contacted via Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp