Business of the Week: Silver Shears, a generational business

Silver Shears owner Kenny Carpenter cuts the hair of Marblehead’s Colin Hart. Photo by Spenser Hasak

Silver Shears became a staple for Marbleheaders when the barber shop first opened in 1976. Now in 2023, it caters to all ages and has customers that span generations of families.

Kenny Carpenter has owned the business for 14 years since inheriting it from his father, making it a second generation family-owned business.

“My clients are pretty great, they’re pretty awesome, I’m super fortunate. I’ve got a great group of people, my guys I have that work for us are awesome, this town is great,” Carpenter said. “And like I said, it’s been great for my family for 46 years, I’m just trying to keep that going.”

The shop has seen some changes over the years, including its location. Now, it is located at 4 Bessom St.

Currently Silver Shears has three barbers, Carpenter, Zachary Harris and Candace Flaherty. Candice has been working there for eight years and said “it’s just easy.”

“It doesn’t feel like I’m coming and working for someone, there’s only a few of us so we all get along and it makes it easy,” Flaherty said.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it had to close for nine weeks. After reopening some changes had to be made including the loss of a waiting room and the commonly-known six-feet distance between clients.

Another change made during that time was switching to appointments only. It has stayed that way, even as the world finds its new normal.

“It ended up just being a really nice smooth schedule for us,” Carpenter said.

Each barber usually has 15 to 20 appointments a day.

On Wednesday, Sarah Hart of Marblehead brought her son, Colin, in for a haircut. They’ve been going to Silver Shears since Colin’s first haircut.

“He fell sound asleep in the chair and so we had to hold his chin so they could cut his hair,” Sarah said.

Every time her oldest son visits town he books an appointment with Carpenter and the team.

Now with Colin in his teenage years, Carpenter has watched him grow up. On Wednesday, Carpenter, Sarah, and Colin were talking about plans for the upcoming school break like they were old friends.

As the barber shop filled up with its 3:30 p.m. appointments, Carpenter, Flaherty, and Harris fell into the rhythm of work, each of them conversing with their clients.

“Our clients are very loyal to us,” Carpenter said. “We’ve got generations in here.”