Squire Barber Shop

A bit of an extreme move for a haircut that mom wasn’t happy with, no?

How is this real life?

(Holy cow this a long one)

Happy Sunday all, this pic is of the wall/door of our newly redone bathroom. Resident artist and barber Dan Riner did this with some of the downtime we had over the last number of months. I am immensely grateful for Dan having spent his time in this way for us all to enjoy. Dan, you are awesome! I’m sorry for your recent loss, we got your back if you need any help, thank you.
Over the years I have fielded any number of calls from businesses wanting to handle my social media accounts I’ve always told them the same thing. “That doesn’t make sense to me” Yes, I have a business but, I am a person. How is someone else, uninvolved with us and this business supposed to say things that relate closely to us here at Squire? Of course I could repost related article about hair cutting and such, but my thinking here is this. that stuff is already out there it’s not hard to find and the really good stuff finds a way to circulate on its own. I am not interested in generic representation like that. I’m not trying to present us as anything other than what we are, and what we are is just a small group of people trying to struggle through some tough times, hoping to make enough money to support ourselves and those closest to us. In the process we hope to make the world just a little bit better place to be for everyone. (If that sounds silly you have not seen the little spark that can happen when someone gets a cut that makes them feel better about themselves, causing them to put their best foot forward to the world nudging them towards their full potential, it’s a real thing) I’ve always declined such offers of help. So there’s no fluff here l, just the raw uncensored garbage that falls out of my mouth and onto a keyboard sometimes. Hopefully there are those out there that can appreciate this and understand that this is maybe not as polished as it could be but then again, neither am I. I present us here at Squire warts and all. (an allegory not frequently used anymore but it seemed to fit, I’m calling it retro 😉) With that said, I’m not going to lie, I’m quite often a day late and a dollar short, thing is this time I am about six fiddy short and about a week late. The last few months have been hard on everyone. Very very hard on me as well not going to really elaborate but anyone familiar with Lemony Snicket (pre Jim Carrey movie version) can apply that format to the way life has progressed lately. If it were possible to fast forward life in slow motion. That’s what it has felt like. I almost threw in the towel and tapped out because of things beyond my control. I had become disillusioned, sad and a whole plethora of other emotions that I can’t put a name on. In the I end I knew though, this isn’t about me anymore, two of my guys have kids one of those is still very very tiny. There was need for me to return and I couldn’t bear the thought of potentially complicating life for the most innocent among us and those that care for them. I realized this thing is way bigger than me now. I just want to thank the heck out of everyone who donated to the go fund me, also those who sent words of encouragement and those who have supported us over the years as good customers. You all kept the fire burning while I fumbled through a midlife crisis. The money donated will help out more than most of you will ever know because, let’s just say, there are legit, on the up and up, through no fault of their own, non criminal reasons than certain individuals may not be eligible for the financial help that surfaced shortly after this post but still seems just out of reach.
I gave you all some bad information in my previous post about downloading the Squire commander app. That’s not exactly what you need, it’s the sane app but you must access is differently. If you now visit our website at www.squirebarbershop.com click the link that says book online it will direct you back to there and will then be linked to the shop. It’s kind of confusing and I apologize about that, the delay, and the bad info.
So, with all that said, online booking is up and running you will not see me (David Squire) right now, I’ve been holding my name back as guys I have been cutting for years are straggling in now. If anyone has been apprehensive about texting my personal phone because they do not want to bother me? It’s fully okay to contact me directly for this at this time. Now, to see if anyone has actually managed to read this far, you deserve a free cut, the first two individuals to post a response in the comment section I will personally give a free cut. I still have some decent times this week! Shortly after I give those two away I will be opening my schedule to the public real soon. There may be some more current slots open up soon so, an opportunity to get in fairly quickly still exists. Hope to hear from you.
Anyone who donated money to crowd sourcing platform, I have something for all of you. I’ve got T-shirts, coffe mugs, hair product you may pick your poison. Just small something to say please reach out to me snd we can work this out. I will not be able to mail items so one must be available to pick up their gift. Sorry out of towners 😞 , you have my undying gratitude. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING THE FIRE BURNING. Customers are the heartbeat of any business I’ve said this so many times and it remains as true as it ever was.
We couldn’t have done this without you. 🙏 thank you, all of you.
With humble gratitude,
David Squire.

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO OUR GOFUNDME I WILL MAKE ANOTHER POST SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THE BEAUTIFUL, GENEROUS, GORGEOUS PEOPLE WHO HELPED US OUT. YOU ARE THE CHOSEN ONES.......
Lots of information to get out, not so much time to do it. Let’s jump right in.

So, someone told me that these signs would be a good idea to put up in the windows at the shop. I was like, “humm, should we also put up a sign that tells the customers to “Eff off” ?
But, after a moment I realized It’s a new world it’s probably a good idea to idea have these up. A hard realization for me. Coming from a life in customer service, this sign feels to me a lot like... (I am about to show my age and make a correlation here) like, remember back when air travel was pleasant? Seats seemed bigger the food was good, but most noticeable was the service and atmosphere were impeccable. You looked forward to the flight before the vacation. Then things changed not necessarily for the better but always for the necessary. 9/11 happened real threats to ones safety existed, It was a new world, we all got it. We all understood the causation. I’m afraid this feels like a very similar scenario. We have to patrol for the safety of our guests we must perform a balancing act with customer service and obeying the new regulations. (wearing a mask and gloves to cut, ugh?..) With that said, if everything goes as planned, we will be opening June 1. If you have your barbers cell number, this would be a good time to reach out. I will be announcing really soon how to book. Trying to give some preferential treatment to regulars. I was trying to figure out a way to give priority to customers based on the amount of appointments they had had with us. It all started to get a bit confusing. So..... reach out to your barber is you are able to. If you do not have their number I will be announcing within the next day or two how to book with us during the initial re-opening phase. There are some new criteria to booking, to get a head start you can download the Squire Commander app from your App Store. Hope to see you all really soon! It won’t take you to booking currently but will be activated real soon.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/squire-commander/id1254375220

PLEASE READ: It’s more than you think.

Spoiler alert: I’m very wordy in my very few but incredibly poignant posts, please bear with me! (Or bare with me but that costs extra)

Alright, I’ve been lax and lazy with the Facebooking. I feel like I’m getting old and social media is not my forte, and I’m okay with it. However, I’ve been so incredibly moved (literally to tears once, but I don’t speak of it) by the caring and thoughtfulness of customers and friends that I have decided to come out of social media seclusion to publicly thank and thank in advance, all of you. Customers are our business. We sell ourselves (get your mind out of the gutter) so, it’s a personal relationship at the heart. A combination of a good personality and a good tonsorial artist is a rare thing indeed. I have them here, you know them, they are us. It is so good to know that there are so many people out there, that care.
Now I personally had decided that I was not going to ask the public for anything (ie: a go fund me page) I mean I’ve got some savings, and I shouldn’t tell you this but... the overheard on a barbershop is not tremendous, rent downtown is however. was prepared to weather this storm because I know everyone’s got their own lives to deal with, right? I do not want to unnecessarily burden anyone with my garbage, right? WRONG!, I failed miserably at recognizing the needs of my friends, staff and coworkers. I do not pay them, you do. I cover the other stuff.
I live two blocks from my shop, this morning I got a text from a customer who happens to have my private phone, he was wanting to buy product from me now, 🧐 I’m pretty sure he doesn’t need it and this is after I had turned him down on giving me any money or giving cuts on a presale basis. I’m old and l live somewhere just a little bit North of paycheck to paycheck, I should be fine. My guys are not, (the term guys includes one girl, it’s a term of endearment and not a gender thing to me, I hope that’s not offensive to anyone) they are not fine. I just found out one is out delivering food to keep the lights on, So what I am about to do is 100% for them people who help you out with your hair, I cut hair as well, but this is for my guys. Eh, Um:
MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE, I do not think I need to reiterate what’s happening in the world to you all. For the first time ever, I am going to ask you all for something. I am not keeping any of for myself but there’s people in need. There have been some recent changes here at Squire and I hope that I am given the opportunity to elaborate soon. For now I’ve got a group of people that could really use some help (I wouldn’t know how to do it, so I’m not going to take credit) We have created a go fund me page. Now I have not been really good with keeping up with social media like I should. 100% my fault (the sin of Hubris??) so I’m also going to ask anyone that sees this that may know anyone that comes here or whatever, to PLEASE PLEASE forward, link, post, send by telegraph, Morris code, smoke signals, interstellar cosmic ray OR as a thought to weave itself into the Universal Consciousness. In other words, please spread the word. I’m not sure what they set the goal at but I’m sure it’s not enough!!! It’s probably tax deductible!!! (I doubt that it would be?) Jesus will love you!!! (The Judeo-Christian God loves everyone, this is redundant) you will feel better about yourself!!! ( this one is probably true!)
Thank you all, whether or not you are in a position to participate monetarily is irrelevant, we love all of you, just like Tiny Tim, Thank you, thank you. Click. Thank you.

Squire Barbershop Fund organized by Daniel Riner This is a team relief fund for our barbers at Squire Barbershop in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis… Daniel Riner needs your support for Squire Barbershop Fund

If Norman Rockwell has been a painter today, I think it would have been something like this scene. A slice of Americana.
(Photo courtesy of Piotr Borowski

I’ve been a bit lax with the social media lately. I had also been lax with showing my crew my appreciation for them. While I always intend to do something for my guys on a regular basis, I had fallen behind. Last nights festivities at the Can Can was just what we needed! (For those of you that know Pike Place Market I’m the one laying on all the hepatitis) to everyone out in TV land. From All of us to all of you. Happy Holidays and seasons greetings!! We couldn’t have done it without you. (Seriously we couldn’t,...thx)
May the odds be ever in your favor,
Squire Barber Shop.

Please remember that today is Mayday it’s not all folks dancing around poles, there may be protests and marches to navigate around, please plan time accordingly, and, as always, thanks for you business.