David Salon Believes in Giving Back to the Community

By Lisa Lenkiewicz

David and Madeline Olivo, owners of David Salon in Unionville, are partners in every sense. While David is “behind the chair,” and educates other stylists on Keratin hair treatments, Madeline is the salon manager and runs the business.

Last year, in a Patch readers’ poll, David Salon was voted best salon in Farmington Valley.

The Olivos strongly believe in being charitable to their community and have a long list of causes to which they have donated.

The Unionville residents, parents to two young daughters, Ava and Sophie, told Patch more about their extensive training as stylists plus their community involvement.

Patch: When did your business open?

Olivos: David Salon opened in December of 2004 on Farmington Avenue in Unionville. In March of 2008, we expanded and moved to our current Plainville Avenue location, also in Unionville.

Patch: What services do you offer at your company?

Olivos: We are a hair salon that specializes in women's hair, but caters to men, women and children. We offer haircuts, blowdrys, highlights/lowlights, color, corrective color, and a variety of conditioning treatments, updos, bridal hair services, and Keratin treatments. We also provide facial waxing.

Patch: Why did you decide to open in Unionville?

Olivos: Madeline Olivo was born and raised in town and has a desire to give back to the community. David Olivo's client base was mostly that of Farmington Valley residents.

Patch: Can you tell us about your business/educational background?

Olivos: After completing cosmetology school and obtaining his state license in 1999, David went on to graduate from The John Dellaria Master parametric cutting system program in Boston where he was the youngest graduate at the time. He completed a master program for The Framesi Color Line. He went on to complete the training program at The Redken Exchange on Fifth Avenue in NYC which certified him in Redken color and haircare products.

Around the time we opened our first salon, David was certified in Keratin treatments and became a requested platform artist for many beauty shows. When we opened our new salon in our new location in 2008, our main focus was once again Keratin treatments, as they were the fastest growing service in the industry. He quickly was noticed during his platform show work, and became the most requested Keratin educator in the northeast. David is the director of education for Smoothing Systems (Keratin treatments) for Masello Salon Services of New England, and he works closely with manufacturing facilities to improve current products on the market.

Madeline developed a love of the hair industry and customer service by working in salons. She had a strong desire to start a small business and to do so in the community that gave so much to her growing up. She absolutely loves people; serving them and seeing them smile. While still attending school, she started what is now David Salon. She runs the business in its entirety from customer service to marketing and all financial aspects. She gravitated towards an interest in business and became a small business owner, but her background is in classical piano.

Patch: Do you have a business mantra you live by?

David Olivo: David Salon has a mission statement, and it is as follows: "David Salon is a team of individuals dedicated and motivated to providing a nurturing, professional and creative environment for our clients and the community." We believe that through our creativity that fuels our passion of the hair world, we can give back to the community which also supports our small, family-run business. Our two goals are: 1) to satisfy our clients with the services we provide to them in a professional and caring manner, and 2) to use our business platform as a way to give back to community. 

Madeline Olivo: David always says, in business and in life: "Choose to be a pigeon or an eagle." A pigeon sits and waits to get fed, while an eagle goes out and gets his own food. This is what separates the most successful in their field from those who will just get by.

Patch: Tell us about some of your community service projects.

Olivos: We are currently supporting or have supported in the past the following community organizations: The annual Unionville Festival (we have participated in every Unionville Festival since they began, and we sell cotton candy for a donation at our booth. All of the proceeds benefit a charity that David Salon chooses to support each year. Past charities have included: CCMC, Autism Speaks, Wigs for Kids, HARC, The Farmington Community Chest, Farmington Food Pantry); Farmington Youth Baseball (support of a team and signage on their fields as a donation); We are a drop-off collection site for The Farmington Food Pantry; We support Wigs for Kids for anyone interested in donating their hair for a wonderful cause; Madeline is a board member for The Farmington Community Chest; we have supported local schools in dozens of auctions and raffles, and many of our patrons with their personal causes whether it be more local schools, churches, or other charitable organizations.

Every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas, David Salon hosts a toy drive in support of the children and families who Farmington Community Services supports.

David Salon also is a sponsor for Capital Classic's Theater Company, which is in its 22nd year of bringing summer productions of Shakespeare to University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford. On display in our salon are the beautiful paintings of two local artists - Antony Zito of East Granby/NYC and Diane Wright of Avon.

BUSINESS INFORMATION

Name: David Salon

Address: 118 Plainville Ave., Unionville

Phone: 860.673.6690

Website: www.davidsalon.net

Appointments: Email: frontdesk@davidsalon.net