EXCELLENCE IN BUSINESS AWARD
While working at a hair salon in Hudson, Kristie Warner luckily met Anne Davis, who was a senior stylist at the business — and as the two began to get to know each other, they decided that, with their experience, they could open their own salon.
Thus in 2008, the pair opened Gavin Scott Salon. Within three years, the salon expanded by doubling its size, adding more chairs and a spa area at its Stow location.
That location now attracts clients from throughout Summit County. A big part of that attraction is the attitude Davis and Warner exhibit: “Our answer is ‘Yes.’ Now what was the question?” The salon has received several awards including national recognition in the Growth Category of the annual Salon Today 200 competition. The salon has also received several regional awards. Revenue has grown 390 percent over the past five years.
But it’s not all color, styles and massages. Each year, the staff meets to discuss various possible activities to give back to the community. Since 2008, the salon has donated more than $100,000 in cash and in-kind contributions.
The salon sponsors a different charitable event every eight weeks. These include canned food drives, pet food drives, celebrity cook-offs, school supplies collections, Project Homeless Connect, Stand Down for homeless veterans, and “adoption” of 10 families at Christmas.
During the working hours of the salon, two special events were held recently. A Red Cross blood drive last year collected 97 units of blood from 127 registrants. Gavin Scott Salon and Spa partnered with the 15 vendors in its shopping plaza.
In January, the salon worked in conjunction with Summa Western Reserve Hospital, nail product company OPI and salon solution manufacturer Qtica to hold Pedicures and Paps.
Three local salons partnered to supply Pap tests to 500 underserved women in Summit County. A portion of the pedicure profit went to help fund the lab fees.
How to reach: Gavin Scott Salon and Spa, (330) 650-4450 or www.gavinsalon.com
