Award-Winning Moncton Salon Owner Says Market Is Growing For Her Services
MONCTON – Winning the Young Entrepreneur Award at the 37th annual Business Excellence Awards was not only an honour for Ashley McDavid – it came as a surprise.
McDavid, the owner and founder of Luxe Salon, said she was not expecting an award, since she didn’t self-nominate.
“It was a surprise when we got an email advising us we were not only nominated but were selected as one of the finalists,” said McDavid.
McDavid, the sole owner of Luxe, credits an interesting, relaxed environment as a selling point for Luxe, which operates in the communities of Riverview and Salisbury with nine staff members.
“I feel people are really comfortable when they book an appointment here,” she said.
“It’s a judgment-free salon, it’s a safe space and it’s welcoming to everybody. Everyone kind of feels that and that’s why they come and once they come, they continue.”
McDavid, a member of the Cosmetology Association of New Brunswick, told Huddle it was gratifying to be one of the youngest people onstage at the October 18 awards gala the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Moncton hosted at the Delta by Marriott Beauséjour.
“It has been amazing,” she said.
McDavid, a licensed medical esthetician, and eyelash technician and certified spray tan specialist, started the business on her own, at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020.
“I went out and landed a job with Loblaws, and I did community engagement for a few years – and then I just decided that I wanted to open a salon,” she said.
“I went back to school, and I did a chair rental for a few months – and then I opened.”
During the fall of 2020, when Greater Moncton was one of two zones put under more stringent orange-level Covid-19 restrictions, former Huddle writer Inda Intiar reported that McDavid launched a petition voicing the frustrations of the esthetics industry in the face of negative financial impacts from the renewed restrictions.
Further adding to the challenges was the fact that since Luxe was such a new business, it didn’t qualify for any of the government funding being offered to businesses at the time.
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McDavid opened Luxe without going into debt, purchasing what she needed incrementally.
“I didn’t have any business loans, because I actually started it all on my own. And prior to opening, each week, I would buy a decoration or a piece of furniture, or a piece of equipment every week until I had enough to open,” she said.
McDavid says she doesn’t feel much pressure from the competition offering hair and aesthetics services.
“There’s a lot of salons, but there’s also a lot of people. There are enough clients for all of us and enough clients for more,” McDavid said.
“It’s just an industry I feel that within the last five-ish years, has really been brought to light. And people, since the pandemic, are taking care of themselves,” she said.
“Moms are spending money on their hair and having a day out, without their kids or spouse, and doing something for themselves.”
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].