By Norine Longo
Some say family businesses are disappearing. Salon Artigiano owner Ginny Potena and her daughter Alyssa Potena say they’re bringing family business back.
Ginny’s father, Anthony Gervasio, owned Gervasio’s in Hamilton, where Ginny grew up, for 37 years. There she worked alongside him and managed the restaurant. When her father retired and sold the restaurant, she sought work in the beauty industry.
Ginny and Alyssa opened Salon Artigiano in Nov. 2009, after both were laid off from previous positions. Alyssa was a stylist for seven years and Ginny has a total of 10 years experience as a salon coordinator.
Although the salon is fairly new, it wasn’t the first time the duo had the idea to open a salon. Upon entering the beauty industry, Alyssa had always wanted to own one. Getting laid off at the same time turned out to be good timing.
Ginny found the location for the salon when she had been driving by the Deer Path Pavilion, off Route 130, and pulled into the shopping center by accident. She noticed a storefront available and decided it would be a great location.
Ginny works the front desk while you’ll find Alyssa working as the managing stylist, specializing in coloring and short cuts.
Salon Artigiano’s most popular services include highlights and colors and their Keratin treatment, a chemical-free protein treatment that relaxes curls, rids of frizz, and adds shine to hair. They also offer makeup services for any occasion, full-body waxing and old-fashioned hot shaves for men.
Ginny said some of the products they offer are rare including brands like Kuene from the Netherlands and Milkshake from Italy. She said they are the only salon in New Jersey that carries them.
Alyssa said trends for fall include severe parts and lots of volume, while popular colors include cool, plum-colored reds and cool blondes.
Ginny said when they decided to open the salon, they knew they wanted to create a warm atmosphere where clients feel comfortable, adhering to a ‘treat others as you would like to be treated’ policy.
Ginny and Alyssa both agree that their favorite part of the job is making people feel good about themselves.
They often hear positive feedback from clients via e-mail or upon returning for more services, Alyssa said.
One client wrote about his first time in the salon and told them they should add ‘hearts of gold’ to their business motto, ‘hands of art.’
“It’s so rewarding for the salon staff to get that feedback,” Ginny said.
Ginny said the stylists really take an interest in what their customers tell them and that some clients are surprised by how much the stylists remember about them personally.
The salon gives to several local charities, doing fundraisers for clients, cut-a-thons for local schools and Locks of Love. Next year, they plan to focus their fundraising efforts on cancer awareness.
Salon Artigiano offers discounts for military families and in the upcoming year is going to offer clients a percentage off services for their birthday month.
Salon Artigiano is located at 3817 Crosswicks Hamilton Square Road in the Deer Path Pavillion in Hamilton. They are open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The salon is closed Sundays and Mondays. For more information, call (609) 581-6600, e-mail salonartigiano@verizon.net or go online to salonartigiano.com.
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