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Meet Ivy Overby of Emerge Modern Salon and Modern Joe Barber in South Broadway Englewood

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Ivy Overby.

Ivy, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I started in the beauty industry in 1992 and have worked behind the chair as a hairdresser since then. I opened Emerge Modern Salon in 2009 in the Virginia Village neighborhood and during our time in that space, we quickly grew from four chairs to eight chairs and a spa. I have always held a high value of never stop growing and expanding creatively, and continuing education is the key to this.

Our entire culture revolves around this value. We also began a successful apprenticeship program to train budding stylists in 2010 and this continues to this day. Many on our team have come through this program. In 2017 we purchased a 6000sf building on South Broadway in Englewood and overhauled the entire building creating a ten chair salon a three chair barbershop, and design studio. We opened our doors in 2018 and our chairs are now nearly full! We closed our Holly location this year so we could focus on our new neighborhood. Soon we will be adding a fresh skincare kitchen called La Recette Skincare Kitchen featuring fresh-made small-batch natural skincare offerings.

Has it been a smooth road?
Entrepreneurship and pursuing dreams is never easy, but it is thrilling! The buildout and remodel of our building on S Broadway was a fairly large project with some major unexpected challenges. For example, we had to replace our entire roof and the mechanical system, which added a lot of time and expense we weren’t expecting. We had to get pretty creative to make it all happen! Also transitioning from our original location to the new location was challenging for both my amazing team of stylists as well as our loyal guests, and, of course, we lost some employees as well as business during this time. The choice to close our Holly location was also a difficult decision, even if it was necessary. We really had to keep focused on our dream and lean on those who believed in our vision and stood by us.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
We are a creative collective of businesses that are dedicated to the art of beauty in all its forms! Emerge Modern Salon has a well-established reputation because we are known for offering an elevated salon experience to each guest, with each visit. Our team of talented stylists is extremely well educated in a variety of specialties, including expert hair coloring, cutting, facials, peels, extensions, texture and curly hair services for ALL people. We operate as a creative and dynamic community who works together much like an artist’s collective. We offer the highest level of guest service and experience-from a warm welcome and a glass of tea, wine or beer, to a relaxing shampoo with herbal eye masks and aromatherapy, to expert design and craft, to thoughtful, professional recommendations and we carry only the finest natural products available. We do this in a beautiful, expansive environment with attention to creating a great, comfortable vibe.

Modern Joe Barber offers an equally elevated barbering experience with similar offerings of a beverage, an invigorating shampoo and total attention to detail and design whether a cut, shave or beard work.

In all that we do, we are dedicated to being intentional, thoughtful and real. We operate as an eco-conscience environment and partner with Green Circle Salons to recycle or reuse 95% of our salon waste. We have designed the building as sustainably as possible are always striving to reduce our impact on the planet. We look for ways to constantly grow through continuing education and mastery of our craft.

We also give back to our local community through volunteering our time and resources because we believe in spreading beauty through how we treat others.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Absolutely! I was born and raised in Denver and I LOVE our city! I also love the changes that have come over the last few years. It’s just getting better! I feel like we have amazing food, culture and cool things to do here and it makes it a ripe environment for creative and service-oriented businesses like mine. Never underestimate the power of making people feel good! One downside is Denver can be an expensive city, so anyone starting a business will need to plan carefully to be sure they have a sustainable business plan.

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