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Interview with Sonia Warden, owner

Q: How did you get involved in this business?

A: I have been a stylist in Denver for 19 years. I have worked for some of the very best in this industry, so I had wonderful role models as business owners. Last year it became very clear to me that it was time to open Starling. My husband David and I, along with our lovely friends and business partners Sonia Blair and Kirsten Francen, founded Starling with a mission of providing clients with a wonderful, warm place to get their hair done. We also wanted to provide stylists with a good place to work, free from drama, where they could be themselves and grow in their career.

Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?

A: I think from the minute you walk into the door at Starling, you feel welcome. Everyone is always greeted and offered a cup of Aveda’s Comforting Tea. It’s important to feel special and we offer that by being open and friendly with all of our guests. It makes a person feel good when another stylist remembers their name and stops by to say ‘hi.’ Our processing area looks like your living room. Our intention is for a guest to have a place to fully relax and unwind from the outside world in a completely comfortable manner. Our stylists are some of the best I’ve ever worked with. Everyone has been in the industry for five years or longer.

Q: What do you like best about your line of work?

A: I love what I do and I have the best clients. I am blessed to have known some of them for the last 19 years. It is really something to have started doing someone’s hair when they were in college and to go on their life journey with them through getting married, having kids, losing parents, going through divorce, finding new love and getting married again, and watching their children grow. It’s hard not to form meaningful relationships with people who trust you to hold their heads in your hands. It is an honor to be able to know all of them, whether they have been with me since the beginning or are someone new.

Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?

A: Since we just opened in March of this year, I would say it’s getting people to know we are here. We have done some good advertising in our immediate areas, which is helping us to be known in our neighborhood. We also just participated in 303 Magazine’s Denver Fashion Week in a fashion show just for hair salons. It was really fun for our whole group to come out bold and strong with our segment.

Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:

A: I always said I wanted to marry someone just like my grandpa who was an amazing conversationalist. It is not unusual on any given day for my husband, David, to stop in and sit down to visit with any guest. He has the gift of being able to talk to anybody about anything. Guess I got my wish!

Profile

Business: Starling Salon

Address: 40 W. Louisiana Ave.

Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

Founded: 2014

Contact: 303-284-9205,

Employees: 14