Local Business Owner Aims to Help

One Cinnaminson business owner is realizing how economically tough times are now and is doing something about it.

Not only did Michele Infantado, Cinnaminson resident and owner of , teach her daughters a lesson in giving, but also she’s crossing it over to her salon.

This Saturday, Infantado is hosting a pre-holiday event and a food drive from now until Dec. 7.

“I really wanted to do something,” said Infantado.

Infantado is offering her clients credit toward their bills if they bring in a canned good for donations. Recently, she and her daughters teamed up with a friend and her daughter and went door-to-door to collect canned goods. The girls want to go to a concert and Infantado said this was the best way to teach them to work for something they want. She was inspired after reading about .

“I know people who have been faced with having to go to the food bank,” Infantado said. “They are hitting hard times.”

And even Strands isn’t safe from a downed economy.

“Business is hard,” said Infantado. “This is the roughest it’s been for us, but we’ve been lucky—I think it’s just hitting us later.”

This Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Infantado is offering deals such as buy one, get one free $50 gift certificates, 20 percent of $100 gift certificates, and deals on flat irons, curling irons, hair dryers and hair products.

Infantado is also offering gifts to clients that day and a chance for door prizes.

“I want to give back,” she said. “I know everybody is hurting. There is always somebody hurting worse than you. I want to do what I can.”

She plans to donate a portion of the proceeds.

Infantado opened Strands 15 years ago after owning a Philadelphia salon for nearly a decade.

“We wanted to get out of the city,” she said. “I never really thought at any point I’d have my salon here to be honest, but it’s been great. I love it here. I never looked back. I’m so happy I made the move, it was a great choice.”

Infantado and her husband Mark also own , a Cuban/Latin restaurant in Collingswood.

Most of the deals offered by Strands are just for Saturday, but she will extend some other deals throughout the holiday season.

Strands is located at 2110 Church Rd. in Cinnaminson. Reach them at 856-786-3602. Or, find them on Facebook here.