David and Haycha Salazar are the owners of D&H Designs, a cabinet and granite shop that is also one of our Preferred Partners at Real Producers! Over the past 8 years, David and Haycha have dedicated much time and energy into building the kind of business that puts its whole heart into both its work and the community it serves. The company has since been recognized by box stores for its successful program!

David was born in Cuba and moved to California when he was 13 years old. Haycha was born in Brazil and moved to Georgia when she was 14. The two have been married for fifteen years and have worked together since they met. Haycha’s dream was to help immigrants like herself in the area of immigration law. So, after earning a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies, she became a paralegal, which she did until she and David became business owners. 

“When David decided to open our own business, I was working for FedEx Headquarters, and he requested me to quit and help with building our future. This was a very scary ride. Especially at that time. We had 2 small kids, and they were both in private schools.” 

The couple opened their shop, D&H Designs, in 2014. They started small, but have grown a lot since then! The business expanded to include cabinets in 2019 and now serves a large client base. To name a few, they work with several box stores, real estate agents, walk-ins, contractors, designers, and remodel companies. 

An important part of the success of their company comes from the people they have met along the way. When they first started out, things didn’t always come easily. Forming relationships with clients takes time. Fortunately, David and Haycha played the long game. They didn’t give up when they faced obstacles; they used them as stepping stools! 

“Being a small/new business in a small city like Memphis, takes a lot of trust/loyalty from people/companies/real estate agents we do business with. A lot of the builders/real estate agents have been using their companies for many years, so being small/new to the business is very scary and hard. So, we can say that we had to overcome getting lots of ‘no’ every day. The word ‘no’ can be very hard to overcome, so we found new ways to get new business by driving a 3-4 hr radius to survive, to make it. So, we can say that D&H Designs Inc. is a Tri-State company because we had to learn that ‘no’ was not bad to us, but it just made us stronger.”

“We would like everyone to know that the sun shines for everybody, so do not let go of your chances. Make the best of what you got and don’t give up!”

In the future, D&H Designs is excited to connect with more real estate professionals. They recognize that a REALTOR® is the heart of a community because finding dream homes for families is such an important job. With that in mind, the company wants to be more involved in that process, as well as the community at large!

David and Haycha’s teamwork at home is just as important as it is at work. They have three boys. Their oldest, Matthew, is an incoming freshman at Collierville High School. Their middle child, Andrew, is a student at West Collierville Middle School. The baby of the family, Nathan, is in kindergarten at Crosswinds. It is important to David and Haycha that they have ample time to spend with their family while expanding their business. So, their current outlook on the meaning of success involves their business and their boys. 

“The modern definition of success lies in the eye of the beholder. As an immigrant, how we define success is largely influenced by our life experiences. Over the years, my perspective has changed: from when I was a child watching my parents struggle to make ends meet to becoming an adult entrepreneur chasing the American dream, and eventually to the present day, as parents to 3 handsome and amazing boys and owner of a Cabinet and Countertop Shop.”

Another of their interests is racing cars! This includes driving a quarter mile at a speed of 100 mph! For that, they attend events throughout the country. They go to car shows on the weekends and participate in local philanthropic events to give back to their community. Their family is especially passionate about volunteering at and providing support for Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. 

D&H designs is a company run by dreamers. First, it was the American Dream. Then, it was the success of the company. To transform their dreams to reality, David and Haycha Salazar have never given up on their goals, even in the face of rejection. If you’re looking for a cabinet and granite business or, in our case, a partnership, you can trust the Salazars to have your back. Stay tuned!