While it’s the responsibility of the salon’s staff to take care of the clients, it’s the responsibility of its owner to take care of the team. These salons attract top talent through competitive salaries, attractive benefits, a flexible environment and an energizing culture. To evaluate the workplace environment, we challenged these applicants to tell their compensation story to a local reporter doing a feature on top places to work. They were invited to clearly outline career paths, salary expectations and benefits packages. Extra credit went to applicants who demonstrated creativity in their employment perks.
BELLA LAGO SALON & SPA
Mooresville, NC
bellalagosalonspa.com
Gabe & Merrisa Barnhardt
SQUARE FEET: 7,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 27
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $40
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $40,000 to $49,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS:
“We don’t focus on titles. We have leaders and levels of seniority and ways for the staff to focus their abilities and do what they’re best at. Everyone is playing on the same field and we’re all an equal part of a team.”
BELLA SALONS & SPAS
West Des Moines, IA
bellasalons.com
Joseph & Kimberly Heemstra
SQUARE FEET: 3,000, 3,200, 3,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 56
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $38
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $40,000 to $49,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and Bumble, Kerastase
COLOR: Wella
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium
“We have an open campus. After you have achieved the Technician level of styling at Bella, you may come and go as long as you don’t have a client. This allows you to have a better work/life balance through more flexible schedule.”
CENTRE SALON & SPA, FASHION PLACE
Murray, UT
centresalon.com
James F. Pacifico
SQUARE FEET: 1,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: 32
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $30,000 to $39,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
“All employees have the ability to earn salon cash through various contests and incentives throughout the year. Some employees earn so much salon cash that they never have to pay for any of the services they receive with their own money.”
CHANGES HAIR STUDIO & SPA
Kamloops, British Columbia
changesstudio.com
Alana Krenz
SQUARE FEET: 1,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $52
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $40,000 to $49,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Milano, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: BC Hairdresser Association
“We provide various on-site educational programs such as bringing in a coach for assertiveness training and artists for cut and color classes and hairdresser boot camp to fine tune skills.”
CHEMISTRY HAIR SALON
Shreveport, LA
Bryan Sullivan
SQUARE FEET: 1,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $48
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Facebook
ASSOCIATIONS:
“Stylists are given a planning journal where they log daily progress and plans for retail recommendations and add-on service offerings.”
JACKSON RUIZ SALON
Austin, TX
jacksonruiz.com
Allen Ruiz and Heath Smith
SQUARE FEET: 2,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 55
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Constant Contact, DemandForce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“New team members spend one full paid day per week in a classroom or training environment. We have a dedicated team of educators who deliver an unparalleled training experience that prepare stylists with a high degree of technical skill which is relevant and forward thinking.”
LA TIERRA SALON & SPA
Highlands Ranch, CO
latierrasalon.com
Walt Wharry and Kelly Wharry
SQUARE FEET: 4,100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 31
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: 45
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz/SpaBiz, DemandForce
ASSOCIATIONS:
“We are the only salon in the state of Colorado that offers a 401k retirement plan. We have provided consultations to other salons on the concept but I don’t believe any have implemented a plan, yet.”
PEPPERS SALON
Puyallup, WA
pepperssalon.com
Sally Brower
SQUARE FEET: 1,900
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 18
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: 50
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $30,000 to $39,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and Bumble, DevaCurl, Moroccanoil
COLOR: Keune, Pravana
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, Spa Boom
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“One of the reasons our salon is well known for hair color in our community is our stylists are given the opportunity to become certified for the American Board of Certified Haircolorists exam. Training, test materials, fees and mentoring to pass the exam are provided by the salon.”
SALON LAURIE & COMPANY
baltimore, MD
salonlaurie.com
Laurie Schroeder
SQUARE FEET: 2,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 21
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $70,000-79, 999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aquage, private label
COLOR: Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: MIllennium
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“As a contributing part of the team, as each department and the team meet the monthly goals, stylists eligible to earn a bonus each month. Everyone shares in the bonus, divided only by part and full time standards, not by who has the busiest schedule on the book, but by how each person supports the team.”
ZANYA SPA SALON
Lambertville, NJ
zanyaspasalon.com
Zanya Gissler and Filomena Cook
SQUARE FEET: 9,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 54
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, L’Oreal, Intelligent Nutrients
COLOR: L’Oreal, Wella
TECH SUPPORT: Millenium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
ADDITIONAL HONOREES*
A New Beginning an Aveda Lifestyle Salon and Day Spa, Bethel, CT
Aura Salon & Day Spa, Scottsdale, AZ
Avalon Salon and Day Spa, Deer Park, IL
Blo, Raleigh, NC
Christina & Company Salon and Day Spa, Lafayette, IN
Clive and Co, Dallas, TX
Cortello Salon, Jacksonville, FL
Eric Fisher Salons, Wichita, KS
Ginger Bay Salon & Spa, St. Louis, MO
Habitude Salons and Spa, Seattle, WA
Hollywood Hair Salon and Spa, Centralia, IL
Impressions, Mequon, WI
Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon, Houston, TX
Mango Salon, Richmond, VA
Maxime Salon, Hingham, MA
Neroli Salon & Spa, Milwaukee, WI Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Paris Parker Salons & Spas, Hammond, LA
Prodedgy—A William Edge New Artist Salon
Salon 2000, Fleming Island, Florida
Spa Bleu, West Dundee, IL
Vanity Salon, Houston, TX
*Additional honorees have accrued more than one honor in the the 2015 Salon Today 200 and their salon is profiled in another category.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click here.
media brand