Salon Mayan
Huntington Village, New York
Owner: Ben B. Aharon
Date of Opening: Expanded into bigger location in November 2014
Style: clean, modern, minimalist
Number of Styling Stations: 12
Number of Treatment Rooms: 1
Salon/Spa Equipment Lines Used: Salon Ambience Italy
Furniture Lines Used: Salon Ambience
Retail Lines Carried: Matrix, Shu Uemura
Color Lines Used: Matrix
Design Firm: Ben Aharon and Peter Millard for retail and color bar
When Matrix set out to find the salon that would kick start their new Matrix Inspiration Salon program, they were searching for a salon with a talented team, a fabulous location and a passion and desire to “imagine all it could be.” Ben Aharon’s Salon Mayan in Huntington Village, New York proved itself to have the tools and skills to succeed – but more importantly, its salon team demonstrated the creativity and ambition to offer an innovative experience to their clients. Matrix wasted no time in naming Salon Mayan their first ever flagship salon.
According to Matrix Vice President of Business Development Gail Cohen, the Matrix Inspiration Salon program was created to develop partnerships with promising salons that wholeheartedly embody commitment to the Matrix brand. The partnerships are designed to bring a completely branded element to the salon along with professional and business support, creating a compelling and profitable salon environment and showcase.
MODERN SALON was invited to take a tour of Salon Mayan, led by owner Ben Aharon, who showed us the features that make this Inspiration Salon unique.
The Retail Space
Salon Mayan’s storefront draws passerby in with a glimpse at its expansive and interactive retail space, designed by Peter Millard and Matrix. When clients walk in they enter the reception area, where they are greeted by a secretary who shows them around the salon. Whether they move left or right of the front desk, they get the chance to take in the retail area, a 500-square-foot space with floor to ceiling windows, designed to allow clients to move around freely and explore products that are of interest to them.
“It’s a little different from other salons where most products are hidden behind the reception area,” says Aharon. “We really wanted our guests to feel like they can come, interact, feel the products, smell the products, without any pressure.”
The two retail rooms, displaying Matrix, Biolage, Kérastase and Shu Uemura, guide the client's eye with 8 foot branded imagery, feature/benefit shelf edge strips and promotional displays.
The Color Bar
The Color Bar, also designed by Peter Millard and Matrix, is the centerpiece of the Matrix Inspiration Salon concept and serves as the focal point for color conversations and consultations between stylists and clients.
“We’ve really changed haircolor from something you mix in a back room to an art,” says Aharon. “You get to come here and perform in front of the client and show them exactly what you’re using, why you’re using it, and it has really made it more fun. It has transformed it into an art of mixing haircolor.”
Future Inspiration
According to Cohen, Salon Mayan is the first of many Matrix Inspiration Salons to come throughout the country.
“We’re looking for salons that truly want to partner with Matrix and demonstrate their commitment by embracing our full product portfolio and Matrix culture,” said Cohen.
For Aharon, the benefits of being a Matrix Inspiration Salon have been numerous. “Matrix gives us everything we need to connect with existing and potential clients, as well as overall support for our salon and staff. I’m really looking forward to continuing as part of the Matrix family, growing this salon and opening new locations in the future! As a Matrix Inspiration Salon, I truly am ‘imagining all I can be!’”
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