At the best salons, education is a career-long process—from streamlined training programs designed to get associates on the floor with talent, confidence and business skills to advanced education programs that keep stylists of all ages creatively stimulated and growing.
AVEDA ACADEMY DENVER & PURE TALENT SALONS
Denver, Colorado
avedaacademydenver.com
Kevin and Tiffany Krauklis
SQUARE FEET: 9,100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 52
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $52
TRAINING PROGRAM: 36 weeks / 9 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1600
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz, Demandforce, LocBox
ASSOCIATIONS: The Day Spa Association, NCA, PBA
“As part of the orientation for educator training, we highlight the importance of living a healthy lifestyle as this will nurture their inner and outer beauty. Our educators are taught about wellness practices to ensure they are aware of how to live a balanced lifestyle.”
ERIC FISHER SALON
Wichita, Kansas
ericfishersalon.com
Eric and Mary Fisher
SQUARE FEET: 4,000; 1,500; 1,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 97
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $42
TRAINING PROGRAM: 18 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: up to $2000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aquage, Biomega, Kerastase
COLOR: Goldwell, L'Oreal, Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: STX, Survey Monkey
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We fly in five to six of the nation’s top stylists for our Summit, a Sunday evening hair show and workshops all day Monday. More than 50 models are presented with the latest cuts, colors and long hairdressing. We’ve been doing this hands-on, unplugged event for 15 years and it keeps getting better.”
INTERLOCKS SALON + SPA
Newburyport, Massachusetts
interlockssalon.com
Ginny Eramo
SQUARE FEET: 4,300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 46
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
TRAINING PROGRAM: 24 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $4,000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Shu Uemura, Thermafuse
COLOR: Wella, Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“The education we obtain via travel provides exciting opportunities with other salons and help staff experience the industry on a greater scale. We have attended Cosmoprof Bologna, SALON in London, Tracy Cunningham’s Mane Addicts in Miami, the Wella Studio in New York and several industry trade shows.”
LUX SALON
Fullerton, California
luxsalon.com
Wade Zylstra and James Cook
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 34
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $75
TRAINING PROGRAM: 24 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Groupon
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Every service provider can earn money toward professional development through their Lux Pro bank account. They earn credits through retail commissions, anniversary awards, teaching bonuses, etc. Many young team members have limited financial responsibility, and this is their first experience with a checks-and-balances system.”
PURE SALON SPA
Louisville, Kentucky
puresalon-spa.com
Laura Watkins
SQUARE FEET: 1,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $36
TRAINING PROGRAM: 9 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $750
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce, Web Openings
“We have streamlined our training program so our new team members can provide paid services faster. They start training on shampoo and style and then all the add-on services that guests can choose from the upgrade menu. This module takes about 30 days.”
TAJ SALON & SPA
Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
tajsalonspa.com
Jeanne Strandin
SQUARE FEET: 5,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $46
TRAINING PROGRAM: 3-9 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Pureology, Unite
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: NCA, PBA and I/SPA
“Aside from classroom-style learning, we support hands-on activities that help service providers utilize their talent and skills. This includes our yearly Taj Mode’ Fashion Show where we support a charity by using our skills to transform local volunteers into fashion models for the night. The hair and makeup of each model is critiqued and the winning models and stylist win prizes and recognition.”
THE CIRCLE SALON
Chicago, Illinois
thecirclesalon.com
Jamie Bushman
SQUARE FEET: 2,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 10
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $82
TRAINING PROGRAM: 12 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora, Davines
COLOR: Davines, Pravana
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Millennium, MailChimp
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, PBA
“The majority of the training is provided by the salon owner and manager. We designate portions of the training to each employee in order to give our new hires some quality one-on-one time with their new co-workers.”
THE HAIR COMPANY
Leonardtown, Maryland
thehaircompany.biz
Jackie Buckler and Debbie LInk. Stockholders: Jill Murray, Amber Long, Heather Gray
SQUARE FEET: 4,400; 4,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
TRAINING PROGRAM: 10 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $745
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salon Business Center
“Every other year, we host a two-day staff retreat. We change the location each time and don’t reveal it until they arrive. The time together is spent on team-building activities with a little bit of business-building sprinkled in.”
THREE CUTTERS
Denver, Colorado
threecutters.com
Justin Williams & Brad VanDyke
SQUARE FEET: 750
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $66
TRAINING PROGRAM: 8 months
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1500
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“During our quarterly team meetings, staff members who have recently passed any additional education courses are encouraged to share their experience with the team and pass along their most valuable piece of information.”
WESTSIDE HAIR CARE LLC
Hackettstown, New Jersey
westsidehair.com
Maureen Kimble
SQUARE FEET: 1,700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $43
TRAINING PROGRAM: None
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1,000
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“At the end of the year, we develop an education plan for the next year for the salon as a whole, but we also sit down with each service provider to set up their individual goals. It’s important for us to know that our team is always learning, growing and bettering themselves.”
Additional Honorees
A New Beginning Inc., Bethel, CT
Avant Salon Spa, Austin, TX
Charles Penzone Salons, Powell, OH
Clive and Co., Dallas, TX
Elements of Style Salon & Day Spa, Eldersburg, MD
Ginger Bay Salon & Spa, St. Louis, MO
Impressions, Mequon, WI
Josephine’s Day Spa & Salon, Houston, TX
Mango Salon, Richmond, VA
Michael Helene Salon Gallery, Dulles, VA
Neroli Salon & Spa, Milwaukee, WI
Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Progressions Salon Spa Store, Rockville, MD
Spa Mizan, Lafayette, LA
The Fixx Hair Studio, New Braunfels, TX
Vanity Salon, Houston, TX
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