2023 SALON TODAY 200: Compensation and Benefits

It’s a service provider’s job to take care of clients, but it’s an owner’s job to take care of the team. Salons and spas that offer rewarding compensation and benefits packages and design transparaent career paths retain talent longer, which helps them grow faster. 

BE INSPIRED SALON, INC.
Madison, WI
beinspiredsalon.com
Kati Whitledge
SQUARE FEET: 2500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Innersense, Kevin.Murphy 
COLOR: Goldwell, Pulp Riot 
TECH SUPPORT: Rosy Salon Interactive, Meet Your Stylist  
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“We increased our starting front desk wage so we could offer better compensation than nearby retail chains. This has opened the door to a better pool of candidates and saves money, because we don’t need as many people when the team is so proficient.”

BELLEZZA AVANTI SPA/SALON
Wadsworth, OH
bellezzaavanti.com
Geri Good
SQUARE FEET: 3800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase Pureology Redken
COLOR: Redken  
SKINCARE: Eminence, Farmhouse Fresh 
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND, SNS
TECH SUPPORT: Envision  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Once employees reach a high level, have additional responsibilities, and meet shareholder eligibility requirements, they have the opportunity to buy into our company through our Shareholder Program.”

BIJIN SALON & SPA
Prairie Village, KS
bijinsalon.com
Connie Suss
SQUARE FEET: 14,000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 89
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe Kerastase R&co
COLOR: Wella  
SKINCARE: SkinCeuticals, Eminence 
NAIL CARE: Creative Nail, Smith & Cult
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Salon Clouds, Tippy 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Our newer talent is guaranteed an hourly wage but still can earn service commission, and each stylist has the opportunity to slide their service commission up by 5% with their retail sales every week. Bijin has a bonus program tailored to every stylist.”

BLU A COLOR SALON
Valley Park, MO
blucolorsalon.com
Nicole and Charles Gillick
SQUARE FEET: 1240     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines  
COLOR: Davines  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We offer 70-105 hours of paid vacation a year, 50-60 hours of holiday pay for our team to enjoy holiday time with family and friends, and unlimited days off without pay.”

DAYBREAK SALON AND SPA
Woodhaven, MI
daybreaksalon.com
Mary & Gary Rushlow, Jerad Rushlow, Jenee Osborne
SQUARE FEET: 3500, 3800    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI 
TECH SUPPORT: Salon Biz, Demandforce  
“Once a stylist has worked with us for five years, and again at ten years, that commission is locked in place as minimum, rewarding hard work and loyalty without penalty for realigning the work-life balance by reducing hours to be with family.”

ERIC FISHER SALON
Wichita, KS
ericfishersalon.com
Eric Fisher and Mary Fisher
SQUARE FEET: 4000, 1500, 1500, 1500  
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 82
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase Kevin Murphy Eleven Australia
COLOR: L'Oreal, Goldwell Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Image Skincare, Skinceuticals, Hydrafacial
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Tippy 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, 2 to 10
“We pay 50% of medical and dental premiums for eligible team members, match up to 4% of a 401(k), pay the taxes on stylist tips, pay credit card charges, assume responsibility on returned checks (stylists still receive commission), and provide business cards.”

FIVE SENSES SPA SALON & BARBERSHOP
Peoria, IL
fivesensesspaandsalon.com
Paola Hinton
SQUARE FEET: 5000     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 19
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Salon Clouds Plus
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We offer our team complimentary weekly, onsite sessions with licensed professionals in neuro-emotional therapy and money mentoring, as well as with a gym reimbursement program.”

GINGER BAY SALON SPA
St. Louis, MO
gingerbay.com
Laura A. Ortmann
SQUARE FEET: 10,000, 2800    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 82
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, L'anza 
COLOR: Aveda, L'Anza, Redken
SKINCARE: Aveda, Cosmedix, Murad
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI 
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Textel, Reach, Vish, Pointy, Canva, Team Caller, Paycor
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“For the first time, we implemented a level system with tiered pricing for our spa team, which now has the same overall goals, six levels, and commission percentages as our salon team.”

MANGO SALON
Richmond, VA
mangosalon.com
Bobbi and Pat Heaney
SQUARE FEET: 3000, 2900, 2600   
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 76
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Cezanne 
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Microsoft Exchange, Textel, Vish, Emma 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, InUnison, Westhampton Retail Merchants Association
“We revisited our 401(k) with our provider, and they were able to improve our plan by allowing our team to select funds with more favorable fee structures. We continue to make a 4% match.”

RANDOLPHS SALON 
White Lake, MI
Scott & Mary Randolph, Austin Randolph
SQUARE FEET: 3000, 2900, 1700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 90
BEST -SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology, Mizani
COLOR: Redken, Pulp Riot
TECH SUPPORT: Envision
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, 2 to 10
“After crunching a lot of numer and hiring a consultant, we streamline our level jump requirements to three existing ones and a new one. If a stylis hits their service dollar goal, their retail sale, are pre-booking a healthy percentage of their guests and is generating a healthy amount of their own clientele, they level jump.”

SPA BLEU
West Dundee, IL
spa-bleu.com
Tammy Coakley
SQUARE FEET: 3600 2850    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda, Oligo 
SKINCARE: Aveda, Ultraceuticals 
NAIL CARE: Zoya  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: ISPA, PBA, 2 to 10
“Employees set their goal, reach it, and share that with us. We changed our coaching to ‘whatever works for them.’ They don't need us to sit down and tell them what they're doing. They just need support and encouragement.”

TAILORED SALON
Milwaukee, WI
tailoredsalon.com
Laura Graven and Ashley Puglisi
SQUARE FEET: 1700     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines  
COLOR: Davines 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Podium  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“For each quarter that a stylist meets or exceeds their retail benchmark, they have the option of taking a 5% bonus or having 10% of their retail sales go toward their education or tools for their kit.”

TANGERINE SALON AND SPA
Murfreesboro, TN
tangerinesalonandspa.com
James, Mark, and Donna McCarrall
SQUARE FEET: 4200     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: OPI, Gelish 
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Vish, Textel 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Requests for scheduling and time off are discussed during coaching sessions, and each employee with 80%+ productivity may block their books as needed without management oversight.”