Through advanced education programs, salons develop motivated staff with sharpened creative skills and a continual stream of new services and techniques that can be marketed. We asked applicants to make a presentation to their staff members that outlines all the educational opportunitities the salon/spa will provide for the upcoming calendar year. Extra credit was awarded to salons that implemented programs to cover educational costs and that required staff to come back and share what they learned.

ABQ Hair Studio
Albuquerque, NM
abqhairstudio.com
Sandra “Sam” Johnston
SQUARE FEET: 2,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 13
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Weekly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
“When you are done learning, you are done in the industry. Most of our education is offered at no cost because we are such strong supporters. I’d rather educate them and lose them than not educate them and have them stay!”

Avalon Salon and Day Spa
Deer Park, IL
avalondeerpark.com
Bonnie and August Conte,
Shyla and Rick Kurnick
SQUARE FEET: 5,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 50
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Monthly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, SpaBoom
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, PBA
“We have three opportunities when staff can participate in a photo shoot for Inspire and Passion magazines, and they are required to find models and develop the concept prior to the shoot dates. These hardcover idea books are used nationally at thousands of salons.”

Bobby Cooper Salon
Indianapolis, IN
bobbycooper-salon.com
Bobby and Sarah Cooper
SQUARE FEET: 2,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Monthly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kérastase, Oribe, Shu Uemura
COLOR: Matrix
TECH SUPPORT: Milano
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“We believe advanced education serves as our insurance policy that our staff is helping fulfill our mission statement to be Indianapolis’ finest and most unique salon. Staying current on trends and an all-around beauty resource to clients sets us apart and elevates the salon.”

Collage Salon
Alpharetta, GA
collagesalondayspa.com
Brenda Brinkman
SQUARE FEET: 3,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Monthly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Wella
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
“We have set 13 weeks of classes educating staff on French cutting techniques in preparation for an October trip to the Dessange Institute for advanced hair cutting classes. The trip is far enough in advance that everyone has time to build up finances in their education accounts, and we are holding contests and challenges with the education fund to help pay for the trip.”

Eveline Charles Salons Spas/ Beauty MD
Edmonton, Alberta
evelinecharles.com
Eveline Charles
SQUARE FEET: 7,500/6,400/6,300/5,300/4,500/4,500/4,500/3,600/2,900
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 300
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Weekly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eveline Charles Professional (Private label) Kérastase
COLOR: Eveline Charles Professional (Private label
TECH SUPPORT: Korvue, Vertical Response
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“Each season, employees can attend our academy where they are shown the season’s collection and updated on upcoming events. They also can attend breakaway, intense learning opportunities that teach the latest spa, salon and business techniques.”

Pepper’s Salon
Puyallup, WA
pepperssalon.com
Sally F. Brower
SQUARE FEET: 1,900
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Bi-monthly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $48
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and bumble, Davines, Devacurl
COLOR: Keune, Sebastian, Pravana
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“We train and pay for all stylists to get certified with the American Board of Certified Colorists program. This training has brought great success in building confidence with our staff and offers a unique selling point in attracting new clients to the salon.”

Rumors Salon and Spa & Rumors IV Men
Latham, NY
rumorsinc.com
Marri K. Aviza & Lisa M. Norgrove
SQUARE FEET: 12,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 90
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Weekly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Goldwell, Paul Mitchell, Living Proof
COLOR: Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure,
I/SPA, NCA, PBA
“We’ve created an exchange program with Brown’s Hairdressing Group in London. Stylists visit from Europe and learn our American styling ways, and we just sent a designer from Rumors to London to experience different techniques and methods.”

Salon Nouveau
South Bend, IN
salonnouveau.com
Cheri Copelin
SQUARE FEET: 2,900/1,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 40
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Quarterly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $41
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Day Spa Association, NCA, PBA, Indiana Cosmetology & Barbering Assn.
“We host benchmarking contests that allow staff to earn tickets to America’s Beauty Show in the spring and the ISSE Midwest in the fall. We also encourage staff to conduct photoshoots and if they get published in an industry magazine, they win an iPad.”

Wisteria
Salon Spa
Greenville, SC
wisteriasalonspa.com
Jodie Reece
SQUARE FEET: 3,500/2,800/2,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 60
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Quarterly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $55
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: ISBN, PBA
“Wisteria funds the majority of all educational programs and classes, but we have an education reimbursement contract in place that requires team members to pay back the cost of the class if they leave within a year of the class. That communicates to the team that we are serious about education.”

YOU Salon Inc.
Ellicott City, MD
yousalon.com
Robin Gribbin
SQUARE FEET: 2,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Monthly
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $55
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
“Every other year we pay to fly the entire team to Las Vegas to attend the Redken Symposium where we learn all the new and upcoming trends, products and techniques that the company has to offer. We make a point to do activities as a team to keep our culture alive.”

ADDITIONAL HONOREES
Centre Salon & Spa, Westminster, CO
Dolce Lusso Salon and Spa, Fort Mill, SC
Jamison Shaw Hairdressers, Atlanta, GA
Elements of Style Salon and Day Spa, Eldersburg, MD
The Hair Company, Leonardtown, MD
Mango Hair Salon, Richmond, VA
Nuovo Salon Group, Sarasota, FL
Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Salon Disegno, Lawrenceville, GA
Salon Soca, Chicago, IL
Studio 700 Salon and Spa, Corona, CA