When a salon/spa organizes and funds the educational development of its staff, it continually infuses inspiration, creativity and growth opportunities into its business. We asked ST200 applicants in this category to make a presentation to their staff members that outlines all the educational opportunities 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.

Aura Salon & Day Spa
Scottsdale, AZ
aura-salon.com
Sarah Wisda, Christy Vowers, Michael Ament
SQUARE FEET: 2100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 34
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a month
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $450
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, Bumble and bumble, Goldwell
COLOR: Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We support an educational fund for each staffer based on his or her service level at the beginning of the year. The money is set aside for each person to use to receive the “Aura.” This includes two outside education classes per year and funds can be applied to tuition and/or travel expense.”

Blo
Raleigh, NC
justblo.com
Bryan Nunes
SQUARE FEET: 4,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a week
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $2,500
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $38
BEST SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“One annual mandatory educational event for staff is our corrective color competition. The staff is divided into teams and every team member must participate and execute a portion of the service. Results are posted on Facebook and our fans vote. The winning team gets bragging rights for a year.”

Centre Salon & Spa, Arvada
Arvada, CA
centresalon.com
James F. Pacifico
SQUARE FEET: 3620
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 23
EDUCATION FREQUENCY:
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON:
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $38
BEST SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, SpaBiz, Demandforce
“We encourage all staff members to take advantage of every educational opportunity offered at Centre Salon & Spa. Anything any of us learns on a personal and professional level is able to impact our business and enhance our guest service experience.”

Fringe
Maplewood, NJ
thefringesalon.com
Kim Hammer
SQUARE FEET: 1100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a week
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $700
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We hold one-on-one meetings with each staff member each year to help them plan an educational program that is appropriate for them. For anyone who wants to become a certified trainer, we provide a teacher’s training program that qualifies the person to instruct classes in-salon and on a regional basis.”

Gary Patrick Salon
Pleasanton, CA
gpsalon.com
Gary P. Gemma
SQUARE FEET: 2,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a week
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $2,000
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $66
BEST SELLING RETAIL: Oribe
COLOR: Goldwell, L’Oreal
TECH SUPPORT: STX, Survey Monkey
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“Our advanced education is very rigorous, but our education team has gone digital with a program called Edu 2.0 that provides all technical training, lectures, homework assignments and tests on a video format that can be reviewed as often as needed and requirements uploaded for our education team to grade and evaluate.”

Indra Salon and Chill Spa
Andover, MA
indrasalon.com
April Lyn Graffeo & Jose Batistine
SQUARE FEET: 4,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 30
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a quarter
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $300
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $85
BEST SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Sojourn, Moroccanoil
COLOR: Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: Professional Beauty Assocation (PBA)
“In addition to a full calendar of advanced education each year, we tell our staff to do something for inspiration: listen and view videos by leading salon professionals; pick up a copy of Vogue or W or read a business or management book. Our Education Never Goes out of Style classes include skin care tips, dressing for your body type, keeping up with ‘tweens and teenagers styling tips for children and more.

Interlocks
Newburyport, MA
interlockssalon.com
Ginny Eramo
SQUARE FEET: 4330
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 48
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a quarter
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1,200
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST SELLING RETAIL: ThermaFuse, Ecru, Label M
COLOR: Wella, Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Interlocks supports educational expenses 100 percent. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this benefit to strengthen skills. Our stylists can choose from several national events: symposiums, trade shows, studios or academies in top venues, and must attend at least one of these each year. We cover all education expenses and 50 percent of travel costs.”

La Jolie Salon & Spa
Princeton, NJ
lajoliesalonspa.com
Tere & John Villamil
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 38
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a quarter
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $2,150
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $66
BEST SELLING RETAIL: L’Anza, Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Not only do we provide outstanding in-salon education with top artists and educators, we also realize it is important for our stylists to receive inspiration outside of the salon environment as well. When stylists complete different levels of advanced education, we provide, depending on his or her level, education credits to attend an outside class or academy of his or her choice.”

Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa
Woburn, MA
pksalon.com
Paul Kenneth Costa and Jackie Maniaci
SQUARE FEET: 3650, 1600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Weekly
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $6,000
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
BEST SELLING RETAIL: PK Professional, PK ECO Chic
COLOR: Matrix, L'Oreal
TECH SUPPORT: Milano, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA, The Global Hair and Fashion Group
“Our structured education program for each year provides outstanding education geared to every level of professional we employ, whether hair, nails or spa specialist. We have also found that photo shoots are great team builders and skill developing experiences. Every Thursday, we hold training for the next photo shoot.”

Salon Laurie and Company
Baltimore, MD
salonlaurie.com
Laurie K. Schroeder
SQUARE FEET: 2200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
EDUCATION FREQUENCY: Once a quarter
EDUCATION $ PER PERSON: $1,800
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST SELLING RETAIL: private label, Aquage, Jane Iredale
COLOR: Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We hold four Signature Sharing Classes on Mondays throughout the year. Everyone submits a ‘What is Your Signature’ questionnaire stating areas in which they feel they excel, areas they feel they need to strengthen and from what fellow staff member they would like to learn more. Everyone is very excited to have an organized opportunity to learn from one another on a quiet day with no time constraints.”

Additional Honorees:
Bella Bethesda Salon, Bethesda, MD
Caruh Salon & Spa, Seattle, WA
Clive and Co., Dallas, TX
Cortello Salon, Jacksonville Beach, FL
Eric Fisher Salons, Wichita, KS
Josephine’s Day Spa and Salon, Houston, TX
Nuovo Salon Group, Sarasota, FL
Omagi Salon & Spa, Louisville, KY
The Charles Penzone Salons, Powell, OH
The Hair Company, Leonardtown, MD