
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
A commitment to the environment is one of the noblest endeavors a salon or spa owner can embrace, but it also is a wise business decision. To assess the greeness of our applicants, we invited owners to state their best case to a local ...

A commitment to the environment is one of the noblest endeavors a salon or spa owner can embrace, but it also is a wise business decision. To assess the greeness of our applicants, we invited owners to state their best case to a local environmental action group, outlining their eco-friendly practices and policies. Extra credit was awarded to salons that took the extra step to help educate staff, clients and the community about sustainable choices.

AVALON SALON AND DAY SPA
Deer Park, IL
avalondeerpark.com
Bonnie and August Conte, Shyla and Richard Kurnick
SQUARE FEET: 5200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 52
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, SpaBoom
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, The Day Spa Association, PBA
“We purchased over-sized stainless steel trash drums from IKEA, then laminated large green recycle-only signs on the lids. These are kept in our dispensary, break room and in the common areas for guests to use—a constant reminder to staff and customers to ‘think before they throw away.’”
AVEDA INSTITUTE DENVER
Denver, CO
aveda.edu/denver
Dale Lemonds
SQUARE FEET: 19,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 50
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz, Demandforce, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: NCA, PBA, AACS, NAACAS
“We incorporated green materials in our build-in and design, including: cork and bamboo flooring, detailing and framework created with re-used wood pallets, low VOC paint, carpet from recycled tires energy-efficient lighting and low-flow plumbing for sinks.”
AVEDA INSTITUE TUCSON
Tucson, AZ
aveda.edu/tucson
Dale Lemonds
SQUARE FEET: 4000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SpaBiz, Demandforce, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: NCA, PBA, AACS, NAACAS
“The unique features of our physical space allow us to begin the conversation about sustainability with guests. Some of our green building features include: cork flooring; sunflower hull cabinetry; pallet mirror frames; climate-control system; organic hemp curtains; and carpet tiles made from post-consumer recycled tires.”
GERVAIS SALON & DAY SPA
Eugene, OR
gervaiseugene.com
Sharah Madrone
SQUARE FEET: 4300
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 49
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL:
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We are transitioning to live plants and no more cut flowers which are highly fertilized and sprayed with pesticides.”

IMPRESSIONS
Mequon, WI
impressionsdayspa.com
Kitty Tierney
SQUARE FEET: 4800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 46
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $42
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Purelogy, Redken, Aveda
COLOR: Redken, Goldwell
TECH SUPPORT: Mikal, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: America's Beauty Network, CC, NCA, PBA
“We offer more educational dollars to our staff as an incentive if they sign up for wind power. Personally, I am getting 42 percent of my energy from landfill gas, 1 percent from solar and 57 percent from wind power.”

MANGO SALON
Richmond, VA
mangosalon.com
Patrick and Roberta Heaney
SQUARE FEET: 4000, 2000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 100
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $79
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Bumble and Bumble
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Eliminating the use of disposable gloves has helped us do our part by keeping plastic out of landfills. Our designers took the initiative to stop the purchase of disposable gloves by purchasing their own reusable gloves.”

N STYLE SALON
Saugus, CA
nstylesalon.com
Clay and Tiffany Friedman
SQUARE FEET: 2000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L’Oreal, Kenra
COLOR: L’Oreal
TECH SUPPORT: STX
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA, L’Oreal Black Elite Salons
“An instant hot water delivery system for all sinks and shampoo bowls helps the salon conserve water and cuts energy usage.”

PHIA SALON
Columbus, OH
phiasalon.com
Elizabeth and Mike Bella
SQUARE FEET: 1230
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 35
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $47
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Demandforce
“2013 saw our relocation to a new storefront and in the move we were able to make some sustainable choices that had not been possible in our previous space. The back bar is a repurposed slab of white oak; UV and heat-reducing blinds reduce the need for excessive climate control and our flooring is made from recycled vinyl tiles.”

SERENITY COUTURE AVEDA LIFESTYLE SALON SPA
West Des Moines, IA
serenitycouture.com
Doug and Jana Van Polen
SQUARE FEET: 4800, 2200, 1900
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 90
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $125
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS:
“We have designed an eco-pedicure. Instead of the large basins of water being used daily, our pedicures are performed on massage tables and the feet are wrapped in a series of steamed towels.”

THE CIRCLE SALON
Chicago, IL
thecirclesalon.com
Jamie Bushman
SQUARE FEET: 12
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $80
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Eufora
COLOR: Davines
TECH SUPPORT: Millenium, Mail Chimp
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, PBA
“Our goal when we opened in 2009 was to be considered ‘Zero Impact’ and we finally were able to achieve that title last year through our operating systems and our partnership with Green Circle Salons and Terra Pass.”
ADDITIONAL HONOREES*
Artbeat Salon, Berkley, CA
Avant Salon, Austin, TX
Bii Hair Salon, West Dundee, IL
Changes Hair Studio & Spa, Kamloops, BC
N Style Salon, Saugus, CA
Nurtur the Salon, Columbus, OH
Salon Soca, Chicago, IL
Taj Salon & Spa, Brooklyn Park, MN
*Additional honorees have accrued more than one honor in the the 2015 Salon Today 200 and their salon is profiled in another category.

Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.

Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.

In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.

The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti

After moving to Colorado and teaching at a cosmetology school, Allison Stock joined Zandi K as a stylist, eventually becoming part of the Leadership Team, Education Team and Master Bridal Team. Today, as Director of Operation, Stock is Owner Nicki Wenz's right hand, managing human resources and operations, education and career development, and coaching and culture.

In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.

The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.

Scott maximized her micro-salon by transitioning from stylist to strategic owner, focusing on recruiting and station-sharing. By prioritizing her ownership role over behind-the-chair work, she grew her team to six stylists within the two-chair, 150-square-foot space before eventually moving to a larger facility.

The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."

After scaling her single-location salon business, SALON TODAY 200 Honoree Amy Pal recently sold her six-location Whip Salon for seven figures. Using the six Ps for maximizing a business's value, she's ready to help her peers do the same.

Buried inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are federal solar tax credit changes that deserve your attention now. Two of the credits that matter most to commercial property owners, the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, are still available, but only if you move fast. A third, the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Deduction, has a hard termination date that is closer than most people realize.

Up to 40% of hair stylists ghost the salon interview stage, leaving owners trapped playing endless phone tag with uncommitted applicants. This data-driven report breaks down why traditional job boards create recruitment friction and reveals the modern messaging strategies high-growth salons use to get pre-qualified talent to actually show up. Learn how to transition from cold calling to high-conversion conversations that protect your time and fill your chairs.
Sponsored by Beautista

Spit fests, hostile threats, and even an overachieving matchmaker--SALON TODAY readers share their craziest client tales and how their team handled these tough situations with professionalism and grace.

Keeping your appointment book full when clients are in vacation mode takes more than a good Instagram post. It takes a plan. The 2026 Summer Marketing Calendar from Meevo gives salon, spa & med spa owners a month-by-month roadmap with sharp themes, key opportunity dates, and campaign ideas specifically designed for the beauty & wellness industry. Here’s to your summer season working as hard as you do!
Sponsored by Millennium Systems International
AI is transforming the beauty and wellness industry, and the future is about empowering people, not replacing them. Discover how Phorest AI helps salons, spas, and med spas across North America respond faster, personalize every visit, and keep human connection at the heart of the client experience.
Sponsored by Phorest