While it’s a service provider’s job to take care of the client, it’s a salon owner’s job to take care of the team. Salons and spas that offer rewarding compensation and benefits packages and design transparent career paths retain valuable talent longer, which helps them grow the business faster.

AVALON SALON AND DAY SPA
Deer Park, IL
avalondeerpark.com
Bonnie and August Conte, Shyla Samel-Kurnick and Richard Kurnick
SQUARE FEET: 5,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 50
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, SureTint
ASSOCIATIONS: CC, PBA, The Day Spa Association
“With perfect attendance over the course of a four-month period on the calendar year, there are three opportunities to earn a paid ‘wellness day’ off each year. We began this program to encourage reliability for our guests.”

BELLA LAGO SALON & SPA
Mooresville, NC
bellalagosalon.com
Gabe and Merrisa Barnhardt
SQUARE FEET: 7,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 26
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $47
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $40,000 to $49,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Kerastase, Image
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Image, Eminence
NAIL CARE: Aveda, CND
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, ZeeZor
“Just this year we added four week’s paid maternity leave for full-time employees at their regular hourly rate. Being in a business that is mostly women, we felt that was really important, and it’s something most salons don’t have.”

THE CHANGING ROOM
Aventura, FL
changingroomsalons.com
Justin Gold
SQUARE FEET: 2,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 39
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $58
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $40,000 to $49,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Matrix, Framesi
COLOR: Matrix, Framesi, Pravana
SKIN CARE: Anubis
NAIL CARE: OPI, Essie, CND
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, Constant Contact
“We do not pay based on commission, we aren’t booth rental, nor do we have a team-based pay. Instead it’s a true individual-based salary. In south Florida, our area is seasonal and extremely transient. Because they are guaranteed a set minimum salary, they feel confident they can pay their bills, regardless if we are slow.”

JOSEPHINE’S DAY SPA & SALON, INC.
Houston, TX
josephinesdayspa.com
Vivian Yeh
SQUARE FEET: 5,600; 3,000; 1,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 51
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda, Pravana
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA, 2 to 10 Network
“Our non-tipping, team-based pay structure propels our success. It encourages motivation among our employees and prospective new hires because the environment encourages healthy competition, continuous learning and teamwork.”

LA TIERRA SALON & DAY SPA
Highlands Ranch, CO
latierrasalon.com
Kelly Wharry and Walt Wharry
SQUARE FEET: 4,100
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 29
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $46
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, ColorBiz
“Employees are met with each month in a 15-minture meeting we call the 5-5-5, to review goals and performance. They always have a clear view of what they need to achieve to increase their compensation.”

SALON ESTIQUE
Phoenix, AZ
salonestique.com
Cheryl Finn, Kelly Boudreau and Brenda Barnaby
SQUARE FEET: 3,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 30
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $65
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and Bumble, Aveda
COLOR: Wella, Redken, Joico
SKIN CARE: Jan Marini, PCA, Phytomer
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“We use a tiered system with eight levels, plus a system for raising service prices after a stylist has achieved the highest level. Stylists who have a specialty work with management to determine pricing for that service.”

SALON LAURIE & COMPANY
Baltimore, MD
salonlaurie.com
Laurie Schroeder
SQUARE FEET: 2,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 20
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $70
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $60,000 to $69,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Private Label, Aquage
COLOR: Goldwell
SKIN CARE: Dermaware
NAIL CARE: OPI, Spa Ritual
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“At the beginning of each week, service providers post their rebook and unit/client rate for the previous week on a magnetic board in our kitchen. They write on magnetic strips, moving strips up or down, so the highest performer is at the top. It promotes some friendly competition.”

SAMUEL COLE SALON
Raleigh, NC
samuelcole.com
Jack Ray and Joelle Ray
SQUARE FEET: 3,500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 43
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $72
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $60,000 to $69,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Bumble and Bumble, R+Co
COLOR: Wella, Pulp Riot, Pravana
SKIN CARE: Oribe
NAIL CARE: Smith & Cult, Oribe
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“Stylists have the opportunity to earn flex hours through retail sales. When they sell $1,000 in retail, they earn one flex hour, if they sell $2,000, they earn four flex hours, etc. They also can request a schedule shift in advance of needed time off.”

SAVVY SALON
AND DAY SPA
Cornelius, NC
savvysalonanddayspa.com
Pat Helmandollar
SQUARE FEET: 6,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 40
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $58
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $50,000 to $59,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Kerastase, Bumble and Bumble
COLOR: Wella, L’Oréal Professionnel, Pravana
SKIN CARE: Dermalogica, Cosmedix
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATION: PBA
“Every four weeks, staff are eligible for a team bonus which is dependent on the salon making a profit. Each person’s hours are calculated and their percentage is prorated upon how many hours they work.”

SIN 7 SALON
White Rock, BC, Canada
sin7salon.com
Katherine Ross and Courtney Clark
SQUARE FEET: 1,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 11
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $58
AVERAGE STYLIST INCOME: $40,000 to $49,999
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKIN CARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Milano
“This year we closed December 31 through January 9 to give our hard-working team a break after the busy holiday season. This news was received by applause from the entire staff.”

Additional Honorees
Allure Designs, Libertyville, IL
Avenue Hair Design, Venice, FL
Blo, Raleigh, NC
Chemistry Hair Salon, Shreveport, LA
Cutting Loose Salons, University Park, FL
Ginger Bay Salon & Spa, Kirkwood, MO
The Hair Company, Leonardtown, MD
Ihloff Salon and Day Spa, Tulsa, OK
Nuovo Salon Group, Sarasota, FL
Nurtur the Salon, Columbus, OH
RedBloom Salon, Calgary
Salon Laurie & Company, Baltimore, MD
Sky Salon, Strongsville, OH
Spa Bleu, West Dundee & South Barrington, IL
Tulip Salon & Spa, Fredericksburg, VA