2023 SALON TODAY 200: Client Retention & Referral and Technology
They vigorously attract new guests and retain their established ones. They leverage the latest technology tools to measure, motivate, communicate and market. Meet the 2023 SALON TODAY 200 honorees in the categories of Client Retention and Referral and Technology, including the team from Glow Beauty Boutique in Braintree, Massachusetts.
Scott Weaver and T.J. Weaver, owners of Douglas J Salon and Medspa in Okemos, Michigan.
CLIENT RETENTION AND REFERRAL
A salon’s ability to attract new guests fuels its growth, and its ability to get those clients to return again and again dictates its overall success.
CENTRE SALONS AND SPAS
Arvada, CO
centresalon.com
Jim Pacifico and Keli Kenyon
SQUARE FEET: 3048, 3320, 2100, 2731 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 65 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda COLOR: Aveda SKINCARE: Aveda, Cosmedical NAIL CARE: Jessica Cosmetics, OPI TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Google Forms
“Instead of chocolate and tea, our new guest welcome bags contain bounce-backs for the new guest to use on their next visit—50% off their next purchase, a free Botanical Repair Treatment with service, $20 off spa or nail services. This keeps them coming in, turning them into loyal guests.”
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An inside look at Douglas J Salon in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
DOUGLAS J SALON
Rochester Hills, MI
douglasj.com
Scott Weaver and T.J. Weaver
SQUARE FEET: 1800 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 14 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda COLOR: Aveda SKINCARE: Aveda TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“By shifting from having only specialized stylists who do design and color to surrounding those specialists with a team of generalists, we can get guests in for multiple services faster and service all price points.”
DOUGLAS J SALON AND MEDSPA
Okemos, MI
douglasj.com
Scott Weaver and T.J. Weaver
SQUARE FEET: 10,000 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 81 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Davines, Reuzel COLOR: Aveda, Davines SKINCARE: Aveda, PCA NAIL CARE: OPI TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“We moved our referral program to a digital platform and tied it to our You Rewards program, making it easier for current guests to access their reward and use it immediately.”
Celebrating their 20th anniversary, the team from Glow Beauty Boutique in Braintree, Massachusetts.
GLOW BEAUTY BOUTIQUE
Braintree, MA
glowbeautyb.com
Shelley North
SQUARE FEET: 1900 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17 SKINCARE: Control Corrective, CLN&DRTY, Factor Five TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Salon Socials, Meet Your Esty ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“From Thanksgiving through Christmas, clients who rebooked their next three appointments were entered to win a Dyson Airwrap complete styler kit. The esthetician who rebooked the most won the same kit. This was a huge hit, with more than 500 people entering to win.”
SEAN ROCCO SALON
Charlotte, NC
seanroccosalon.com
Sean Duncan and Mark LaRocco
SQUARE FEET: 1000 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 8 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Aveda, Olaplex COLOR: Davines, Goldwell, Redken SKINCARE: Aveda
“Our front desk staff know each stylist’s abilities and which services they provide well and prefer. Receptionists ask callers a few simple questions, making it easy for them to put the right client in the right stylist chair. A good fit is one step closer to having a repeat client.”
TECHNOLOGY
For a busy salon or spa owner, technology serves as an additional manager, simplifying systems and processes; communicating to and educating guests; measuring and motivating team members; and marketing to the community for new business.
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BLO
Raleigh, NC
justblo.com
Bryan Nunes
SQUARE FEET: 4242 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 23 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology COLOR: Redken, Pulp Riot TECH SUPPORT: Rosy, Snapsnip, Textel
“Many systems born out of necessity (during Covid) ended up setting us up for a bright and more profitable future. For example, investing in Textel has allowed us to run with a 50 percent reduction of labor at the front desk while giving guests their preferred method of communication.”
The team from Cutting Loose Salon in University Park, Florida.
CUTTING LOOSE SALON
University Park, FL
cuttingloose.net
Coral Pleas & Travis Scheuer
SQUARE FEET: 5600, 2800 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 60 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Bumble, Goldwell COLOR: Goldwell TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, 2 to 10
“We created virtual onboarding using Profi. We send new hires all the information they need before they start and add hours from onboarding to their first paycheck. They check off as they complete each module so we know they’re prepared before their first day.”
Christa Stephens, owner of Inviktus Salon in Republic, Missouri.
INVIKTUS SALON
Republic, MO
inviktussalon.com
Christa Stephens
SQUARE FEET: 3200, 3200, 1200 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 10 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Eufora COLOR: Eufora TECH SUPPORT: Rosy, Salonscale, Tippy, Salon Ninja
“With Salon Ninja we no longer need phone lines in our salon. We can call right from our cell phones, which shows up as the salon number. We’re also seeing higher profitability with Salon Scale. We are accountable with our color and now add it to our tickets.”
The team from Richard Salon celebrates their sweet 16 in Smithtown, New York.
RICHARD SALON
Smithtown, NY
richardsalon.com
Richard Daly
SQUARE FEET: 900 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Arrojo, Pureology, Ecru COLOR: Goldwell, Pulp Riot TECH SUPPORT: Daysmart Salon, Demandforce, Square ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Our online booking system is single-step and easily used from smart phones. Last year, 76 percent of our bookings were made online. Clients create a personal portal, and every appointment is backed up with a secure credit card that will be charged for no-shows and used for expedited checkout.”
SALON ROOTZ, INC.
Medina, OH
salonrootz.com
Jen Tryon & Sheila Barco
SQUARE FEET: 1878 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 13 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L’Oreal, Aveda, Davines COLOR: L'Oreal, Wella NAIL CARE: OPI TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Tippy, Textedly ASSOCIATIONS: Ohio Salon Connection
“The days of posting and praying to recruit new team members are long over. We use all social channels and our website to tell our culture story, built on our three brand-building pillars of fun, community, and passion.”
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The team from The Mitchell Wade Salon dressed up for Halloween.
THE MITCHELL WADE SALON
Oviedo, FL
mitchellwade.com
Mitch Eubanks
SQUARE FEET: 1400 TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 13 BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Bumble and bumble, Color Wow, Moroccanoil COLOR: Wella, Joico, Vivids SKINCARE: Image TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Tippy ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We brought on Tippy to allow clients to tip directly to their stylists, relinquishing the salon from paying credit card fees on funds not received. Gratuities are deposited into stylists’ bank accounts within a day, and stylists are responsible for their own credit card processing fees, which are low. Stylists have seen an increase in tips by up to 20 percent.”
At night, Dominic Michael Salon keeps the interior lights on, as the illuminated, eye-catching contemporary design serves as a billboard that consistently attracts new guests.
Built from the ground up, Mane 18’s design strikes a balance between an elevated experience for guests and the functionality and flow necessary for team members to perform at their best.
Andreas Hogue Salon’s recent renovation surprises visitors with the interior’s expansion of space, elevated retail area, and changing views of the restored Chicago prairie.
It's Day 10 of our SALON TODAY 200 reveals, and we've reached the end! Today, we toast the honorees in the second half of growth--the salons, spas, and barbershops that constantly strive to build stronger bottom lines, including Brandy Smith Stephens in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
On Day 9 of our 2026 SALON TODAY 200 reveals, a big 'Huzzah' to our first look at the salons, spas and barbershops that fueled their growth by mastering a number of best practices, including the fun team from Lavish Hair Lounge in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (P.S. The second half of Growth comes tomorrow.)
A big "Bravo!" to the salons and spas that develop strong cultures that fuel growth while retaining team members, such as Soleil Salon & Spa team in Windham, New Hampshire, who catch up reading last year's 200 issue.
We tip our hats to the salons and spas that genuinely connect with guests and strive to elevate their service, including Chenica Racine and Ricka O'Bannon, owners of C&R Beauty Bar in Louisville, Kentucky.
Hats off to the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who make education a priority for employees at every level, including Eric Fisher Salon, which hosted Educator Oscar Bond for a cutting class in Wichita, Kansas.
Today, we have two 2026 SALON TODAY 200 categories as we hail the salons that find creative ways to build client loyalty and the ones that constantly explore and embrace new technology to further their businesses, including the social-savvy team from Verde Salon Group in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
For today's SALON TODAY 200 announcements, we toast the honorees who prioritize the environment in their business decisions and those who take retail to the next level, including the excited team from Pure Salon Spa in Louisville, Kentucky.
Cheers to the SALON TODAY 200 honorees who give their time, talent and fundraising efforts to their communities, including Eli Mancha and the team from Bang! Salon, whose cut-a-thon has collected more than 1,200 coats that have been donated to Chicago's unhoused.
It's Day 1 of our 2026 SALON TODAY 200 announcements, and today, we raise our glasses for the honorees in the Business Builders category. These salons, including Elan Hair Studio in Spring Lake, New Jersey, took strategic risks that paid off in revenue-generating success.
It's time to celebrate the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees who design rewarding career paths and seek out enriching benefits to keep their team members healthy, happy and growing, including the team from Pinup Studio in Raleigh, North Carolina, who always enjoy a good pajama party.
With a training salon, treatment rooms, education and collaboration spaces, a podcast studio and a yoga studio, BASE ONE is the foundation for the future growth of PENZONE Salons+Spas, as well as the company's gift to their community and the industry. Peruse the image gallery or take the personalized video tour led by Debra Penzone to see this exceptional space.
As our judges read those last essays and create their list of honorees in each category, we're planning to start announce the 2026 SALON TODAY 200 starting February 25.
