Got a Gorgeous New Business? SALONS OF THE YEAR Application Now Open!
The landmark, photo-based interior design competition has opened its application process. We'd love you to hit us with your best shots!
by Stacey Soble
2023 SALON TODAY 200: Compensation and Benefits
They build multi-level compensation systems and set goals to help their team members climb the career ladder. They constantly seek new benefit offerings, like mental wellness counseling. Meet the 2023 honorees in the category of Compensation & Benefits, including Scott and Mary Randolph, owners of Randolphs Salons in White Lake, Michigan.
February 24, 2023
5 min to read
It’s a service provider’s job to take care of clients, but it’s an owner’s job to take care of the team. Salons and spas that offer rewarding compensation and benefits packages and design transparaent career paths retain talent longer, which helps them grow faster.
Kati Whitledge, owner of Be Inspired Salon, Inc., in Madison, Wisconsin.
BE INSPIRED SALON, INC.
Madison, WI
beinspiredsalon.com
Kati Whitledge
SQUARE FEET: 2500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 17
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Innersense, Kevin.Murphy
COLOR: Goldwell, Pulp Riot
TECH SUPPORT: Rosy Salon Interactive, Meet Your Stylist
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“We increased our starting front desk wage so we could offer better compensation than nearby retail chains. This has opened the door to a better pool of candidates and saves money, because we don’t need as many people when the team is so proficient.”
The team from Bellezza Avanti Spa Salon in Wadsworth, Ohio.
BELLEZZA AVANTI SPA/SALON
Wadsworth, OH
bellezzaavanti.com
Geri Good
SQUARE FEET: 3800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase Pureology Redken
COLOR: Redken
SKINCARE: Eminence, Farmhouse Fresh
NAIL CARE: OPI, CND, SNS
TECH SUPPORT: Envision
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Once employees reach a high level, have additional responsibilities, and meet shareholder eligibility requirements, they have the opportunity to buy into our company through our Shareholder Program.”
Guests love to relax in the beautiful shampoo area at Bijin Salon and Spa in Prairie Village, Kansas.
BIJIN SALON & SPA
Prairie Village, KS
bijinsalon.com
Connie Suss
SQUARE FEET: 14,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 89
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe Kerastase R&co
COLOR: Wella
SKINCARE: SkinCeuticals, Eminence
NAIL CARE: Creative Nail, Smith & Cult
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Salon Clouds, Tippy
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Our newer talent is guaranteed an hourly wage but still can earn service commission, and each stylist has the opportunity to slide their service commission up by 5% with their retail sales every week. Bijin has a bonus program tailored to every stylist.”
The team from Blu A Color Salon in Valley Park, Missouri.
BLU A COLOR SALON
Valley Park, MO
blucolorsalon.com
Nicole and Charles Gillick
SQUARE FEET: 1240
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines
COLOR: Davines
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We offer 70-105 hours of paid vacation a year, 50-60 hours of holiday pay for our team to enjoy holiday time with family and friends, and unlimited days off without pay.”
DAYBREAK SALON AND SPA
Woodhaven, MI
daybreaksalon.com
Mary & Gary Rushlow, Jerad Rushlow, Jenee Osborne
SQUARE FEET: 3500, 3800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 70
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Salon Biz, Demandforce
“Once a stylist has worked with us for five years, and again at ten years, that commission is locked in place as minimum, rewarding hard work and loyalty without penalty for realigning the work-life balance by reducing hours to be with family.”
The team from Eric Fisher Salon enjoy an evening out in Wichita, Kansas.
ERIC FISHER SALON
Wichita, KS
ericfishersalon.com
Eric Fisher and Mary Fisher
SQUARE FEET: 4000, 1500, 1500, 1500
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 82
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase Kevin Murphy Eleven Australia
COLOR: L'Oreal, Goldwell Pulp Riot
SKINCARE: Image Skincare, Skinceuticals, Hydrafacial
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Tippy
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, 2 to 10
“We pay 50% of medical and dental premiums for eligible team members, match up to 4% of a 401(k), pay the taxes on stylist tips, pay credit card charges, assume responsibility on returned checks (stylists still receive commission), and provide business cards.”
Team members perfect a guest’s cut at Five Senses Spa, Salon and Barbershop.
FIVE SENSES SPA SALON & BARBERSHOP
Peoria, IL
fivesensesspaandsalon.com
Paola Hinton
SQUARE FEET: 5000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 19
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Salon Clouds Plus
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We offer our team complimentary weekly, onsite sessions with licensed professionals in neuro-emotional therapy and money mentoring, as well as with a gym reimbursement program.”
GINGER BAY SALON SPA
St. Louis, MO
gingerbay.com
Laura A. Ortmann
SQUARE FEET: 10,000, 2800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 82
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, L'anza
COLOR: Aveda, L'Anza, Redken
SKINCARE: Aveda, Cosmedix, Murad
NAIL CARE: CND, OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Textel, Reach, Vish, Pointy, Canva, Team Caller, Paycor
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure
“For the first time, we implemented a level system with tiered pricing for our spa team, which now has the same overall goals, six levels, and commission percentages as our salon team.”
MANGO SALON
Richmond, VA
mangosalon.com
Bobbi and Pat Heaney
SQUARE FEET: 3000, 2900, 2600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 76
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Cezanne
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Microsoft Exchange, Textel, Vish, Emma
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, InUnison, Westhampton Retail Merchants Association
“We revisited our 401(k) with our provider, and they were able to improve our plan by allowing our team to select funds with more favorable fee structures. We continue to make a 4% match.”
Scott and Mary Randolph from Randolphs Salon in White Lake, Michigan.
RANDOLPHS SALON
White Lake, MI
Scott & Mary Randolph, Austin Randolph
SQUARE FEET: 3000, 2900, 1700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 90
BEST -SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology, Mizani
COLOR: Redken, Pulp Riot
TECH SUPPORT: Envision
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, 2 to 10
“After crunching a lot of numer and hiring a consultant, we streamline our level jump requirements to three existing ones and a new one. If a stylis hits their service dollar goal, their retail sale, are pre-booking a healthy percentage of their guests and is generating a healthy amount of their own clientele, they level jump.”
The team from Spa Bleu in West Dundee, Illinois.
SPA BLEU
West Dundee, IL
spa-bleu.com
Tammy Coakley
SQUARE FEET: 3600 2850
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda, Oligo
SKINCARE: Aveda, Ultraceuticals
NAIL CARE: Zoya
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: ISPA, PBA, 2 to 10
“Employees set their goal, reach it, and share that with us. We changed our coaching to ‘whatever works for them.’ They don't need us to sit down and tell them what they're doing. They just need support and encouragement.”
The team from Tailored Salon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
TAILORED SALON
Milwaukee, WI
tailoredsalon.com
Laura Graven and Ashley Puglisi
SQUARE FEET: 1700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines
COLOR: Davines
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Podium
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“For each quarter that a stylist meets or exceeds their retail benchmark, they have the option of taking a 5% bonus or having 10% of their retail sales go toward their education or tools for their kit.”
Owner Jim McCarrall from Tangerine Salon and Spa from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
TANGERINE SALON AND SPA
Murfreesboro, TN
tangerinesalonandspa.com
James, Mark, and Donna McCarrall
SQUARE FEET: 4200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 25
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAIL CARE: OPI, Gelish
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Vish, Textel
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Requests for scheduling and time off are discussed during coaching sessions, and each employee with 80%+ productivity may block their books as needed without management oversight.”
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