It is the responsibility of leaders to develop a vision for the people they guide, then inspire them to follow that vision. In the salon realm, it’s also important for owners to carve our leadership opportunities for their team members so they may continue to grow. Great leadership requires continual self-education. 

A SPENCER GELLISE SALON
Bay City, MI
spencergellisesalon.com
Heather Spencer and Adreanne Gellise-Budzinski
SQUARE FEET: 1200     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 9
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kevin.Murphy, Milobon, Mizani
COLOR: Kevin.Murphy  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“After 24 years of serving guests as a stylist, Heather retired from behind the chair to empower the team and to invest in the continued growth and development of the salon company. Adreanne remained in active role behind the chair and stepped into the role as artistic director, coaching and guiding the team in technical skill. It has proved successful in that the salon still saw an 8.5% increase in overall revenue.”

CUTTING LOOSE SALON
Bradenton, FL
cuttingloose.net
Coral Pleas
SQUARE FEET: 5600, 2800    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 65
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Bumble and Bumble, Pai Shau
COLOR: Goldwell  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Kajabi 
ASSOCIATIONS:  ICA, PBA, 2 to 10  
“Owner Coral Pleas recognized the immense potential within her stylists and saw an opportunity for them to become salon owners, specifically licensing Cutting Loose Salon. After six months of mentoring and guiding Stylist Kelly into the intricate world of salon ownership, Kelly has delved into the intricacies of managing and leading a salon.”

D'AMETRIS AVEDA
Broomfield, CO
dametris.biz
Amy and Dennis Metcalfe
SQUARE FEET: 1375     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 6
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, private label 
COLOR: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, SalonClouds+  
ASSOCIATIONS:  ICA, ABCH
“Team accountability is not just a concept, it’s a daily practice. We value a culture of responsibly and shared growth. We do this through team scoreboards, daily game plans, weekly huddles, monthly one-on-ones, annual life and career goalsetting, and living with an attitude of gratitude.”

GILA RŪT SALON
Chula Vista, CA
gilarut.com
Karla Lopez-Martinez and Keri Davis-Duffy
SQUARE FEET: 2300, 1800    
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 48
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, Keratin Complex, Fair
COLOR: Aveda, Color Space, Pravana
SKINCARE: Aveda, Leef 
TECH SUPPORT: Aura   
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, 2 to 10  
“This year, our focus was to elevate the experience of our senior team. We developed $100 Grand Club 15 years ago, but now many of these people are hitting $150-200K. We launched the $200 Grand Club. Everyone’s goal was growth, but each person needed to move the needle in different areas of the worksheet.”

GORDON SALON
Highland Park, IL
gordonsalon.com
Tony & Pam Gordon
SQUARE FEET: 1950, 2050, 1450, 2500, 2100 
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 80
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti, Slack, Sling, Mya, Tippy, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS: Cosmetologists Chicago, ICA, PBA, 2 to 10
“While one of our locations was going through a renovation, a mass shooting occurred right on the street in front of the salon. Pam managed the emotional support of the teams, as well as the construction crews, while continuing development of the salon while also managing the choreography with local and federal law enforcement.”

IMPRESSIONS SALON
Mequon, WI
impressionsmke.com
Sarah Taylor
SQUARE FEET: 4800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 42
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Pureology, Redken
COLOR: Redken, Davines 
SKINCARE: Eminence, Farmhouse Fresh 
NAIL CARE: OPI  
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“We solicit feedback from team members and peers, valuing constructive criticism to refine our leadership skills. I invest in our professional development by attending workshops and keeping updated with industry trends and leadership best practices. Engaging with mentors and learning from experienced leaders also plays a significant role in my ongoing growth as a leader.”

INTERLOCKS
Newburyport, MA
interlockssalon.com
Ginny Eramo & Jordan Becker
SQUARE FEET: 6400     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 48
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, R+Co, R+Co Bleu, Kerastase
COLOR: Goldwell 
SKINCARE: Zo Skin, Health Is Clinical, Environ
TECH SUPPORT: Meevo, Rxphoto 
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA 
“The journey into leadership at Interlocks is marked by a commitment to growth, transparency, accountability and a united team culture. Guided by a dynamic Leadership Team, we step into the future, embracing challenges and opportunities with a vision to redefine standards in the beauty and wellness industry.”  

LOLA HAIR STUDIO
Cambridge, MA
lolahairstudio.com
Anna Walsh
SQUARE FEET: 1500     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 12
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Evo, Redken
COLOR: Redken  
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, AI, Tippy, Slack
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“Our unique approach to leadership is through fostering a team-managed company, which promotes trust and leadership by empowering the ownerships of four crucial positions—CEO/Salon Owner, Education Director, Brand Manager, and Operations Manager. 

NUOVO SALON GROUP
Sarasota, FL
nuovosalongroup.com
Terry McKee, James Amato
SQUARE FEET: 2700, 2700, 3300   
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 54
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda  
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda  
NAIL CARE: Zoya, Smith & Cult 
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Textel, Mya, Vish
ASSOCIATIONS:  ICA, PBA, 2 to 10  
“There are two leaders, with very different personality types, leading Nuovo. James is more logical, practical and line-item driven while Terry is creative, insightful, big-picture driven and visionary. We call it the What Is/What If integration. Terry is the disruptor, while James is the stabilizer.”

SALON 27
Mesa, AZ
salon27az.com
Chet and Amber Pope
SQUARE FEET: 2100     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 16
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Kerastase, R+Co, Moroccanoil
COLOR: Moroccanoil, Faction 8, Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Zenoti, Vish  
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA   
“We lead the team with clear communication, inspiration, understanding, compassion, flexibility and a healthy dose of data to support incredible growth, and they know that. We have had the joy to have seen so many grow under our roof and reach great success.”

SOLEIL SALON AND SPA
Windham, NH
soleil-salon.com
Luisa G Garcia
SQUARE FEET: 3800     
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda, BOB 
COLOR: Aveda  
SKINCARE: Aveda, Ultraceuticals 
NAIL CARE: Dazzle Dry, Aveda 
TECH SUPPORT: Phorest, Vish, Tippy, Mya
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA  
“In my journey, I’ve consistently invested in my own education and development, attending industry workshops and seeking mentorship from seasoned salon. Key events like Data-Driven Salon Summit, Serious Business and The Fill by Qnity have become annual rituals, enriching my knowledge and skills.”