MENU
SEARCHOver the course of their careers, Arik Efros and his wife Eva Scrivo have opened five salons in New York City. As CEO and co-owner of Eva Scrivo Salons, Efros has negotiated leases, worked closely with contractors and navigated the nuances of a ...
Arik Efros, co-owner and CEO of Eva Scrivo Salons in New York.
Over the course of their careers, Arik Efros and his wife Eva Scrivo have opened five salons in New York City. As CEO and co-owner of Eva Scrivo Salons, Efros has negotiated leases, worked closely with contractors and navigated the nuances of a buildout.
The couple recently opened a 5,000-square-foot new salon and completed the buildout process in three months, including the move from their existing location. Efros, who shares. In the following blog, Efros shares five of the important lessons he’s learned to help other new owners avoid the frustrations and the expense of a costly mistake:
Be a Shrewd Negotiator: Before signing the lease on your future space, educate yourself about commercial leases and hire an experienced real estate attorney. Many new owners get so excited about a space and at the prospect of having their own salon, that they sign too quickly and often pay dearly for it down the road. There are numerous elements of a lease besides the rent and duration of the term that require attention and can be typically negotiated. Especially in crazy real estate markets like New York or San Francisco, missing an important term such as the “demo-clause,” where the landlord has the right to terminate your lease if he or she decides to demolish or completely gut the building, can destroy your business down the road.
Expect the Unexpected: Prepare to spend twice as much than your budget for the salon construction, and for it to take twice as long as expected (and that’s in a good case scenario). If you’re not experienced with construction, there’s a steep learning curve where you will quickly be exposed to many hard and expensive lessons. Even real estate pros typically underestimate the cost and time involved in a construction project. Not to mention the emotional toll it will temporarily take on your life. Between unscrupulous contractors, building codes, and hidden surprises within every building, you may be in for the ride of your life before taking a single client at your new salon! So be prepared – construction is not for the faint of heart. Expect the unexpected, don’t announce your opening date upon signing the lease, and have a reserve source of funds you can dip into when you run over budget.
A look into the newest Eva Scrivo Salon.
Play Your Part: Take an active role in the construction and don’t rely on your General Contractor (GC) to do the right thing. Maybe you’ll be the lucky one but I’ve never known anyone who has been. If you expect to take a back seat in this process and continue to just do hair as before, then God be with you! Even if you don’t understand construction, your mere presence and participation will help to keep the GC in line and on schedule.
Grasp the Salon Difference: Understand the three key elements of salon construction that if not done correctly can literally ruin your business – plumbing, electrical and HVAC. When it comes to these factors, particularly the first two, salons have their own unique requirements that many contractors do not understand. For example, something as simple as not having the electrical outlets for your blowdryers on dedicated breakers can make your life absolutely miserable when you open for business and the breakers start constantly tripping while you’re trying to blow dry hair. Likewise, not having your plumbing properly vented or your waste lines pitched can lead to your shampoo sinks continually backing up and/or emitting foul odors. Getting these things corrected after the fact, when all of the walls, ceilings and floors have been closed, can be extremely expensive and disruptive to your business. Believe me – we’ve been there!
Balance Form with Function. Hairstylists are artistic and creative people who understandably want everything to look beautiful. But it’s at least as important for it to also function properly. Think that a white marble floor will look great? Maybe it would but only for a couple weeks at a salon since marble absorbs hair color. Not to mention that a hard surface like that can wreak havoc on your knees and back over time. But if you have your heart set on a natural stone surface – whether for a floor or the counter of your color bar – try granite instead.
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.
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
Owner Michaella Blissett-Williams credits her General Manager Gloria Hortua with [salon] 718's year-over-year, double-digit growth and says she's been able to scale the company to eight locations because she can rely on Hortua to manage daily operations.
Shine Time: Aluram’s High Shine Line Delivers Moisture and Shine with Clean Ingredients
Sponsored by Aluram
Elyse Rogers is an uplifting presence at The Headroom who makes the team feel heard even in stressful situations. Owner Danielle Cherewyk sings her praises in this installment of Meet the Manager.
Despite a slight and predictable decline in client traffic for Q1, resilient pricing power is driving year-over-year revenue growth in salons. The KIM Report's Alain Audet reviews the data and what it's telling us about the state of professional beauty.
Same-store revenue grew just 2% for the second straight year—and new guest visits declined across every segment of the industry. The 2026 Benchmark Report reveals where growth is actually happening, which verticals are pulling ahead, and what the data says about where your business stands right now.
Sponsored by Zenoti
Hair restoration is entering a new era driven by regenerative science. This paper explores how Exosome technology is transforming treatment outcomes by targeting hair loss at a cellular level. Discover why EXOGROW is leading this shift.
Sponsored by Dermapenworld
A salon brand is much more than a logo. In this thought-provoking blog, Leon Alexander, Ph.D., walks you through the difference. SALON TODAY suggests sharing this article with your team and leading a discussion at your next huddle, asking the team to define your business's brand.
