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SEARCH"It was like the divine 'aha' occurred about 10 years ago when I realized that hiring smart made all the difference," says Bonnie Waters, owner of Changes Salon and Day Spa (who employs over 60 stylists). "When we did ...
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"It was like the divine 'aha' occurred about 10 years ago when I realized that hiring smart made all the difference," says Bonnie Waters, owner of Changes Salon and Day Spa (who employs over 60 stylists). "When we did that, and we really did a thorough interview, there's so much less turnover and less money spent in training and so on."
Here are six other professional opinions on the hiring/interviewing process and building an effective salon team, offered by Salon Success.
Jeffery Lay, author of TOPGUN on Wall Street (advisor and motivational speaker): "The only way to grow the business is if you can actually work on the business rather than running around working in the business. It’s really about scaling and leveraging your personal time."
Kevin Williams, owner of Studio 2000: "We informed our staff members that we’re in business to make them money and to make us money. So we’re partners in the business. One of the things that we don’t want to do is interrupt our business because we’ve invested in the facility, advertising and marketing, training of each staff member. So what we ask is that they partner with us by not competing with us. So we have a two year non-compete agreement, which means when they leave our employ for whatever reason, they cannot work within ten miles of us for a period of two years."
Joshua Dziabiak, Founder of Show Clix (Million dollar revenue company) On Hiring: "The first couple people, certainly your business partner, your first two or three employees, will really set the tone and the foundation for what your culture will become as a company and as a brand. So pick your employees, pick your team members, pick your partners wisely and make sure you enjoy being around them."
Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com (Billion dollar retailer) On Hiring: "I think a lot of companies, especially those just starting out, like to hire quickly just because there’s so much work to be done and then kind of drag their feet and end up firing people slowly when they’re not a great fit for the company. When what we’ve learned over the years at Zappos is that it’s much more important to flip that. Make sure that you hire slowly, but when you know someone’s not a good fit, fire quickly."
Kevin Rosenberg, Founder of Gear To Go Outfitters (Brooklyn’s largest retailer) On Hiring: "When you’re initially starting out, you’re going to be usually taking out ads. Be as specific as possible in the ad and what your requirements are. Because you’re going to get flooded with applicants, especially in this economy. Post the salary you’re going to pay. If somebody is expecting to earn $40 an hour and you’re paying $10, you don’t want to waste their time or yours. And you don’t want to flood your inbox with people thinking it’s going to pay more."
Dee Levin, formerly Owner of Salon Norman-Dee (Salon Success Hall of Fame) on Interviewing: "The first time someone comes in for an interview, either myself or my coordinator will interview them. On that visit after the interview, they are given a copy of the salon philosophies and our salon goals and they will be told to make a visit the second time and they will visit with the opposite person. What we do then is go over did they really read the philosophies and did they really read the goals. That way, we will know if they are focused then on really wanting the job."
The above text was sourced from “Episode 1: Hiring and Motivating Employees” by Salon Success: A Video Series for Business Education and Strategies. Salon Success delivers processes used by successful salons and growing businesses in finding and growing loyal, trustworthy and high performing people that you would want to work with. Strategies are shared by their experts on hiring concepts, conducting a winning interview, what to seek in a candidate and motivating new hires. Salon Success can teach you how to effectively review and reward best practices that contribute to the well-being of your salon for the long term.
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.
