MENU
SEARCHIn the first in our new Meet the Manager series, we meet Laran D'Estachio who has helped Owner Peter Evans grow the single location Stella Nova Spa Salon into three locations, while launching four Barrelli Barber locations.
Stella Nova Spa Salon's Regional Manager Laran D'Eustanchio and Owner Peter Evans toast their many years together growing the business into three salon locations and four Barrelli Barber barbershops.
SALON TODAY’s Meet the Manager series celebrates the managers, team leads and directors who help carry out the vision of salons, spas and barbershops, motivate team members and hold them accountable and create an elevated guest experience. In this profile, meet Laran D’Estachio, whose can-do attitude and knack for spying a good hire keep Stella Nova Spa Salon and Barrelli Barber in Charleston, South Carlina constantly growing.
The Manager: Laran D’Eustanchio, regional manager
Nominated by: Peter Evans, owner of Stella Nova Spa Salon and Barrelli Barber in Charleston, South Carolina
Date of Laran's Hire: March 1996
Salon Today: What was Laran’s background or experience which made you believe she’d be a great manager?
Evans: “Laran has worked for me for 29 years, and while she did not have a lot of experience in our industry, I recognized her as being bright, hard-working, and willing to do whatever it took to succeed and complete the task at hand. She grew within our company from when we were only one location, working as a front desk receptionist, telephone scheduler and assistant manager. As she became a manager, she has helped us growth the business and open new locations, and now she is our regional manager of three Stella Nova locations and four Barrelli Barber barbershops which we opened eight years ago.”
ST: What makes Laran a great manager?
Evans: “She has the attitude that whatever it takes, she will do it. She is a wonderful leader and very adept at hiring the right people. She follows directions well and always takes responsibility for her actions. She truly has helped to grow the businesses where we are today with more than 100 employees and seven total locations. She’s helped to build this company to a $10 million business.”
ST: How is she compensated?
Evans: “She is compensated with an annual salary, and was gifted a partnership in the barbershops. Laran also gets yearly bonuses, a car allowance, a company credit card, covered travel expenses and more.”
ST: What are the most important tasks Laran takes on?
Evans: “Her most important tasks are hiring, training, coaching and mentoring. I consider them all in one. She is a great leader and role model to the team.”
ST: How is she held accountable for the business’ performance?
Evans: “We set monthly, quarterly and yearly goals, and basically she knows what we need to achieve to make these happen. She is held accountable if we don't make the goals--not in a negative way--but she takes it to heart just as I do, if we do not attain those goals.”
ST: How often do you meet with Laran, and what do you go over when you do?
Evans: “I meet personally with her once or twice a week, but sometimes maybe only a few times a month. But, we text throughout the day, and no matter what time of day or night if there is something that arises we are both available for each other.”
ST: What types of continuing education does Laran attend?
Evans: “She has attended events by The Salon Association, Aveda, Bumble and Bumble, R+Co and any other educational event she wants to attend.”
ST: How has this manager made your life and your business better?
Evans: “She has made my life so much easier because I do not have to be in the locations on a daily basis. I could leave for a month if I chose, and I’d know that the business would be absolutely in the best hands. While she claims that I have been a great mentor to her, I have equally learned so much from her over the years. Quite honestly, without her hard work and great effort, our company would not be where it is today.”
If you have a manager you'd like to nominate for this series, learn more here.
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.
