MENU
SEARCHWhen Hello Gorgeous! Salons' Lisa Fiorentino learned of the kindness of a stranger, she decided to pay it forward.
As the holidays approach, Lisa Fiorentino, co-owner of the Hello Gorgeous! Salons with seven locations throughout New Jersey, sent us this story about some real-life salon angels:
HaloSQ
"In the true meaning of the hoiiday spirit, we recently received a call to one of our Hello Gorgeous! salons from a caller who wanted to purchase a gift card. However, this was no ordinary purchase and it was no ordinary caller. This was a wish that an Angel was granting. Now, if you don't believe in real-life angels, I beg to differ, and I think this story will prove it to you.
"The caller spoke about wanting to help someone who was brought to her attention through a website called WishUponAHero.com. This website is a place where people can go to make a wish, or to grant a wish. In this particular case, the wish was made by a 15-year-old girl whose family had fallen on some hard times. She was asking fhat her mom be pampered at a salon in return for all the caregiving she had given to the girl and her sibling.
"After reading the wish, our caller decided to buy a gift card to a nearby salon for the mother. Can you imagine? They two never had meant, and with no questions asked, the caller purchased a $500 gift card and asked that our salon representative get in touch with the daughter and make it happen. Wow!
"When I arrived to the office that morning and was told what had just happened, not only did I feel blessed to have been chosen as the salon to pamper this mother, but I felt the need to pay if forward. So, we at the salon decided to match the gift.
"That afternoon, when the mother was in the salon receiving her services, our Operations Manager Michael introduced himself and presented her with the gift cards. During their conversation, the guest explained that she had no idea that her daughter had done this. About a year ago, she and her family had moved from Kansas to New Jersey. Since then, her husband had passed away and whe found herself unemployed, trying to take care of herself and two teenaged girls. Needless to say, she was overwhelmed.
"Every year in our salons, we look for families in our community to help. Each salon sets up their 'adopted' family with everything they need from presnets to dinner and dessert. This is in lieu of a salon Pollyanna. As salon professionals, we are Daymakers. Having a website like Wishuponahero.com reminds us all what the season is about, and gives us all a chance to be real-life angels.
"Happy Holidays from Hello Georgeous! Salons!"
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.
