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Chicago's Charles Ifergan Builds Legacy Salon, Passes Leadership to New Generation
With three locations in Chicago, the Charles Ifergan Salon looks ahead at a transition of leadership as the founder turns over the reins of the company to the next generation--his children Olivia and Philippe.
by Staff
March 12, 2019
Philippe, Olivia and Charles Ifergan of the Charles Ifergan Salon, with three locations in Chicago.
3 min to read
In Chicago, the Charles Ifergan Salon on Oak Street, as well as two salons in upscale suburbs, hold special favor among fashionable clients looking for stylish and effortless French influence for their hairstyles.
Since 1973, Charles Ifergan, a native of Paris France, has focused on his clients’ needs by offering constant hair innovations while pursuing excellent service. For almost a decade the salon has exclusively partnered with Goldwell to provide exceptional color services for clients.
Now, a new Ifergan generation is poised to bring the venerable salon mini-chain into the future with new technology, training, website, an in-salon color and style “look-book”, design and more for the salon, its team and clients.
Olivia Ifergan grew up with a love of fashion and beauty. Her childhood birthday parties were held at the salon and she remembers her Dad reading Vogue and Bazaar in lieu children’s stories! After college, she took classes at the famed Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, she then returned to Chicago and announced to her parents she wanted to go to beauty school. She graduated from the Steven Pappageorge Academy and began assisting in the salon where she now leads trend and fashion training for stylists to keep the salons on the cutting edge.
As a young boy, Philippe Ifergan remembers days of sweeping floors at the salon. He went on to entrepreneurial positions in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, where he now resides. About five years ago, his father asked him to join the family business to take over Ifergan Salons’ marketing. Philippe jumped at the chance and now commutes to Chicago on a regular basis and manages brand marketing and product development.
In the past few years, the younger Ifergans have influenced the direction of the salon, while Charles maintains his behind the scene leadership as he slowly allows them to take the reins of his eponymous business. From revamping the website, clients’ and technicians’ Apps, updating the logo and retooling the technicians training, the influence of Olivia and Philippe have been noticed by clients, especially younger women who also appreciate the iPad LookBook they created and the rebranding of all price lists and cards in the salon.
As they move forward with new styling products and marketing ideas, the younger Ifergans are excited to continue to work so closely with Goldwell, which provides all color products used in the three salons.
“We used to have many color lines,” notes Charles, “which were difficult to manage and teach. Since we partnered with Goldwell we have reaped many benefits, as have our clients. Goldwell offers us excellent color products and extraordinary education benefits both inside and outside the salons. With our color director, George Zafiris’ expertise and Olivia’s sense and knowledge of upcoming trends, our color department is a ‘beehive” of creativity.’”
Olivia adds that their partnership with Goldwell allows for our amazing team of stylists to attend Goldwell Global Zoom in international cities and immerse themselves in hair trends and educational classes as well as a new country and culture. “Our staff works so hard and are incredibly talented so it’s amazing to be able to send them to Global Color Zoom for a chance to travel to new countries as well as attend and be inspired by the Goldwell artists that are there. We have been able to send about ten stylists and colorists to Barcelona two years ago, Stockholm last year, and Toronto this year.”
Philippe concludes: “Our vision is to preserve the French-influenced effortless beauty culture our father has created while making our salons an immersive experience full of creative energy.”
As the Ifergan Salons continue to evolve under the influence of Olivia and Philippe, one thing hasn’t changed. The focus remains on providing the finest color and styling services to clients seeking a bit of French flair in the center of America.
CLICK HERE to check out Charles Ifergan's blog focusing on Five Tips for a Smooth Generational Transition.
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