The Constant
Starting at Impressions front desk in 2006 when he was 19 years old, General Manager Paul Petrowsky is a seasoned professional who owner Sarah Taylor says is responsible for much of her own success.
by Stacey Soble
Facing Forward
In addition to technical education, there’s a wealth of business education at the 2012 Long Beach International Salon and Spa Expo, January 28-30.Salon today tapped three ISSE business speakers to preview their teachings.
by Salon Today Staff
November 1, 20113 min to read
LOUIS MATTASSI
EMPOWERING YOU
AS THE NEW YEAR APPROACHES, it’s time to set your 2012 goals. Action plans are the number-one secret to effective goal setting. All it will take is determination, and a realistic action plan. Through effective planning and developing realistic action plans for each of your goals, we can break down the unattainable into an attainable reality.
Success steps to create action plans:
A=Accountable. Hold yourself accountable to the goals you have set out to achieve in your business or personal lives.
C-Clarify your goals. What does the desired outcome look like? How will you know if you have reached your goal?
T=Timeline. Set deadlines for your goals. Prioritize key actions that must be achieved first.
I=Identify Needs. Identify outside resources to support you in achieving your goals.
O=Obstacles. Identify any obstacles that may get in your way of achieving your goals.
N=Navigate. Utilize your action plan on a daily, weekly, monthly basis to help you navigate and achieve your goals.
The key to remember is that action plans make goals happen. Here’s to a successful and empowering 2012.
CHARLES MARCUS
MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER/ BEST-SELLING AUTHOR
TODAY, SALON STAFFS are looking for more than a manager, they are looking for leaders who are visionary, empowering and encouraging.
Have meetings once a week with your team. Make sure you have a clear, concise agenda and timeline. Make sure there are minutes taken to share with people who cannot attend. Instead of you, the owner, doing most of the talking, let your staff have the floor. They must be comfortable to say what they would like, positive or negative. Share results, reinforce the “world-class” message and open the floor for ideas to improve, attract clients, sell more retail and build loyalty.
Encourage your employees to lead. Let them make their own decisions, take charge of their own destiny. Don’t micro-manage, motivate them.
Hire passionate people, people who are happy, of course talented but those who will fit in your group environment. One toxic unhappy employee can destroy everything. I always hired for attitude first and talent second.
Leadership does matter. How you create the environment and set the tone in your salon will be critical to your success. The old adage, “you can’t do it alone” rings so true.
LARRY KOPSA
KOPSA OTTE CPAS & ADVISORS
IN TODAY’S ECONOMY, it is more important than ever to put business practices in place that put money in the bank. We help struggling salons and spas change their business operations to become more profitable. Here are three easy strategies that improve cash flow.
Start thinking of yourself as a businessperson. The tools it takes to be a great hairstylist are not the same tools it takes to be a great businessperson. You need to have systems and strategies in place that will help you be more profitable.
Know your numbers. Whether you like it or not, your numbers are your score card. For example: How many clients do you need per week to keep the doors open or to be profitable? Are you back-bar costs in line? Learn how to calculate our gross profit percentage.
Don’t give the government too much. Make the time for tax-planning, so you aren’t overpaying your taxes. Common items that are missed that cost thousands of dollars in taxes are: meals and knowing which ones are 100% deductible, mileage, clothing, office in the home, family as a tax shelter, being in the wrong form of business and understanding the ‘primary purpose’ principle.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
The Most Wonderful Time in Salons and Spas
Planning is in full swing for the most anticipated events and promotions for the 2026 holidays. As owners share their favorite ways to celebrate, they prove that a carefully planned event can also build culture, increase client loyalty, boost sales, and set a business up for a successful 2027.
by Stacey Soble
Leading with Empathy, Humility and a Mastery of Systems
When things run amok at Mane Attraction Salon, Owners Chris and Jenny Knudsen say General Manager Sami Hernandez is their go-to resource and ultimate sounding board. Meet Sami in this installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
Pagoda Brings AI-Powered Operations to Skinovatio Medical Spa Locations
Pagoda, a new AI-native operating system for scheduling, payments, patient records, marketing, and client communications, launches at Skinovatio Medical Spa in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
by Staff
How Women are Rewriting the Rules of Grey Hair
At a panel discussion hosted by L’Oréal Professionnel in Paris in early July, French Philosopher Sophie Galabru explored the cultural shift where women are increasingly choosing natural, personalized color results over traditional grey coverage. In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Galabru and L’Oréal Professionnel Colorist Pierrick Beringer discuss this shift and how salons and colorists respond.
by Stacey Soble
Warm Leadership and Analytical Precision
At Salon Blonde, Director of Operations treats the staff as the salon's most important guests, while her wonderful 'nerdy' side, loves data, systems, and numbers. Find out how she makes Salon Blonde tick.
by Stacey Soble
Trotting the Globe, Forging Connections, Fostering Artistic Creativity
In an exclusive interview with SALON TODAY, Salon Owner Salvatore Minardi reflects on his past 18 months as Intercoiffure America Canada's World Talent Exchange Ambassador and how his experiences will help encourage cultural and artistic exchange and support greater engagement between ICA and the global organization Intercoiffure Mondial.
by Stacey Soble
Client Retention Guidebook
Everything you need to know about client retention as a salon owner.
Success Grown from Within
Owner Shelby Bills says her general manager, Sydney Osborne, reminds her of the power of leading with heart. Find out how Osborne became a great leader in our lastest installment of Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
How Salon Leaders Can Process the Pain and Lead Forward When a Team Members Leaves Unethically
In her latest blog, Kati Whitledge identifies the five stages salon owners go through when a team member leaves the salon unethically, offering advice for each stage.
How AI Is Closing Revenue Gaps for Salons and Spas
The beauty and wellness businesses pulling ahead aren’t just working harder—they’re using AI to capture demand, personalize pricing, and convert more of every guest interaction into revenue. Here’s what the benchmark data reveals about the growing gap between AI adopters and everyone else.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Premium Talent Magnet: The Modern Salon Playbook for Attracting Six-Figure Stylists
Stop chasing recruitment ghosts on generic job boards and start curating an elite team. Discover the framework that top-tier salons use to bypass phone tag, automate visual portfolio vetting, and attract high-earning, culture-first beauty professionals directly through real-time messaging. Turn your recruitment process into an exclusive brand invitation that keeps your highest-ticket chairs permanently filled.
Sponsored by Beautista
Five Revenue Leaks Hiding in Your Salon
Your calendar looks full, but is all of that demand actually converting to revenue? From phantom rebookings to underpriced peak hours, the 2026 Benchmark Report exposes five revenue leaks that most beauty and wellness businesses don’t even know they have.
Sponsored by Zenoti
The Heartbeat of Zandi K's Success
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.
by Stacey Soble
Rethinking Retail in the Era of E-Commerce
In a world dominated by e-commerce, salon owners push back with proven strategies to increase retail sales while motivating team members to educate their clientele and delighting clients with retail-themed events and clever merchandising displays.
by Stacey Soble
The Harper Ellis Hair Co. Certification Program Teaches Stylists a Smarter, Safer Way to Install Extensions
The company's Concealed Bead Method is raising the bar for what professional extension education can deliver.
by Staff
The Micro-Salon Blueprint: How Kat Scott Quadrupled Income by Maximizing Her Suite
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.
by Staff