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SEARCHIn 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.
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.
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.
