Salon Today
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Gauge Your Salon's First Impression

Interior Designer Leslie McGwire helps you see your salon through others' eyes.

by Leslie McGwire
January 7, 2014
2 min to read


“You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

It’s a saying you’ve likely heard many times. But, think a moment about this concept and how it relates to the design or your salon or spa.

Ad Loading...

Each time a client walks through your doors, she forms an immediate opinion about your business. And, while that impression may later be shaped by the interaction the client has with the stylist and her experience in the chair, in those few moments that she walks in the door, she is forming an opinion about whether you are the kind of establishment that keeps up with current trends and is a luxurious place to de-stress or whether you are an outdated, second-rate facility.

Take a walk through your salon doors with a new set of eyes. What do you see?

Leslie McGwire, Allied, ASID (American Society of Interior Designers) has more than 29 years in business development, interior design, and sales and marketing services for the health, wellness, fitness, beauty, healthcare and hospitality environments and retail, salons, hotels, resorts and spa-based businesses. She is president of Leslie McGwire & Associates which specializes in the beauty and spa industry with hundreds of projects in the portfolio, including award-winning design. From concept to creations, McGwire offers premiere design services anywhere in the US or abroad. She also is an industry educator and a frequent speaker at trade shows. For more information, contact lesliemcgwire.com.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

More Salon Management

Paul Petrowsky, manager of Impressions

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.

Ad Loading...
Headshot of Sophie Galabru

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.

Ad Loading...
Cover of whitepaper

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

copy of the whitepaper cover

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

Cover of the whitepaper

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

Nicki Wenz (above) and Allison Stock of Zandi K Salon

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.

Ad Loading...