A Partner in Business and in Life
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
by Stacey Soble
Generation Flux
The cover story of Fast Company’s November 2014 issue introduces readers to Generation Flux, a group of people who are “defined not by their chronological age but their willingness and ability to adapt. These are the people who are ...
November 6, 2014
The Headlines team work on a model for their Art is Alive event.
1/4
2 min to read
The cover story of Fast Company’s November 2014 issue introduces readers to Generation Flux, a group of people who are “defined not by their chronological age but their willingness and ability to adapt. These are the people who are defining where business and culture are moving. And, purpose is at the heart of their actions.” Fast Company Editor Robert Safian goes on to say that Flux-friendly companies, like Apple, Chipotle, Google, Pepsico and Eileen Fisher, are motivated more by the pursuit of a larger societal purpose than by money. “The more they focus on something beyond money, the more money they make,” he writes.
This article was on my mind as I recently traveled to Eufora’s International Leadership Conference in Los Angeles, where I presented the 40 best ideas of STAMP (SALON TODAY’s Annual Marketing Program) to a room full of salon owners. The morning before the presentation I ran into Gayle Fulbright, the owner of Headlines The Salon in Encinitas, California, in the lobby of the hotel. Gayle would be sharing the classroom with me later that morning, with a presentation on event marketing, so we spent some time comparing notes.
I told Gayle about Generation Flux, and she immediately shared the value of creating a salon environment attractive to Fluxers. “One of my newest hires is only 23 and already knows she wants to be bigger than the career she can build behind the chair,” Gayle said. “She told me she was attracted to our salon because of the philanthropic work we do and because we frequently expand our team’s creativity through editorial photoshoots.”
In fact, that very week, Gayle’s team was hard at work preparing for an Art is Alive event. Partnering with a local magazine that does an art issue every October, they planned an event where the team took a local artist’s imagery and recreated the art on live models through hair and makeup. Proceeds from the event helped fund Headlines participation with Hello Gorgeous (hellogorgeous.org), a non-profit organization that provides complimentary, professional makeovers and cosmetic education to women battling cancer.
“I always hire right out of cosmetology school and grow my own talent—graduates used to be attracted to us because of the advanced education we provide,” said Gayle. “But now they want to be more than talented hairdressers, they want to spread their wings and have no ceiling on their careers.”
As for me, I plan to continue poking around this concept of Generation Flux, and would love to hear your thoughts on building a salon environment that is attractive to Fluxers. Email me ssoble@vancepublishing.com.
[[photogallery:25085]]
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
Back to Business with the Pinstripe Trend
Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
by Stacey Soble
5 Essential Hair & Beauty Industry KPIs And How to Master Them
The strongest salons, spas, and med spas know which numbers tell the real story of their business. In this practical guide, Phorest breaks down the five essential KPIs every business should track to improve retention, boost revenue, and make smarter decisions with confidence.
Sponsored by Phorest
Bella Style Salon's Ride or Die
At Bella Style Salon in Slidell, Louisiana, Director of Operations Angela Meyer tackles inventory, team management, and guest relations. Read all about her in our latest Meet the Manager.
by Stacey Soble
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
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