MENU
SEARCHAfter losing three great stylists to booth rental salons, Sheila Barco and Jen Tryon, owners of the employment-based Salon Rootz in Medina, Ohio, created their own experience for free-spirited, successful stylists who were ready to be their own ...
The individual suites at Endz show off their stylists' personality.
After losing three great stylists to booth rental salons, Sheila Barco and Jen Tryon, owners of the employment-based Salon Rootz in Medina, Ohio, created their own experience for free-spirited, successful stylists who were ready to be their own entrepreneurs.
In early 2015, the duo opened Endz Salon Studios, a luxury suite concept in the same shopping plaza as their Salon Rootz salon. Salon Today wrote about the hybrid concept when they opened, and we decided to check in one year later to see how they were doing.
ST: Remind us, why did you open Endz?
Barco and Tryon: “We opened Endz Salon Studios in February 2015 to keep up with the ever-changing salon industry. We wanted to give our stylists who were maxed out in a commission-based setting a place to grow. It was our way to keep our talent under our umbrella since we had trained and invested in them.”
ST: What was your team’s reaction to Endz?
Barco and Tryon: “The team was excited and unsure. No one was completely sure how it would play out. We didn’t know what to truly expect, and we took a risk and a huge leap of faith.”
ST: How many of your Rootz team moved to Endz?
Barco and Tryon: Four of our stylists moved there, and 12 stylists joined Endz from the outside.
ST: What do you think of this decision now?
Barco and Tryon: “It was the best decision we could have made. Instead of losing out on oour top stylists, we feel our corner of the plaza contains the best stylists in Northeast Ohio. We now try to coach and encourage all of the girls to become the best they can, even if it means moving from Rootz to Endz. Our mission statement is: ‘Growing Stylists from Rootz to Endz.’”
ST: How has it changed the dynamics of your group?
Barco and Tryon: “There is no longer a cap on what you can achieve being a part of our Rootz-Endz community.”
ST: How do you handle joint activities, such as salon meetings and education?
Barco and Tryon: “Renters are not required to attend any education, but they are invited. We do not have meetings at Endz, but communicate via GroupMe, a group text messaging platform. Our door is always open for one-on-one coaching, which some of the independent stylists take us up on.”
ST: What do your renters think of the arrangement?
Barco and Tryon: "The feedback is nothing short of fabulous. They are earning more, and seeing larger tips due to more personal attention. Many believe it’s the best decisions of their career."
ST: Do you market and promote Endz, or is that up to them?
Barco and Tryon: “Yes, we fully market them, however they also may do it on their own.”
ST: How do you explain the situation to clients, and how have they reacted?
Barco and Tryon: “Clients were confused at first, and we just explained it as it is. Endz is an opportunity for stylists who want to do their own thing.”
ST: Is the opportunity to move to Endz open to any stylist on your team, or do they need to meet a set of requirements?
Barco and Tryon: “Endz is open to anyone on our team. We do coach interested stylists so that they know when they are ready.”
ST: What if more people want to move over to Endz than you have space for?
Barco and Tryon: We have a waiting list now. We have never stopped marketing Endz, even though we are capacity. Endz 2 is a possibility.”
ST: What are your plans to grow your business from here?
Barco and Tryon: “Right now, our plan is to keep researching our industry and grow with how we predict the future is growing. If that’s another Endz, that’s awesome or if it’s another Rootz, that’s great. We feel the future is bright.”
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.
