MENU
SEARCHSeeking a way to make her 900-square-foot salon even more productive, Tammy Erhbaker designs a communal station system that also promotes camaraderie.
The new communal station at NVS Salon promote camaraderie while boosting productivity.
After outgrowing their former location, Tammy Ehrbaker and Stathis Kotanidis, owners of NVS Salon and Spa in Bel Air, MD, bought property in January 2016 at a major intersection and dreamed up plans to make their new salon more productive and efficient.
“In the old location, we had eight stations and 11 stylists—with eight stylists having their own station and the other three working out of carts,” Ehrbaker explains. “When stylists had a day off, it was inefficient to have those sitting, and I found myself not hiring really great stylists because we didn’t have the room.”
Desiring a more efficient system, Ehrbaker broached the topic of designing communal stations into the new space with a skeptical staff. The front of the communal station has a full-length mirror, and the right side holds all the tools.
“Stylists no longer have a specific station. The salon bought the blowdryers, curling irons, combs, clips and brushes, and we supply the product at each communal station,” Ehrbaker says. “When a stylist comes to work, all they need to grab are their personal shears and they can work at any station. A cubby designed into the left side of the station allows each stylist to store any extra supplies she brings for the day.”
The communal design gives the salon the ability to have each station working from open to close. “We now have nine stations and 21 working stylists, and they are happy,” Ehrbaker reports. “The new design reduces stylist complaints because everything is communal and the ability to stand next to someone new every day promotes camaraderie.”
In addition, the new design makes it easier for the salon to hire a new stylist who only wants to work a few days a week. “This design has been good for the salon, the stylists and the team as a whole,” Ehrbaker says.
In Kati Whitledge's latest blog, she shares how salons have moved away from dress codes and embraced appearance standards. But by removing strict dress codes, some businesses may have unintentionally lowered their appearance standards. Whitledge helps you explain to your team why an appearance standard is important and how to smoothly implement a new appearance policy.
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for for-profit businesses that provides a financial incentive for eligible employers who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Leticia Skrabut, Esq., walks you through how to claim that credit.
Developing strong work habits early in one's career supports long-term success in the salon industry. Jesse Linares offers new stylists his top five tips.
Most salon owners have no idea what these numbers are. You can hit record sales and still have a profit problem. The difference comes down to four numbers almost nobody was taught to track.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
A five-area audit every owner-dependent salon needs to run. You built something that looks successful. Now find out if it can survive without you.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Every month you put off fixing the problem, it gets bigger, more expensive, and harder to solve.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
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.
Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
