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SEARCHHigh-tech and high-fashion go hand-in-hand at this cutting-edge beauty haven.
High-tech and high-fashion go hand-in-hand at this cutting-edge beauty haven.
In case the big-wigs behind New York City Fashion Week haven't heard, the J. Bentley Studio & Spa, located about 15 miles northwest of Columbus, Ohio, could give Bryant Park a run for its money. The 6,000 square-foot space features a 40-seat theater where a stage and fashion runway regularly play host to models donning local designs.
"We were really looking for that fashion connection," explains J. Bentley owner John Paton. "The color, seasons and looks of the fashion industry had to be part of our design. It was meant to be colorful, artistic and a little unusual."
But fashion is just one part of J. Bentley's design equation. Technology is also front-and-center in this warm, chai latte-hued space. After salon clients are coiffed to perfection, stylists take a digital snapshot of their finished look and store it in their virtual library. Flat-screen monitors next to each styling station can quickly recall past looks.
"People love this," Paton says. "It takes away this myth that the stylist will always remember what you look like."
Despite the strip-mall setting, Paton and his associates managed to include posh lounging areas for both male and female clients, in addition to a sprawling mani-pedi area, a bustling salon floor and, of course, the theater.
"Our ideas were bigger than the building," Paton says. "We could've easily filled up twice the space."
Owner: John Paton
Location: Powell, Ohio
Opened: September 2007
Total square feet: 6,000
Salon setup: 18 styling stations, 6 treatment rooms, 8 manicure/pedicure stations
Construction time: 10 months
Construction cost: $2 million
Equipment/installations: Belvedere, Sofa Express
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."
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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.
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Sponsored by Beautista
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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.
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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.
