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Salons work hard to pull in new clientele, but sometimes the solution is simpler than you think. Clever, colorful and — most of all — attention-grabbing sidewalk signs and art are an easy way to show your salon’s creativity and personality and draw in passersby.
BE FUNNY. Rooks Traditional Barbershop in Portland, Oregon, knows its audience. Owner Justin King opened the shop, which now has two locations in Portland, in 2009. They gained a following in part for being the only shop in the city to offer straight-razor shaves, as well as for their complimentary beer, whiskey, bourbon and scotch. It's clear that the folks at Rooks have a good grip on what their clientele is looking for, and the marketing strategy reflects that; men often don't care to schedule appointments, appreciate a good pun and know that Christopher Walken is the man.
BE RELATABLE. To keep interest piqued in the small college town of San Luis Obispo, California, District 96 Salon owners Shannon Hillhollon, Mary Moore and Dave Bourbon typically re-chalk their sidewalk sign once a week. "But this one, drawn by stylist Jeni Torres, was so popular, we left it up longer," says receptionist Kim Handel. "People were stopping and taking pictures with it and popping their heads in to compliment us on the sign." Although Handel doesn't know how much walk-in traffic the signs actually generate for the salon, she says they definitely encourage some positive chatter about the salon around town. BE SENSITIVE. With 23 locations in 10 states, Blo dry bar franchise is growing fast. But before blowing into a new location--such as the Chelsea neighborhood of New York where a 12-station salon will open in late-April--the company wants to make it clear to both potential guests and neighboring salons that they respect the bond that clients already have with their existing hairdressers. "It's important to us to establish great relationships with the salons and hairdressers who surround our locations--in fact, we plan on referring interested clients to them for cuts and color," says Hilary Chan-Kent, chief brand officer. "We market ourselves as the neighborhood destination for maintaining salon-quality locks in between trips to the hairdresser." This message carries through on blomedry.com, which states: "Scissors are verboten. Dye, ditto. No cuts, no color: Just wash, blo and go."
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.
