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SEARCHThe lives of all salon professionals revolve around the calendar.
The lives of all salon professionals revolve around the calendar. Whether paper or electronic, the appointment books of hairdressers and estheticians contain clients’ visit times and pertinent notes, while salon owners mark dates to prepare taxes, complete budgets, pay bills, hold staff meetings, order products, place ads and perform myriad other tasks that must be done on time.
January
Most likely you and your staff have at least one New Year’s resolution in common—to turn a bigger profit in 2008 than ever before. That requires some serious goal-setting. Try designing a datebook for you and your staff! Below, we’re starting you off with a few ideas for January:
January 3-5: Down comes the holiday tree! Replace holly and tinsel with a cottony-white display of skin care creams to battle dry skin. Run a retail special for clients who book manicures, pedicures or facials.
January 6-7: Review last year’s Valentine’s Day sales and order appropriate supplies of gift cards, baskets and products. For a fragrant twist on hearts-and-flowers decorating, stock up on soap roses and rose petals in reds or pastels. Your decorations will double as popular retail items! And don’t forget to start booking those couples massages. Market them to male clients for a Valentine’s Day gift his sweetheart won’t forget!
January 12-14: Send your best clients an incentive to refer potential regulars for 2008—a half-off pedicure when they bring in a friend, or a coupon good for a bottle of shampoo when they send in two referrals for services. And if they pre-book for their next appointment, offer a 10% discount on retail.
January 17-18: Start advertising your Valentine’s Day packages and specials. Whether you offer a cozy couples massage, yummy chocolate pedicure or full makeover and photo session, get the word out through the local paper, radio spots, direct mail and your website. Did you create a database of customers who bought holiday gift certificates? Tap into it and send them an update about your Valentine’s Day offerings.
January 25-29: The summer’s brides are already planning, so you should be, too. Take a booth in a bridal show, and call your local bridal magazine or the newspaper’s Sunday supplement to find out the advertising deadlines. Entice brides to be and their bridal parties with little extras like champagne and strawberries, early hours or a private room.
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.
