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SEARCHClient referral programs, retail incentives, working with assistants, and employee bonus programs--SALON TODAY recommends a list of stories that all aim to bring more profit to the bottom line.
A consistency in coaching regarding the service/retail conversation with clients yields a higher average retail ticket in the Tangerine Salons.
SALON TODAY provides best practices and a community for owners so they can run more efficient, more profitable businesses. This month, we spotlight four trending stories on how to drive profits through your staff, retail, referrals and motivational techniques. See recaps of each story below and corresponding links.
To enhance your business education even more, visit avedameansbusiness.com for articles and tips on growing your salon
Motivators that Work: Healthy Competition and Bonus Clubs
Salon owners explore new methods to motivate their stylists. The result? A bigger bottom line.
At Bella Style Salon in Slidell, Louisiana, owner Jen Baudier created a six-figure club for stylists who hit $100k in services in one year.
“I offered a $1,000 bonus on the spot when a service provider reached $100k in annual services,” she says.
Baudier attributes her staff’s success and motivation to reach this goal to her intense focus on individual growth.
“I broke it down to the day and told them, you need to add a person here, or three conditioning treatments there—I was really specific.”
Assistants Drive Profit, Period.
Owner Ricky Blount isn’t interested in growing his assistants into stylists. His salon is too small to support any more stylists. Instead, assistants join Ricky and his wife Ginny with the clear understanding they will receive amazing experience and will be able to move on to the salon of their choice when they’re ready.
This system allows the Blounts to see 30-32 clients per day, five days a week, between the hours of 7:45 am-6:30 pm.
Learn more about this profitable couple and their small, but mighty business.
Stylist Adds $25k, Books Out Salon
When John Souza of M Salon Experience at the Loop participated in a referral contest, in his wildest dreams he didn’t think he’d end up with so many clients he needed to give some to his colleagues.
“It got to the point where I would just do a consult and give the client to someone else,” he says.
Ultimately, Souza’s success benefited the whole business.
M Salon owner Allison Agresta says, “We grew our services by $101,655 from 2015-2016, and our retail numbers by $23,477. That’s a total of $125,132 in growth for the entire year.”
Full Circle: The Retail Conversation from Consultation to Checkout
Salon owners share the strategic retail conversations they have with clients throughout the entire appointment.
At Tangerine Salons in the Dallas area, consistency in coaching the service/retail conversation has yielded an average retail ticket above $12 in each of its five locations, with one location hitting $18-20.
“It has become a culture thing,” Tangerine Operations Director Lauren Radoncic says. “Everyone can see where they rank in retail on our board and know if they need to step it up.”
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.
