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SEARCHAs our 15th annual SALON TODAY 200 issue goes to press, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek at this year's cover.
As we shipped off our 15th annual SALON TODAY 200 issue to the printer just before the holidays, I thought we'd tease you a bit by sharing the cover with you.
For many years we featured a lovely model on our ST200 cover—choosing one we thought embodied a strong, confident owner. But four years ago, we decided to make the ST200 honorees our cover stars, featuring owners from four different salons on each cover.
While most owners choose to send in shots of their entire team—and we love that they do, since they happily grace the rest of the pages in this issue—fewer take the extra step of getting a professional portrait shot of themselves. While we strive to select owners representing different salon sizes and geographic regions, our biggest cover consideration is the quality of the portrait of the owners and how it fits with our other selections on the page.
Let me introduce you to the owners on this year's cover:
The founders of the Grand Salon concept, Charles and Debra Penzone own the Charles Penzone Salons and Spas, with six locations based in Columbus, Ohio. This year, they captured ST200 honors in Marketing, Education, Customer Service, Philanthropy, Recruitment and Training and Technology.
James Amato and Terry McKee prove that growth is still possible, even after 30 years in business. The owners of Nuovo Salon and Spa in Sarasota, Florida, take home an ST200 honor in Growth this year.
Hailing from Canada, Eveline Charles is driven by words from her favorite poem, "Think big and your deeds will grow." She's proven her point, as she's built her business from a one-woman operation into a multi-million dollar corporation with nine salons and spas and an academy, headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta. This year, the salon captures an ST200 honor in customer service.
Always armed with a fresh idea that she's willing to share, Inez Gray owns Habitude Salons and Spas with two salons and an academy in Seattle, Washington. This year, the salon captures ST200 honors in Retail and Merchandising, Compensation and Benefits, and Technology.
To meet all our ST200 honors, look for the digital edition of 15th annual issue, out this week.
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.
