A Partner in Business and in Life
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
by Stacey Soble
Salons of the Year 2012 Winners
A summary of the Salons of the Year winners.
by Staff
June 1, 20122 min to read
IN AN EFFORT TO ELEVATE THE WORLD OF BEAUTY AND SOLIDIFY CLIENT LOYALTY, THIS YEAR’S SALONS OF THE YEAR HONOREES DESIGN THE CLIENT EXPERIENCE RIGHT INTO THE DECOR.
A PLAYFUL IN-SALON PHOTO STUDIO that beckons clients to capture their new looks. Built-in experience centers that encourage retail interaction. Lather lounges that transform the shampoo into a relaxing encounter. Chairside appointment booking and checkout services reminiscent of an Apple Store. Color bars that invite clients into color chemistry, thereby boosting color productivity and profitability.
In a revealing new trend, this year’s SALONS OF THE YEAR not only constructed gorgeous, well-planned and productivity enhancing spaces, they designed salons and spas that wove the client experience right into the decor, thereby elevating customer service and infusing their businesses with a heightened degree of professionalism.
The Judging Process
The judging for SALONS OF THE YEAR takes place in three phases. First, the SALON TODAY team reviews and quali¬ties each of the entries, by examining application forms and photography. Next, a panel of editors and art directors evaluate each entry in further detail, selecting a group of finalists. Finally, the panel of expert judges scrutinize essays and evaluate seven to 10 images from each finalist, scoring them in seven different décor categories. Judge’s scores were combined and used to determine the grand-prize winner, the runners up and the Salons of Distinction.
Grand-Prize Winner: Ginger Bay Salon and Spa
AT FIRST GLANCE, the interior of Ginger Bay Salon and Spa in Town and Country, Missouri, simply reads gorgeous.
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First Runner Up: Shin
WHEN SHIN AN MOVED to Chicago from her hometown in Wisconsin in 1993, she met architect and designer Suhail and was immediately inspired by his passion and creative vision.
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Second Runner Up: Bespoke Hair Artisans
WHEN LISA WILLIAMS named her salon, she was inspired by the English tradition of “bespoke” tailoring, a term coined after a group of London tailors who created custom designs for each client.
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Third Runner Up: Roca Salon & Spa
RHONDA AND ROD CAVNER admit they take a little secret pleasure in observing new clients as they come into Roca Salon and Spa.
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Salons of Distinction
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