MENU
SEARCHHaving been at Thompson and Co. Salon Parlor for nine of its 10 years in business, Manager Lauren Marck has been instrumental in helping Owners Kayla and Bobby Thompson expand and launch a barbering concept. Her background in communications and marketing helped shape the brand's identitiy.
Lauren Marck of Thompson & Co. Salon Parlor takes a selfie.
SALON TODAY's Meet the Manager series celebrates the managers, team leads and directors in the industry who work to maintain the vision and goals of salon, spas and barbershops. In today's profile, we meet Lauren Marck, who has been at Thompson & Co Salon Parlor nine of its 10 years in business, helping build the brand as it adds new locations and a barbershop concept.
The manager: Lauren Marck
Nominated by: Bobby and Kayla Thompson, owners of Thompson & Co Salon Parlor in Iowa City, Iowa
Date of Hire: April 2016
SALON TODAY: What in Marck’s background made you believe she’d be a good manager?
Kayla Thompson: “She has a degree in Communication Marketing and Writing with a minor in Public Relations from the University of Iowa. She is very loyal, structured and a charismatic leader. We can always count on her to work in the best interest of the company."
ST: What are the three most important tasks she takes on at the salon?
Thompson: "Staff relations, client relations, and social media/marketing."
ST: How is she held accountable for the performance of the business?
Thompson: "We oversee the tasks she handles to ensure everything is being done and running smoothly. We also conduct a yearly review to support her continuous growth within the company."
ST: How often do you meet with Mark, and what do you discuss?
Thompson: "We talk daily, as we often are in the salon together, as well as communicate through phone and email. If she has a list of questions or concerns that need to be addressed, she will create a document laying them out so we can go through and answer them accordingly."
ST: What type of continuing education do you offer this manager?
Thompson: "We often take Lauren with us to hair shows or educational outlets to ensure she stays up to date on all things related to our industry. She has also been able to attend multiple leadership conferences for her own personal growth and development."
ST: How has Marck helped you personally or professionally?
Thompson: "Lauren has been with Thompson & Co. for nine of the 10 years we have been in business. In those nine years, we have expanded into two salon locations and one barbershop. She has been an integral part of our expansion. Laruen helps Bobby and I manage not only our team but also our business schedules, which allows us to focus on our staff and guests. She has helped build our brand into something unique through her social media and marketing presence. Lauren is always pushing herself to grow personally and professionally, and we are so lucky to have her as a part of our team and family.
Got a manager you'd love to celebrate? FIND OUT MORE and access our nomination application.
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.
