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SEARCHLeverage these trends that define the 2010 marketplace to get the most from your service menu and to shape recommendations for your clientele.
Leverage these trends that define
the 2010 marketplace to get the
most from your service menu and
to shape recommendations for
your clientele.
CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM: Indications that the worst of the recession is over has consumers beginning to anticipate more prosperous times. Reflecting the gradual and spotty nature of the recovery, they're moving forward slowly and thinking through their purchases, but they are buying.
AGELESSNESS: Everything from home decor to fashion design is taking age out of the equation. Individual taste and needs are driving marketplace behavior; consumers will not heed warnings that something is "too old" or "too young" for them.
INSTANT ACTION:Very few things are worth the wait to today's consumers. Through online "status updates" and texting, they've grown accustomed to immediate communication, information and gratification.
PRACTICALITY: Separating wants from needs, consumers no longer use their wish list as justification for spending; multifunctional products and services that deliver tangible benefits will be in high demand. Luxury is still in play when it's viewed to have value, but this year you won't see much indulgence or showing off.
FLEXIBILITY: Consumers want the freedom to express all facets of their look and personality. They thirst for information in how to transform themselves back and forth from day to evening, blonde to brunette, long to short.
EMBEDDED GENEROSITY: Between the high unemployment, plummeting property values and earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, consumers are sensitive to the misfortunes of others. They expect profitable companies to incorporate giving and community service into the everyday fabric of doing business.
ECO-EASY: People appreciate any simple ways for them to do their part in preserving the earth's resources. All things being equal, they will choose environmentally friendly products and processes.
URBANISM:City chic continues to draw interest. People like to be seen as sophisticated; they want access to culture and crave to be among the first to learn what's hot in the music and fashion of the street.
CONNECT TO
BUILD BUZZ
Delighting clients with new service options and revolutionary products
will give you a competitive edge and land you on top of one more trend
that will continue to dominate: the online buzz. Social networking sites
and online customer reviews give the traditional word-of-mouth an
instant, viral shot of adrenaline that reaches far beyond your community.
Use your own Facebook or Twitter accounts to let them know of new
service opportunities and to share good feedback. It's your clients who
will be the final arbiters in determining your reputation. Make sure they're
tweeting with a smiley face.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
