Awards & Contests
Get STAMPed!
Find out about STAMP, SALON TODAY's newest salon business competition which focuses on all things marketing. Download your application today!
by Stacey Soble
Oh, What a Night!
At a special reception held at the close of Serious Business in New Orleans, 72 salons accept their SALON TODAY 200 certificates and celebrate the competition's 15th anniversary.
by Stacey Soble
2012 Salon Today 200
On the surface, a SALON TODAY 200 salon looks like any other busy salon in your community. Its décor, music and energy attract its target market.
15 Years of Salon Business
In 2012, the competition that celebrates salon business success is celebrating its own milestone, as this year marks the 15th anniversary of the SALON TODAY 200. Before we look forward at this year’s honorees, we want to take you back for a look at the competition’s history:
Revealing the ST200 Cover
As our 15th annual SALON TODAY 200 issue goes to press, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek at this year's cover.
by Stacey Soble
How SALON TODAY 200 News Travels
In the 15 years of history of the SALON TODAY 200, the way salon owners share their exciting news has changed rapidly. Look at how they're telling the world now.
by Stacey Soble
Enter the 2012 Salon Today 200
The competition that was built on salon growth now stretches beyond it to examine all the best management practices that contribute to salon success. This year’s application includes 11 different competition categories.
Grand-Prizer Winner: Blo
OWNER BRYAN NUNES frequently tells his staff that space is Blo’s most valuable team member, and this was his guiding design principle when it came to doubling the Raleigh, North Carolina, salon’s square footage in its latest expansion. “I am a hairdresser deep down, and I firmly believe in creating a space that is conducive to a creative, stimulating, clean and ergonomically responsible work environment, which ultimately will lead to happy designers and lower turnover.”
First Runner Up: Stem Hair and Body Salon
BEFORE ANGELA WATNE and Suzanne Phelps moved their former small salon into its much bigger reincarnation, the duo dug in, did the research, and scouted locations for nearly two years before deciding on just the right space. “We finally found the space we needed in a nice strip mall, which has a movie theatre, several great retailers and easy highway access,” says Suzanne Phelps. “Our next goal was to create a space that felt like home.”
Second Runner Up: The Canyon Salon
FIRST IMPRESSIONS set the tone for the overall experience at The Canyon Salon. Just a few miles away from the modern-day movie town, the salon brings back memories of old Hollywood with its grand entrance area. Above a beautiful, tall, marble desk hang two chandeliers. And, a large mirror reflects the salon’s beckoning boutique.
Third Runner Up: Hawthorn Salon
WHEN JIM and Christie Stracke and Lea Laskowitz first conceptualized Hawthorn Salon, they may not have known exactly what they would create, but they had a firm grip on where they were going. “We wanted the space to be hip enough to attract a young artist, gender neutral enough to attract men and high-end enough to appeal to an upscale consumer,” says Jim Stracke. The owners accomplished their design goal with unusual materials and some twists to the typical salon design. Raw cypress wood, removed from the Florida swamps was used for the retail shelves, the reception desk and the shampoo bar. Embracing the local environment further, the color scheme was chosen to refl ect the Florida sunset. “The look of the raw materials always starts a conversation,” says Stracke. “It gives the salon a modern, distinct look that is not found in our local market.”
Salon of Distinction: 5 Salon & Spa
Fort Lee, New Jersey 5salonspa.com Owner: Larisa Miron Salon style: Urban sleek, modern, contemporary Square footage: 3,800 Styling stations: 12 Treatment rooms: 7 Equipment: Gamma & Bross Furniture: Gamma & Bross Total design ...
Salon of Distinction: 27 Hampton Salon
Southampton, New York 27hamptonsalon.com Owners: Bianka and James Lefferts Salon style: Eco-chic, sleek, warm Square footage: 1,600 Styling stations: 8 Treatment rooms: 1 Equipment: Belvedere, Freestyle Systems, Minardi Color Perfect Lighting ...
Salon of Distinction: Blo Salon
Shelby Township, Michigan theblosalon.com Owners: James Wheatley and Ryan Milo Salon style: Contemporary, sleek and upscale Square footage: 2,900 Styling stations: 19 Treatment rooms: 1 Equipment: Takara Belmont, Minardi Color Perfect Lighting ...
Salon of Distinction: Couture 360
Lake Zurich, Illinois couture360.com Owner: Rose DePaola Salon style: Urban, sleek Square footage: 3,600 Styling stations: 6 cut, 5 color Treatment rooms: 1 Equipment: Olymp 4010 Furniture: Pavillion, Freestyle Systems Total design investment: ...
Salon of Distinction: Elements Salon
Avon Lake, Ohio theelementssalon.com Owners: Mary and Aaron Velez Salon style: Modern, upscale, innovative Square footage: 2,500 Styling stations: 10 Equipment: Keller International, Takara Belmont, Gamma & Bross Furniture: Gamma & ...
Salon of Distinction: Genesis Hamilton Mill
Buford, Georgia salon124.com Owner: Brian Perdue Salon style: Creative energy Square footage: 3,000 Styling stations: 22 Equipment: Takara Belmont Furniture: Takara Belmont Total design investment: $360,000 Top retail lines: Redken, Nioxin, ...