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
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SEARCHMENUSEARCHAs our 15th annual SALON TODAY 200 issue goes to press, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek at this year's cover.
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.
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.
Over the past year, the SALON TODAY team has had multiple opportunities to interact face to face with salon owners, including Serious Business, ISSE, America's Beauty Show, the Premiere Orlando Beauty Event, and most recently the Harms Millennium UGC. Each time, we've solicited feedback from owners regarding the big changes we made to the SALON TODAY 200, and we addressed questions from owners about how the can improve their chances. In an effort of fairness, I wanted to share my advice with everyone!
When journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling were pardoned by the North Korean government and allowed to come home, I immediately turned on the morning news programs. I wanted to see the homecoming, hear the excited voices of their friends and feel the joy in the welcoming embraces from their families. I needed and craved the good news.
Although this year’s competition carefully considered other best practices, sales growth continues to be the hallmark measurement for the ST200. From 2007 to 2008, the following 100 honorees grew at percentages of 12 percent and above—quite an accomplishment in a year where a shaky economy rattled consumers and many companies posted losses.
The best way to infuse cash into your business is to get a tighter grip on what you keep in inventory. These ST200 honorees have mastered just-in-time ordering and eliminated the guesswork and waste by using sophisticated inventory systems.
Boosting retail sales is the easiest way for salons to grow their profitability. These ST200 honorees have perfected their retail systems, meticulously trained staff members and designed competitions to keep team spirit alive.
Not only is being green good for the environment, it makes good business sense. These ST200 honorees implement green practices in every way, from the construction of their location to their operations to the philanthropies they support.
Sophisticated software, paging systems, call centers, communication via social networking—technology continues to shape the way salons do business. These ST honorees have embraced all kinds of advancements and proved that technology boosts the bottom line.
Getting your message heard has more to do with your creativity than it does the actual budget you spend. These ST200 honorees created campaigns that got them noticed—bringing new clients through the front door and selling them more product and services while they’re in the chair.
Learning never ends, and these ST200 honorees prove that advanced education fuels the creative and technical fires. They bring in high-profile educators, support their staff’s outside educational pursuits and encourage the sharing of new knowledge with both the team and the clients.
The future of every salon rests on its ability to recruit, and then train, top talent. Determined to grow their own staff, the following ST200 honorees developed ways to recruit from cosmetology schools, honed their exhaustive selection systems and implemented strategic training programs.
A genuine smile, a light refreshment, an invigorating scalp massage--in the new economy, going above and beyond is the new customer-service, standard. These ST200 honorees...
“Guests become Premiere Club members by making a one-time payment of $25 and thereafter accrue two percent of the total they spend annually.
What makes a salon a fabulous place to work?
The Valedictorian, Most Likely to Succeed, All-Star Athlete, Most Popular—every graduation class has their list of those who led the group in areas of excellence.