"We pride ourselves on hiring for attitude and teaching the talent," says
Melissa Huetter, owner of Indigo Salon Spa & Boutique in Canton, Michigan.
"We hold strong to our belief that if you have the drive and dedication
there isn't a thing you can't learn or perfect through extensive
training programs.
"From hire to retire we focus on our culture more than
anything else. We start by relaying our mission during the
interviewing process. We are very strict on our policies and
this allows us to uphold the environment our management
team has worked hard to develop.
"During the interviewing process we discuss what can
be expected from us as a leadership team, down to every
detail of what's expected as an employee. Indigo's philosophy
is that extreme clarity is the key to success."
Adam Federico
"A salon's number-one priority should be the culture and climate, as they
are of utmost importance," says Adam Federico, owner of AJF Salon in
Sacramento, California.
"At AJF we protect and closely guard the existing culture
of the salon. We have several core beliefs that are not to be
compromised: customer service, teamwork and above all-
passion for our craft. To maintain these standards we do not
hire from the outside. Instead, we have structured a rigorous
assistant program. Without completing this program,
you may not be a stylist at AJF Salon. We consider our assistant
program not only a means for advanced education
but also an initiation into the salon.
"Our 15-month assistant program includes an evaluation at
the six-month mark, and at that time we assess salon compatibility.
We do this in order to maintain a superior level of craftsmanship
as well as maintaining a strong AJF family."
Amanda Williams
"First, I meet as many applicants as possible," says Amanda
Williams, owner of Arabella Salon & Spa in Portland,
Oregon, and recent Davines' Premier Eco-Salon winner. "I
pick honesty and kindness over attitude any day. There
is only room for diva clients-not diva staff. Don't get me
wrong, I encourage individualism and creativity but I know
it can coexist in kind people. Next, I invite them to spend
a day styling friends and family. My staff and I can check
them and they get to check out our culture.
"I take a long time to hire and I encourage growth. We
inspire one another to do better all the time and we have
a blast doing it."
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