ISBN 2014 Preview: The Business of Being Social

The 2014 conference for the International Salon and Spa Business Network is making an encore performance May 4-6th at the enchanting Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California. With the decidedly forward-thinking theme of “The Business of Being Social,” attendees, who represent the owners of multi-location salon and spa operations, will focus on timely strategies to help their businesses grow in the near future.

On the Stage: With close to two decades of experience in the online and digital space, Keynote Speaker Chris Brogan will offer insight on how to integrate different digital channels into salon business practices to improve marketing, sales, and ongoing support. Attendees will learn what’s necessary to build out a strong and useful website, what to do online to drive more traffic and business to the site, and how to build useful media and information to secure more opportunities.

In “Connected CRM: Delivering on a Data-Driven Retail Business Strategy,” Mike Mojica, Merkle’s executive vice president and general manager of retail, will demonstrate how to tie customer data to business decision-making to create a fundamental shift in the retail organization by placing the customer at the heart of the business strategy. Mojica will discuss the importance of an organization’s ability to understand consumer behavior, and how to use that knowledge to create personalized experiences that drive long-term customer value and sustainable competitive advantage.

After inviting attendees to complete a quick survey, Dr. Shalom Saada Saar plans to dive deep into their businesses with his discussion on “Leading a High-Performance Salon Spa.” Saar will explore the fundamentals of compelling leadership and how it can enhance the quality of the staff, engage customers and sustain a profitable enterprise. He will discuss the importance of balance between the technical role of operating salons/spas and the people side of running a successful business.

Each of the three speakers also will lead strategic workshop sessions, allowing attendees to pursue the interest of their choice in further detail.

Trend Talk: In addition to the main-stage speakers, ISBN attendees will dive deep into trends that impact the professional beauty industry in two separate sessions:

On Monday morning, ISBN board member Pat Neville, who own Beautyfirst Studio salons, Blobar salons and salon suites and is the senior director of business development for BSG, will lead an interactive, wide-ranging panel featuring some of the industry’s top leaders on the state of the beauty business.

Over lunch that day, Steve Reiss, publisher of MODERN SALON Media, will present “Beauty Industry Trends: Risks and Opportunities,” discussing current, macro and industry-specific trends that are impacting service providers, salon and spa owners, distributors and manufacturers.

ISBN Legend Award: This year, the association will present its distinguished Legend Award to Pat Parenty, president of L’Oreal USA professional products division and SalonCentric.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management from Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Parenty joined the Federated Department Store executive training program. In 1983, he joined the professional salon industry as a territory manager in the Northeast for Lamaur, Inc. Over the next several years, he held several positions with the company in sales and marketing, eventually assuming the position of vice president of the salon division in 1988.

Parenty joined L’Oreal’s professional products division as vice president of sales for Redken in 1997. He later became vice president, general manager for Redken in 2000, then senior vice president, general manager in 2002. Under his leadership, Redken had double-digit sales and profit growth as the company evolved its original DNA of innovative technology and strong education to create an inclusive culture that attracted salon stylists throughout the U.S. market.

In 2009, Parenty moved into his role as president of U.S. Brands, L’Oreal professional products division, overseeing the U.S. business for Redken, Pureology, Matrix, L’Oreal Professional, Mizani, Kerastase, Shu Uemura Art of Hair, L’Oreal Technique and Essie. In 2010, he was promoted to president, L’Oreal professional products division and SalonCentric.