In 1953, Joe Hafetz founded Raylon Corporation in Reading, Pennsylvania. The company grew into one of the best known and most successful full service distributorships in the country. Hafetz selected the name for his new venture by combining the names of two of the distributorship’s first product lines, Rayette and Revlon.
Raylon was founded with only two employees but experienced steady grow through a philosophy of providing salon professionals with much more than products and supplies. Raylon focused on helping salons improve and build their business through educational and training support.
In 1975, Hafetz’s son, Howard Hafetz, became president of the company and continued the focus on becoming one of the industry’s top providers of education and training at the distributor level. Three years later, Raylon opened The Gallery, a new concept in advanced training for salon professionals. The Gallery was an educational center where hairdressers could learn first-hand from leading educators and platform artists. .
In 1983, the Hafetz family expanded upon the Raylon education programs by creating a media company and launching Salon Today magazine (now part of Modern Salon Media) which was the first publication to focus on salon business and management information. Raylon also published The New Psy-Cosmetologist, a book by psychologist and salon industry consultant Dr. Lew Losoncy which first explored the unique relationship between salon professionals and their clients.
Raylon created networking events where salon professionals could gather, share information, experience motivation and learn strategies for success. Their award-winning C.A.M.P. event was established in 1992 and its success continues 20 years later.
Staying focused on helping salon professionals navigate business issues unique to the industry, Raylon launched its Art of Business conference in 2000. Designed for salon owners and managers, the Art of Business recruits top business and motivational experts who attend the annual event and teach salon management principles and strategies.
The third generation of the Hafetz family took leadership of Raylon when Josh Hafetz became president in 2008.
Never resting on its business education laurels, Raylon created the Institute of Salon Management in 2012 as a four-day academy experience that teaches salon owners how to establish a comprehensive business plan for operating a successful salon.
Beyond its salon industry reputation, Raylon was voted one of the Top 100 Places to Work in Pennsylvania in 2011 and 2012.
In 2012, Raylon opened its 14th professional store, and in celebration of its 60th anniversary, will launch its first Beauty Palooza Show, which will be held September 20-22, 2013 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Visit raylon.com.
Check out the slide show of archival Raylon photos.
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