Salon owners on the grow are constantly on the search for new salon services, products and management strategies to boost the bottom line. These honorees share the bright ideas that are driving their revenue growth.

Ginger Bay Salon & Spa
Kirkwood, MO
gingerbay.com
Laura A. Ortmann
SQUARE FEET: 10,000; 2,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 107
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $61
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda, Murad, Farmhouse Fresh
NAILCARE: CND, OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, ZeeZor, Web Openings, Spa Boom, Textel, Allworx, Salon Clouds
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, PBA
“Lash Lifts are generating $2014.60 per month, since launching. With costs of goods, payroll and backbar expense, we project 22% profit on these services. In September, we already had booked standing appointments for eyelash extensions and lifts into 2019.”

J.Nicolle Salon & Spa
New Albany, IN
jnicollesalon.com
Jennifer Kennedy
SQUARE FEET: 3,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 15
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $52
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda, Farmhouse Fresh
TECH SUPPORT: Salonbiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Green Circle
“Microblading, volume lash extensions and lash lifting are the services we added this past year. We did complimentary microblading on team members and offered introductory pricing for guests. Word of mouth and social media exposure were the biggest drivers for microblading, and our expertise in lash services is so proficient that other local salons have sought education through us.”

Lucky Hair Company
Canton, MI
luckyhairco.com
Melissa and David Coughlin
SQUARE FEET: 3,200
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 24
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $50
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
SKINCARE: Image
NAILCARE: OPI, CND
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salon
“We constantly devise new strategies to limit or repackage “not as profitable” services. For instance, our esthetician’s book was getting filled with waxing services. After a few strategic shifts to her schedule and booking strategies, more profitable facials are up 37%. We also successfully packaged lash tints with brow coloring services, for a 46% increase in color-related services in our esthetician’s room.”

Luxe Salon Spa & Laser Center
Rochester, NY
luxespa.com
Karen Pudetti
SQUARE FEET: 9,000
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 48
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $60
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: L’Anza, DevaCurl
COLOR: L’Anza, Pulp Riot, Wella
SKINCARE: Skin Ceuticals, Guinot, Aveda
NAILCARE: Footlogics, OPI, Young Nails
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: ISBN, ISPA, PBA
“A massage therapist recently pitched adding migraine therapy in response to client needs. After social media and in-salon marketing campaigns were launched, this provider’s book evolved to 50% migraine therapy, and we plan to add providers as demand grows. We project migraine therapy sales to exceed $25,000 in 2018. “

Penzone Salons + Spas
Powell, OH
penzonesalons.com
Debbie and Charles Penzone
SQUARE FEET: 13,000; 20,000; 12,000; 1,100; 2,100; 2,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 425
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $53
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Davines, Alterna, L’Anza, Evo
COLOR: Schwarzkopf, Davines
SKINCARE: Eminence, Jan Marini, Dr. Dennis Gross
NAILCARE: OPI, CND
TECH SUPPORT: SalonBiz, Digital Alchemy, Salon Clouds Plus
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, ISBN, PBA, Ohio State Board of Cosmetology
“Four months after opening our new in-salon café, we’d more than covered start-up costs and saw evidence of its strong, non-commission profit potential. Even more, we recognize how much food and beverage helps build the Penzone community and improve the overall experience of our guests.”

Randolph's Salon
Rochester Hills, MI
randolphssalon.com
Mary and Scott Randolph
SQUARE FEET: 3,000; 2,300; 1,700
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 88
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $46
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Google Drive
ASSOCIATIONS: Intercoiffure, 2 to 10, Summit Salons
“We realized that even though many of our stylists were certified, we had never fully committed to hair extensions. We decided on a brand, brought an educator in to certify 36 stylists, made sure communication, pricing and product ordering was consistent. Referrals generated from individual stylists’ and salon postings of before-and-after images have generated 85% of our extensions business.”

Salon Allure
Huntsville, AL
salonallurehuntsville.com
Paula Lecher and Michelle McGough
SQUARE FEET: 2,600
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 28
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $42
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Redken, Pureology
COLOR: Redken
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: OPI
TECH SUPPORT: Envision, Demandforce, Constant Contact
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA, Summit Salons
“We successfully launched a new hair restructuring service. We charge $30 for the service and $28 for the take-home products. We increased overall sales by 3% with minimal expense. Our team has seen an increase in chemical services sales, retention and retail as a result.”

Solaris Aveda
Evansville, IN
solarisaveda.com
Amy Carter
SQUARE FEET: 2,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 19
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $40
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: Essie
TECH SUPPORT: Salonbiz, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“We increased color business by 20% this past year and have set a target to grow another 20% in 2019. We’ve built on existing skills to create more beautiful, custom blonding. We also invested in training on DevaCurl services, men’s cutting and styling, and razor cutting.”

Soleil Salon and Spa
Windham, NH
soleil-salon.com
Luisa Garcia
SQUARE FEET: 3,800
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 22
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $45
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Aveda
COLOR: Deep By Aveda, Demi+ Aveda, Full Spectrum Aveda
SKINCARE: Aveda
NAILCARE: Opi
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Demandforce, ZeeZor, Salonclouds
ASSOCIATIONS: PBA
“Add-ons are offered in person, over the phone while appointments are booked and confirmed, through add-on pads received by clients to fill out or update at check-in, and on ‘Beauty on a Budget’ mirror cling menus at each station. Each add-on is priced less than $50 and are easy to add into a client’s schedule. We ‘added on’ $80,000 in profit from these services in 2017.”

Von Anthony Salon
Frisco, TX
vonanthonysalon.com
Amy and Kerry Hovland
SQUARE FEET: 3,400
TOTAL EMPLOYEES: 38
AVERAGE CUT & STYLE: $77
BEST-SELLING RETAIL: Oribe, Kerastase
COLOR: Wella
SKINCARE: GM Collins, Aveda
TECH SUPPORT: Millennium, Salon Clouds Plus, Demandforce
ASSOCIATIONS: Summit Salons
“One of our main focuses has been to turn our front desk into a profit center. After Summit coaching and training on scripting, making intentional offerings and to building self-confidence, we added 1,264 services to the books equaling $55,329 in additional service revenue. We raised annual gift card sales from $9,806 to $25,781, and drove improvements in referrals, pre-booking and retail sales.”
Additional Honorees
Agape Salon & Spa, Rancho Mirage, CA
Bella Style Salon, Slidell, LA
Blo, Raleigh, NC
Chi Wah Organica, Rochester, NY
DV8 the Salon, Grapevine, TX
Great Lengths Hair Salon, Memphis, TN
Hair Benders Salon, LLC, Kingsport, TN
Interlocks, Newburyport, MA
Kadiza Hair Studio, Lubbock, TX
Paul Kenneth Salon & Spa, Woburn, MA
Refinery Salon, O’Fallon, IL
Revive Salon, White Bear Lake, MN
Tulip Salon & Spa, Fredericksburg, VA