The strategy for this year's International SalonSpa Business Network conference, which will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona, May 6-8, is to help salon owners future-proof their businesses. 

ISBN provides an important forum for the owners of large, multi-unit salon and spa companies to share ideas and challenges. Its annual conference delegate list reads like a who's who of the industry's greatest minds, creating a unique opportunity for ambitious salon and spa owners to network with others in a similar position within the sector. 

"The most important benefits of our conference and association are sharing with, and learning from, each other,’ said current ISBN President and Great Clips’ Chair Rhoda Olsen. ‘This year’s conference will arm us with the meaningful data and action plans that we need to help our people and our industry."

The conference, entitled Futureproof Your Business, is geared towards looking forward at factors of disruption in the beauty industry so delegates can anticipate the next steps in an ever-changing business landscape and ensure their companies continue to be sustainable and profitable. Keynote speakers include Gene Juarez Salons and Spas CEO Scott Missad, who will focus on developing the future personnel within a salon or spa, while the co-founder and chief strategy officer for digital intelligence firm L2, Inc.Maureen Mullen, will be discussing trends set to disrupt the beauty sector.

Further sessions will feature top authors and technology gurus. Leadership and change management expert and best-selling author Cheryl Cran, who is a consultant to Fortune 500 companies, is on board to advise about Leading Change in a Fast-Paced and Technological Workplace while Daniel Bruce Levin, author of The Mosaic, will focus on artificial intelligence and what it means for the industry. Taylor Romero, co-founder and head of  Spruce Labs, will also be there to discuss practical ways to leverage the latest innovation and trends to better serve clients, get closer to them, and help the team perform exceptionally.

Interactive retail workshops are a central part of this year’s conference, and their aim is to mine the knowledge and experience of ISBN membership by encouraging delegates to wrangle over the most intractable problems they face and share their solutions. Delegates will discuss the findings of brand new comprehensive research on retail which was commissioned by ISBN and carried out by Modern Salon Research, with the aim of creating action plans that will have real impact on the spa and salon community. Steve Reiss, publisher at Modern Salon Media, which did the research, will help shed new light on client behavior and ways salons can use this information to ramp up retail sales. 

ISBN’s 2018 conference will take place at the intimate OMNI Scottsdale Resort & Spa, Montelucia in Scottsdale, Arizona, on 6-8 May and is open to ISBN members and non-members. Nestled at the base of breathtaking Camelback Mountain, the luxurious Spanish-inspired resort features the award-winning, Moroccan-inspired Joya Spa, three beautiful pools and culinary delights at world-class restaurants. Visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/scottsdale-montelucia

To learn more and to register for or sponsor the conference, or to join the ISBN visit https://salonspanetwork.org/membership/