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It’s no secret that social media is an important marketing tool for small businesses. It’s most often free, and it’s easy to manage. Pinterest is one platform that is especially useful for marketing your salon studio. It’s a bulletin board style photo sharing social network where images are either uploaded by the user or shared from someone else’s pin boards. Pinterest has more than 70 million users worldwide, and since the salon industry is a visually based industry, Pinterest is a perfect fit.

Here comes wedding season, and with it-the dolla dolla bills. The bridal industry is a BIG business, and if you’re not strategizing on how to attract and maximize your “Future Mrs. So-And-So” clientele, you’re missing out. A study conducted by The Knot revealed that wedding costs topped an all-time high in 2014, averaging $31,213 (excluding their honeymoon).

Salon studios host a wide variety of activities that release chemicals, pollutants and toxins into the air, from aerosol sprays to cleaning solutions, beauty products and more. A charming way to freshen the air and lively up your studio is to snag 1 or 2 of the following powerfully purifying plants.

Nyki’s previous digs were fine, but in the back of her mind the stylist knew she wanted to open her own salon — she even had the name picked out: Hair Junk-E, a collaborative effort between Nyki and a friend whose military husband was relocated to Colorado before the duo realized their pipe dream might actually be possible. For Nyki, the biggest barrier to salon ownership had always been bookkeeping. “I color hair, I don’t crunch numbers,” she says.

Ah, the prom… It’s one of the most important nights of a girl’s high school career, and the event that many teenagers spend years looking forward to. Every detail must be perfect! From the dress and the flowers to the date and the limo – and don’t forget hair, makeup, and nails! Catering to prom season means a bump in business, and helping a young woman get ready for the biggest day of her high school career can mean more than just a one-time appointment. It could be the beginning of a relationship that lasts long after prom night.

In the weeks leading up to Mother's Day, many of your clients will be digging deep, thinking of ways to make their mothers, grandmothers, wives and any other ladies in their life feel extra special. With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's the perfect time to create and market mama-friendly packages for services at your salon studio. Who doesn't love to get pampered?  Read More

The popularity of spa water has skyrocketed recently, and for good reason. While a bottle of water is nice, a cool glass of water infused with fruits, vegetables, and/or herbs demonstrates that as a boutique salon owner, you’ve taken that extra step to create a relaxing, comfortable environment for your guests. Concocting your own signature spa water is a great way to expand the amenities your studio salon offers. Here are 5 recipes to help you mix up your very own spa water.

Marketing your small business is all about being creative, especially because there’s rarely a one-size-fits-all approach for your clients. Luckily, there’s one thing you can count on for every last one of your clients: they all have birthdays. Some of your clients will dread it, and others will be counting down the minutes until they can let loose and have a day that’s dedicated solely to them. Regardless of their outlook, birthdays apply to everyone and most people consider it a good excuse to spoil themselves. That’s where you come in.

“Let’s just say I’ve been doing hair for 100 years,” says veteran stylist Mary Bruggeman, owner of MBA Hair Salon in Wellington, Florida. Sola empowers motivated stylists in amazing ways, and sharing that mission is something Mary feels particularly passionate about. She even calls herself the Vanna White of Sola Wellington because she’s constantly showcasing and promoting it.

When you’re putting in long hours at the salon, it’s always a great idea to have some snacks on hand. Sometimes, the same old options like carrot sticks, popcorn or pretzels can get a bit boring and repetitive. Instead, try these healthy and creative snack ideas to spice up your work day. Some may take just a few minutes of extra prep time but you’ll have delicious and exciting batches of snacks on hand for the week!

“If I could do hair for free, in a heartbeat I would. That’s how much I love what I do,” says 29-year industry veteran Georgette Vetock, owner of the Maryland-based salon Expressions by Georgette. Georgette was the first stylist to sign on with Sola Salons Pasadena last September, and as far as she’s concerned, “Hair is about being around people, talking to them and making them feel good.” Having loyal, satisfied clients is pretty darn gratifying — but, even better is that feeling Georgette gets when she donates time and energy to people who can’t afford to come to her studio.

Wouldn’t it be great if your life didn’t flash before your eyes every time a server set an iced tea near your appointment book? If you’re tired of risking life and limb to protect your version of the Holy Grail, you may be ready to make a complete digital transition. Welcome to an age where technology is actually working with you and not against you.

“My high school boyfriend’s sister did hair, and she was somebody I looked up to,” recalls Calynn Colceri, a ten-year industry veteran who took “a true leap of faith” last spring when she ditched booth renting for salon ownership, signing her lease with Sola before the Phoenix location’s walls were up!

Valentines Day calls to mind roses and chocolates, love letters and romantic dinners. Its a day filled with pink hearts and declarations of love. Its also an opportunity for salons to amp up services, special treatments, and promotions. Consumers spend close to $20 billion each Valentines Day, and that number keeps increasing. Take advantage of this loving time and capture a piece of that spending! Remember, its your salon studio, and the sky is the limit.

Starting your own business takes guts and tenacity. But getting started is just the beginning. To be successful, it’s important to attract new clients and establish yourself as a go-to salon. Marketing is an integral part of your continued success. We’re all familiar with basic marketing tactics because we experience them every single day. From magazine ads to billboards to promoted Facebook posts, marketing is everywhere. While these channels are no-doubt effective, there are a lot of out-of-the-box ways to market your salon. Here are some ideas to get you started.

How did you decide to be a hairstylist/barber? As a kid growing up in Missouri, the first day of school was a big deal. It was a time to show off your new shoes, your new clothes, your Trapper Keeper, and of course, your fresh new haircut. The only problem for me was I never went to a barbershop. In an effort to save money, my Dad would cut my hair. Between you and me, the cuts never turned out that great. Finally, after years of bad cuts (and I think my Mother\'s sympathy for me), my Mom took me to a barbershop. I could not believe the atmosphere and camaraderie around me. It was truly amazing! This is when I knew I wanted to become a barber.

The beauty industry may be one of the most lucrative bundle opportunities, but also one of the least represented. Promotions that include multiple services encourage spending, expose your clients to new products and services, moves inventory, and increases revenue. If you design your marketing strategy in 4-6 week increments, you will have less time to promote but a better chance at creating a sense of urgency within your clientele.

Even a veteran stylist like Autumn Morris of GlamLocks Hair Lounge (located in Sola Salons Encinitas, CA)–a guru with decades of industry experience–finds there’s incredible room for growth when salon ownership at Sola makes building your brand as easy as say…dry shampooing your hair.

Carla Gray, owner of Carla Gray Brow Studio in Sola Salons Centennial, CO, is a mom and an eyebrow specialist, in that order. When she talks about her career, her kids are a big part of the discussion. You see, Carla didn’t grow up dreaming about being a beauty professional. In fact, she went to college for sports and fitness. It was when she was pregnant with her first child that she decided to go back to school and study to be an esthetician. Carla was looking for a rewarding career with flexible hours, and she found one.

If there’s one thing your clients love, it’s a scrumptious, luxurious shampoo. You know, the one that makes their mouth fall open and their eyes roll back? Yep, that’s the one. It’s not just about getting their hair clean; it’s about providing an exceptional customer experience they won’t likely get if they go somewhere else. So why is it so important? In today’s world of buzzing technology and endless updates, people often overlook the little things that help them recharge.

It’s almost the start of a new year which means it’s New Year’s Resolution time. So many of us come up with the same goals every year: lose weight, eat healthy, go to the gym, drink less... While these are excellent goals to have, lets be honest - oftentimes they are long forgotten by the end of January. But here are 3 easy-peasy resolutions you might be able keep throughout the year and as an added bonus, none of them involve getting on a treadmill.

An early love of hair styling turned into a lifelong passion for Connie Nagle. Connie owns All About Hair and More, a health-conscious salon located in Sola Salon Studios in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Connie has been in the field for five years, but her love of hair styling started early on. "I wanted to be a stylist at the tender age of 6. My dolls had no hair. I was always styling and cutting," she said, laughing. "I loved my big Barbie head [that I got for Christmas], I think I cut all her hair off before New Years."

We asked the Sola community to share their favorite songs for the holidays. Click on the song titles to listen...Enjoy!  Read More

Who doesn’t want to make a little extra moolah the easy way? Especially during the holidays! We asked a few of Sola’s successful money makers to share tips and tricks that’ll help you formalize all of the things you’re probably already doing — find out how you can make more money with a few simple tricks of the trade.

It’s December, and you’re huddled over a warm mug, enjoying the serenade of a crackling fire in your favorite fuzzy socks. Frank Sinatra croons nearby that he’s dreaming of a white Christmas and so are you! The lights are twinkling and the magic is undeniable. Or so you thought. Before long, thoughts of 12 hour days in the salon, stampeding shoppers, burnt soufflés, Secret Santas, holiday budgeting, and what to get your crazy Aunt Esther creep in. So it begins; the most wonderful time of the year quickly turns into the most stressful.