Blogs

Alison Shipley is Associate Editor & Production Editor of SALON TODAY magazine.

Ana Loiselle is a specialist in finding new sources of revenue and growth for salons and spas of all sizes. With more than 10 years of experience in new business start-ups and transformations, she has helped numerous businesses flourish through brand development, strategic financial planning and employee training. She's had many roles throughout her career, including product sales representative, educator, management consultant and spa owner. Loiselle's salon was a two-time SALON TODAY 200 honoree.

Ashley Griffin is a front desk customer service and sales trainer for Crystal Focus Coaching. As Ashley pursued her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science, she worked as a Front Desk Coordinator at New Identities Hair Studio of Tampa, Florida. Upon graduation, she bypassed her intended goal of becoming a history teacher, to accept her new responsibilities as salon manager and Crystal Focus coach.

Bart Foreman is President of Group 3 Marketing, a boutique-marketing agency providing database driven, marketing focused solutions to all segments of the beauty industry and specialty retailers. He has served as chair of the CRM Council of the Direct Marketing Association and is a frequent speaker at trade associations.

Cheryl Spoor is committed to raising the bar for salon professionals. She has more than 30 years of experience as an educator and in salon management and ownership, and has spent her entire career developing solutions for the hiring and managing challenges with which all salons are presented. Spoor has developed and is using a hiring and managing tool specifically designed for the salon and spa industry. For more information, go to www.SalonSnapshot.com.

Donna Dickerman holds dual degrees in architecture and interior design which gives her a true holistic approach to design. Her Brooklyn-based design firm, Dickerman Design, specializes in residential and cost-effective retail design. Dickerman agreed to blog about her experience as she helps Zona Salons on the renovation of space for their newest location. For more information about Dickerman Design, call 917-685-4239.

Drew Noreen is a recent graduate of the Kohler Academy in Scottsdale, Arizona, and a member of the 2009 Beacon program. In a letter to other cosmetology students, he shares his day-by-day Beacon experience.

Geno Stampora is a beauty industry consultant, author and motivational speaker. Throughout his career, he has served as a stylist, salon owner, distributor and academy owner. In 2009 he was named to NAHA's Hall of Leaders.

Karie Bennett 's career in the beauty industry is approaching the 30-year mark and shows no signs of slowing. Bennett and her salon, Atelier Salon Spa in San Jose, CA, have captured a number of industry awards, including manufacturer awards, the Global Salon Business Award, the SALON TODAY 200 and the client philosophy and marketing finalist for the 2010 NAHA Master of Business Award. Bennett continues to make education and inspiration a priority and believe in sharing her knowledge to help a new generation of hair artists and owners find their way to success.

Kristi Valenzuela is the founder of Crystal Focus Salon Coaching; a salon coaching company specializing in teaching “people skills for profitability." Their latest product launched, The Front Desk Doctor Training System, promises to turn receptionists into extremely effective sales professionals by teaching real-life sales systems specifically designed for the salon industry. Go to crystalfocus.com or thefrontdeskdoctor.com or email Kristi at coachkristi@crystalfocus.com

Leon Alexander is president of Eurisko, a comprehensive design, consulting and distribution source servicing the salon and spa industry. He holds a Ph.D. in behavioral psychology.

Meg McCall is the director of marketing for MINDBODY, a developer of online business management software for salons and other wellness-based organizations. McCall holds and MBA and has a love of writing. Her long-term understanding of other wellness industries offers a unique perspective to salon owners. For more information on MINDBODY, visit mindbodyonline.com/salon

Neil Ducoff is the founder and CEO of Strategies, a business training and coaching company specializing in the salon and spa industry. Ducoff’s newest book, No-Compromise Leadership, is published by DC Press and is available at www.amazon.com. For a signed copy, go to www.strategies.com. You can email Neil at neil@strategies.com.

Salon Today

Stacey Soble has been involved in the conversation of salon business for 14 years—as a reporter, a consultant and as the editor in chief of SALON TODAY.

Steve Gomez is personally responsible for assisting thousands of salon and spa professionals with accelerating growth through business training, specifically targeting increased sales and profits. With a background in marketing and promotions, this Milady trainer is known for his upbeat, detail driven and informative educational format.

Suzanne Bond owns the Perfect 5th salon in Mooresville, North Carolina, which opened in 2006. On August 5 her salon was flooded after a particularly violent thunderstorm. She agreed to share her experiences as she repairs her salon, reassures her staff and reaches out to clients.