Sola CEO, Christina Russell was recently selected as one of the top 100 Influential Women in Franchising by Business Woman, a magazine launched just last year by the team behind What Franchise and Global Franchise. Business Woman Magazine celebrates the powerhouse women of franchising. Very well deserved, Christina!
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The majority of salons in California are only allowed to operate if they take their services outside—which stylists say is unsanitary and an unsustainable business model. Salon suites in the state have come together to ask California Gov. Gavin Newsom to allow suites to reopen for indoor service, with a letter signed by nearly 6,000 self-employed beauty professionals. Keep reading for the details.
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In the past few days, some of the largest salon suite concepts including Sola Salon Studios, MY SALON Suite, Salons by JC, Phenix Salon Suites and Image Studios and the 6,000+ independent hair stylists that work in them have banded together. They are collaborating on communication to California officials in response to new closures implemented in the state.
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In the past few days, some of the largest salon suite concepts including Sola Salon Studios, MY SALON Suite, Salons by JC, Phenix Salon Suites and Image Studios and the 6,000+ independent hair stylists that work in them have banded together. They are collaborating on communication to California officials in response to new closures implemented in the state.
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As exciting as it is to reopen, it's no secret that life inside the salon will look (and feel) different in our post-COVID world. But, as we've said from the beginning—you're not in this alone. The best thing we can do right now is to share and learn from one another in our community to help each other get back to business as strong as possible. From mask comfort to client connection, check out these tried-and-true tips that Sola pros shared for a successful reopening.
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“Beginning on April 27, Sola Salon Studios, which provides hair, nail, wax and massage services, began reopening locations in Georgia as restrictions were lifted. Since then, more than 273 of its 505 salons have opened following each state’s local reopening guidelines.” As the safety of our Sola professionals and their guests have remained our number one priority throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we are honored to have been featured in People for our efforts. Check it out!
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"At Sola, our focus on community is what helps to build a unique culture of independents who are supporting each other, whether locally, or virtually all across the country and in Canada, too. Throughout the last two months, we have seen our community band together more than ever so that we can all get to the other side of this #SolaStrong."
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For stylists and their clients, hugging one another “is very much a part of the culture,” says Sola Salon Studios CEO Christina Russell. “We had to put guidance out that you can’t hug anymore.” That’s just one of many nuances that come with the personal nature of the salon industry and that Sola, whose franchisees rent space to hair stylists, massage therapists, nail techs, skincare professionals and makeup artists at 500 locations, addressed in its back-to-work plan.
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When the world presents us with challenges, the universe responds with opportunities to grow. When you’re a salon owner, you’re able to enjoy the benefits of being your own boss, but with that also comes a fair amount of responsibility, particularly in times of financial uncertainty. Here, we've compiled 8 steps you can take in your finances to weather this difficult time.
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Salon suite renters, we know you have some questions during the coronavirus pandemic. Are you required to pay rent if your salon suites are closed by government mandate? And how should you navigate the conversation with your suite owner? We talked to Sola Salon Studios Chief Marketing Officer Jennie Wolff and Sola Salon Studios Culture Ambassador Kim Bennett to hear what Sola’s 150 franchise groups around the country are doing now.
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With the federal government extending social distancing measures until April 30, it looks like many of us will be staying at home for while—and we know you are worried about maintaining a stream of income. We talked to Sola Salon Studios Culture Ambassador Kim Bennett (@kimi_kisses), a Sola salon owner for 16 years, about how she’s keeping cash coming in while her Denver studio is closed.
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Sola is proud to be included in Entrepreneur.com's 2020 List of Fastest Growing Franchises. We truly value our Sola franchisees that help us reach these milestones.
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Small business owners face even larger bills for their rent payments. Jeremy Campbell manages 15 Sola Salon Studios in San Diego. His business is similar to WeWork. He rents spaces from commercial landlords and rents them out to more than 500 hairdressers who run their own businesses. Campbell had to close all his properties Thursday night when California instituted a “shelter in place” order.
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Sola Salon Studios announces their 2020 Faces of Sola, 20 amazing salon professionals who embody what it means to be a “Solapreneur.” These stylists have not only excelled in their careers as independent salon owners, but also as artists, educators, philanthropists, working parents and go-getters.
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For many people, owning a franchise business is the ultimate dream. Finding that right franchise fit starts with doing your homework. Sola Salon Studios makes it easy to do your due diligence with a franchise guide that illustrates the brand’s powerful use of real estate to empower the independence and entrepreneurship of beauty and wellness professionals.
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The annual Sola Salon Studios Summit took place in gorgeous Cabo San Lucas, Mexico this past October. This year, the Summit brought together over 300 attendees - from Sola franchisees, vendor partners, guest speakers and the Sola home office team - for three amazing days of inspiration, education and networking all centered around this year’s theme, “The Power of Sola.”
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In June 2019, Christina Russell joined the Sola Salon Studios leadership team as their new CEO, coming to them with an extensive background in franchising. Russell has held key positions with companies such as Curves, Camp Bow Wow and Pure Barre, where she was recently CEO. When she was 29, Russell owned and operated four Curves locations. She would eventually go on to lead operations across the company, in the US and Canada. “I went through a process of learning what it means to sell from the heart,” Russell says of those years. “It was a woman-based model centered on franchising and focused on helping them be successful. Franchising is built to help people get into business, creating pathways for them to thrive.”
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Sola Salon Studios is celebrating it’s 15th anniversary this month! Since its inception in 2004, Sola has become the largest, fastest-growing salon studio business in the United States with over 450 locations and home to over 14,000 independent beauty professionals. Founded by Stratton Smith and Matt Briger, Sola Salon Studios has stayed true to its mission to inspire and support beauty professionals to experience the freedom of salon ownership.
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This month, Sola Salon Studios is celebrating 15 years of successful business. Stratton Smith and Matt Briger opened the first Sola location in Highlands Ranch, CO in 2004 with a mission to inspire and support beauty professionals in experiencing the freedom of salon ownership. Years later, Sola is celebrating explosive expansion within the United States as well as internationally, in Canada and Brazil. “Only four years ago we were celebrating the 5,000th Sola professional. Today, our community is made up of over 14,000 rock star salon owners and we could not be more proud," Jennie Wolff, Sola's VP of marketing and education, says. "We look forward to empowering thousands of future independent salon owners in the years to come.”
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The salon studio leader, Sola Salon Studios, has added another milestone to their list by officially being the first Pennsylvaniastate-approved salon studio/suite concept for independent beauty professionals. Currently, 9 locations are open in Pittsburgh and Lancaster which are the business-home to over 220 entrepreneurial beauty pros who are flourishing at Sola and the expansion includes three NEW locations in the Philadelphia area: Devon Square location in Wayne, opening in July. Deposits being accepted now for customizable, move-in ready studios! Plus – Sola Devon Square is offering a $1000sign-on bonus! Horsham and Plymouth Meeting locations are opening this Fall with details coming soon.
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Sola Salon Studios is delighted to announce that Christina Russell has been named new CEO effective June 5, 2019. Ms. Russell brings an extensive senior leadership background in franchising with leading companies such as Curves, Camp Bow Wow, and Pure Barre where she was recently CEO. In addition to her corporate roles, she began her career in the franchise industry as a multi-unit owner, which provides her a unique, rich perspective and background that she brings to this role.
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Sola Salon Studios was recently recognized by Franchise Times Magazine as a winner of their “Dealmakers of the Year” award, a prestigious recognition honoring the boldest players that drove mergers and acquisitions in the franchising world. The winners were announced at their recent Franchise Times Dealmakers Awards in Las Vegas.
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Sola Salon Studios announced that Christina Russell has recently been named Chief Executive Officer. Christina brings an extensive senior leadership background in franchising with leading companies such as Curves, Camp Bow Wow and Pure Barre, where she was recently CEO. In addition to her corporate roles, she began her career in the franchise industry as a multi-unit owner, which provides her a rich perspective and background that she brings to this role.
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Christina Russell, newly named CEO of Sola Salon Studios, finds common threads between her latest appointment and her former CEO jobs at Pure Barre and Camp Bow Wow before that. “In every brand I’ve been a part of there’s been some founder/CEO transition that I walked into,” she said. “It’s tough when the founder leaves to keep that beating heart beating as strong as it was.”
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Austin Campbell has been involved with Sola Salon Studios since its inception in 2004. He now owns 13 locations in the San Diego, Calif., area and has no intentions of slowing down. “When we first opened Sola, I thought you were lying if you said we could have 10. Now 25 is very obviously in our sights,” Campbell says. Sola was founded to create a supportive community for beauty professionals to achieve their dreams, which is one of the things Campbell was initially drawn to. Campbell says empowering entrepreneurs is the most rewarding aspect of his job: “You get a text or a call from somebody saying, ‘Hey, this has honestly changed my life.’ That’s just a shot of adrenaline and keeps me going and that’s why I absolutely love it.”
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Sola Salon Studios is welcoming Christina Russell as its new CEO. Russell joins the Sola team with extensive senior leadership background in franchising with companies such as Curves, Camp Bow Wow and Pure Barre, where she was recently CEO. She began her career in the franchise industry as a multi-unit owner, which provides her a unique, rich perspective and background that she brings to this role.
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When Sola Salon Studios opened its first location in Denver, CO in 2004, the mission and goal was to provide beauty professionals high-end, move-in ready studios where they could experience the freedom and benefits of being in business for themselves as salon owners. Now, almost 15 years later, Sola Salon Studios announces a new milestone with the opening of their 450th location, in Leawood, KS.
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Sola Salon Studios recently announced Christina Russell as its new CEO. Russell will overlook all aspects of franchise growth initiatives and operational management for all company-owned Sola locations. “There’s nothing more powerful than a group of passionate and creative business owners galvanized around a common mission. And it is especially powerful when that mission empowers others to live their best lives. That’s what Sola is all about, and that purpose resonates deeply with me,” Russell said in a statement.
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At one time, owning a salon meant finding the right property, hiring a team of hairstylists, deciding the colour and retail product lines to carry, and opening for business. While this is till the case for many salon, in recent years a new business model has become a part of the Canadian salon landscape; salon suites.
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A contrasting transaction would be a business called Sola Salon Studios, which we closed last fall. In that business, because it’s a franchise model, cash flow is very strong. Growth doesn’t require any capital investment because franchisees are making that investment on your behalf and the primary cash flow is royalties, which are highly recurring, contractually obligated and there’s a tremendous amount of visibility.
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Sola Salon Studios attracts family office backers MPK Equity and PNCRiverarch in management-led buyout of founders.
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Starting this month, the online and app platform SolaGenius will add BookNow to its features, allowing clients to book appointments with Sola stylists anytime, anywhere. The booking engine makes it easy for clients to find available appointment times with stylists at Sola Salon locations nearby, without any need to download an app or create an account.
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Sola Salon Studios just unveiled its newest technology, BookNow by SolaGenius. This new online search and booking engine allows clients nationwide to discover and book appointments with Sola pros who use SolaGenius. The easy-to-use search engine provides prospective clients appointment times and locations based on services desired without the need for them to download an app or create a username and password to search the database.
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Sola Salon Studios is gearing up for their first 2019 Sola Sessions education and inspirational event. This time, Sola is heading to sunny San Diego, CA for a not-to-be missed event on May 6th! Tickets are on sale NOW for this Sola Sessions event.
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Sola Salon Studios dealmaker offers detailed peek into an ‘exhausting’ process Until last year, founders Stratton Smith and Matt Briger were the sole shareholders of Sola Salon Studios, which provides fully equipped salon suites for beauty professionals. When they were ready for a “liquidity event,” as Ben Jones, VP of development and general counsel puts it, he and the team got to work looking for investors, but on the quiet. “We did not want word on the street,” he says. “We didn’t want our customers to think there was anything wrong or anything to worry about.”
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Franchise Times today announces winners of the 2019 Franchise Times Dealmakers awards, the seventh annual project recognizing the boldest players driving mergers and acquisitions in franchising. The 2019 Franchise Times Dealmakers will accept awards and tell how they landed their deals at a gala awards luncheon Tuesday, May 7, 2019, when the 2019 Deal of the Year will also be recognized. The luncheon is a highlight of the Franchise Times Finance & Growth Conference, May 6-8, at the Rio Hotel in Las Vegas. All deals will be featured in the April issue of Franchise Times.
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Sola Salon Studios, the leader in the salon studio category for beauty professionals, is excited to announce the opening of their first South America location in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as part of their international expansion.
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Sola Franchise LLC, a leading salon studios concept, announced that it has acquired a portfolio encompassing 11 franchise locations in Orange County, CA. In early 2019, Sola will acquire the remaining location in the portfolio that is currently under lease-up, for a total of 12 locations in Orange County. The acquisition of this portfolio is in addition to the 13 current corporately owned locations in the Denver and Boulder markets.
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Sola Franchise LLC, the leading salon studios concept in the world, is excited to announce that it has acquired a portfolio encompassing 11 franchise locations in Orange County, California. In early 2019, Sola will acquire the remaining location in the portfolio that is currently under lease-up, for a total of 12 locations in Orange County. The acquisition of this portfolio is in addition to the 13 current corporately owned locations in the Denver and Boulder markets.
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You’ve made up your mind—you’re going to strike out on your own as an independent artist. You’re ready to set your own hours, choose your own products, be your own boss. Hurray! Now, there’s one more choice to make. Would you rather rent a studio suite or rent a spot at an existing salon? Here are some questions to ask yourself to help you in making your choice.
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It’s hard to describe Jennie Wolff without sounding hyberbolic. Go-getter? Over-achiever? Mover and shaker? Dynamic and determined? All fitting descriptions of the VP of Marketing and Education at Sola Salon Studios. The old adage “A rolling stone gathers no moss” comes to mind, or at least the modern interpretation of that shop-worn phrase, which is that a person must stay active or risk stagnation. It’s safe to say that Jennie Wolff has avoided stagnation like the plague in her 34 years on the planet.
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In its quest to “remain the leader and widen the gap” between it and its competitors in the salon suite franchise space, Sola Salon Studios attracted funding from a trio of firms that now have a majority stake in the brand and, CEO Randall Clark said, will accelerate growth.
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Since Stratton Smith and Matt Briger founded Sola Salon in 2004, they’ve developed a community of over 11,000 beauty professionals in 400-plus locations. Such a strong growth demands adjustment—cue Sola Salon’s recent acceptance of a significant strategic investment from three groups including MPK Equity Partners, AHR Growth Partners and PNC Riverarch Capital. Both Smith and Briger will maintain an interest in the company and Randall Clark, Sola Salon CEO, will continue to lead the current management team.
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Sola Salon Studios announced today that a consortium of three investment groups have made a significant strategic investment in Sola Salon Studios.“We are very excited as this new investment and ongoing capital commitment from our new partners will provide us with significant financial resources and the ability to successfully and quickly deliver on key strategies and goals,” shared Randall Clark, CEO of Sola Salon Studios. The three groups are MPK Equity Partners, AHR Growth Partners and PNC Riverarch Capital, which will now hold a majority stake in the company. The current management team, led by Randall Clark, will remain in place.
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When industry icon Robert Cromeans takes the stage, you know he’s about to do one of two things: share some major business tips or cut some jaw-dropping hair transformations in about seven minutes flat. And at Sola Salon Studios’ 2018 Sola Sessions in Chicago, he did a little bit of both.
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While attending the 2018 Sola Sessionsin Chicago, we grabbed three tips from Jennie Wolff, VP of Marketing and Education at Sola Salon Studios, that’ll help you find success in your new salon studio AND boost your business. Keep reading for the advice Jennie shared during her presentation!
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The Sola Salon Studios community is marking their calendars for Sept. 24, when Leading Ladies comes to the Sola Sessions in Chicago.
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Randall Clark is the new CEO at Sola Salon Studios. With the salon suite brand poised to begin global expansion—their first location in Toronto opened in October 2017—Clark took time to speak with MODERN about how Sola continues to move rapidly forward.
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Opening a salon is a dream for many hairstylists, but there are some opportunities that every hairstylist should consider. With the opening of Sola Salon Studios in Toronto (and plans to expand across Canada) hairstylists now have the support they need to launch their dream.
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Every person, no matter their profession, comes to a turning point in their career where a decision has to be made. They can either stay where they are, and enjoy the success they’ve uncovered at that level. Or they can jump – and hope that the inspired leap of faith pays off in their favor, though the way may not always be so clear. For Kim Bennett Horvath, the moment of that decision came the day she met the founders of Sola Salon Studios in 2004.
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The Sessions have hit Dallas! The Sola Sessions are making their way across the U.S. throughout the year, inspireing all Sola professionals in their path.
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Opening a salon is a dream for many. While there’s a plethora of expected pros when going into business for yourself – like controlling your atmosphere, choosing your own retail and back bar, creating a flexible schedule, and branding yourself and your business - there is also a wealth of unexpected benefits that Sola stylists have discovered for themselves. With so much opportunity and support, these stylists have moved their careers in a direction they could once only dream of. It’s evident that going solo was the right move for them…read on to decide if it’s the right move for you, too!
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As an independent stylist, you aren’t just creating attention-worthy styles for each of your clients, you’re also responsible for running an entire business. This includes booking all of your appointments, managing your finances and marketing. Sola Salon Studios, the nation’s largest salon suite company, has partnered with GlossGenius, a cutting-edge software solution for beauty professionals to provide you with SolaGenius: an innovative new app, which helps Sola stylists save time on all the busy work so they can focus on what they love doing most.
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When making the switch from employee to independent stylist, there’s a lot of factors to consider. Not only are you creating attention-worthy styles for each and every client, but now you have an entire business to run that includes inventory management, marketing and continuing education. And the resources you’re used to may not be as readily available to you.
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Sola Salon Studios is proud to announce their support and collaboration with Eyes on Cancer this May during Skin Cancer Awareness Month. Sola is encouraging their stylists across the US to join this potentially life-saving movement! As a part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, Sola Salon Studios will be offering hundreds of their stylists a complimentary voucher for the unique training through their SolaPro App. Eyes on Cancer offers a program specifically designed for hairdressers and beauty professionals to recognize early signs of skin cancers, particularly melanoma, on the head and scalp
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It’s liberating to step out on your own as a salon owner, forging your own path to success and setting your own terms for what that looks like. But it can also be overwhelming to balance all those new responsibilities, like marketing, inventory and budgeting, which is what makes successful Sola beauty professionals look like well-groomed super heroes. These individuals have somehow figured out the magic formula that it takes to rise from novice to powerhouse.
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Little green efforts add up! That’s the approach Healthy Hairdresser is taking with the help of our sponsor, Sola Salon Studios, in suggesting small ways to make your studio—or any salon space—more eco-friendly. Start now before Earth Month ends, and you’ll be set for the year and beyond.
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As an independent salon owner, selling retail is a major opportunity for increasing your paycheck. Not only do you get to choose the products that line your shelves, but also you get to keep 100% of the profits. But it’s not only about the money! Offering take home product is about servicing your clients and making sure their needs are met. It’s been proven that sending your guests home with the products they need increases client retention and ensures client loyalty. So why are so many beauty professionals afraid to get in the retail game?
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Giving beauty professionals freedom and control over the business is the mission of Sola Salon Studios. "We hope to inspire and support beauty professionals to chase their dreams, elevate their careers and experience the freedom of salon ownership," says Jennie Wolff, cive president of marketing and education.
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Sola Salon Studios kicked off their exclusive “Sola Sessions” event to a full house on Monday, February 13th in Dallas, Texas. With over 200 Sola stylists in attendance from 16 states, the day was filled with expert education on styling, marketing and business topics to enhance the careers of every Sola pro. The Sessions are all about inspiring, motivating and educating Sola professionals, while also learning from and collaborating with others in the dynamic beauty community.
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Sola will immediately bring resources like its Sola Pro mobile app to Canada. Sola Pro is a mobile education and industry portal that gives Sola pros access to discounts on equipment and retail products. Sola is also committed to providing exclusive local education opportunities to Sola beauty professionals on an ongoing basis.
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Sola has been putting the salon professional first since 2004. During that time, a diverse community of more than 7,000 independent beauty professionals at more than 300 locations across the United States have taken control of their lives and careers at Sola for themselves, but not by themselves. “Sola Salon Studios has always been committed to supporting every beauty professional to pursue their business dreams and goals in a high-end, fully-equipped salon environment,” said Ben Jones, Sola’s Chief Executive Officer. “Over the last few years we’ve received many inquiries from Canadian hairdressers interested in Sola’s concept, and we feel the time could not be better to expand Sola’s mission to Canada.”
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Sola Salon Studios, one of the largest and fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the United States, today announced expansion plans to bring the franchise to Canada in response to increasing demand for independent salon ownership from Canadian beauty professionals. Sola’s first franchise locations will open in the Greater Toronto Area in early 2017, with further expansion planned across the country.
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Earning the top spot on Forbes' Best Franchises to Buy list, Sola Salon Studios has built a brand committed to putting the beauty professional first.
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Salon professionals are more than just their job description: you are artists, educators, confidantes—and more and more often, you are the embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit. All across the nation, thousands of salon professionals are taking control of their entrepreneurial goals by moving to a salon studio. We connected with four rock stars at Sola Salon Studios who are killing it, showing us that there’s never been a better time than NOW to go independent!
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With a focus on brand building, marketing and social media in the morning, and artistic learning in the afternoon, the Sola Sessions featured top educators from various aspects of the professional beauty industry. The event featured education delivered by Sola Salon Studios, Passion Squared, Ideas That Evoke, Wella, Aquage, theFactory and Redken. Additionally, Hattori Hanzo Shears, Dermalogica, CND and KLASS Beauty hosted “Side Sessions” education throughout the day on a secondary stage.
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Sola Salon Studios provides freedom to explore your passions beyond the salon. Sure, one of a stylist’s favorite spots is in the salon, but plenty beauty pros have interests beyond the chair. Many stylists and hairdressers pursue additional passions that enrich themselves, and their communities.
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Sola Salon Studios is going big for its third Sola Sessions event of 2016, increasing the number of attendees and expanding education opportunities into the nail, makeup and skincare fields. The event, which is exclusive to Sola entrepreneurs, will be held on September 12, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, California. Sola sold out its first two Sola Sessions in Denver and Minneapolis, respectively, and due to increased demand from Sola entrepreneurs, expanded the event to accommodate more members of the Sola network.
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Sola Salon Studios, one of the largest and fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the United States, is going big for its third Sola Sessions event of 2016, increasing the number of attendees and expanding education opportunities into the nail, makeup and skincare fields. The event, which is exclusive to Sola entrepreneurs, will be held on September 12, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, CA.
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Beauty Launchpad loves stylist success stories. Like, absolutely adores them. So we polled a group of the most dynamic, passionate and talented beauty professionals around to find out when and why they decided once and for all to go solo. Rather than breaking points, these are “breakout points” – the reasons and moments these go get ‘em stylists, hairdressers and beauty pros decided it was their time to shine by opening their very own salon studios.
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So there’s a little hype right now. World-class athletes competing in an international arena at the top of their games... Know anything about it? #Olympics. #Winning. They’ve trained. They’ve competed. And now they’re going for the gold. And we’re watching with hashtags at the ready. For us, as stylists, there may not be a podium, or a torch, but we train and we strive to be at the top of our games too. #CareerGoals.
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It’s no secret—the industry is changing. Social media has upped the creative aspect and allowed you to build your own clientele, and with that comes new goals and new dreams. Maybe you’re dreaming of bigger things outside of your current salon station—having your own space where you can create, control and decide for yourself how you want to run your business and your time.
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The thought of owning your own salon may sound scary, right? Venturing out on your own for the first time can definitely be nerve-wracking, but it doesn’t have to be! Becoming your own boss comes with many benefits- having the luxury of setting your own hours, controlling what products you sell and keeping all of your profits. Beauty Launchpad sat down with five stylists who are KILLING IT at Sola Salon Studios who made the leap to find out exactly how to make the successful transition to salon owner.
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Located in Chicago, this brand new nail space is the crown jewel in the Sola Suites building on the corner of Lincoln and Roscoe. Nail techs Ellegra Davis and Nicole Rios specialize in nail art that is truly outside of the box.
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Whether you've been working in a traditional salon environment for a year, five years, 10 years or more, the thought of transitioning to your own salon suite can either be very intimidating or very liberating. Whichever way you're feeling - these Sola Salon Studio owners say you'll be happier making the switch! Here, we dive into the past and present situations of these "Faces of Sola" and share with you a few of their success stories.
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Sola Salon Studios attracted more than 200 Sola salon professionals from across the Midwest to its second Sola Sessions event in Minneapolis, which featured talks and demonstrations from well-known salon industry leaders.
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Have you ever fantasized about owning a salon and being your own boss? Twelve years ago, Kim Bennett Horvath made that dream a reality when she became the first stylist to sign a lease at Sola Salon Studios in Denver, Colorado. The moment would be one of the most life changing decisions of Kim's career. Even though no one had done this before, "I just knew right then it was all going to be okay because there was not one thing that felt wrong. It all was just right," she explains. For Kim, the experience has been a journey that is like opening a gift that never stops giving and growing.
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Sola Salon Studios, the largest, fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the United States, today announced its second Sola Sessions event, a piece of the organization’s broader initiative to provide Sola Salon professionals with industry-leading experiential educational resources. The event is exclusive to Sola Salon professionals and will be held on April 25, 2016 at the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.
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If you have yet to hear of Sola Salon Studios, get ready to familiarize yourself with the largest, fastest-growing studio franchise in the United States. Founded in 2004, Sola provides high-quality, individually owned salons to experienced hairdressers, estheticians, nail technicians, massage therapists, and other like-minded salon professionals who come together under one roof to take their careers to the next level.
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Sola Salon Studios’ inaugural Sola Sessions event on February 8, 2016, marked the first of Sola’s exclusive events focused on providing education, networking opportunities and inspiration for Sola entrepreneurs from across the United States. The one-day event attracted 250 Sola hairdressers, estheticians and nail technicians from more than a dozen states who attended the event to learn from leading salon professional experts and educators.
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Here at BTC, we’re all about celebrating talent, independence and the stylists who have the desire to take their craft to the next level. Which means we’re totally psyched about celebrating the salon professionals below, all of whom are part of Sola Salon Studios 2016 Faces of Sola. These ten stylists, barbers, estheticians and nail technicians were chosen as examples of the opportunity and potential that Sola, the largest, fastest-growing salon studio franchise in the U.S., can deliver to salon industry professionals.
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Sola Salon Studios, the largest, salon studio franchise in the United States, has announced its inaugural Sola Session, an event that couples company culture and stylist education to provide a mutually beneficial experience for salon industry leaders and Sola owners. The event is exclusive to Sola professionals and will be held on February 8, 2016 at the Curtis Hotel in Denver, Colorado.
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There’s a term to describe the times we’re living in: the Gig Economy. The old paradigm of nine to five no longer applies. People are working from home, working on flextime, working as independent contractors. The shift is also being fueled by technology; Uber couldn’t exist in a world without smartphones. The Gig Economy has come to the salon business in the form of salon suites, an update to the former “booth rental” model. Suites are pre-equipped rentals that offer a turnkey solution to starting a salon business. Sola Salon Studios, a national suite franchise, leases high-end, fully-equipped suites that include all the major equipment needed for a fully-functional salon, ready for personalization via décor and signage.
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Kim Bennett Horvath: Kim Bennett Studios. One of the innovators of the booth rental model is Sola Salon Studios, which has over 200 suite rental salons in 36 states. In 2004, founders Stratten Smith (a former salon owner in St. Louis) and Matt Briger (an entrepreneur) created the first Sola Salon Suite in Denver. The concept was so successful that they built a few more locations before widely franchising. Kim Bennett Horvath, a Sola Studio owner and Senior National Educator for Paul Mitchell, shares her story about how partnering with the Sola brand has helped her business to thrive.
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One of the greatest benefits for owning your own boutique salon is the opportunity to increase your revenue through retail sales. At Sola Salon Studios, the possibilities are endless—from handpicking the professional brands of your choice to deciding how to market your products to clients. The intimate atmosphere provides a comfortable place to discuss your clients’ needs, allowing a level of ease for making product recommendations throughout each area of the salon.
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When you’re ready to forge your own path in the salon world, there are endless choices and decisions to be made. Should you start small? Do you hire a staff? Do you buy, or should you lease? What should your hours be? Do you have the ability to manage your own book? It's overwhelming, for sure, but finding the right partner able to offer a helping hand can make all the difference. Sola Salon Studios takes the guesswork out of salon ownership, giving stylists the freedom and opportunity to make their own way without the worry of doing it all alone.
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Kim Cline, a licensed hair stylist for more than 10 years, always wanted to run a salon without having a boss or employees to worry about. A new trend transforming the beauty industry is letting her do just that. Cline rents a salon suite from Denver-based Sola Salon Studios. Salon suites are individual salons that share a building, similar to a co-working space, where the stylists each run their own business without the costs and risk associated with a traditional salon.
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If you’ve ever dreamed about owning your own salon, but weren't sure where to start., here's a foolproof guide to getting started. First, consider the idea of owning a space at a salon studio like Sola. That way the responsibility of building management and upkeep falls on the facilities manager, and not on you, leaving you with more time to design your space to look and feel like you. Follow these 8 simple steps to turn your dream of salon ownership into a reality.
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Sola Salon Studios has grown to 5,000 salon professionals in more than 230 locations nationwide in the last 11 years, and it’s no surprise why—salon professionals have the opportunity to call their own shots and live the life they have always wanted. Freedom, flexibility and pride are what each of these talented Sola stylists have gained since making the switch. Here, a few of the 5,000 salon professionals provide 8 top reasons for becoming a business owner at Sola and how their lives have changed.
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Sola Salon Studios is having quite the year—they recently achieved an impressive 5,000 stylists in more than 230 locations, and now they have been named Top Franchise To Buy from Forbes Magazine.
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Sola Salon Studios was recently named a top franchise to buy by Forbes Magazine. The accolade and success of the company is all credited to the more than 5,000 salon professionals at 230 locations nationwide and growing.
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Denver company tops Forbes' national best-franchise list
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At ESTETICA, we want to inform other professionals on how they can become independent and the benefits of that decision. Celebrity hairstylist, Redken stylist and independent entrepreneur, Autumn Morris gives us some insight about how the life of a normal stylist, turns into that of a celebrity stylist, and ultimately results a system like Sola Salon Studios!
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Sola Salon Studios was recently named a top franchise to buy by Forbes Magazine. The accolade and success of the company is all credited to the more than 5,000 salon professionals at 230 locations nationwide and growing.
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Sola Salon Studio owner Holly Santelli may have named her Park Ridge, Illinois, suite “Serendipity Beauty Parlour,” but finding her best solo-artist life didn’t happen by chance. After a hiatus to have children, the 24-year industry veteran got back in the professional swing at an employee salon, then moved to a business that let her build on commission before eventually renting a chair.
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Salon Suites are changing the way beauty professionals conduct businesses, offering stylists the opportunity to be their own bosses and control their own schedules. Leaving a traditional salon is a big decision and there are many crucial questions to ask to help determine if transitioning to a salon suite is the right move for you. We spoke to haircare line founder and Sola Salon Studios stylist Brandie Kekoa to get her insight on the Salon Suite experience.
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Describe your business. We put salon professionals into business for themselves by providing elegantly furnished, stand-alone salon suites. Who are your customers? Our customers range from traditional stylists, estheticians, manicurists and massage therapists to niche service providers and smaller beauty retailers.
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The Best Franchises To Buy 2015 – Sola Salon Studios Named Number 1 With Initial Investment > $500K
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One of the top performers on Forbes’ best franchises list, Sola Salons brings a different approach to the hairdressing business. In fact, on its balance sheet it hardly looks like a hair salon at all. That’s because Sola Salons has a coworking-style business model. Its franchisees lease large retail spaces, then subdivide them into individual salon shops. The chain isn’t selling hair styling—it’s selling stylists. Sola recruits top performing stylists at neighborhood shops who already have a significant following. Those stylists can set up at Sola, paying rent for the opportunity to operate their own one-person business.
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Sola Salon Studios has changed the lives of thousands of salon professionals in the last 11 years. This summer, Sola is celebrating its community of more than 5,000 hairstylists and beauty professionals who are part of their family. Salon professionals come to Sola Salon Studios from every walk of life. Some are industry veterans, others have recently finished school, but they’re all looking for the same thing: To take the leap to independence by starting their own business.
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Sola Salon Studios, which has 230 locations nationwide, is celebrating a company milestone in June — more than 5,000 salon professionals owning their own businesses at Sola locations across the country, 435 of whom are nail techs.
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Sola Salon Studios is celebrating a very special milestone—5,000 salon professionals finding the freedom that comes with owning your own business. "Being able to give the American dream to thousands of stylists' has been the most rewarding business endeavor we've ever done," says Stratton Smith, Co-Founder of Sola Salon Studios. "It's all about experiencing the freedom to live the live you love."
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The concept of a salon studio is one that seems to be making more of an impact in the beauty industry. Sola Salon Studios are a prime example of this rising popularity, as more and more stylists rent the space to work from a provider like Sola.
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When you own a commission salon, attracting new clients is usually pretty simple—if your salon is located along a busy street, that is. But when you work in a salon studio, such as Sola Salon Studios (the largest salon studio concept in the country, home to nearly 5,000 providing salon professionals!) you have to focus on specific marketing tactics to successfully gain and sustain your client base.
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It’s a dream come true. You’ve signed the lease on your very own salon suite—and you’re ready to create a beautiful, inviting and private space for all of your clients. Or you’ve had a suite for a while and it’s time for a refresh. Your suite must reflect your style, your personality, your taste. It must be functional and comfortable. It must be on-trend, because after all, you’re in the style business. So… where to start? Here are guidelines from design pros to get you started on the road to designing a suite that’s totally sweet!
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You’ve been dreaming about owning your own salon, about the flexibility and autonomy of being your own boss. But, how do you know if you’re really ready?
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It’s that time of year again, when we focus on making (and keeping!) various New Year’s resolutions that support our personal goals and business endeavors. If past resolutions have fallen flat, perhaps it’s time to shift your focus. Sola Salon Studios Director of Education, Kim Bennett Horvath, looked to the Sola community—now comprised of 4,000+ salon professionals—when setting her 2015 goals, and discovered there are no limits when you’re met with Sola-style freedom. Here, Kim shares the five resolutions she has added to her list—which might, in turn, inspire you.
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Sola Salon Studios offer salon professionals the benefits of salon ownership in a salon model in which beauty professionals come together under one roof. On October 12-14 2014, in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, 175 Sola Salon Studios franchisees and managers joined vendor partners that included insurance providers, construction companies, the Sola cabinet design company and real estate professionals, to talk about their successes in growing the salon studio business.
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So you want to go out on your own, but can’t afford to open your own salon. No problem, a salon studio, like Sola Salon Studios, might be the place for you. YOU get to be the boss and make all the decisions, including setting your own schedule, picking what products to carry and decorating the space to fit your personal style. Sounds pretty good, right? But how do you successfully make it in a salon suite? We reached out to six successful Sola Salon Studios owners to find out just how they made the transition from a commissioned salon environment to a studio, and what they did to make their businesses thrive.
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You may think that a salon's success comes from its image, but it all comes down to client retention. As a boutique salon owner, your repeat clients are essential for building a booming business! Attracting new customers takes a significant amount of time and money. Instead of putting all of your energy into increasing your client base, focus on satisfying and retaining your current customers so that they never have a reason to go anywhere else.
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Sola will celebrate the opening of its 200th location this summer, providing nearly 4,000 salon professionals with fully- equipped salon spaces in which they own and operate their individual boutique salons.
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One of the best attractions for owning your own boutique salon is the opportunity to increase your revenue through retail sales. At a salon studio, the possibilities are endless—from handpicking the professional brands of your choice to deciding how to market your products to clients.
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Sola Salon Studios is among new trend of owner-operated businesses in the beauty industry.
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It’s a new year and that means new resolutions. Perhaps you have always dreamed of opening your own salon, but aren't sure exactly where to start. No worries, there are lots of ways to experience the freedom and benefits of salon ownership—one of which is to open a salon studio. If you think you have outgrown your current situation and are ready to be your own boss, take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the successes of your own.
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The hairstylists at Sola Salons love coming to work. You would, too, if your employer told you how awesome you were the moment you arrived. The newest location, on The District's east side, greets visitors with a sign on the door that reads "The best stylists deserve their own salon." A nice pat on the back for the stylists...
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