Salon Today

Infobox_Newspaper
name = Salon Today


Cover of Salon Todaymagazine
caption =
type = business magazine
format = Paper and online magazine
foundation = 1983
ceased publication =
price =
owners = Vance Publishing Corp.
editor = Molly Noonan
founder =
language = English
political =
circulation = 25,000
headquarters = Lincolnshire, Illinois, USA
ISSN = 0743-6394
website = [http://www.SalonToday.com Salon Today]

Salon Today (magazine) is a monthly business-to-business magazine and Web site serving owners of “finer salons and spas.” Its award-winning content is modeled as an exchange of ideas on how to grow salon businesses. Special issues include annual SALON TODAY 200, Salon of the Year, Technology and Spa Business. It reaches the top 25,000 salon owners in the United States and Canada.

Beginnings

The concept for a salon management journal originated with industry icon Howard Hafetz, president of the Raylon Corporation distributorship. As he toured the country conducting business classes for salon professionals, Hafetz saw the need for a national magazine that addressed a broad range of business topics related to running a salon. In 1983, he and wife, Vickie launched Salon Today.

When Salon Today was 10 years old, Vance Publishing acquired it as a sister publication to Modern Salon. In the hands of first editor Michele Musgrove, who is now associate publisher of the company’s multi-media salon division, the new journal thrived, growing along with the industry it covered. In 1999, the formerly bi-monthly magazine went monthly; by 2000, Salon Today had racked up three ABBIES, the salon industry’s award program honoring exceptional reporting. Salon Today was the first publication to place salon owners on its covers and to establish an online presence to offer access to complete articles. In September 2004, a larger, redesigned Salon Today emerged with updated graphics and refocused editorial.

Pivotal Events in the Salon Industry

The early 1990s marked a pivotal time for the industry, as salons were just getting their feet wet in day spa services. Salon Today explored the spa industry’s expanding potential. Also notable during this era, the establishment of The Salon Association (TSA) served independent salon owners with education, publicity and legislative activity. Salon Today and TSA co-sponsored annual Symposiums for this new breed of salon owner-talented and committed professionals who took themselves seriously not only as a creative force, but as businesspeople. TSA also laid the groundwork for the formation of the current Professional Beauty Association (PBA), while the success of Symposium set the stage for the 2006 launch of the annual [http://salontoday360.com/ SALON TODAY 360°] , two days of intense business education and networking.

Special Issues

Every year, readers of Salon Today anticipate the arrival of the January issue, when the magazine reveals the “SALON TODAY 200.” This list of the 200 salons that have experienced the most growth during the previous year debuted in 1998 and has been a popular fixture in the salon industry ever since. Organized into multiple profit categories, the detailed roster lets owners peek through the windows and into the files of lightning-growth salons to learn not only their earnings but also their expenditures, service prices, square footage, staff breakdown, redesign dates and, often most revealing, owners’ comments and tips.

Equally sought-after, the “Salons of the Year” issue marks Salon Today’s nod to outstanding salon decor, with new and redesigned salons competing to be named among the 20 Salons of the Year in the June issue. Salon Today took over this award program from Modern Salon in 2002 and added business information about each winning salon. Other special issues through the years have included an annual technology issue, a look at salon software and other digital initiatives in the beauty industry, and several “power planners” that each laid out a full year’s calendar of must-dos and should-dos for the conscientious salon owner.

Chinese Edition

In 2007, MODERN SALON Media and Ringier began a co-publication for the salon and spa market in China. Published 8 times a year in Simplified Chinese, Salon Today China sources content from Modern Salon and Salon Today, and reaches 28,160 qualified professional beauty decision makers in China.

Timeline of Issues

A selection of SALON TODAY’s major issue themes that appeared in the past 15 years mirrors the industry progress during that period:

1994
“Compensation 101: Paying for Keeps” recognized that the commission structure was only one of the options open to progressive salon owners.

1995
“The Costs of Converting” took a microscope to the process and expense that a salon faced in choosing to add day spa services.

1996
“Make Your Space” updated salon owners on the latest trends in using natural materials and clued them into the critical role of both traffic flow and retail merchandising.

1997
“Nail Care: Counting on Fingers” anticipated the exploding mani/pedi market.

1998
“Can You Clone Your Success?” offered a blueprint for launching additional locations.

1999
“Tax Facts” helped owners cope with newly stringent requirements for both salons and staffers in reporting tips on IRS tax returns.

2000
“10 Salons on Warp Speed” presented meaty examples of how salons were applying a host of cutting-edge technologies.

2001
“Retail State of Mind” pulled retail out of the corner, giving at-home maintenance its own profit center chair at the salon industry table.

2002
“Higher Learning” celebrated the benefits of ongoing training with inspirational words from educators and a helpful list of advanced academies.

2003
“Niche Marketing” identified 20 target markets that posed great potential for the savvy salon owner who could address those distinct needs.

2004
“Get Down to Business: Writing Your Plan for Growth” urged owners to fuel continued success and not rest on the laurels of their recent good fortune.

2005
“Male Call” helped spas to tap into the burgeoning men's market.

2006
“Prescription for Medispa” examined the spa industry’s cautious but steadily developing partnership with the medical field.

2007
“Brand Your Business” enlightened owners still engaged in traditional marketing about the rewards of branding strategies.

External links

* [http://www.salontoday.com "Salon Today"]
* [http://www.modernsalon.com "Modern Salon"]
* [http://www.salontoday360.com Salon Today 360]
* [http://vancepublishing.com/ME2/Default.asp Vance Publishing Corp.]

Publications and events of Vance Publishing Corp.