[1]Cutting Loose Salon & Spa Places In Salon Today 200.
Sarasota’s Cutting Loose Salon & Spa was recently honored by industry magazine Salon Today as part of its 14th annual ranking of the top 200 salons in the country. More than 1,400 salons were nominated for the competition in one of 11 different categories, including customer service, retention and referral programs, and economic sustainability.
“It’s truly an honor to be part of the Salon Today 200,” said owner Coral Pleas. “Times have been tough for everyone, but we responded by concentrating on our employee education and improving our skills. We also added new retail products, like FACE Stockholm make-up and the Wild Ginger Awapuhi collection from Paul Mitchell. We made it our mission to respond to our guests’ needs and make their experience with us a time when they could relax, unwind and leave feeling better about themselves.”
Cutting Loose earned its recognition in the “growth” category of the competition. The salon reported a 61% sales increase and grew its staff from five hairdressers to 25 in two and a half years. Pleas credits part of that success to the salon’s embrace of unusual marketing techniques, such as sponsoring a well-coiffed pony competition at the Sarasota Polo Club.
Salon Today is part of Modern Salon Media and bills itself as the premier business publication for salon owners and managers. The 2011 Salon Today 200 competition measured all areas of salon business during the calendar years 2008 and 2009. In order to be eligible for consideration, salons must have been established on or before January 1, 2008, offer professional spa and/or salon services, generate annual sales of at least $250,000, and be willing to provide verifiable business and financial information.
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