Oh, I bet you think I’m writing about a salon and a spa under one roof. No, that’s not the “mix” I’m writing about. I want to review the concept of a commission and rental store all in one place!

Well, now you really think I’m crazy. I do not think. Some salon owners are very smart when it comes to making money and being successful. Some have discovered the right mix of booth rentals and commission arrangements to keep the shop running like a well-oiled machine!

So who are these owners?

I would like to profile one that I am particularly impressed with. He is smart, professionally talented and financially savvy, has a heart and works hard to improve the lives and careers of his pro team. This is an amazing combination. I have heard, over the last 4 years, from many, many salon and spa owners. I have listened to those who work for both commission shop owner and rental stall owner and none have had the work and life ethic of this particular gentleman.

Mark Cottle, owner of Kaya Beauty in Henderson, Nevada, has no idea I’m writing about him, but that’s okay because he’d blush if I told him before I’m done. Mark is a very talented beauty professional. He is a teacher, mentor and entrepreneur. “I want my equipment to be successful,” he says if you ask him why he feels so comfortable when one of his pros says he wants to go for hire, “any salon owner who doesn’t want to have their equipment ‘owns’ their own.” clients and doing great things is afraid of losing.” His confidence in his ability to groom great talent shines through to everyone on the shop floor.

You have to remember that while I’m a financial professional who built beauty business contact management software solo, I’m also a very vain 50-year-old who hates showing gray hair and needs to be “blonde” even though God gave me the good old dark brown Italian to work! I am very loyal to some very talented professionals who credit Mark & ​​Kaya for their success.

Finally, I am also getting my nails done and as a treat I received a facial and massage on my birthday as a gift from my staff. What an amazing event, everything in Kaya, the best deal with great people, all loving what they do and making their work an enjoyable career.

All of them, when asked what is important to the owner of the salon and spa, say: “Mark only cares about the happiness of the client”, “If the client is not being served by a professional in the salon, we all need to understand and help them find the right professional in the salon to work with.” Wow, what a concept.

Mark bought each member of his team a copy of Michael Cole’s Redken sponsored book “A Little More off the Top” to read, study and discuss at future group meetings. I was lucky enough to read a copy and what a great book for all beauty professionals as well as any business person who lives with customer service as a crucial part of their career. Mark gave them the book with the goal of creating success for each member of the team, which in turn creates success for the workshop.

Now I can’t tell you the financial formula for commission booth rental and what the divisions are and what the monthly rates are. I can tell you that all work is to sell products, not to “force sell” products to customers, the front desk calls all commissioned staff customers the day before the appointment (I think it’s too late, but that’s another customer management story), and they are super friendly helping where they can.

When Mark said to me, while commenting on how wonderful his management style was and how unique it is in the market, “If a client likes a professional’s work, they will follow you anywhere. Why shouldn’t they do happy to the professional? to be here so that the client is happy to be here? I do not own the client, nobody is, but the client’s loyalty to his professional is expected”. I knew then that Mark understood the fundamentals that most salon owners ignore or suppress for the sake of “owning” the customer.

Your professionals are your best and most valuable asset. As a Salon & Spa owner, treat them right and you’ll have the beauty professional and her clients for life.