MENU
SEARCHI’m looking for a place I like to call a nail boutique. It would be focused primarily on natural nails, and it would have interesting and unique services (where they’d serve drinks to match the services).
You’d think the editor of a nail magazine would know the perfect place to get her nails done. And I do. Too bad it’s in Tampa, Fla.
I live in a small beach community in Southern California, with a quaint, walkable downtown area filled with boutiques, restaurants, yoga studios, and more restaurants. There are nail salons, but they’re your average run-of-the-mill nail salons, not quite the place I’m looking for.
I’m looking for a place I like to call a nail boutique. It would be focused primarily on natural nails, and it would have interesting and unique services (where they’d serve drinks to match the services). The salon my town is missing would also do quite a bit of retail — both professional-only salon products and boutique specialty items as well. There, I could find a unique gift for one of my girlfriends as well as stocking stuffers for my baby cousins. As for design, it would be cute (I’m a sucker for cute) and modern, but it would be comfy too — like I was hanging out in a friend’s really cozy living room.
So when I got a call last week from a woman who wanted to open up a salon in my neighborhood that practically matched my dream-salon description, I thought, at last! I was so thrilled to hear her professional business plan, to learn that she had already secured financing, and she even had lined up a few top-notch nail artists. But then she told me that she had been rejected by a handful of landlords who didn’t even read past the words “nail salon” on the cover page of her business proposal. I was shocked.
With more than $6 billion being spent in nail salons last year, how could this not seem like a viable business to the owner of a shopping complex or commercial building? A nail salon would seem to guarantee income to a landlord, provide walk-by traffic for all neighboring businesses, and project a stylish image (not to mention, I’d get my perfect neighborhood nail salon!). So what’s the problem? I got on the phone with some of the landlords to ask them directly.
One told me, “There isn’t a stigma on nail salons as a whole, but they’re a dime a dozen, so they don’t add a unique angle to the business center.” One guy told me he didn’t want to add the plumbing a salon would require. The same person told me he didn’t view nail salons as an upscale service business and felt they would hurt the neighborhood’s specialty cachet.
So here you have a budding salon owner, out to change the perception of the run-of-the-mill nail salon and she’s in a Catch-22: She can’t change the perception of nail salons because the perception of salons prevents her from opening up a new kind of perception-changing nail salon.
And here you have a dejected nail magazine editor, who continues to wait for her friendly neighborhood salon and realizes it’s still going to take a lot more than wishful thinking to bring “cachet” and “upscale” back to the nail business.
But I know we can do it.
Square data shows that regular customers tip 11% higher and are shared across 32% of businesses in the same ZIP code, driving thousands of dollars in additional revenue per connection.
When Bowie Lau and Jeffrey Ching opened JBW Jeffrey Ching Salon in 2011, they weren’t just launching another luxury hair destination—they were building a business rooted in passion, artistry, and thoughtful growth.
Sponsored by Amex
Inside the Systems That Power an Elevated Salon Experience From seamless online booking to a team-first culture, J Gold Salon in Atlanta offers more than great hair—it delivers consistent, high-touch service with the help of partners like Boulevard and American Express.
Sponsored by Amex
Want to grow your career as a beauty professional? K18 Sales Manager Sabrina Sanborn shares advice on networking, mentorship, and self-advocacy—from attending hair shows to finding the right guidance to reach your goals.
A combination of clear policies, effective communication, and strong client relationships has helped me create a more reliable and efficient booking system.
Founded by Cleveland serial entrepreneur Shaura Rodgers, Nailtorious has grown to include a nail supply megastore, training facilities, and retail line for nail techs.
This period after the holidays can bring on a huge lull for hairstylists. We asked Cosmo Prof's team of professionals to offer their best advice on how to deal with the January-February slow period.
Key highlights include a push toward inclusive spaces for all abilities, an emphasis on maximizing livable square footage, and a continued love for modern farmhouse exteriors.
The busy holiday season is here, and with it comes jam-packed days, last-minute client requests and booming retail sales. For many salon owners, the highlight of the season is Small Business Saturday® (SBS). This year on Saturday, November 30, consumers can take their shopping into the small businesses in their communities.
Sponsored by Amex
Want to become savvy about your personal finances, but don't quite know where to start? Anna Manukyan identifies six important concepts for building a strong financial foundation.
Salon owner Nuri Yurt had a dream of owning a salon on New York City’s Madison Avenue. "Through perseverance, hard work and stellar customer service, he and partner John Kaygisiz founded Toka Salon in 2007.
Sponsored by Amex
This guide is your one-stop shop for a plethora of technology tools, software and services created to keep your salon or spa thriving.
Anna Manukyan shares a breakdown of what different types of financial accounts should be used for.
Vagaro has consistently been at the forefront of salon software technology, helping businesses be more efficient, create more effective communication, and even improve company culture. Now, Connect by Vagaro, the platform’s two-way communication capability, and Vagaro’s new generative AI tools are giving owners new opportunities to grow and expand.
Sponsored by Vagaro
Young Nails' Greg, Habib, and Tracey discuss whether getting too close to clients can damage your business.
This list of watch-outs from @jodydoesjels prompted us to reach out to her and learn more. We had already fallen for her hand-painted designs and now we wanted to know more about this list she created to help clients decide if she was the nail tech for them.
Education is necessary for beauty professionals to maintain their cosmetology licenses, and paying for that education can be burdensome, but it doesn't have to be. Understand which education tax credits can help you offset those costs.
