Salon suite concept transforming Denver’s beauty industry

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.

“Clients love this place, there is peace and no stress,” Cline said, whose salon is in Lakewood. “I don’t have the burden of someone being over me; it’s just my own space.”

Sola Salon Studios — which operates 241 locations nationwide, including 12 in the Denver area — was founded in Denver by Matt Briger and Stratton Smith in 2004. Briger and Smith operated a real estate company before they were introduced to the salon suite concept by Smith’s former colleague.

“We saw the model and thought it was a win-win opportunity with happy stylists and happy customers,” Briger said. “We thought this was a great fit with our past experience and thought we would have an opportunity to open stores in Denver.”

The beauty salon industry generated more than $19 billion in sales in 2012, according to the U.S. Census.

Independent contracting is becoming a significant part of the industry, said Steve Sleeper, executive director of the Professional Beauty Association.

“Suites are a new phenomena. They are actively out there making sure professional stylists know about them and that it’s a viable option,” Sleeper said. “I do think the environments themselves are better options than renting a chair in a mixed environment. They give contractors their own space, more freedom and flexibility.”

But a suite might not be the right choice for a beginning stylist because of the additional costs associated with running a business, Sleeper said. Also, stylists need the salon community to grow their career.

“If they are employees working out of a salon, they might not fully understand the risk,” he said. “We look to educate people that it’s a great career choice, but it’s a big step. That’s where our biggest concern is as an association.”

Stylists can rent a suite by the week with utilities included, sell their own products and set their own hours. Suites at Sola typically rent from $190 to $290 per week in Denver. In other parts of the U.S., prices vary from $175 to $500 a week, Briger said.

“In our situation, the stylist is really in business for herself,” he said. “For the right stylist who is established, it’s often a better way than going out and starting a salon on her own.”

Another Colorado-based salon suite concept, Phenix Salon Suites, is also growing rapidly. In 2007, owners Gina and Jason Rivera opened their first location in Colorado Springs. Eight years later, they have expanded to more than 100 franchises nationwide.

“Every stylist’s dream is to own their own salon, but a lot of them don’t have the financial wherewithal to do so,” Gina Rivera said. “What sets us apart is we’re letting hairstylists run their own business. It’s about them, not about us. It’s about taking care of the stylists and what they need.”

A salon suite franchise such as Sola is oriented around capital investment, with an average startup cost of $500,000 to $1 million, depending on location and tenant improvements.

Finding landlords was a challenge at first because they didn’t understand there would be multiple, independent salons under one roof, said Sola CEO Ben Jones.

“It took some convincing to get landlords really interested, but they are interested today because it brings clients and quality stylists to their building,” Jones said.

Sola has plans to open 40 more locations by the end of the year, while Phenix aims to develop 100 more franchises over the same period.

Amy Edelen: 303-954-1440, aedelen@denverpost.com or twitter.com/amyedelen