Sola Salon Studios’ inaugural Sola Sessions event on February 8, 2016, marked the first of Sola’s exclusive events focused on providing education, networking opportunities and inspiration for Sola entrepreneurs from across the United States. The one-day event attracted 250 Sola hairdressers, estheticians and nail technicians from more than a dozen states who attended the event to learn from leading salon professional experts and educators.
Kim Bennett Horvath, Sola’s Director of Education and the first Sola stylist to join the salon suites company, kicked-off the conference by sharing experiences from her 12-year career at Sola and inspired the audience to learn something new. Sola co-founders Matt Briger and Stratton Smith followed to tell the story of the company’s origins and success, stressing that salon professionals’ needs are most important to them.
“We’ve remained focused on making this the best possible experience for our stylists,” Smith said.
Nina Kovner, the founder of Passion Squared, followed by asking the audience to close their eyes and explore the inner purpose for their business and why they chose to join Sola.
“Sola is in the empowerment business,” Kovner said. “And that’s a killer purpose!”
After a morning of inspirational messaging filled the main ballroom at the Curtis Hotel in Downtown Denver, Jennie Wolff, Sola’s Vice President of Marketing and Stylist Programs, took the stage and encouraged stylists to explore new channels that will drive tangible results in a marketing presentation. Building on Wolff’s message, Redken’s Michael Cole urged Sola stylists to get comfortable charging what they’re worth in order to maximize their earning potential and experience optimal business success.
The Sola Sessions’ second half launched into energetic, educational performances from Luis Alvarez, co-founder of Aquage, DJ Muldoon of theFactory and Redken’s Sam Villa. Alvarez and Nicole Gary, also of Aquage, walked the audience through best techniques, tools and products to execute goddess-inspired styles.
DJ Muldoon followed with his own take on a red-carpet-ready look with a focus on the fundamentals and the importance of hair tension while cutting.
Villa closed the show by getting the crowd on their feet with his emotional story of being told that he “was no good with his hands” after finishing beauty school.
“I dare you to say that now,” Villa said to the crowd, defiantly.
In addition to the prominent speakers, the Sola Sessions also featured the Side Sessions Lounge where vendors such as Sanitas Skincare, gloProfessional, Sola-based nail technician Kim Schine of The Painted Ten, and Hattori Hanzo Shears provided services and supplemental education opportunities for estheticians, nail technicians and other service providers.
Throughout the Denver Sola Session, personal and professional growth alongside Sola’s role in supporting successful salon owners and building positivity in the professional industry were recurring themes. Ben Jones, CEO of Sola Salon Studios, said the Sola Sessions were designed to give Sola owners a fresh perspective on their business potential and renew their passion for the salon industry.
“This event was a profound moment for Sola Salon Studios as well as the entire salon industry,” Jones said. “Sola is not simply comprised of individual stylists, but rather one large community; It was important for us to have Sola entrepreneurs come together and encourage each other to meet their independent goals.”
For more information about the inaugural Sola Sessions and to order tickets for upcoming Sola events, please visit https://www.solasalonstudios.com/sessions
Upcoming sessions:
- 4/25 - Minneapolis, Minnesota
- 9/12 - Orange County, California
- 11/13 - Charlotte, North Carolina
About:
Founded in 2004, Sola Salon Studios provides high-quality, individually owned salons to experienced hairdressers, estheticians, nail techs, massage therapists and other like-minded salon professionals who come together under one roof to take their careers to the next level. For more information, visit www.solasalonstudios.com.