The businesses which were once considered recession-proof are now facing a major slowdown. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the beauty industry has encountered the longest period of shutdowns. The restrictions that came along with the pandemic have severely affected the business of salon professionals around the world. Phenix Salon Suites is one of the very few businesses that endured this slowdown. The founder of Phenix Salon Suites, Gina Rivera took on the challenge of the pandemic with her innovative approach, diligence, and a franchise that fulfills the dreams of many aspiring lifestyle professionals.
Revolutionizing the Beauty Industry
Phenix Salon Suites was founded by hairstylist Gina Rivera—a professional and well-renowned celebrity stylist. She comes from a family of influential stylists that have been in the beauty industry for more than 90 years. As a little girl, Gina grew up sweeping the hair from the floor of her parent’s salon and dreamt of pursuing a career in the beauty industry like her parents. She started her career as a young hairstylist and soon realized that numerous salon professionals were deprived of the appropriate tools for success. As a fierce advocate for beauty professionals, she wanted to develop a model that allowed every salon professional the opportunity to own and operate their business. This led to the inception of Phenix Salon Suites.
Gina worked behind the chair as a hairstylist for more than 30 years, before starting the business. Today, she is a highly experienced and celebrated salon professional in the industry. Gina is also a published author who has contributed hundreds of articles to mainstream beauty journals. Additionally, Gina also appeared as the featured guest on the Emmy-winning show ‘Undercover Boss.’
“As the founder of Phenix Salon Suites, it’s my job to drive the vision and mission of the company,” said Gina.
Harboring Endless Opportunities
Phenix Salon Suites provides the opportunity for independent entrepreneurs in the beauty industry to operate their businesses at a fraction of the cost of owning a full-scale multi-chair salon. It provides personal beauty suites to an array of industry professionals including barbers, hairstylists, aestheticians, manicurists, brow artists, massage therapists, professional make-up artists, tattoo artists, lash artists, and others.
The salon presents the professionals with an opportunity to operate their business via a very affordable model. This concept makes them their own boss. A Phenix Salon Suite franchise location can harbor 30-50 small business owners—operating under one roof in the privacy of their own suite.
Phenix Salon Suites has a deep understanding of the needs of lifestyle professionals and understands what it takes to be successful in the beauty industry. It offers aesthetically pleasing and practically designed suites for the professionals to set up their own business which they may decorate to their liking. Additionally, Phenix Salon Suite does not bind its customers to long-term contracts—salon professionals can operate their businesses on a month-to-month basis if they select to.
“I strive to keep the Salon Professional at the center of every decision we make. This ensures that we support them,” mentioned Gina.
Extensively Supporting the Franchisees
Phenix Salon Suites takes care of its franchise owners with a multitude of services. The Phenix team provides the required assistance with site selection, construction, and development. They also provide extensive in-store and classroom training. The franchise’s expansive services also include marketing support on social media, a template website to effectively create an online presence, and a library of collateral marketing materials that may be utilized for promotional campaigns.
Furthermore, each franchise owner is provided a 43-point marketing plan that is focused on engaging and attracting lifestyle professionals on a continuous basis. There is also assistance with determining pricing and a variety of other pertinent items.
Recently, Phenix Salon Suites has embarked on designing a mobile app called Gina’s Platform that launched in January of 2021. The app is a comprehensive management tool for both franchise owners and lifestyle professionals. It encompasses scheduling, a POS system, product ordering, and some unique additional features such as inspirational quotes and instructional tips from the Founder, Gina.
Post-Pandemic Norms
Phenix Salon Suites is set up so that a beauty proprietor may provide services to a client in a one-on-one setting. This unique working model provides for a socially responsible system. Upon reopening post-pandemic, the franchise was able to promote higher levels of safety in comparison to multi-chair salons.
Since every lifestyle professional has a personal suite, there is no common waiting room or sharing of washbowls and equipment. This makes it highly conducive to social distancing and safety. Additionally, the franchise has also enhanced its cleaning features for many locations. Due to its unique model, Phenix Salon Suites recorded a surge in the demand for its suites during the pandemic which continues today.
Focusing on the Expansion
Phenix Salon Suites has constantly been working to provide better solutions for lifestyle professionals, the professional’s clients, and the franchisees. This is especially true with the launch of its business application for the lifestyle professional—Gina’s Platform. Using the app, one can operate their entire business including scheduling, processing appointments, ordering products, and running reports remotely. Gina’s Platform also offers additional benefits such as short-term disability and pet insurance and a variety of online education and trending beauty news. The app is free to use for everyone in the industry.
In addition, Phenix Salon Suite continues to expand its corporate footprint—it has grown to over 300 locations nationally in a short span of time. Most recently the brand has expanded to the United Kingdom with the first store set to open in Manchester. There are additional international expansion plans underway in other markets as well. The franchise expects to continue to experience success in the marketplace and has received multiple industry awards including being named repeatedly as a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine. Phenix Salon Suites has embarked on a successful journey that they expect to continue.
“We are extremely excited about the expansion and what the future holds,” expressed Gina.
Read Full Magazine: The 10 Highly Profitable Franchises, 2021
