Sola Salons Offers 'One-Stop Shop' for Customers, Independence for Stylists

Susan Goldman has been a hairstylist for more than 25 years, and in that time, she’s worked at various salons.

There was the chair she rented at a salon at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club. Then, there was a station at the JCPenney Salon at The Shops at Wiregrass, and next, space at Blush Hair Studio in Wesley Chapel.

“Most of the salons I worked in were salons where I actually worked for someone,” she said.

Now, she’s trying something different. She’s one of the stylists renting a 1-person studio in the newly-opened Sola Salon Studios in New Tampa.

“I wanted to have my own business without having the responsibility of overhead and having to manage other stylists,” Goldman said. “This is becoming the trend because of the independence that stylists can have.”

Sola Salon Studios opened June 15 at 18061 Highwoods Preserve Parkway in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopping center. The national franchise was founded in Denver in 2004, and there are now about 100 locations across the country, including Carrollwood and Palm Harbor.

The salons offer hair, nails, skin and massage services, and each stylist or technician has his or her independently-licensed studio.

It’s like a mall that only features personal services.

“We like to make it a one-stop shop,” said Rich Saltzman, who owns the New Tampa and Carrollwood salons with his wife, Mary Saltzman. “You can get everything in one place.”

Stylists and techs decorate their studios to their tastes, use their own products, and set their own hours. They pay rent and have to maintain business insurance, but they don’t have to worry about maintenance, water or electric. Most already have a clientele, but many accept new clients and walk-ins.

“For me, it’s the freedom of having my own business and being able to work when I want to work,” Goldman said. “I feel like everyone here is professional and takes pride in what they’re doing. It’s more like an investment in myself rather than just getting up and going to work.”

Looking for a stylist/tech? If you want to know more about each one, visit the Sola Salon Studios New Tampa Stylist Directory.