Team Philosophy

Our team philosophy is simple. Glitz staff believes they must help each other look good and be excellent. This interaction works because the staff created its own culture of a “pay it forward” model. They strive to help each other without the expectation of reward. Most importantly, they do not attempt to undermine each other. The fact that this system operates is a testimony to the staff’s integrity to be successful. It is always difficult to have different personalities in large groups work well together. The staff chooses to make the model succeed.

One may wonder what makes Glitz unique and powerful. Glitz acts as one large unit, not three. This enables our team to support community outreach programs of all sorts. There is a strong bond with the Chamber of Commerce in the three cities where we are located. If our salon in one city is asked to participate in an event, all salons will be there. The team will help at local high schools surrounding any of the salons to produce high quality Prom Fashion Shows worthy of a New York runway. Their reputation for excellence is so widespread that other area salons are refused access. The team will march in parades together, make donations to sports teams together and host a one day fundraiser event that is the largest single charitable fundraiser for CLF. These events barely mention all the philanthropic work of Glitz.

Retention of staff is high. Outsiders within the industry hope to have the opportunity to become a Glitz girl or guy. There are staff that have left or been asked to leave. However, the same five women that founded Glitz in 1989 are still working for us.

Point of Difference-Key Concept

Glitz salons are distinctively known for creating magic for clients, the community and for its staff. People are drawn to the exceptional skills of the stylists as much as the positive environment within the walls. Many salons have talent but not the heart that Glitz demonstrates everyday for everyone. Whether the staff is donating time and talent to raise money for a cause or developing the skills of a new hire, the desire to improve someone’s life is genuine.

Glitz salons defined its unique business culture by first empowering employees to give voice to innovations. All have the opportunity to offer ideas then move them into reality. The employees have embraced the vision that this is “their salon” with Cherie simply driving and maintaining it. Decisions are made as a group then embraced by everyone. One key element to making this work is the co-operation among the staff. People respect one another. The relationship among the staff is evident in the second aspect of our individuality. The team handles challenges together. Each person at Glitz works to educate, mentor or advance another to achieve a personal best. Small projects are pushed to exceed set goals. The ability to listen to one another created the Glitz NXT concept. Not only did staff have input but clients did as well. The general atmosphere in all three locations is charged with excitement and anticipation. Most importantly, a strong sense of loyalty and trust exists.

Compensation and Benefits

The Glitz compensation and benefit plan is one of the highest in the industry. It is commission based on production. We feel this encourages staff to excel by creating their own paycheck. They can get pretty creative in booking clients knowing its reward.

Gross
AGRESSIVE SLIDING COMMISSION SCALE.

Benefits
401K
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Dental
Short Term Disability

Incentives offered for future growth include all-expense paid trips for top performers to Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles for highly sought after classes with top industry people. Glitz also regularly brings top educators to the salon for full staff training in every aspect of client service. Loyalty to Glitz is encouraged by an open door policy. If a challenge or question is raised, it is dealt with on a one on one coaching session with Cherie. Here they are encouraged to become successful business people while developing their creativity and mastering difficult skills.

Reward and Recognition

Glitz salon meetings are held monthly to recognize and celebrate individuals and team efforts to develop personal growth. One such award is our Mentor Award. It is generated to a peer by peers excluding input from managers or owner. It is based on outstanding performance by an individual within and outside of the salon. A large silver trophy is purchased, engraved, and presented to recipients. This award brings many tears by those selected. Next, Glitz honors Magic Moments. These are slips, like a thank you, written by an employee to an employee for a special act of kindness to that person. The slips bearing the names are placed in a random drawing with prizes at each meeting. Another favorite recognition occurs when an employee has been with Glitz for 10 years. They receive a Tiffany’s bracelet. Another way we recognize exceptional performance is by providing all-expense paid courses with top salon educators. Trips to New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago are a few locations attended. Glitz also provides a yearly trip to Disney World for 4 days. Employees purchase an airline ticket but everything else is provided. The bonding and friendships that occur on the trips last forever. Each autumn, we hire coach service to world renowned Cedar Point amusement park for staff and their families. It is complete with tickets and snacks for the day. Lastly, Glitz took its first Celebrity Cruise to the Bahamas for 4 days in January 2006.

The Glitz Board of Directors endorses fresh ideas and empowers individuals to make them happen. Positions that encourage leadership, creativity and community involvement are available. These include Artistic Direction: seeks fresh, innovative ideas, Image Direction: seeks to maintain polished image of team, and Marketing/Public Relations Direction: seeks to promote community involvement through the media. Our Artistic Team attends community or specialized events. It has a revolving door allowing anyone to participate. This group changes frequently. The Board of Directors consists of an all volunteer staff. These individuals receive extra incentives for participation but not pay.

Criteria Section 2: Client Philosophy & Marketing
Client Services Initiatives

Our target client is any person of any age desiring to look their best and feel great about how they look. Glitz utilizes a program to attract new business through a company named Ad Excel. It markets a package of Glitz services for a fee. We honor the service, Ad Excel gets the fee. We receive new business which is used to grow our Accelerate Team cliental. A second program for growth used is the Client Appreciation Card. This involves email blasts to existing clients on a monthly basis offering product incentives and services. If no email is available, clients are sent letters with the same information. The letter or email printout must be returned at the following visit to receive the product and/or service of the month. Another tool utilized is the Glitz Bounce Back Card. This gives a current client incentive to pre-book a service in one month to receive a coupon for something specific. This varies from a service to a product. Glitz does not discount any service. We also offer free samples to our clients that pre-book their next appointment.

Marketing Your Image

Glitz considers their style to be multi-dimensional in brand image. We can easily move between styles to meet the needs our each individual. Glitz is committed to customizing each aspect of meeting our client’s needs while exceeding their expectation. It is our goal to make each encounter an unforgettable experience. Our stylists strive to understand what a person is really searching for.

We are high profile salons. Focusing on fashion forward, trend setting style moves us ahead of other salons. Our approach to every aspect of the beauty industry is evident in our dress code, style, and artistic ability. Glitz carries a far reaching reputation that brings specific requests by organizers of A-list functions to provide services locally. We are able to quickly customize to an upscale, trendy, or fashion oriented model to supply a client’s desire. However, we are just as original in producing a high school fashion show. Each customer receives the best we have regardless of prestige. We measure our marketing program results by tracking client count, redemption, and return on investment.

Community Service Initiatives

Community service is where Glitz truly shines. Since the beginning of Glitz in 1989, we have felt the necessity to give back to our communities. The first event was a Make a Wish grant for a young man with leukemia. That triggered the start of our largest yearly event called Cut-A-Thon. It is staffed by our entire salon. All cuts, tips, food sold, silent auctions and raffle money are donated to this cause. We are able to raise over $25,000 in one day for the Children’s Leukemia Foundation making Glitz the largest donor in Michigan. Along with this, we frequently donate to Children’s Hospital of Detroit. Other programs for charitable venues include sponsoring Adopt a Family at Christmas providing clothing and food. We sponsor a team to walk at the Breast Cancer Awareness fund raiser. Blue Jean Day at our salons raises money. Staff pays to wear jeans at work which is all donated. Locks of Love are another favorite charity of ours. Anyone donating their hair is treated to a hair cut and style at no charge. Our group is exceptionally giving in all ways. This is Glitz standards at work in the most positive way.

Improvements and Expansion

Investments into Glitz are ongoing. We keep current with decorating trends and continually update our look. The Rochester salon was relocated in 2003; a result of the building it occupied was sold. This move was complicated by the purchase of a different salon. Once, in the new location, everything was updated and colors changed. New front desk/retail area, new stations and chairs, new showcases, enlarged the shampoo area adding more bowls, and bumping out the front of the building by 350 square feet. This became our largest salon. Secondly, Glitz NXT’s reception/retail area was moved forward to allow for a larger service area. The reception desk was updated and new flooring was installed though out the site. Currently, Glitz is completely remodeling the Clarkston location. Again, all new colors, flooring and furniture. A new showcase was custom built, new lighting installed and all new shampoo area. Granite counter tops are being installed for the front desk.

Future Plans

Glitz plans to continue utilizing its great relation with other leaders in the salon industry to grow as individuals, as a salon, and as an industry. We plan to aggressively pursue and implement new systems and fundamentals in critical areas for accelerated growth. Due to the sensitive nature of our research and development, we respectfully decline to share information at this time. We are looking into establishing a new venue in the beauty field.