Top 5 Things
to Consider
Before Merging Salons

S U M M I T   S A L O N   P R O F I L E
The Rock for Hair and Nails, Fort Meyers, FL

THE ROCK. The very name connotes strength, stability, permanence. It also invokes Rock 'n' Roll: hip, sexy, dynamic.

And in fact, The Rock for Hair and Nails in Fort Meyers, FL is all of these things: as solid as a rock, and as dazzling as rock and roll.

But it wasn't always so. Not very long ago, the cool, strong entity now known as The Rock for Hair and Nails was a couple of pebbles, in the form of two separate salons, KDK and HairTec. Located just seven miles apart, KDK and HairTec had no idea that the other existed. A twist of fate brought each to The Summit within one month of each other in 2004. Thus began an incredible journey which eventually led them to join forces, merge their respective salons, and re-open as The Rock for Hair and Nails in January 2006.

HairTec (owned by Chuck and Rachel Navy) and and KDK (owned by Kristi Hyde) were similarly-sized, and though each described their salon atmospheres as “friendly and family” and “fun,” they faced many of the same challenges. One of the main issues was growing the salon; neither was quite sure of how to take their service providers, clientele, and the business to the next level. Recruiting, consistency, and morale were also stumbling blocks. And both salons were in what are called “D,” that is, poor, locations.

Sharon Meier-Tamules, the KRS consultant for both HairTec and KDK, will never forget her initial visits to each salon. “KDK was painted blue and yellow, used craftsman tool chests for stations, and had a car hood painted with an image of Elvis,” she reported. One month later, she was astounded to walk into HairTec, which “was purple and yellow, with tool chests for stations, and a picture of James Dean.” Coincidence? (See photos at left.)

The similarities ran deeper than merely looks. Leadership was an ongoing concern in each salon. At KDK, Kristi said she “doubted myself a lot, sometimes wondering if I did the right thing. I always tried to be an example but I know I was weak when it came to dealing with employee conflict.” The owners of HairTec also felt a lack of control and were both considering other careers. Rachel avoided salon problems and “basically let employees make rules,” while Chuck had high energy but low follow-through. The staff sensed the potential for good leadership but there was a lot of mutual frustration.

When KDK’s crew sat in on one of Michael Cole’s seminars and heard about The Summit, they urged Kristi to attend. HairTec similarly found out about the Summit through a Michael Cole seminar at the Focus show in Orlando. Kristi realized that although she was “ready to give it all up... I am capable and had to believe in myself and step up to bat for my employees.” Rachel recalls the exhaustion of staying afloat, with the constant worry about financials and keeping a valuable staff, and simply had no will to resist.

Once at The Summit, both salons were quickly convinced that they could benefit from not only The Summit systems but from ongoing consulting through KRS. Kristi reports that “I saw that KDK was growing, but very slowly, and if I worked with KRS I could grow my service providers so much faster. I could see and feel how much everyone in KRS genuinely cared about people and our industry. I knew that I needed their help and the consistency of it. After visiting Mask [a Summit Salon in Minnesota] I knew KRS was 100% the way to go!” HairTec has a similar story: “we were at the point where we were willing to take anyone’s advice. And right away, we could tell that anyone involved in the Summit or in KRS was genuine.”

As HairTec and KDK adopted The Summit Systems, improvement was immediately noticeable. Both salons list the implementation of defined systems and goals to be the most valuable change. “Everyone knows what is expected of them and have specific goals to focus on and work for. They are more focused on guest services and experience faster personal growth. This in turn has promoted better teamwork.” Follow-up was another key improvement, as consistent monthly meetings with the staff help keep the focus, monitor commitment, and send a message of caring and willingness to help. HairTec particularly appreciated new leadership skills and the power of creating reality by leading by example. The budget guidelines – “knowing how much to spend, when, and why!” – were also an enormous benefit.

Emboldened by the pace of their post-summit growth and armed with defined systems and goals, HairTec and KDK were ready for the next step. When KDK sponsored haircut-a-thon for breast cancer, Sharon Meier-Tamules brought HairTec in to help, and the two salons worked side by side. It was at this meeting that Chuck casually mentioned the idea of partnership. It wasn’t the first time the possibility had occurred to Sharon, and she was quick to act. With encouragement from Randy Kunkel, CEO of KRS, she began to scout for locations. She found one she admired and brought Kristi there. “At that moment Kristi knew she could not NOT do it. Just like she’d known she could not NOT do The Summit,” says Sharon.

The merging process was not always easy; Sharon likened it to joining two step-families. There was anxiety about culture clash, and losing the salons’ intimacy. Randy Kunkel joined Sharon, Chuck, Kristi and Rachel in Fort Meyers to help the process and to formulate a vision, outline a mission statement, and designate individual roles. Sharon describes the bonding process as a special one, adding “I feel blessed to have been a part of it all. . .it was SO meant to be!” What made it work, she stresses, was all parties’ commitment to keeping the end result in mind.

On January 16, 2006 the two salons became one, and opened its doors as The Rock for Hair and Nails.

The merger was an instant smash, and the excitement around the new salon remains high. Kristi enthuses that “our vision has been exceeded with the merge of KDK and HairTec. We opened with a staff of 14, and seven weeks later have a staff of 25. The Rock for Hair and Nails still maintains a friendly and family atmosphere, and has a look that is slick and upscale. I see the employees looking, feeling and acting more professionally, and all of a sudden the applications are pouring in!” Rachel adds that “guests love the more professional atmosphere. They are educated about their services and are offered more for their total look. They purchase more retail because there is always a promotion in place!”

Personally, the owners’ growth has echoed that of the business. Kristi’s commitment to KRS revealed that as she pushes herself, her continued growth spurs the growth of her staff. She has new strength in dealing with conflict, and now enjoys a newfound respect as a leader. Kristi’s concern and care for the staff, their work environment and their ultimate success is reflected in her words and actions. Rachel too has reached new heights of leadership as KRS consultant Sharon Meier-Tamules challenged her to work through her fears. She has a confidence she didn’t know she had – in short, she says, “the inner growth which I’ve experienced is astounding!” Chuck has evolved tremendously as well, learning that “stepping away from the chair a bit adds more value to our business because the time I invest ultimately turns into a more grounded and secure business.” Accordingly, Chuck’s communication capacity expanded, and he has learned to better listen to the staff in order to help them grow.

The success story of The Rock for Hair and Nails would not be complete without mention of their sales distributor, Chuck Rupar. HairTec credits him for encouraging their presence at The Summit, which he attended with them. Kristi eagerly concurs that “he bends over backwards to help us and always wants to learn more to help us. He is in touch with his higher-ups to continually bring us more from Redken, education and otherwise. Chuck is the bomb!”

It is clear that the staff and owners of The Rock for Hair and Nails are rock stars, and the salon totally rocks! Sharon Meier-Tamules insists that “it would not have worked without their total commitment to the system, which they embraced with open arms – with all six arms!” The commitment and dedication of the two salons that became one represent a tremendous example. On behalf of everyone at Salon Development, KRS Consulting, The Summit and Redken 5th Ave, congratulations to The Rock for Hair and Nails! Keep up the rockin’ good work!

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Rock Profiles

Jenny Wolter
Front Desk
Rachel Nary, one of the owners of The Rock for Hair & Nails, is proud to report that “Jenny is usually the first impression our guests have of the Rock for Hair & Nails and she is the most professional front desk support person I have ever met – and our guests would agree!”

Tiffany Mindel
Level 1
Associate Stylist
"It was a couple of weeks before I graduated cosmetology school when I was introduced to a KRS salon. I was very apprehensive and unsure if I wanted to go through another nine months of training. I thought I was ready to get out there and start on my own. But I decided to give it a shot. I was very wrong. It turned out to be a life-changing decision.
KRS sets goals for you and helps plan your future. Through the structured associate program, Chuck taught me the skills and gave me the confidence to make me the stylist I am today. He is a great teacher and my mentor for life.
Now, being a part of the HairTec and KDK hair renovation merger to what is “The Rock,” Chuck, Rachel, Kristi and KRS have been fulfilling all of the promises they’ve made. Add that with the inspirational and encouraging words of Michael Cole, and I have the confidence to conquer anything!

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