At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry that keeps shifting—those disorienting moments when the old way of doing things no longer supports the future you are trying to build. But within that disruption, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience and strategic clarity that allow a salon or spa to thrive in the rubble. To turn upheaval into your greatest advantage, you need a partner that doesn't just store data but empowers your vision. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Meevo® by Millennium.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock"—those disorienting moments when the industry shifts, the ground feels uncertain, and old business models no longer hold weight. But within that disruption, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience and radical clarity that allow a salon to thrive in the rubble. To turn industry upheaval into your greatest advantage, you need a partner that provides a "blueprint for excellence." This year, we are proud to spotlight our long-time partner and sponsor: Strategies.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the ground keeps shifting. For many salon owners, that shock is felt as a "mental mess" of administrative tasks—the disorientation of missed calls, late cancellations, and the constant struggle to keep a schedule full. But within that upheaval, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience of a business that runs like a well-oiled machine, allowing you to stay present in your role as a visionary.

To turn front-office friction into measurable growth, you need a strategic anchor that automates the "hard work" so you can focus on the craft. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Demandforce®.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the landscape is constantly shifting and the ground feels uncertain. While disruption can be disorienting, it is also a signal to pause and look deeper. In the rubble of old systems, we find the "Awe": the quiet resilience and strategic clarity that allow a brand to flourish despite the noise.

To turn today’s challenges into a new vision for your business, you need a partner that speaks the language of beauty and the science of growth. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Imaginal Marketing Group® (IM).

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the ground keeps shifting. Disruption can be disorienting, but it is also an invitation to look deeper. In the rubble of old systems, we find the "Awe"—the quiet resilience and tangible beauty that allow a salon brand to stand out when others fade into the background.

To turn your vision into a visible reality that leaves a lasting impression, you need a branding partner that understands the power of touch. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Pure Promotions LLC.

At Serious Business 2026, we are exploring the landscape of "Shock"—the sudden disorientation of a world that keeps shifting—and seeking the "Awe" found in the quiet resilience and beauty that follow. While leadership and strategy provide the vision, your physical salon environment is the container where that transformation takes place. To build a space that inspires everyday wonder, you need a partner that combines cutting-edge technology with timeless style. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Minerva Beauty®.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an era where consumer expectations are shifting faster than ever. Clients no longer just want a great service; they demand 24/7 accessibility, absolute personalization, and a frictionless journey. While this disruption can feel overwhelming, we seek the "Awe"—the quiet magic that happens when technology handles the "work," freeing your team to focus on the artistry and human connection that define our industry.

To turn this vision into reality, you need a partner that doesn't just provide tools, but provides an workforce. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Zenoti®.

At Serious Business 2026, we are exploring the landscape of "Shock"—the sudden disorientation of a world that keeps shifting—and seeking the "Awe" found in the quiet resilience and modern innovation that allow us to flourish. For many service professionals, "Shock" is felt in the steady disappearance of cash and the administrative burden of traditional tipping. But this year, we are proud to spotlight a partner that brings back the "Awe" of instant rewards: Tippy®.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of a world that keeps shaking the ground beneath us. For many salon owners, the most tangible form of that shock is the massive amount of waste our industry produces—a staggering 877 pounds every single minute. But within that challenge, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience and transformative innovation that allow a business to turn waste into a force for good.

This year, we are proud to spotlight a partner that turns "the rubble" into a regenerative ecosystem: Green Circle Salons®.

At Serious Business, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the ground keeps shifting. For a salon owner, disruption can feel like a "mental mess"—overwhelming schedules, fragmented data, and the constant hum of administrative stress. But within that upheaval, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience and modern innovation that allow a business to flourish even in the rubble.

To turn today's challenges into tomorrow's growth, you need a partner that doesn't just manage your business but modernizes it. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Aura Salonware.

At Serious Business 2026, we are exploring the landscape of "Shock"—the moments that shake our industry—and seeking the "Awe" found in the resilience and beauty that follow. While leadership and strategy provide the vision, your physical salon environment is the container where that transformation actually happens. To build a space that inspires everyday wonder, you need a partner with deep roots and a commitment to quality. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Collins Manufacturing.

At Serious Business 2026, we are exploring the space between "Shock"—the sudden disorientation of a shifting world—and "Awe"—the quiet resilience and magic found in the aftermath. For many salon owners, "Shock" lives in the numbers: fluctuating margins, complex tax regulations, and the anxiety of the unknown. But when you have a clear financial roadmap, those numbers transform into "Awe," giving you the confidence to lead your team through any disruption.

To help you find that clarity, we are proud to spotlight our 2026 sponsor and industry powerhouse: Kopsa Otte CPAs & Advisors.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the ground keeps shifting. For many salon owners, that shock is felt most acutely in the numbers—the disorientation of fluctuating margins, complex payroll, and the "mental mess" of tax season. But within that rubble, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience and radical clarity that allow a visionary leader to build a lasting legacy.

To turn financial disruption into a strategic advantage, you need a partner that speaks the language of beauty. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: World Class Financial Services (WCFS).

At Serious Business, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the landscape is constantly shifting. Disruption can be disorienting, but it is also an invitation to look deeper. In the rubble of old systems, we find the "Awe"—the quiet resilience and high-tech innovation that allow a salon to thrive while others are simply trying to survive.

To find your footing in 2026, you need more than just a booking tool; you need a growth engine. This year, we are proud to spotlight our sponsor: Phorest Salon Software.

Leading a salon or spa in 2026 requires a unique kind of resilience. In a landscape defined by "Shock"—the disruption of shifting markets, complex regulations, and the constant hum of business uncertainty—it is easy for a creative leader to feel disoriented. But at Serious Business, we know that true "Awe" is found when you have the clarity to look deeper into your own potential without the weight of financial stress holding you back.

At Serious Business 2026, we are leaning into the "Shock" of an industry where the ground keeps shifting. Upheaval can be disorienting, but it is also an invitation to look deeper. In the rubble of old systems, we find the "Awe"—the quiet resilience and modern innovation that allow a business to thrive when others merely survive.

At Serious Business, we gather to confront the "Shock" of a shifting industry—the moments when the ground moves beneath us and the old ways of managing no longer suffice. But within that disruption, we seek the "Awe": the quiet resilience and clarity that allow a business to thrive in the rubble. To find that clarity, you need more than just intuition; you need the industry’s most powerful management partner: SalonBiz®.

At Serious Business, we gather to navigate the "Shock" of a shifting industry and find the "Awe" in the resilience that follows. But where does that resilience truly begin? It starts at the foundation—with the education and inspiration that shape the next generation of beauty leaders. This year, we are proud to spotlight a partner that has been the heartbeat of our industry's evolution: Aveda Arts & Sciences Institutes.

Serious Business is where we navigate the "Shock" of a shifting industry and find the resilience to lead through disruption . But when the sun sets on the Saenger Theatre, we look for the "Awe"—that spark of wonder that reminds us why we fell in love with this craft in the first place. There is no better place to find that magic than with our 2026 sponsor: Elevate Hair®.

At Serious Business, our focus is on navigating the "Shock" of industry disruption and seeking the "Awe" found in transformation and resilience. This year, we are thrilled to spotlight a partner that turns those shifts into a strategic advantage for your business: VoMor® Hair Extensions.