“Your employees are your company’s real competitive advantage. They’re the ones making the magic happen-so long as their needs are being met.” ― Richard Branson
The Rushlow family couldn’t agree more with Sir Richard Branson. Every day their team is making magic happen for the thousands of guests that visit their Woodhaven and Wyandotte salons and spas each year.
“We learned long ago, that a happy team is a creative team, and we want nothing more,” says Daybreak founder, Mary Rushlow. Rushlow began her award-winning salons and spas in 1973 with just a few chairs but with loads of vision and a commitment to creating a place that people wanted to work, or as she says, “for a career, not just a job.” It must be working, as over a dozen of Daybreak’s employees have celebrated their personal Daybreak-iversaries in excess of 10 years with some approaching 20 years as members of the team. An unusual feat in the revolving world of salons.
And in 2023, Salon Today noticed the Rushlow’s commitment to a happy team and honored Daybreak as Salon Today 200 for compensation and benefits. Jerad Rushlow, Creative Director and his sister Jenee Osborne, manage the salons and are proud of their ongoing work to recognize, retain and reward their staff. “We want to take care of them, to inspire them to feel good about taking care of others,” says Rushlow.
Together they’ve developed a sliding scale commission for stylists that rewards productivity and longevity in a family-run business that is committed to families. “Once a stylist has worked with us for five years, and again at ten years, that commission is locked in place as minimum, rewarding hard work and loyalty without penalty for realigning the work-life balance by reducing hours to be with family,” says Osborne, Payroll Manager.
Daybreak is used to earning Salon Today awards annually, but this one is really important because it exemplifies their commitment to caring for their team. The Rushlows believe it’s a service provider’s job to take care of clients, but it’s an owner’s job to take care of the team. Salons and spas that offer rewarding compensation and benefits packages and design transparent career paths retain talent longer, which helps them grow faster.
Learn more about joining the Daybreak Salon & Spa team at our Join Our Team page –
