This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Jason and Shaun Olsen founded their business, Image Studios, with one overriding concept in mind.
Most hair stylists and other beauty professionals are great and creative artists, but few have the needed business knowledge to be as successful as they can be in their work.
"When we started Image Studios in 2009, we realized that there were a lot of stylists and beauty professionals who were interested in starting their own businesses, but they lacked the resources and business background to get started," Jason Olsen said.
And that is where the Olsens and their Image Studios business come in.
While it isn't unusual for property operators such as the Olsens to lease studio space to beauty professionals, what differentiates Image Studios from other such operators is the emphasis it puts on providing its tenants with the business knowledge they need to be successful.
"We've made it a point to provide all the business start-up tools our tenants need," Olsen said, noting those tools include information on how to file for a business license, tax forms and credit-card processing. "And we also bring in experts for quarterly seminars on topics such as increasing profits and productivity."
Those seminars, he said, are free to all of Image Studios' salon-suite tenants.
"When it comes right down to it, [Image Studios' tenants] success is a measure of our success," he said.
The Olsens opened their first Image Studios location in Draper in June 2010, and it now houses 45 stylists in 28 independently owned and operated studios. They opened their second location in Salt Lake City in August the next year. It now has 23 studios in operation, including a full-service nine-chair salon.
And in late September this year, Image Studios held the grand opening ceremony for a third location in Sandy.
Hairstylist Tiffany Everson opened her business at Image Studios' Salt Lake City location in October last year but recently relocated it to Sandy when that location opened.
"I'd run my own salon before, and working out of Image Studios is lot less of a headache," Everson said, noting her business is Studio 117. "And one thing I find really appealing is that [the Olsens] really want me to be successful. If I run into any problem, they're willing to help get me whatever I need."
Image Studios rentals range from $165 to $350 per week and are available with a 12-month term lease.