Salon Business

What Salon Business does

Salon Business is a UK-based B2B media platform serving the professional hairdressing industry through an integrated mix of digital publishing, print magazine, industry awards, and live events. Its core products are SB Online (the salonbusiness.co.uk editorial site covering hair, colour, business, products, education, eco, bridal and events), SB Magazine (a quarterly print and digital publication), the SB Awards annual recognition programme, and HairCon, an annual two-day hair industry festival held at Manchester's O2 Victoria Warehouse (third edition in 2026, 13 June). The company also operates editorial sub-brands including SB Eco (sustainability) and SB ColourFest (colour-focused content and events), and reports on UK and international fashion week hair, brand ambassador activity, and salon business news. The primary audience is professional hairdressers, stylists, colourists, and salon owners in the United Kingdom, with the platform also serving as a marketing channel for tier-1 professional haircare brands.

The business model is anchored on advertising and sponsorship revenue from leading haircare manufacturers and salon brands (JOICO, Schwarzkopf Professional, L'Oréal, BaBylissPRO, KEVIN.MURPHY, TONI&GUY, Denman, Rainbow Room International, Authentic Beauty Concept, Revlon Professional, Philip Kingsley), supplemented by event production income from HairCon (powered by Fresha in 2026) and SB Awards, and a freemium print subscription that requires only profile completion for magazine delivery. Distribution is multi-channel: organic Instagram (salon_business), website content marketing, email newsletters, and event/conference properties serve top-, mid-, and bottom-of-funnel engagement. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for advertiser or sponsor packages; no enterprise pricing tiers, transactional product, or SaaS component are present.

The underlying technology is a standard digital media stack built around a WordPress-style CMS (themes directory references "salonbusiness-2025"), with no disclosed proprietary features, APIs, SDKs, AI/ML capabilities, integrations, or data products. Operating with a lean team of 5 employees, the company is privately held with no parent, no disclosed institutional investors, and no funding history. Salon Business is therefore best understood as a niche vertical media brand monetising audience attention, editorial authority, and event access rather than a technology platform.

Name

Salon Business

Legal name

Salon Business

Website

https://salonbusiness.co.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Salon Business is a UK-based B2B media platform serving professional hairdressers and stylists through SB Online editorial, SB Magazine print/digital, the SB Awards programme, and the annual HairCon industry festival at Manchester's O2 Victoria Warehouse, monetised via brand sponsorship and advertising from major haircare manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trade Media Publishing

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711)

akta.pro primary industry

Salon & Spa Management / Operations (EDAOALAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Women's Hair Salons (HSALAAAA)

Keywords

• Trade media publishing
• Professional hairdressing content
• Industry events management
• Beauty brand advertising
• Salon professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Sponsorship: Media platform generating revenue through brand partnerships, sponsored content, and advertising from professional hair care brands and industry suppliers.
2. Subscription Revenue: Free subscription model requiring profile completion for magazine delivery, with potential premium content offerings.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Salon Business is a UK-based B2B media company serving the professional hairdressing industry through an integrated platform spanning a digital news website (SB Online), a quarterly print and digital magazine (SB Magazine), an annual awards programme (SB Awards), and an annual industry festival (HairCon) held at Manchester's O2 Victoria Warehouse. The company publishes editorial content across hair, colour, business, products, education, and eco verticals, and monetises the audience primarily through advertising, sponsored content, and event sponsorships from professional hair care brands and industry suppliers.

Product overview

Salon Business is a UK-based professional media company serving the hairdressing industry through multiple channels: SB Magazine (print and digital publication), SB Online (news website), SB Awards (annual awards programme), and event properties including HairCon (industry festival) and SB ColourFest. The company covers hair colour trends, business advice, education, eco-friendly practices, bridal services, and fashion week hair coverage, positioning itself as a comprehensive resource for UK salon professionals and hair brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SB Mag: Print magazine publication covering hairdressing industry news, trends, and collections
• SB Online
• SB Awards
• SB Eco
• SB ColourFest

Products and services

• SB Magazine A quarterly print and digital magazine covering the UK professional hairdressing industry, featuring industry news, trend reports, educational content, editorial collections, and product features aimed at salon professionals and stylists.
• SB Online The online digital content platform at salonbusiness.co.uk publishing real-time industry news, business advice, colour trend reports, product reviews, education features, and event coverage across the hairdressing sector for UK salon professionals.
• SB Awards An annual industry awards programme recognising excellence in UK hairdressing, including categories celebrating outstanding salons, stylists, colourists, and emerging talent.
• HairCon An annual hair industry festival held at Manchester's O2 Victoria Warehouse featuring educational showcases, creative presentations, networking events, brand activations, and competitions for professional hairdressers and barbers.
• Free Subscription (Magazine Delivery) A free subscription offering that allows UK salon professionals to receive the SB Magazine by completing a short profile so the publication can confirm delivery details.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250,000+ professional reach through Cosmoprof events
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HairConcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2026Annual hair industry event at Manchester's O2 Victoria Warehouse. HairCon 2026 featured Opening Night celebration, Trevor Sorbie tribute, and multiple brand showcases including Schwarzkopf Professional: Deep Culture, Paul Mitchell: Ignite, Wella Professionals x HOB Academy.
• FreshaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 June 2026Event powering partner for HairCon 2026, mentioned as HairCon Powered by Fresha.
• JOICOcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor brand partner featured extensively across editorial content, product launches, campaigns (Glow Warm, K-Pak), and brand photography. JOICO EMEA Creative Director Bruno Marc Giamattei regularly featured in editorial content.
• Schwarzkopf ProfessionalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKey brand partner with Shaping Futures charitable education program featured prominently. Ambassador programs and product launches regularly featured in editorial content.
• TONI&GUYcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor salon brand featured regularly in editorial content, collections (Third Element, DIALEKT Collection), and education. Multiple stylists and creative team members featured in content.
• Fellowship for British HairdressingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner80th anniversary celebrated in 2026. Xperience Hair Live showcase at HairCon featuring Project Extend, Project X, Project Colour, F.A.M.E. Team. Simon Shaw announced as 40th President.
• BaBylissPROcoreGTM or Marketing Partner60th anniversary celebration featured with LEGACY show at Cosmoprof featuring international creative team. Launch of new curling tool collection.
• L'OréalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerL'Oréal Colour Trophy Grand Final at The O2 celebrated its 70th year with multiple award categories across UK and Ireland regions.
• Rainbow Room InternationalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured salon brand with multiple stylists featured including Suzie McGill (Artistic Director), contributions to education content, and creative collections.
• DenmancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional tool brand featured through SB Loves product features and regular editorial mentions. Blue Belle collection highlighted as seasonal standout.
• Authentic Beauty ConceptminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Anna Cofone for London Fashion Week AW26 featuring hair styling at Joseph and Chet Lo runway shows.
• KEVIN.MURPHYcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPro Ambassador Eugene Souleiman featured for Paris Fashion Week AW26 with Stella McCartney show, highlighting product portfolio including PLUMPING.WASH, ANTI.GRAVITY, and STAYING.ALIVE.
• Revlon ProfessionalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerUKI Artistic Ambassador Danilo Giangreco featured for London Fashion Week AW26 with Patrick McDowell and Dreaming Eli runway shows.
• SOS Children's VillagesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharitable partner for Schwarzkopf Professional's Shaping Futures program in Philippines, providing hairdressing training for disadvantaged young adults aged 16-25 at SOS Children's Village in Lipa City.
• Blood Cancer UKminorOthersCharitable beneficiary of Marc Antoni 60th anniversary celebration, with over £270k raised through the event.
• Philip KingsleyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTrichology education content partnership with Brand President and Consultant Trichologist Anabel Kingsley providing expert hair and scalp science content.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Behind the Chair: US hairdressing trade media brand with strong digital, social, and video presence targeting stylists and salon owners. Highly comparable to Salon Business in audience, content verticals, and advertiser-supported business model.
• Creative HEAD: UK hairdressing industry magazine with editorial focus on salon business, creative work, and professional development. Closest peer to Salon Business in editorial mix and UK professional audience.
• Scrappers: UK-based hairdressing trade publication and digital platform covering news, trends, and business advice for salon professionals. Operates in the same niche as Salon Business with overlapping editorial and audience coverage.
• Beauty Launchpad: B2B trade publication for the professional hair and beauty industry offering editorial content, product launches, and education. Mirrors Salon Business's editorial + product coverage focus for the salon professional segment.
• Salon International: Major UK hairdressing trade show and event property (part of the wider professional beauty portfolio) featuring exhibitions, education, and live stages. Directly competes with HairCon for UK hairdresser audiences and brand sponsorships.
• Professional Beauty: UK B2B media brand (print, digital, events) covering the professional beauty and hair industry with salons, spas, and barbers as its core audience. Directly comparable to Salon Business in business model, target customer, and product mix.
• Hairdressers Journal International: Long-standing UK trade publication for the hairdressing industry, offering editorial, awards, and events for salon professionals. Directly competes with Salon Business for the same UK hairdresser audience and advertiser base.

Broad incumbents

• American Salon: Established US trade magazine and digital platform serving professional hairdressers with editorial, education, and product coverage. Same B2B trade media model as Salon Business, but focused on the US market at larger scale.
• Modern Salon: US-based multi-channel B2B media brand covering hair, salon business, and beauty trends through print, digital, and events. Operates the same editorial + events + education model serving salon professionals as Salon Business.

Regional players

• Estetica: International hairdressing trade magazine published in multiple languages, covering trends, education, and industry news. Comparable as a sister trade publication to Salon Business but serving the global market rather than UK-only.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/salon_business
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/salon-business

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Salon Business