A Dream Come Tru: Trü Salon Suites Offers a Unique Business Model

Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photographer / Amy Payne

Mike Kluth is a successful local businessman who has been a fixture in the Noblesville community for more than three decades. Having built one of the leading cosmetic dental practices in the state of Indiana, he was born with an entrepreneurial spirit and has a talent for building businesses from the ground up. Several years ago, he saw a need within the beauty industry and decided to act on it.

In November 2018, Kluth opened Trü Salon Suites, which caters to the modern needs of stylists, aestheticians, nail techs, and massage therapists who seek to run their own business but prefer not to deal with the hassle of taking care of the building and equipment elements of running a business. Though stylists have ownership of their space, Kluth supplies them with all the amenities they need to be successful. Rooms are fully stocked with the best styling equipment and cabinetry as well as a top-notch sound and screen systems.

“This is the ideal place to rent if you’re looking to be your own boss,” Kluth says. “Each stylist can make their suite their own.”

Allie Clark and her colleague Cara have been suite owners for a little over a year. She calls the experience a dream come true.

“It’s great to have our own space and independence,” Clark says. “We’ve had so much fun turning our suite into our own. Our clients love it, too! We appreciate all the benefits of working here, including clean, updated facilities and amazing coworkers and building owners.”

Though renters work under the umbrella of Trü Salon Suites, they are their own entity, working for themselves and having their own licenses. They have access to the salon 24/7, which means they can set their own hours and prices and come and go as they please.

“Stylists have a sense of ownership to where they are building their own business and creating their own worth,” says Kluth, noting that renters are typically those who already have an established career but are tired of working for someone else on a commission basis or being in a salon whose owners dictate what they can and can’t do.

Stylists get the use of the washer and dryer for free rather than having to pay a couple dollars per load like many salons charge.

“We don’t nickel and dime you,” Kluth says. “You just pay salon rent and the rest is 100% taken care of.”

Stylists use an app where they can do all of their business scheduling, accounting and marketing. Within the app, business owners can coordinate their services and offer packages and discounts to promote one another within the salon.

Branded as one of the best salons in the area, Trü Salon Suites offers chic décor with elegant high-end, barndoor finishes.

“That feeling of elegance is transferred to the service each guest receives,” Kluth adds.

Trü Salon Suites is the only salon in Noblesville that employs this business model though Kluth plans to expand to other parts of Indianapolis in the future, including Carmel, Westfield, Zionsville and Fishers.

“There are other salons out there in other states with ideas that I liked, and we married those ideas to create this concept — one with more amenities and a personal touch,” Kluth says.

Guests appreciate the privacy of the suites, especially in light of COVID-19 as guests prefer being in their own space rather than in

an open-air environment.

Because Kluth has years of business experience under his belt, those who rent from him know they have the backing of someone with the capital that assures them that the salon isn’t going to go anywhere — not even during an economic downturn like the one experienced this past year. Salons come and go depending on if someone is undercapitalized and doesn’t have the ability to withstand storms. Well, COVID-19 was the perfect storm and while stylists had to shut down for eight weeks, Kluth didn’t charge them rent for that whole period of time.

“We had their backs. They didn’t have to worry about anything,” Kluth says. “I told them that when they were back to working and being profitable, then we’d start rent again. We were one of the only salons that did that.”

Morgan Hobbs loves the unique business model.

“Everyone is so friendly, and my clients love coming in to visit,” she says. “I love being able to work whenever I want and to schedule my own clients. This has been a great place for me to grow, and I love seeing the other stylists thrive when they make the jump to owning their own salon suite.”

Kim Williams, who rents one of the 17 suites from Kluth, agrees.

“There comes a time in life when you have to start doing what you want,” Williams says. “To succeed, I believe you have to love what you do. When you surround yourself with great things and people, great things can happen.”

Trü Salon Suites is located at 16000 Prosperity Drive, Suite 200, Noblesville, IN 46060. For information on how to connect with a stylist or how to rent a suite, call 317-774-5204 or visit tru-salonsuites.com.

FOOD EVENTS EAT. EAT.

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From tasty Food Truck Fridays to special activities and free concerts throughout our parks, our calendar is full of fun events so you can make Noblesville Parks “your vacation in town”. Get outside and Eat. Play. Rock!