Callicarpa Salon

The Associate Program

90 days of learning, growing, and figuring out if we’re the right fit for each other. No pressure. Just purpose.

What This Is
A 90-day getting-to-know-you period

The Associate Program is our version of a first chapter. You’re learning us — our culture, our craft, our standards. We’re learning you — your work ethic, your attitude, your potential. At the end of 90 days we sit down together for an honest conversation. If it’s working for everyone, you move into the Emerging Artist tier and the real career begins. If it’s not the right fit for either side, we part ways professionally and without drama.

We believe in clarity over ambiguity. This is what 90 days at Callicarpa looks like.

Who This Is For
Cosmetology school graduates

The Associate Program is open to graduates of an accredited cosmetology program. Your diploma is required — your license may or may not be in hand when you start, and that’s okay. What matters is that you’ve completed your training and you’re ready to grow.

Your Florida cosmetology license must be obtained before the end of the 90-day period. It is the one non-negotiable requirement for graduating to Emerging Artist. We love getting to talented graduates early — but the license is the key that opens the chair.
The Basics
Your schedule and pay
Hourly rate
$14 / hr
Hours/week
~20–24 hrs
Shift length
6 hours
Days/week
4 days
Pay schedule
Weekly, Fridays
Break
30 min unpaid
Schedule is set by the salon based on business needs. Four days per week is the target, giving you meaningful time off to rest and recharge.
Your Day
What a shift looks like
8:15 am
Berry Bloom
The daily co-creators meeting — led by Birdie or Cam. Roadblocks, opportunities, promotions, daily service sales goals, and the Berry Bloom tracking sheet. The mindset that starts every day: abundance, growth, blooming.
~8:45
Salon Associate Accelerator
Technique-driven skill building led by Curt, using the Fuel Productions Salon Associate Accelerator curriculum developed by Chris Baran. Cosmo school gives you the foundation — the Accelerator builds on it with the hands-on precision, speed, and advanced skills that actually fill a book, move you through the tiers, and grow your income.
~10:00
Floor time — shadowing and assisting
Assigned to one stylist per day, rotating through the team. Watch real services, assist where needed, answer phones, make appointments, keep the floor running. This is where the classroom meets the chair.
Break
30-minute unpaid break
Scheduled mid-shift.
End of shift
Over the Top — closing recap
A daily closing session reading from the SSBC workbook Over the Top with Curt — and any co-creators who rotate in as their schedule allows. Reflect, connect, close the loop.
Social Media
Building your presence is part of the job
Taking Clients
When your chair opens

Associates do not perform services until they hold a valid Florida cosmetology license. The moment that license is in hand, your book is open — friends, family, and any clients ready to follow you are yours to serve.

Service sales during the associate period are a bonus for everyone — not a requirement. Whether you bring in clients right away or focus purely on learning, both paths are valid.
Retail commission is available from day one — license or no license. That clock starts immediately.
Empowerment Meetings
You’ll always know where you stand

Once a month, you sit down one-on-one with Curt for an Empowerment Meeting. These are honest, supportive conversations — no surprises, no ambiguity. Led by Curt as part of the Salon Cadence framework that runs through everything we do. In time, as you grow, you may lead them yourself.

01
Month one — settling in
End of your first 30 days
How are you finding your footing? What’s working, what’s hard, what do you need from us? We listen as much as we talk. This meeting is about making sure you have everything you need to succeed in the next 60 days.
02
Month two — course check
End of your second 30 days
You’ve found your rhythm. We review your progress — skills, habits, attitude, social media consistency — address anything that needs course-correcting, and look ahead at what a strong final 30 days looks like for you.
03
Month three — the decision
The final Empowerment Meeting
We celebrate what you’ve built over 90 days. We’re honest about fit — yours and ours. And we make it official: a career offer as an Emerging Artist and a welcome to the team, or a respectful goodbye with our genuine good wishes and gratitude for the time we shared.
No surprises at day 90. The Empowerment Meetings ensure that both sides always know where things stand — and that the final conversation is a celebration, not a shock.
The 90-Day Journey
What we’re both watching for
Days 1–30
Take root
Learn the floor, the team, and the rhythm. Show up consistently. Engage with Berry Bloom and the Accelerator. Post every day. Empowerment Meeting #1 closes the month.
Days 31–60
Find your footing
Skills sharpening. Following growing. Connections deepening. License in sight. Empowerment Meeting #2 keeps you on course.
Days 61–90
Bloom
License in hand. Chair open. Audience building. Empowerment Meeting #3 closes the chapter — and opens the next one.
Questions? Let’s talk.

If you’re curious about the Associate Program or want to learn more about what a career at Callicarpa looks like, reach out. We’d love to hear from you.

admin@callicarpasalon.com · (352) 344-2507

callicarpasalon.com · @callicarpasalon · Inverness, FL