Build Your Salon With Phil Jackson

Most salon owners leave thousands of pounds on the table every year because they hate selling retail.You feel pushy. You don't want to be that aggressive salesperson. You're afraid of rejection.So products gather dust and you miss massive profit opportunities.Here's the truth: NOT recommending products is doing your clients a disservice.THE MINDSET SHIFTStop thinking of retail as "selling products." Start thinking of it as completing your professional service.You're a professional. Your client isn't. You know which products protect their work, maintain treatments, and extend results.If you don't tell them, you're being SELFISH about your fear of rejection instead of thinking about what's best for the client.PRESCRIBE home care. Don't "sell" products.WHAT DOESN'T WORK❌ Product displays (people don't browse)❌ Vague mentions ("We have some great products...")❌ Waiting until checkout (they're mentally done)❌ Selling features instead of

Most salon team targets don't work. Either they don't exist, they're random numbers that sound good, or - here's the killer - everyone hits their individual targets and the salon STILL misses its numbers.That's because individual targets don't add up to the salon target.THE FOUR MEASURES (Track these, nothing else)Stop tracking 17 things. Your salon software has too many reports and it's confusing. Track these four for every team member:MEASURE 1: SERVICE REVENUEHow much money each team member puts in the till from services.Work BACKWARDS from your salon target:- Salon needs £50k/month- 4 team members- £50k ÷ 4 = £12.5k per personIf everyone hits £12.5k, salon hits £50k.MEASURE 2: RETAIL (Units, not revenue)How many products did they sell?Why units? Selling 15 shampoos is harder than selling one set of expensive straighteners. We're measuring the HABIT of retailing.MEASURE 3: UTILIZATIONPercentage of column full with paying customers.Target: 80-90% (85% is sweet spot)- 100% = n

Referrals are the best source of new salon clients - but most salon owners get it completely wrong. They put up a poster saying "Refer a friend, get 10% off!" and wonder why nothing happens.Here's the problem: referral programs fail because you run out of steam.You can't maintain referral-focused energy year-round while also running your salon, doing your marketing, managing your team, and actually doing hair.So referral programs die by March. The poster fades. Nobody notices it anymore.The solution: Split your referral strategy into TWO parts.PART 1: ALWAYS-ON FOUNDATION (Background referral generation all year)- Shareable transformations (before/after photos sent automatically to clients)- Branded Instagram templates (make it easy to tag you)- New client welcome system (acknowledge who referred them)- Thank you texts (when someone refers, thank them immediately)Set it up once. Runs forever. Generates referrals passively.PART 2: FOCUSED REFERRAL CAMPAIGN (One month, high energy, then STOP)P

If you're working harder than ever and not making profit, there's a good chance your prices are too low.But raising prices feels terrifying. What if clients leave? What if nobody books?Here are the 3 signs you're definitely undercharging - and exactly what to do about it.WHY YOU'RE STUCK AT LOW PRICES:Fear #1: Clients will leave(Spoiler: The ones who leave over £5 weren't your clients anyway)Fear #2: Columns will be empty(Reality: When you charge properly, you need FEWER clients to make the same money)Fear #3: You don't feel "worth it"(That's imposter syndrome talking. You're worth more than you're charging.)THE 3 SIGNS YOU'RE UNDERCHARGING:Sign #1: Fully booked but not making money- Columns rammed, working 50-60 hours, barely scraping by- You're discounting your time - making £10-15/hour after costs- The market is telling you that you can charge moreSign #2: You're attracting price-sensitive clients- They ask "How much?" before "What ca

Finding good people for your salon feels impossible. Zero applications, ghosted interviews, or people who show up for one day and disappear. Recruitment in 2026 is brutal - but some salons are still finding brilliant people.Why it's harder now:Post-COVID shift: People want flexibility, development, culture (not just a job)Gen Z researches you on Instagram before applyingCompetition is fierce: Everyone's desperateIf your strategy is "post an ad and hope", you're screwed.In this episode:The 3 mistakes killing your recruitmentAlways-on recruiting (build your pipeline BEFORE you need people)How to make your salon visible to potential employeesWriting job ads that actually attract good peopleWhat flexibility actually means in 2026Your January action planStop desperate scrambling. Build your employer brand and pipeline.Work with me:Salon Spark: https://salon-spark.com£75/month, try for £11:1 Coaching: https://buildyoursalon.comWatch/Subscribe:YouTube: Watch on YouTubeApple Podcasts: Listen on AppleWebsite: buildyou

Most salon team meetings are a waste of time. They're either non-existent or just you moaning at your team for 45 minutes while everyone stares at their phones.Neither builds a better salon. Here's how to get them right.The three camps:No meetings at all (no cohesion, everyone in silos)Occasional roasting sessions (owner's frustrated, nobody wants to come back)Rambling chaos (starts late, runs 90 minutes, nothing gets decided)In this episode:Why I got this horrifically wrong for yearsThe 45-minute structure that worksMonthly minimum (when to increase frequency)What to include: Product training, promotions, winsWhat to exclude: Negativity, roasting, ventingThe agenda trick that prevents sabotageYour January action planTeam meetings build culture and keep everyone aligned. Get them right.Work with me:Salon Spark: https://salon-spark.com£75/month, try for £11:1 Coaching: https://buildyoursalon.comSubscribe:YouTube: Watch on YouTubeApple Podcasts: Listen on AppleWebsite: buildyoursalonpodcast.com

I've been coaching salon business owners for almost a decade. Want to know the problem that keeps coming back? Owners working their asses off and barely paying themselves.If you put yourself on your team's wage structure and couldn't afford to pay yourself, you're not building a business - you've built an expensive hobby that happens to have staff.In this episode:The 3 reasons salon owners don't pay themselves (guilt, fear, confusion)Worker vs Owner: Why you need TWO types of incomeWages for the work + Dividends for the riskReal 2026 numbers: Small salon (£36-54k), Medium (£54-80k), Large (£80-160k+)How to set it up in January and stop subsidizing your businessYou deserve to get paid what you're worth. Let's fix this in 2026.Resources:Get Paid Properly: https://getpaidproperly.comComplete profit & pricing systemWork with me:Salon Spark: https://salon-spark.com£75/month, try for £11:1 Coaching: https://buildyoursalon.comSubscribe:YouTube: Watch on YouTubeApple Podcasts: Listen on AppleWebsite: buildyoursal

You don't need 100 members to make salon memberships profitable. You might not even need 50.After helping 100+ salons launch membership programs, I can tell you exactly how many members YOU need - and it's probably fewer than you think.In this episode:How to calculate your membership target based on YOUR actual numbersWhy most salons need 30-60 members (not hundreds)Small salon vs. large salon targets - what's realisticThe reverse engineering strategy: start with your overhead gapWhy "more members" isn't always betterStop guessing. Start with the real numbers that will transform your cash flow.Resources:Salon Memberships Made Easy: https://queenofmemberships.comThe complete system for launching profitable membershipsWork with me:Salon Spark (weekly accountability + community): https://salon-spark.com£75/month, cancel anytime, try it for £11:1 Coaching: https://buildyoursalon.comSubscribe:YouTube: Watch on YouTubeWebsite: buildyoursalonpodcast.com

Most salon memberships die in month 3.Not because the concept is flawed. Because of 3 specific mistakes that are completely avoidable.After helping 100+ salons implement memberships, I've seen this pattern play out over and over.In this episode:Why month 3 is the danger zoneThe 3 retention killers (and how to avoid them)The simple system that keeps members past the honeymoon phaseReal numbers from salons who got it rightWork with me:Salon Spark (weekly accountability + community): https://salon-spark.comTry it for one month for just £11:1 Coaching: https://buildyoursalon.comFree guide - 10 brutal truths - YOUR SALON MEMBERSHIP ISDEAD BEFORE IT LAUNCHES: https://www.buildyoursalon.com/memberships-for-salons-page

Forget the fluff and glitter — this Boxing Day episode is all about turning vision-board fantasies into a plan you can actually stick to. Phil Jackson walks salon owners through his tried-and-true goal-setting process for 2026, showing how to connect your long-term dreams with realistic, value-driven actions. From five-year mapping to quarterly focus and smarter revenue targets, this episode will help you anchor your goals in what truly matters — your values, your team, and your lifestyle. And since it’s Boxing Day, I’m celebrating with some brilliant offers to help you start the year strong — including my Crystal Clear Goal Setting programme and Salon Spark accountability group.

Most business owners jump straight into goal setting in January, only to abandon their plans by February. This episode reveals the crucial, albeit un-glamorous, prep work that will ensure your 2026 salon goals actually stick!In this episode, we cover: Reviewing 2025: A cold, hard look at what made you money, brought joy, felt easy, and what simply didn't work. Your Magic Number: Pinpointing your desired profit for 2026 to inform your turnover targets and lifestyle goals. Feed Your Brain: Stretching your mind with inspiring reads or audiobooks to broaden your perspective and ambition. Values Research: Using a value-setting exercise to ensure your goals align with what truly matters to you, creating a filter for success and happiness.This half-day prep isn't about setting goals yet, but about laying solid foundations so your goals are realistic, ambitious, and aligned with your core values. Block out 2.5-4 hours between Christmas and New Year – your future self will thank you for the clarity!Recommend

Want help holding yourself accountable and getting clarity for the year ahead? Join Salon Spark and grab your first month for just £1 – my personal support to help you actually get sh*t done. That December chaos? It’s not just about full columns and frantic clients. In this episode, Phil Jackson uncovers the deeper reason salon owners feel frazzled over the holidays—how your personal values and boundaries get thrown off balance, and what to do about it. Expect a little tough love, a few laughs, and a practical mindset reset to help you glide into the new year calmer, clearer, and more in tune with what really matters.

Join Phil Jackson as he shares expert insights on maximizing salon revenue this December. Discover strategic actions to fill up your appointment book, effectively use gift vouchers, and smart ways to bring forward promotions. Enhance your client experience and keep the cash flow steady even during quieter times. Let's make December more profitable despite the challenges!

What if growing your salon isn’t actually helping your bottom line? In this episode, Phil pulls back the curtain on why more team members, more turnover, and more chaos don’t always equal more profit. Discover how to calculate the real profitability of your team, why small can be smarter, and how to build a lifestyle-first business that truly serves you.

<p style="font-family:Montserrat, sans-serif;"> In this episode, Phil Jackson dishes out some tough love on the true value of salon software. Are you paying for features you don’t even use? Phil explores when salon software is genuinely worth the investment ... and when it’s time to cut it loose and switch to smarter, cheaper tools. Learn how AI, dynamic pricing, and better financial tracking can help you simplify, save money, and keep your business running smoothly without unnecessary subscriptions. </p> <p style="font-family:Montserrat, sans-serif;"> Plus, hear how innovative tools like Booko are helping salons use dynamic pricing to boost profits and fill tricky time slots, all without the old-school bloat of overcomplicated systems. </p>

In this episode, Phil looks ahead to 2026 with some tough love for salon owners still chasing likes instead of clients. Discover why social media isn’t the growth engine it used to be, and where your next wave of new customers will really come from. From recommend-a-friend schemes to rediscovering PR and SEO, this episode is your wake-up call to start marketing smarter, not louder.

In this short and spicy “Money Monday,” Phil Jackson (your unapologetic Queen of Salons) dishes out a little tough love for beauty business owners. After the UK budget left salon owners feeling uncertain, Phil reminds us that moaning online won’t pay the bills. Instead, he shares how to refocus your mindset, communicate confidence to clients, and move forward with smart pricing decisions—without losing your sparkle.

What if balance was never the goal? In this brutally honest episode, I’m tackling the myth of work-life balance for salon owners. You’ll learn why “perfect balance” doesn’t exist, what real boundaries look like, and how to reclaim your energy without burning your business down. From firing nightmare clients to fixing broken business models, we’ll get painfully real about what’s working, what’s not, and how to finally create a salon life that feels like freedom — not fatigue.

December should be your salon’s most profitable month — not the most exhausting one. Yet every year, salon owners work twice as hard and somehow earn less. In this episode, I’m exposing the three Christmas mistakes that quietly drain your December profits — and showing you how to fix them fast.We’re talking about retail displays that don’t sell, bad booking habits that kill your revenue, and the discount disasters that destroy your margins. You’ll get practical, profitable fixes you can implement immediately, even if the festive chaos has already begun.You’ll learn how to: Turn your Christmas retail into pure profit (without being pushy). Schedule smarter so your busiest weeks are also your most lucrative. Replace pointless discounts with offers that protect your margins.It’s not about working harder — it’s about working strategically. Let’s make this December the one where you finally get paid what you deserve.

Are you secretly giving yourself a pay cut? This week, I’m calling out one of the salon industry’s worst habits — working for free. Your costs have gone up, your rent’s gone up, your products have gone up… and if your prices haven’t, you’re quietly earning less for the same hours. It’s time to fix that.In this episode, I’m walking you through when and how to raise your salon prices without losing clients or feeling guilty. We’ll cover what to say, how to handle pushback, and how to make sure your new prices reflect the quality you deliver every day. No drama, no apologies — just smart business and confident communication.If you’ve been avoiding your price review, consider this your nudge to take action. You deserve to be paid properly for your time, skill, and service. Let’s make sure your next pay rise comes from you, not your clients’ good will.