Grow My Salon Business Podcast

I once heard it said that every business is now a technology business, and I believe that to be true today more than ever before.  As a generalisation, the hairdressing industry has not always been what would be called ‘early adopters’ when it comes to embracing new technology, and that is often to our detriment.  But, having relevant information constantly accessible is what is needed to run businesses efficiently, and for salons having state-of-the-art Point of Sales Software is the starting point. Like everything, there are a lot of POS systems on the market, and like everything, there is a lot of variation not just in the technology but also the innovation and the support and the customer service, etc   My guest today on today's Podcast is a friend of mine John Harms who is the Founder, owner and CEO of Salon Software Millennium and Meevo 2.  I always love talking to John because he has a great insight into the salon industry and some facts around it because of the unique insights that he has into the bac

My journey in hairdressing has been incredibly rewarding at lots of levels. But one thing I never take for granted is the people I have come to know and the friendships I have made in this industry along the way.  We are living through challenging times, and I think it's at times like this that the importance of people, of community, of friendships, of bonding, and engaging with each other is more important than ever.  My guest today is 'Duffy', one of the world's leading editorial hairstylists. Currently based in New York Duffy works with many of the biggest fashion brands in the world creating cutting edge hair. He's also a good friend of mine that I have had the pleasure of knowing for the last 20 years and witnessing his work ethic, his professional growth and achievements have been amazing to watch.  But all that aside, the thing that really stands out for me is that he is one of the nicest, most grounded, and genuine people you will ever meet. And for me, that trumps everything. In today's podcast, we w

There are only a handful of hairdressers that truly deserve the title 'Iconic.' But my guest today is Mr Tim Hartley, and he is certainly one of them.  Tim is the former International Creative Director of the Sassoon Organization. And over a long career, he has influenced a generation of 'haircutters' with not just how he 'cuts hair' but also with his thoughts about hair and fashion and his understanding of all the references that the wider fashion world draws on. That's one reason I love talking to him because whether it's from art or architecture or music and popular culture, he is a wealth of inspiration.  Since leaving Sassoon 16 years ago, Tim has continued to shake things up under his own brand. And still, to this day, he has a lot of wisdom, passion, and a genuine love for the craft that is not only rare to find but also very inspiring! So, in today's podcast, we talk about: The process of creativity…  How hair fashions evolve and Tim's new project 'Tim Hartley Hair world' and How COVID might impact o

Hairdressing is a career that starts for most of us behind the chair, building a column of clients, and for some people, they only ever want to work behind the chair, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and it can be very rewarding at every level.  But for others, their career branches off in different directions, and they seek other opportunities but still within the industry.  My guest on today's podcast is Sophie Hill, who is a former salon hairdresser who transitioned through various areas of the industry and eventually formed her own successful P.R. company and has now morphed once again into the head of marketing with London based salon group Headmasters… In today's podcast, Sophie and I talk about:   The opportunities there are in a hairdressing career How the skills you learn as a hairdresser can help enormously if you choose to transition into other career paths  We also talk about the changing role of P.R. and Marketing and how Social media is impacting on that And we also talk about w

All over the world in the last 10 years, there has been a huge renaissance of the barbershop. Quite simply barbering has become ‘cool again’ and there has been a return to the ‘Barbershop’... that uniquely ‘male space’.  I don’t for one minute think that it’s a trend that will return back to the ‘unisex model’ that existed since the ’70s. But like everything, there are inevitably some people that have done it far better than others. My guest on today's Podcast is Matty Conrad who amongst other things is a barber and founder of ‘Victory Barber & Brand’ based in Victoria the capital of British Columbia in Canada… which if you haven’t been there is a stunningly beautiful part of the world.   In today’s podcast we talk about: The heart and the passion that sits behind the Victory brand What is it that makes a successful barbershop and why it’s essential to control your culture Matty talks about how he has overcome the hurdles that exist in growing any business… When is the right time to expand  What it reall

In last weeks podcast, I interviewed two young hairdressers, one from the US and one from Australia with the aim of finding out what makes Millennials and Gen Z 'tick'. We had a great response and so this week I’d like to wrap up with Deanna and James both from the UK talking about their goals and ambitions and what a career in hairdressing means to them. Amongst other things, they recognise that they have the technology available to them in the form of the internet and social media etc that generations before didn’t have and obviously that impacts on the marketing of themselves and how they learn. But, the thing that stood out to me is that none of them used money as the reason why they left a job or what they looked for in a job. Instead, they all spoke about the importance of family and being part of something bigger than themselves. They spoke about wanting to belong to a community… not just in the local sense but also in the professional sense. They spoke about wanting to grow as professionals and wantin

I often have salon owners venting their opinions about young employees, their work ethic, their loyalty, their level of commitment, etc. As an industry that is very youth-focused as far as employees go, salon owners (who are typically older) must understand the needs and motivations of young Millennials and Gen Z employees. Now for those of you who are not sure what the difference is between Millennials and Gen Z; according to a quick search on google, Millennials were born between 1981-1996, so they are in the 24-39 age bracket at this point. Whereas Generation Z as those born between 1997 - 2012, so currently between 8-23 years of age. So in today's podcast, I am interviewing two young hairdressers, Scarlett Denzel, a 20-year-old from Sydney, Australia, and Ariel Harris, a 29-year-old from San Diego, CA and we talk about… What makes them tick. What are the most important things they look for in a career? How they learn best. How they use social media. And where they see the future. In This Episode: [02:02

Are there any questions you have wanted to ask me, or anything you wanted to know about how I got started in hairdressing? You get your wish today because I am being interviewed by Vivienne MacKinder on this episode of the Grow My Salon Business podcast. My good friend Vivienne reached out to me recently and suggested that she do a podcast takeover. She wanted to be the host and have me on the other side of the microphone being grilled. So now I get to find out how my guests feel when they are on the other side of the mic. It should be entertaining, and I hope you enjoy it. We will discuss: What are some things that all of my podcast guests have in common? Personal reinvention and finding your niche in this industry. The importance of understanding your brand. What are the myths around salon ownership? What might be the successful business models of the future?   In This Episode: [00:30] Welcome to the show, Antony! [00:59] Antony shares the impact that the guests he has had on the show have had on him. [02

With all the uncertainty in the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, most salons have been able to reopen, but there is no way to determine if they will still be open in a month or where they will be at the end of the year. When you look at how most people have adapted to the changes, it's impressive, but it hasn't been easy, and it's not over yet. In some countries, states and cities, salons that have just reopened are now being forced to close down again because of a second spike in the coronavirus infection rates. I think the most predictable thing at the moment is that everything is unpredictable. And that's how it is with my guest on today's podcast, Los Angeles salon owner Paula Peralta. Paula is a hairstylist, a brand ambassador, a passionate advocate for social change and an entrepreneur. In today's podcast, we will discuss: The advantages of being a late starter in the beauty industry. The importance of letting your career evolve. The four energies needed to succeed in business. The 'Black

For today's podcast, I wanted to stop and look at the salon business environment that we are currently in and think of how I might best be able to serve my listeners as we are all subject to ever-changing situations. In some parts of the world, salons are reopening for the first time in many weeks, generating cash flow and getting their business moving. In other places, they have been ordered to close again. Even if we went back a month or two there was more predictability about what the future looked like! COVID-19 hasn’t gone away and even though many of us are reopening; it is not over until we have a vaccine, and no one knows how long it will be before that might happen. We are opening in this new world, and having to adapt our businesses and how we treat our clients, how we treat our team and how we treat ourselves and in some cases reassess the very viability of our businesses. In an ever-changing business environment it is easy to feel not in control but having a sense of clarity is essential if you ar

I'm very excited to be interviewing my guest today, Mr. Angus Mitchell. Son of the late Paul Mitchell, who was the co-founder of the Paul Mitchell product range. Angus is not only a very talented hairdresser in his own right, but he's also co-owner of John Paul Mitchell Systems and a proud father of his young son Dylan. In today's podcast, we will discuss: The challenges with living up to the reputation of a famous father. Why Hawaii is a spiritual home for JPMS. The importance of philanthropy and environmental issues. Angus's love for cars. And that's just to start. So it's an absolute pleasure to be able to interview Angus Mitchell for this episode of the Grow My Salon Business podcast... In This Episode: [01:14] Welcome to the show, Angus! [01:47] Angus shares memories of his father and why Hawaii is so spiritual to him. [04:33] He speaks about his father having a strict diet and meditating and doing yoga. [05:35] Do you remember your father's first studios in New York? [07:35] Angus speaks about the fir

I love the expression, “Success leaves clues!” Meaning that you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Instead, find someone else who has already succeeded at what you want to do and emulate what they did! Learn to think how they think. Copy how hard they work. Put the hours in that they put in. Understand the sacrifices they have made along the way. The rejections and disappointments they have had along the way. And if you do all of that, there is a good chance that you will succeed too! Success in any form doesn’t come easy, but often we see someone who has succeeded and we want to be them. We want their knowledge; we want the respect they have and the lifestyle that goes with it. But what we don’t see are the years of hard work, the learning, and sacrifices that have gone into making them who they are. My guest on today’s show is Lesley Jennison. I have known Lesley since she was 16 and fast forward to today she has become one of the most respected hair colourists and educators in the world. In today’s podcast

Who could possibly have imagined that 2020 would present the world with the challenges that it has? I know that many of the listeners to this podcast will have been reflecting on the social unrest that started with the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the subsequent protests about police brutality and racial inequality that have dominated the global media over the last few weeks all over the world. But, this isn't just an American issue. As the protesters have shown racism exists everywhere and this has dominated the global media over the last few weeks. Maybe instead of thinking about these events as huge problems, we should be looking at them as huge opportunities for change? A chance to reset the agenda and address the inequalities that exist! I know that many of the listeners to this podcast will have been reflecting on the racial inequalities that have long existed in the world. So, like many of you, I have been reflecting on my actions and inactions and asking myself “What can I do better?” I

I think that one of the great things about this industry is that there are many different roles that you can grow into.   Most people will start off as a salon stylist, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a salon stylist for your entire career, as it can be very rewarding both creatively and financially. But being a salon stylist can (if you want it too) also open up other doors for you to step through.   Whether that’s becoming an educator or a session stylist or to work in film and theatre or to work in the product side of the industry, there is a lot of opportunity for those with the desire, the ambition and the courage to pursue it.   My guest on today’s podcast is Tom Connell, Hair Art Director for Davines.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   The importance of being relevant and connecting with hairdressers no matter where they are on their journey. Creativity and where inspiration comes from...and  Believing in yourself   In This Episode: [01:30] Tom, welcome to the show! [01:50] To

The majority of hairdressers I meet find their way into this industry for reasons like the social interaction or creativity aspects that a hairdressing career can offer.   Most of us don’t initially get into hairdressing with a business focus, and there is nothing wrong with that. The reality is that most of us open salons ill-equipped for the skills of what running a business really involves.   We have to learn the language of business and learn fast...and many of us do.   We often hear about these successful and profitable businesses, and I have interviewed some of those salon owners on previous podcasts. Still, I am aware that those success stories don’t represent the industry as a whole.   Most salons run on minimal profit margins, and as has been laid bare in the coronavirus shutdown, most salons have no savings or cash flow buffer to survive more than a week or two without going into further debt or relying on government intervention.   As unsexy as it might sound, a lot of the success of business all c

One reason I like podcasts is that you get the chance to get into people's minds and understand how they think, and to me, that's often where the real magic is! I love to understand the story behind what makes a person do what they do, how they think, and the thought processes behind it. This episode is a follow on from last week's episode with 'Guido,' probably the most creatively influential hairdresser in the world today. I don't use the word 'genius' very readily, but when it comes to hair, 'Guido is an absolute genius!' He is a visionary and a true artist in the fullest sense of the word and has worked with everybody, and I mean 'everybody' of any notoriety in the industry. His work often pushes at the boundaries of beauty, it's always flawless in its execution, and understandably his influence and the direction he takes have reached far beyond hairdressing as well as having an impact on all of today's great hairdressers the world over. On today's podcast, we will discuss: Social media and the impact it

There are very few people anywhere, let alone hairdressers, that are known by ‘one name.’ But if you are in this industry, you will almost definitely have heard of the name ‘GUIDO’... And if by some remote chance you haven’t heard the name, you would have definitely seen his work.   I don’t use the word ‘genius’ very readily, but when it comes to hair, ‘Guido is an absolute genius!’   I first met Guido in the early eighties, we both worked at Vidal Sassoon in London, and I remember him as being someone who stood out. There was always something special about him, and [aside from a great personality], it just wasn’t obvious exactly what that ‘something special’ was.   He certainly wasn’t arrogant, but he had an opinion, and he wasn’t intimidated by anyone. He always seemed ‘confident in who he was’ and he was forging his own path…   He has since become an absolute visionary and a true artist in the fullest sense of the word and has worked with everybody. I mean ‘everybody’ of any notoriety in the fashion busine

We live in a world where, to varying degrees, everyone is connected by technology. I heard a statement recently that was "Every business is now a technology business!" and I believe that statement to be true. The hub of technology in the salon industry is the salon website and social media platforms, and all things reach out from that. So, having an effective website and marketing strategy that incorporates social media is essential if you want to be in business today. When I had salons, my frustration was finding a website designer who didn't just make something look good but also made it work from a technology, and most of all marketing point of view, because they are 3 very different skills. My guest on today's Podcast is Phil Evans Founder of Salon Guru, a website design and digital marketing company with a global client base. In today's episode, we will discuss: Website design Digital Marketing SEO And lots more! In This Episode: [01:37] Welcome to the show, Phil! [02:07] Phil shares his background, wh

No matter where in the world you live, there are many changes happening that will impact the way we run our businesses forever. Some of those changes have suddenly been thrust upon us due to Covid-19. Others have been gradually changing right under our noses and have maybe been highlighted by the situation the world is currently in. One of those areas that are changing is the hair colour business. So, in today’s podcast, we are going to talk about all things ‘hair colour’ with Master Colourist David Adams, Co-Found of Red Chocolate, and The FourteenJay salon in New York. David’s years of experience in this industry have included many different roles from salon colourist, educator, salon owner, trichologist, author, celebrity colourist, consultant and he has been heavily involved in the development of various products including a major colour line. And as if all of that is not enough. Since David and his partner Virginia Meyer opened FourteenJay as well as servicing a regular clientele he has also been colouri

This episode is a continuation from last week’s podcast about preparing for the recovery phase. Things are starting to change very quickly with salons in some countries or states reopening or at least having a date in the diary and actively planning for that day. And what is very apparent is that salon owners and clients are all expecting changes in the salon experience which will impact on the client, the team, and the business. On today’s podcast, we will be talking to two industry leaders, Tina Black who is a multi salon and school owner in Michigan and Florida, and Liz Salcedo and Henry Monreal owners of Salon Ink in San Diego to see what they are planning as they get ready to reopen. In This Episode: [01:33] Welcome to the show, Tina! [02:56] Tina discusses if the states, where her salons and schools are located, have set up any guidelines for salon owners to follow once they reopen them. [05:01] Tina speaks about the salon owners groups she founded in both Michigan and Florida. [05:40] What are some key