Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Happy New Year!  For most people the last few days of December are a time for winding down as 2024 draws to a close, but it’s also time to reflect, and to reinvigorate as you get ready for a new year ahead!  Now, of course ‘every day’ has the potential for a new beginning and you don’t have to wait until the beginning of the year to start afresh because you can start afresh at any time you decide.  So as we begin 2025 start by identifying the goals that you want to achieve this year.  Then ask yourself; “What are the habits that you would need to have in place in order to achieve your goals?”  IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Welcome and New Year Wishes[01:32] Reflecting on the End of the Year[03:05] Setting business goals for the New Year[06:35] The importance of habits[08:10] Creating a system for success[09:36] Wrapping up and resources  Want MORE to help you GROW? 

Salons and Christmas go hand in hand with stress and overwhelm. But hey “It’s over”. Now [hopefully] it’s your chance to spend time with family and friends and kick back and recharge and exercise some self care.  As we begin to close out the year, this short episode is just my way of saying thank you for being a listener and to wish you and yours a safe and happy Christmas! Travel safe, have fun and most of all be kind to yourself.  Happy Christmas!  IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Welcome and Christmas Greetings[00:40] Gratitude to our listeners and team[02:01] Year-end reflections and planning[03:07] Emotional aspects of the holiday season[05:24] Kindness and support during the holidays[07:23] Looking forward to 2025  Want MORE to help you GROW? 

The end of the year is always a time to recap and reflect on the year that’s been.  You might choose to do that at a personal or salon level, but you can also look at what’s happening on an industry-wide basis and ask yourself what’s worked during the last year. What are the business trends, and where are the opportunities for the year ahead? On today's episode, I am talking with returning guest Gordon Miller, fellow podcast creator, AI enthusiast and someone who not only cares deeply about the industry but he is also someone who has worked across many areas of the industry and has developed a well-informed and somewhat unique overview particularly when it comes to the American salon industry.   In today’s podcast, amongst other things, we will discuss: ●      The fake news in the salon industry.●      The integration of AI into everything we do.●      The evolving relationship between salons and manufacturers.  And lots more!  IN THIS EPISODE: [02:31] The rise of self-employment in hairdressing[08:21] Work-l

Every salon owner wants their business to grow, but many never break down that desire for growth into a tangible action plan for how to bring that real growth about. Growth begins with first defining ambitious but achievable growth targets, identifying who and where the potential for growth will come from and then ensuring that your team has the resources needed to deliver on the goal.  In today’s episode, I talk you through a real example of how one salon owner increased her salon’s annual revenue by $100,000 so that she could pay cash for a new BMW just through an increase in salon hair treatments.   IN THIS EPISODE: [00:57] The Importance of growth in your salon business[02:05] Setting realistic growth goals[03:49] Identifying growth opportunities[04:42] Creating a strategy for predictable growth[05:37] Breaking down the numbers[07:01] Overcoming challenges to achieve growth[09:48] Recap and final thoughts[13:06] Additional resources    Want MORE to help you GROW? 

Today's guest is London based Hairdresser, barber, fellow podcaster and salon owner Anthony Laban. On this episode, we discuss Anthony’s journey from managing a large store to owning two boutique salons and two barbershops. We dive into the challenges and opportunities these different business models present, including management, recruitment, and marketing strategies. Anthony shares insights on the evolution of barbershops, the advantages of boutique salons, colour-focused offerings, and hair replacement systems. The episode also touches on the importance of team management, the benefits of employing staff over self-employment, and industry trends. And lots more!IN THIS EPISODE:02:55 The transition from one big salon to boutique salons03:47 Naming and branding the separate businesses07:54 Branching out into barbershops 16:44 Business structure and profitability of the two different business models21:21 The role of the front desk in Anthony’s salons22:36 Offering pieces and hair replacement systems24:32 Offer

I have always said that hairdressing is an amazing craft and that many hairdressers also have a creative side to them, which is often what draws them to this profession in the first place. But the term artist shouldn’t be used to describe every hairdresser because very few are. But occasionally, you come across a hairdresser who truly is an artist. An individual who consistently shows a level of creativity that separates them from the rest.  My guest today is Angelo Seminara, who is, without doubt, an artist in the true sense of the word. In fact, I’m going to say that when it comes to hair, he is nothing short of a creative genius.  In today’s podcast, we will discuss: - Creativity in hairdressing - Sustainability in product development- The importance of mentorship And lots more!  IN THIS EPISODE: [01:08] Introducing Angelo Seminara: A true hair artist[02:20] Angelo's early start in hairdressing[08:09] The journey to London and meeting Trevor Sorbie[18:32] The importance of mentorship[23:50] Defining Angelo

As an educator and business coach in the industry, I get asked a lot of questions, and one that keeps coming up is, “Should I share the salon financials with the team?” As with most things, there are pros and cons, for and against… In today's episode, I will talk you through my thoughts on both … but spoiler alert: I’m in favour of sharing some [if not most] of the salon financials with your team…  So I’m going to start with my five reasons why you should share your financials and then five reasons why you shouldn’t or, at the very least, why maybe you’d think twice before you share too much…   IN THIS EPISODE: [01:14] Should you share the salon's financials with your team?[02:02] The 5 reasons to share your salon's financials[09:52] The 5 reasons against sharing your salon’s financials[14:17] Balancing the decision with the salon's culture and team dynamics.[16:43] Conclusion and resources   Want MORE to help you GROW? 

The words' icon' and 'legend' are totally overused in the hairdressing industry, and the problem that it creates is that when you really do meet someone regarded as a genuine icon or legend in the hairdressing industry, there are no superlatives left to aptly describe their status.Having said that, today's guest would never call himself an 'icon' or a 'legend,' and it's that humility combined with decades at the top creatively that has earned him the respect of hairdressers everywhere.My guest on today's podcast is Mr Trevor Sorbie MBE. Trevor started his career working in his father's barbershop in Paisley, Scotland. He went on to become one of the biggest names in the world of hairdressing, and along the way, won 4 British Hairdresser Of the Year Awards, was awarded a Doctorate from a Scottish University and was made a Member of the British Empire from her Majesty the Queen…In this episode, we will discuss:- The importance of nurturing creativity- The art of being a great on-stage presenter- The wisdom that

There are many changes impacting the hair and beauty business, and one area that is impacting every industry is the continual advancement and use of tech, particularly the advancement of AI. Today's guest is Sudheer Koneru, co-founder of Zenoti Salon Software.After a background working at Microsoft, Sudheer embraced semi-retirement, and after exploring yoga, meditation and the wellness industry, he became the owner of a small group of spas that incorporated salons, beauty, fitness and yoga. Frustrated by the software solutions available at the time, Sudheer decided to develop his own, and Zenoti was the result. Today Zenoti operates in over fifty countries in a total of approximately 30,000 businesses in the beauty and wellness industry. In today’s podcast, we discuss:

What does it take to produce half a million dollars a year behind the chair? Turns out it’s not being a celebrity stylist, or a fashion week back stage superstar stylist or having a huge social media following. Instead, it’s about stability, relationships, giving clients a great experience, word-of-mouth referrals, being organised, being goal-oriented, looking after yourself, consistency, flexibility, listening, hard work, making genuine connections, and genuinely being a nice person. Today is another episode where I am talking to a hairstylist who you may not have heard of before.But amongst other things, what makes her so special is that she produces very high revenue figures behind the chair… And I want to find out what it takes to do that. My guest on today's Podcast is Maxwell Snow from the Van Michael salons in Atlanta, Maxwell is one of those hairstylists who produces around half a million dollars a year behind the chair…In today’s podcast, we will discuss:

“How has your year been?”I can’t believe that it’s already the second half of October, but it is, and that means that we are well and truly into the final quarter of the year 2024!Now, if you cast your mind back to January of this year, in all probability, you had goals and ambitions for 2024…And regardless of whether you’ve had your best year ever [and some people have] or perhaps it’s been a year ‘business wise’ where you’ve been completely derailed.  Either way, as the saying goes, “It’s not over until the fat lady sings”, and so in this episode, we focus on the the importance of ‘finishing strong!’IN THIS EPISODE:[01:21] Reflecting on the year[02:14] Finishing the year strong[03:32] Learning from challenges[05:15] Owning your business outcomes[05:33] Learning from mistakes[05:55] Honest appraisal of your business[07:41] Creating a stop-start-continue list[09:08] Opportunities in the last quarter[09:40] Promotions and strategies for year-endWant MORE to help you GROW?

If this era of hairdressing will be remembered for anything specific I believe it will be the rise of the self-employed.Regardless of where in the world you’re located, the self-employed business model in its various forms has made a huge impact on the industry and is continuing to do so. Today's guests are Ross and Jack Williams-Hirst, the co-founders of Williams & Hirst, a new co-working salon space in the heart of London’s Soho district. In today’s podcast, we discuss:✨The co-working salon business model and what’s driving the independent hairdressing movement.✨ How Williams & Hirst aims to elevate the freelance salon experience by offering a luxe environment alongside comprehensive support.✨ The importance of having rental packages that work for everyone…And lots more! IN THIS EPISODE: [00:53} Introducing Williams & Hirst: A new co-working salon in London’s Soho[02:20] Jack and Ross’s journey to freelance and co-working[04:49] Navigating the challenges of self-employment[08:03] Understanding V

In today’s episode, I focus on ‘Salon Management Software’, and I’m talking with Lori Obiedzinski, originally a hairdresser she now works in the salon management software side of the industry.In this episode, we discuss how AI can streamline business operations and enhance client engagement, the importance of online booking, and the emerging trends impacting the future of salon management systems.    What to look for in a salon management system    The role of Artificial Intelligence in salon management software    How and why salon owners can and should get more out of their salon management software systemsAnd lots more!  IN THIS EPISODE: (02:29) Defining key terms and the competitive landscape of salon management software.(05:49) Choosing the right salon management software based on your needs.(08:00) Maximizing software utilisation and how most salons underutilise the available system functions.(12:19) The role of AI and automation in streamlining operations and enhancing client engagement.(17:39) Why it’

Whether it’s on social media or podcasts or articles that I read, It seems to me that the goal of salon owners everywhere is to leave the floor.I don’t think it’s inevitable, but there seems to be a point in the lives of many salon owners where they say that they want to step away from being behind the chair. But there’s a problem, and the problem is that often, the reason that they can’t step away from behind the chair is because they’re the salon's number one earner.So what’s the solution?Let’s begin by looking at how they ended up in this position in the first place. Tune in to learn how to redefine your role as a salon owner so that you set your business up for long-term success. IN THIS EPISODE: (00:00) Welcome to the Grow My Salon Business Podcast(01:49) The dilemma of stepping away from the chair(03:24) Understanding the root cause of the problem(05:47) Building a sustainable salon business(08:56) The role of a salon owner(09:56) Free management resources and upcoming masterclass(10:50) Conclusion and

I often say that opening a business gives you a great education. Not just into the skills needed in management, finance, and marketing. But also the understanding and insights that come with the responsibility of employing people, training them and coaching them to become the best version possible of themselves. On today's episode, I’m talking with returning guest salon owner and now author Martha Lynn Kale of the Mirror Mirror salon in Austin, Texas, who has written a book about getting the most out of the early years of your career.In today’s podcast, we discuss:- Martha Lynn’s book “The Ambitious Stylist” Making the Most of Cosmetology School.- Why hand in hand with freedom, flexibility and autonomy comes personal responsibility, accountability and owning the outcome.- Advice on building a clientele and developing your own personal brand.And lots more!IN THIS EPISODE:(01:17) Introducing Martha Lynn Kale(02:30) Martha Lynn's journey and book inspiration(02:56) Martha Lynn’s Beauty School experience(08:40) K

Getting to the top of this industry isn’t easy. Staying there is even harder.  Dublin-based, multi-award-winning hairdresser and salon owner Dylan Bradshaw has just been awarded Salon of the Year for the UK and Ireland. Dylan and his wife and business partner Charlotte have recently completed a total refit of what was already a great salon.  They’ve taken it to the next level and are pushing the boundaries by redefining what they see as the salon of the future. If you're a salon owner looking for inspiration and practical advice on growing and innovating your business, this episode is a must-listen. In today’s podcast, we will discuss:The importance of building a brand identity Why brands need to continually evolve if they are to remain relevantWhat it means to diversify the traditional salon offering…And lots more! IN THIS EPISODE: 00:41 Meet Dylan Bradshaw: Award-winning Dublin based hairdresser02:06 The evolution of salon awards and the impact of AI on Hairdressing awards06:23 The journey of Dylan's salon

Every four years, the Olympics and the Paralympics come along. And even if you’re not someone who is usually that fussed by athletics, swimming, gymnastics, etc., you just can’t help but be exposed to it, whether it’s on Social media, the news or on TV, it’s everywhere! And if you’re like most people, you can’t help but be impressed with what those incredible athletes are capable of. But what we see is the ‘end results’ after years of commitment and dedication.So what's that got to do with hairdressing?  On the surface, it has nothing to do with hairdressing. But I can’t help thinking about the parallels that there are about ‘being the best’ at whatever it is that you do.In today’s episode, I talk about how being good at anything in life requires you to make finer distinctions about whatever it is that you want to master. It requires training, it requires huge levels of commitment and determination, and it requires sacrifice in other areas of your life in order to achieve the goal whatever it is. In this Epis

 When you’ve been in this industry a long time, you not only see trends and businesses come and go, but you also see people come and go. But, longevity as a hairdresser and remaining relevant throughout your career is not only a skill in itself, but if you can remain passionate and keep evolving with the times, the result is that you build up a range of skills that leave you with a fantastic legacy to pass on to the generations that follow. My guest today is one such person; Ruth Roche has had many roles in the industry, and over a 40 year career, she has done all of them well and continues to inspire hairdressers at every stage of their career. In today’s episode, we discuss:●      Using humour to break down barriers and create engagement as an educator●      The value in working across different areas in the industry●      Defining beauty and suitabilityAnd lots more! In this Episode: 01:11 Introducing Ruth Roche: A diverse and passionate career in Hairdressing02:34 The role of humour in hairdressing06:21 M

We all have a money story. An event or series of events in our young lives that shape how we see money, how we value money and how either we learn to master money, or it masters you. Inevitably your ‘money story’ will largely be influenced by your parents and your exposure to their habits and thoughts around money.  But as a business owner the money story you have from your upbringing and the thoughts and habits you have developed may not serve you well in business.  In business, you need to learn to master money, or it will master you. That doesn’t mean that you have to become an accountant or bookkeeper.  But it does mean that you need to learn to manage the money that flows through your business so that you can build a profitable business and create the lifestyle that you want for yourself and your family. In today's episode we discuss: ● Why not everyone should be self-employed.● What your accountant’s job is.● Why financial management is your responsibility. For full show notes, links and resources menti

Over the last 20 years, there has been a significant shift in the way the hairdressing industry works.  Driven by changes in technology combined with social media and generational changes with today’s hairdressers wanting more flexibility, more freedom and more control over when where and how they work has meant that new business models have emerged.  Particularly in the United States the salon suite or salon studio has radically changed how the industry operates, and there’s no going back.   As a result the traditional commission based or ‘employee employer’ based business model has been dramatically impacted and is continuing to evolve in order to meet the demands of a changing workforce. My guest on today's podcast is returning guest Eric Taylor, founder of the incredibly successful Salon Republic, which, in my opinion, has the best Salon Suite or Salon Studio business model in the industry.  In today’s podcast, we talk about● How the salon suite model continues to evolve and adapt● What you need to do to