Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Daniel Di Iorio had been in business for 11 years when he decided to relocate his salon, Diior10. In two prior episodes (episode 179 and episode 194), Daniel and I discussed the process he was going through to transition from one salon location to another.   Well, you’ll be happy to know that after many trials and tribulations, he has finally made it into his new space. And, as you’ll hear today, it was well worth pushing through all the challenges!   In today’s podcast, the final in this series with Daniel, we discuss:   ●      Some of the unexpected surprises that came with the relocation ●      What he loves about his new salon space ●      What he wishes he had done differently   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/216/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show

One of the things I enjoy most about hosting this podcast is connecting with salon owners who are still active behind the chair, dealing with the multitude of challenges and opportunities that come their way as they balance their roles as owners and stylists.   My guest today is Ashley Renee, a hairstylist and the owner of The Salon Venice in Venice Beach, California. Ashley has a small team, she works behind the chair, has a young son and a partner, and is representative of most of the people who listen to this podcast, no matter where in the world you are!   So, it’s great to have this opportunity to share our conversation with you today.     In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   -    The challenges being faced by small business owners everywhere -    Creating a salon culture -    Dealing with changing expectations of team members -    Finding work-life balance as an owner   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/215/

You may have heard the expression, “Where the rubber meets the road.”   I think that it’s used as a metaphor to say, “This is the moment of truth!”   In today's short episode, I talk about the moment of truth in the salon as being the time of engagement between the stylist and the client because that's where everything comes together.   That’s where the training, the salon marketing, the decor, the client experience, and the price point all come together to produce a measurable result.   That result is both an immediate financial impact and the opportunity to have turned someone into a long-term loyal client who continuously adds value to the salon or into someone you never see again.     For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/214/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and he

Being a business owner is a great education because it forces you to learn a range of new skills, from people management to financial management and marketing.    All these elements will push you out of your comfort zone, and as a result, you will grow both professionally and personally. I’ve spent a lot of time talking about the former, but in today’s episode, we focus on the latter: the invaluable life skills and aspects of humanity that being a business owner exposes you to.     My guest today is Alex Ioannou, a former Londoner who, for the last 30-plus years, has been a native of Chicago. He’s a hairdresser, former salon owner, coach, educator and one of the nicest and most genuine people you’ll ever meet.   Listen in today to hear about some of the most impactful life lessons Alex’s journey as a hairdresser has taught him!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/213/    Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please

Most of us, myself included, will have someone in our lives who has been directly impacted by breast cancer.   Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I have devoted this episode to talking about the disease that one in seven women develop during the course of their lives.   The salon industry is predominantly female-led, and due to the nature of the work, hairdressers are often given access to the most personal details of their clients' lives.   Today’s guest is Nicky Elkington, who is both a hairdresser and a survivor of breast cancer. Today, she is here to talk about her experience of surviving breast cancer.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   -    How Nicky dealt with the initial impact of finding out she had breast cancer -    The treatments she underwent -    Dealing with hair loss…   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/212/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode,

In a salon, your productivity is measured by your ‘output’, things like your total sales, total number of new clients, and total pre-booking percentages.   Your output is determined by your input, things like your total number of follow-up calls, number of social media posts, and number of training events hosted.   In this week’s short episode, I talk about how if you want to change the output, start by focusing on the input!   In this Episode:   [01:09] Factors that need to be taken into consideration during a colour consultation. [02:19] The importance of knowing your numbers as a salon owner. [03:36] Examples of output numbers. [03:57] Examples of input numbers. [05:16] How to improve your salon’s output numbers. [06:10] The approach I adopted to measure and enhance productivity in my salons. [07:06] Why it is essential to set expectations for your team. [08:08] My challenge to you for this week. [09:08] Courses that will help you take your business to the next level.   Thanks so much for joining me this

Online education has grown exponentially over the last few years, and online education in the hairdressing space is no exception.   This is one episode in a series of podcasts that will focus on the various forms of online education in the world of hairdressing.   My guest on today's podcast is Dublin-based Paul Davey, a hairdresser, salon owner, and the founder of Hairdressing Live, one of the first online education platforms to make a real impact in the space.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   -    What exactly Hairdressing Live is -    What makes it different from other online platforms -    What Paul sees as the future of education…   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/210/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my

Hairdressing is often seen as a young person’s industry; my guess would be that the average person working in the industry is probably in their late 20s.   Although on the one hand, that’s a negative thing because it’s reflective of the high turnover rates of staff who choose to move into other industries, it also means that those who stay in the industry are constantly being exposed to new ideas, new ways of thinking, and new ways of looking at the world.   The secret to a successful long-term career in the hairdressing industry is having the ambition, foresight, and courage to continually evolve and reinvent oneself and one’s business.   My guest on today’s podcast is a person who epitomises these characteristics: Sam Brocato from the New York-based salon bearing his name.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   ●      The pros and cons of being in the salon industry today ●      How technology has impacted Sam’s ever-evolving business ●      The changes in salon business models and product distribution

Across the world, financial management is typically the single biggest area that salon owners struggle with.   When asked financial questions about their business, in many cases, their answer is a mixture of “I get my accountant or bookkeeper to look after that stuff,” or, “I get my wife or husband or partner to manage all that.”   And that's where the problem starts. The game of business is primarily a numbers game, and you can’t play the game if you don’t understand what the numbers are telling you! If you own a business, it’s your responsibility to get control of the numbers so that you can run it effectively. It’s not the responsibility of your accountant, bookkeeper, or anyone else to do that for you.   This episode was inspired by a question that was asked in the Grow My Salon Business Money Course, and it demonstrates how the depth of a seemingly simple financial concept can only be discovered when you know the right questions to ask!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://

I’ve often talked about the endless opportunities available within the hairdressing industry for those who are ambitious and prepared to do the work.   For some people, it’s all about building up an excellent clientele behind the chair. For others, it might lead to opening a salon of their own. Then there are those who pursue the education route, and occasionally, you come across someone who does it all!   My guest on today's podcast is San Diego-based hairdresser Travis Parker, who has experience working in multiple areas of the industry, from being a behind-the-chair stylist to a salon owner to an educator and online course creator. Throughout his journey, he has always embraced technology and the progression that it facilitates.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss: ●      Technical and creative online education ●      Haircutting now and in the future ●      The importance of using technology to teach and learn…   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://gr

The fact that you are reading this means that you are probably working in the hairdressing industry, and in all likelihood, you are also a business owner or an aspiring business owner.   As a business owner, the financial health of your business is your biggest responsibility, and one of the most important business relationships you will have is the relationship with your accountant.   My guest on today's podcast is April McDaniel from accountancy firm Kopsa Otte based in the United States. April’s accounting niche is the hairdressing sector, and the information she shares today will be invaluable in helping you get on top of your finances!   Although about half of my regular listeners are based in the US, we regularly get listeners now in more than 80 countries every week, so today, we are very consciously going to cover all things relating to money and accountancy in a way that’s relevant no matter where in the world you are based.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   -    What salon owners s

“I have been in business now for ten years, and as a salon owner, I seem to work harder now than I ever have, but by the time I pay my team and the business overhead, there is never the profit left in the business that I had imagined!”   Does this sound familiar? Just because you are talented with a tint brush, a pair of scissors, and a blow dryer doesn’t mean you are automatically going to be able to run a successful salon business. But don’t despair; just like you learned how to be a brilliant hairdresser, you can learn to be a brilliant business owner too.   A lack of “business savvy” is one of the main reasons that so many salons don’t succeed, and so in today’s episode, I’m going to share with you the six most important elements to focus on to ensure that yours doesn’t become one of the unlucky ones.   From setting budgets to managing revenue projections and lots more, tune in today to get a better understanding of how you can achieve your financial goals as a salon owner!   For full show notes, links an

“The emotional response is what makes hairdressing so joyful.”   Artificial intelligence is changing the world we live in right in front of our eyes. The impact of it can’t be overestimated, and whether you like it or not, you can’t put the genie back in the bottle.   So we need to learn about it, understand it, and, more importantly, figure out how to use it to improve our lives and our businesses. Just as importantly, we need to hold onto and celebrate the human touch, soulful connections, and creativity that set us apart from AI. Because, after all, we are in the people business!   In today's episode, Vivienne Mackinder and I discuss the impacts that AI is having on the hairdressing industry and why inherently human characteristics are irreplaceable!     For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/204/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and grea

At one end of the salon spectrum, you have budget or value salons. At the other end, you have premium or luxury brands. They all serve a purpose, and they all attract a clientele and a team that represents what the business offers.   In a city like London, the luxury end of the market is very competitive, and brands regularly come and go. But occasionally, you come across a business that stands the test of time. The Michael Van Clarke salon in Marylebone is an example of a luxury salon that, after 35 years in business, is going stronger than ever!   My guest on today's podcast is the founder of this iconic luxury brand, Michael Van Clarke.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   -    What it takes to create a luxury brand -    The Michael Van Clarke limited liability partnership model -    The importance of training your team…   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/203/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you

As every salon owner knows, the employee costs in any salon are always the single biggest overhead. Over the past few years, the cost of living has been consistently rising in all parts of the world, and this is putting pressure on salon owners to increase their wages.   Balancing combined employee costs so that your business can retain talent while still making a profit is a challenging task! In response to a listener's question, this episode focuses on how to determine what you should be paying your front-of-house staff.   All team members in a salon are important (and should be treated as such), but at the end of the day, a person’s salary should be directly correlated with the amount of value they are adding to the business!   In this Episode:   [01:21] The question that inspired today’s episode. [01:40] Every salon’s biggest overhead. [03:26] The challenge of balancing combined employee costs in your salon. [04:16] How value should influence wages. [05:55] Different titles that are given to front-of

Despite the changes in the social media landscape, using Instagram effectively is still one of the most important tools to help you grow your salon business!   My guest on today's podcast is Vivienne Johns, a UK-based Instagram expert. At this point in time, being competent (at least) in using this social media channel (alongside the others) is a skill that you can’t afford to ignore.    On her own admission, Vivienne was late to embrace Instagram, but she has certainly made up for lost time and has established herself as a very relatable educator in a fast-moving space.     In today’s podcast, we will discuss:   -    The ever-changing social media landscape -    How people are consuming content today -    How to manage and set guidelines around your salon's social And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/201/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews ar

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 today's podcast, we will discuss:  -   The importance of nurturing creativity -   The art of being a great on-stage presenter - 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been with us for a while, but this year it has exploded into the general consciousness. Regardless of country or industry, it seems like everyone is talking about all the ways that AI will revolutionise the hairdressing business.    But what impact will it have on the creative side of the industry? How will it change how we communicate, how we do consultations, and how we recommend home haircare?   My guest on today's Podcast is Richard Kavanagh, who, amongst other things, is the founder of piiq Digital. I've asked Richard onto the show because I want to talk about AI and creativity, and as he has a foot in both camps, I think he’ll bring a broad perspective to the conversation.   In today’s podcast, we will discuss: How AI can enhance creativity The impact of AI on salon retail The piiq smart mirror…   And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/199/    Thanks so much for joining me this week. If y

I’ve always endeavoured to feature a wide range of guests from different countries, but more importantly I also try to cover a range of topics that reflect not just hairdressing and business, but life, and the highs and lows that come with being human because that is what makes us who we are. And who we are at a personal level impacts who we are at a professional level…   I know, that like me, a lot of people listen to a podcast while they are walking their dogs.   In fact, one of my favourite stories is of a coaching client of mine whose dog gets excited as soon as she hears the intro music of my podcast because the dog associates the music with ‘walk time’ and every dog loves their walk.   And so that brings me to the topic of today's podcast because, at the time of recording, it’s only a couple of days since we unexpectedly lost ‘Kingsley’ a much loved member of our family, and it’s made me reflect on the importance of finding balance and time for every part of your life…   For full show notes, links and r

Today is the third in a series of episodes where I am talking to hairstylists who are extraordinarily productive in the salon. The average American hairstylist probably generates between $80-$100k a year behind the chair in total sales, so when you meet someone doing three to five times that, they are obviously doing something special.   Brandon Darragh, who has worked at Van Michael Salon since the age of 19, generates in excess of $375,000 a year behind the chair and only works a 4-day week! I’m sure you’re as curious as I am about how he does it.   In today’s podcast, we’ll discuss:   -     The characteristics of a successful hairdresser -     How to retain talent in your salon -     How to make a 4-day week work for you…   And lots more! For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/197/   Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciate