Grow My Salon Business Podcast

As a former salon owner and business coach, I am very aware of the ever-evolving business models in the industry and the challenges that these create for some people.  I have often thought about why more salons haven’t tried to grow in the same ways that law firms, accountancy firms, and architecture firms do; by having a partnership model that not only creates a career path and profit sharing for the partners but also allows the company to keep growing.  My guest on today's episode is Blake Evans from Shear Art Salon in Tampa, Florida. Not only do they have a very impressive partnership model, but Blake is happy for me to dig in and ask exactly how it works. So, in today’s podcast, we will discuss: How do you decide who will be invited into the partnership program? How do they buy into the partnership? How is their shareholding valued? What happens when partners want to sell their shares? And lots more! In this Episode: [03:08] An overview of Blake’s transition from marketing student to hairdresser.  [06:0

There are a lot of people that will talk about how tough the past couple of years have been, and rightly so in many cases.  But if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 40 years in this industry it is that to succeed you have to continually evolve. You can’t stand still and dine out on yesterday’s glories and you can’t be afraid to continually reinvent and evolve your business…  My guest today very much shares those sentiments. Her name is Mia De Vries, and amongst other things, she is a salon owner, business coach, and founder of ‘The Secret Fox’ online education company. In today’s podcast, we will discuss: No longer working Saturdays and embracing a 4 day work week. The importance of finding life and business balance Motivation and people management And lots more! In this Episode: [02:27] Mia shares an overview of her business and personal life. [04:54] Business “meltdowns” that Mia has experienced and the biggest lesson that she learned from them. [09:11] Mia’s joy-seeking approach to business.  [10:44]

My guest on today's podcast is London-based hairdresser, salon owner, editorial stylist, product developer, and general hairdressing visionary John Vial.  As you are about to discover, John has been involved in many areas of the hair and beauty business and continues to inspire at many levels across the industry. In today’s podcast we will discuss: The TV make-over show ‘10 Years Younger in 10 Days’ John’s TED Talk  The challenges with salon ownership and the industry today Developing a product line with a difference…  And lots more! In this Episode: [02:37] John shares the origins of his salon industry career.  [06:23] The transformative power of hairdressing (in more than just the physical sense).  [08:51] 10 Years Younger in 10 Days; the enormous popularity of the TV makeover show that John is involved with.  [11:24] The evolution of John’s upcoming sustainable product range (the focus of his first TED talk). [14:11] A brief overview of how blockchain works, and its benefits.  [18:22] John shares what le

Think carefully about the titles that you use to refer to people because everything has a meaning attached to it. Some titles are empowering, while others could be considered demeaning.A listener recently ask me why I use the term “client” instead of “guest” and “hairdresser/stylist” instead of “artist.” So, in response to that question, today’s episode is dedicated to titles.  Whether they are for the people on your team or for those who frequent your business, titles really do matter! In this Episode: [00:45] The question that inspired today’s episode. [01:30] Examples of how terminology differs between countries. [02:05] The broadly accepted definition of customer.  [02:23] Percentage splits in the responses to my online survery about whether salon owners use the term client, guest, or customer.  [03:09] Factors that influence terminology used in salons.  [03:49] Why I use the term ‘client’ rather than ‘guest’ (or ‘customer’).  [05:08] Why I refer to hairdressers as ‘stylists’ rather than ‘artists.’  [06:4

The sustainability of a business is dependent on profit, yet many businesses operate on a tiny profit margin. Ultimately, that is why only a very small percentage of small businesses reach their 10th birthday.  Most business failures can be attributed to a lack of financial awareness and understanding of how to manage finances. Too many salon owners operate on the basis of “work hard, pay my bills, and what's left over is profit.” However, that way of thinking is fundamentally flawed because, in case you haven’t noticed, there is usually very little left over! So instead of the traditional accounting method of ‘Sales minus expenses equals profit,’ we should be turning this on its head and running businesses on the ‘Profit First’ principle; ‘Sales minus profit equals expenses.’ If you’re confused, stick around because my guest on today's podcast is Ronit Enos, Author of the book ‘Profit First for Salons.’ In today’s podcast, we discuss: Profit margins in salons today The steps to increasing profitability The

Over the last 20 years, salon hair fashion has predominantly been focused on colour and styling, whereas the ’60s to the ’90s were the era of the haircut.  Many young hairdressers today are terrified about the thought of ‘cutting’ unless it's taking the ends off long hair and many salon owners say that they just can’t find stylists who have the technical and creative skills to cut hair well. My guest on today's Podcast is Ben Brown, who has built a very successful cutting education company and although based in the UK, works in many countries teaching the art and science of what makes a great haircut. In today’s podcast we discuss: Why opening a salon isn’t for everyone Starting an online education company Teaching technique and suitability And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/151/     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

Regardless of what business you are in, the challenge every business owner faces is that of constantly adapting and evolving to the changes in the world we live in.   Whether it’s the demands for more flexibility from today's workforce, or the pressures of inflation and the rising costs of living and doing business, the fact remains that being in business isn’t easy, and to succeed you need to constantly evolve. And therein lies the challenge. How do you build in more freedom, flexibility, and autonomy for your team?  And how do you balance that with running a viable and profitable business? In this Episode: [00:54] Why I recommend watching WeCrashed. [01:14] The question that inspired today’s episode.  [02:13] Important realizations that many people have come to as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  [04:08] The tradeoff between income and freedom. [04:27] Changes that many stylists made to their way of working during the pandemic.  [05:22] A few different definitions of freedom in relation to the salon indu

As I often say, we are in the ‘people business.’ This means that our primary product is the people who sit in our chairs and the services we offer to make our clients happy.  But from the salon owners' perspective, we are also in the ‘people business’ in that because our teams are also our product and our most important asset. The Human Resource (HR) regulation around employees varies from country to country but no matter where you are listening to this podcast there are almost definitely more complexities around managing your team today than there were 5 years ago.  And managing those complexities takes time, and time is money.  My guest on today's podcast is Ian Egerton, hairdresser, salon owner, and the founder of Loop HR Salon Software. Ian’s software solution makes the HR component not just much easier to manage, but also extremely professional.  In today’s podcast we will discuss: The role of ‘HR’ in a successful salon The benefits of getting more organised, systemised, and automated when it comes to H

This week is ‘Part 2’ of the ‘Comeback Stories’ series, where I again talk to a salon owner couple about how they’ve bounced back after a tough couple of years.  With the challenges that the world is going through at the moment, it’s important to be focusing on the success stories and the opportunities that difficult times can sometimes present. The last two years have been a testing time for most of us, and my guests today are no exception. Their business and their personal lives have had numerous changes thrust upon them that were beyond their control.   But despite that, they have come out the other end in good shape we can all learn from their resilience, their willpower, their strength, and their courage in the face of adversity.  Today I am talking to Todd and Audra Wise from the Color Pop salon in Texas. In today’s episode we will discuss: Their business journey pre and post covid Dealing with significant personal health challenges Finding balance in both personal and business commitments And lots mo

No matter where you live in the world, if there is one phrase that I’m sure you’re as tired of hearing as I am, it’s: ‘Unprecedented times.’ But, without doubt, the last couple of years have been tough for most people. We have been tested physically, financially and emotionally in our businesses and in our personal lives as a result of the drastic changes that have been thrust upon us. Today is ‘Part 1’ of a two-part series focusing on what I am calling ‘comeback stories.’ I will be talking to two couples who have battled adversities and come out the other end in good shape! We can all learn from their resilience, willpower, strength, and courage.  Henry Monreal and Liz Salcedo from Salon Ink in San Diego are my guests today. I spoke to them at the beginning of COVID and now, two years on, they have had a great turnaround in their business. In today’s podcast we will discuss: Their business journey and how they have bounced back post COVID Dealing with major health challenges Finding balance in both personal

Good ideas can, and do, come from anywhere.  An easy trap to fall into is thinking that it’s only big salons with big budgets and celebrity owners that set the trends when it comes to new business-building ideas. But that’s simply not the case.  My guest today is a salon owner who is living proof that no matter how small your town is, you can do big things! Lisa Carr is the innovative and passionate owner of the Bad Hair Day (BHD) salon in Tecumseh, a town in Michigan in the United States with a population of 8,500! In today’s podcast we discuss: How the BHD salon has grown 37% since Covid  How Lisa has introduced greater flexibility for her team into her business model Her innovative approach to marketing and not being afraid to reinvent the way business is done. And lots more! In This Episode: [4:04] Why the changes that came about because of the Covid-19 pandemic were a blessing in disguise for Lisa’s salon business, Bad Hair Day (BHD). [8:52] Factors that Lisa attributes to the fact that her business gr

“Whatever the question, the answer is always education.” Don’t be put off by the title of this episode: regardless of who you are, what age you are, or what stage of your career you are at, you are about to learn something important. Do not make the mistake of thinking that this is just for women, or just for women of a certain age, because it’s for everyone!  Over 80% of the salon industry is made up of women. So, if you’re a man, it’s highly likely that you will have female team members and/or female clientele, which makes this episode very relevant to you. My guest on today's Podcast is Catherine O’Keeffe. She has a business called ‘Wellness Warrior’ and she is Ireland's first menopause coach. In today’s podcast we will discuss: The difference between perimenopause and menopause Dealing with the symptoms of menopause The impact that menopause can have on morale, productivity and retention How menopause affects hair… And lots more! For full show notes, links and resources mentioned in this episode visit: 

I've had a few questions recently from listeners regarding inflation, the looming recession, how they are impacting the hairdressing industry, and what I believe salons should be doing to counteract it. In this episode, I dive in and explore what the implications are for the salon industry (and for small businesses in general) as many countries experience the worst inflation in over 40 years… To say it’s new territory for many business owners is an understatement! The 3 main topics that I cover in this podcast are: What are the lessons we have (hopefully) learned from Covid? The importance of understanding where you and your business are from a financial perspective at any point in time. How do we, as small business owners, navigate the financial road ahead? For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/144/ 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 app

My guest on today’s Podcast is London based hairdresser and owner of a 5 strong salon group and academy Gina Conway. Originally from California, she has been based in London for the last 20 plus years and has built up a great reputation as one of London's leading salons. Gina is passionate about delivering a five-star level of service and is widely known not just for doing great hair but also for her total commitment to sustainably and the ethical side of hairdressing. In the process, she has built up a considerable business and a reputation to match… and she’s just getting started. In today’s episode we discuss: Balancing the demands of life as an owner of 5 salons, a wife, mother and finding time for everything else. Sustainability in salons today. Creating a team and culture where people want to come to work. The customer service journey. Growing a team and successful expansion. And lot's more! In this Episode: [03:30] Gina also has a fashion degree and became interested in entrepreneurship.  [03:39] She

Today, the need to highlight environmental and social initiatives is more pertinent than ever. Unfortunately, those causes and everything they represent are often drowned out by the latest headline of the day.  However, the increased level of social and environmental awareness and urgency isn’t about to go away. In fact, these issues are only becoming more and more pressing. So, we all need to ‘own’ our contribution and stop waiting for someone else to fix our problems.    My guest on today's Podcast is Mara Gourdine, the Global Culture Ambassador at John Paul Mitchell Systems. Behind that impressive title, Mara is very much involved in the corporate side of directing and contributing to making change happen. In my conversation with Mara today my objective is to keep coming back to how salon owners and stylists can adapt what a big business does and integrate those ideas into their own businesses. In today’s podcast we will discuss: What Mara’s day-to-day job consists of The wider responsibilities of busines

There are many qualities to take into consideration if you are going to refer to a salon business as being one of the very 'best in the world’ and we would each have our own criteria to consider.   When it comes to great leadership, a fantastic culture, excellent training, a real career path, great team retention, and consistently having 20% plus in retail and having a very profitable business, there are two salons that really stand out to me. The first one is JUUT Salons, whose owner, David Wagner, I interviewed on a previous episode. If you haven’t checked it out yet, go back and have a listen.  The second is Van Michael Salon, and today I’m going to be speaking to Van Council, the founder and co-owner of this incredible business which sets the bar at a level that very few salons can come close to!  In today’s podcast we will discuss: Adapting your business model to the times The importance of standards, training, systems and exceptional service Lessons in leadership…  And lots more! In this Episode: [04:

“Build it and they will come” is a line from the 1989 movie ‘Field of Dreams’.  Unfortunately, it is a strategy that many salon owners use when opening up a new salon only to find that Hollywood movies don’t necessarily reflect business reality. In today's podcast episode, I am answering two questions from our listeners. In answering their questions I will be explaining why “build it and they will come” is not an effective strategy for starting and growing a business. The first question is from Sandy in Birmingham who asks… “I opened my salon 4 years ago and I am finding it hard to grow. It's a beautiful space to work in, I have 3 staff members, [two stylists and an assistant] I'm great at doing hair, I'm always fully booked and I generate most of the revenue myself working 5 ½  days a week behind the chair. But despite that the business just won't grow so what should I do?” The second question is from Steve in Florida who asks… “I heard you say on one of your YouTube videos that salon owners shouldn’t employ

All the changes that have taken place over the past two years have forced many of us to rethink our work/life balance, and have brought issues around mental health and burnout into greater focus. My guest today is Ashleigh Hodges, a young woman who has built up a well-deserved reputation in the UK hairdressing industry, not only for being very talented at doing hair but also for being an exceptionally nice person in the process.In today’s podcast we discuss:- The imbalance of representation of women in the industry - Mental health and dealing with burnout- The secret to being successful…And lots more!   In this Episode:   [03:03] The many professional hats that Ashleigh wears.  [05:38] An explanation of what the Fellowship for British Hairdressing is, and what Ashleigh’s role as its chancellor entails.  [09:24] How HAIRDOTCOM Art Team came into being, and what their offerings include. [14:36] The process Ashleigh went through to make her life more sustainable.  [19:54] Similarities and differences between the

My guests on today's Podcast are returning guests to the show: Filipe Santos and David Brodsky, who are New Jersey based Salon owners.   In the previous conversation I had with them, we talked about their growing salon business and the success of their business model. If you didn’t catch that episode, it’s number 112, so you can go back and check it out. During the episode, Filipe and David spoke about how they first met in recovery, and on the back of that comment, we decided it would be a great idea to devote an episode to talk about their journey with addiction.  This episode is their story, it’s a very personal story full of laughs and honesty and a genuine love of life and of each other. Their journey is an inspiring example of what’s possible, and if it helps just one person, then we have achieved what we set out to.   In this episode we discuss: Their journey into drugs as teenagers Defining moments on their journey The turning points where they knew they had to change … The importance of the narcotic

Like many of you, I will sometimes spend time scrolling through Instagram and occasionally a salon design will stop me in my tracks…    This is the case with Salon Ruggeri based in NYC. Every time I see an image they have posted, it’s always of a beautifully put together and very stylish salon space that breaks the cookie-cutter salon design mould and gives you a peek into the world and the style of the salon owners.    It always makes me want to just go and hang out there because I know it will be a great experience and a luxury treat for the senses, as well as great hair!   So my guest on today's Podcast is Greg Ruggeri and his husband Craig Longhurst from Salon Ruggeri in New York.   In this episode we discuss: The client experience The importance of attention to detail The meaning of style   And so much more!       In this Episode:   [02:39] A brief overview of what Greg and Craig’s joint journey in the salon industry has looked like to date.   [04:05] Greg shares what motivated him to become a hairdres