Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Many people open a salon with a dream to grow it into a big business. Unfortunately, only very few achieve that dream.  In today's hairdressing industry there has been a growth in the independent stylist. The salon suite, The booth renter. The freelancer. The business unit of 1. But that business model certainly isn’t for everyone. You can still build a brand, create a career path, and offer training and benefits and an amazing workplace culture that gives people a place to belong that is bigger than just them. My guest on today's podcast has done that and so much more. He is David Wagner; hair stylist, artist, entrepreneur, educator, author and founder and owner of JUUT Salons.   In today’s episode we discuss: What it takes to build a successful salon brand The meaning of being a ‘day maker’ Creating salon culture  The Covid impact …   And so much more!   In this Episode: [03:13] David shares an overview of his journey from one of the very first Horst Rechelbacher scholars to the founder and CEO of Juut Sa

Every relationship that you develop with a client starts with a consultation, and there are many different ways a consultation can be done.   I know hairdressers that take up to 30 minutes to do an in-depth thorough consultation, while others say something like, “So what are we doing today?” to a fully gowned-up client with dripping wet hair a split second before they start cutting.    The way you begin your consultations (with both new and returning clients) either opens up possibilities and opportunities, or it shuts them down.    Tune in today to hear my advice on how to conduct a very important part of your business!      In this Episode:   [03:32] Some of the many variables that are at play during a consultation. [05:42] How you should approach situations where you are running late, and how to approach situations where your client is running late. [06:45] Why your personal appearance matters during a consultation session. [07:25] The enormous power of a smile and good manners. [11:38] How you can use bod

My guest on today's Podcast is Jason Crozier, salon stylist, editorial stylist and the founder and Director of CrozNest Creative Agency in London.  CrozNest helps salon businesses gain traction by providing digital marketing services and curated content packages for social media. On this episode we discuss: The benefits of using some curated content on your Instagram feed The relevance of trend reports The ever-evolving role of social media in your business   And lots more!   In this Episode: [02:56] Jason shares where his journey as a creative professional began, and how his career has evolved over the years. [12:39] How Jason’s digital agency, CrozNest, has been bridging the gap between hairdressing and fashion for the past 11 years. [15:35] What CrozNest’s curated content packages consist of, and how they elevate the social media platforms of the salon and fashion businesses that utilize them.  [18:20] Jason explains how he and his team create their content packages. [27:55] The different package options

I always think it’s important to dream. To want a better life for yourself and your family and importantly to have the courage and the grit to step into the unknown and see where it leads you. My guest on today's Podcast is one such person, her name is Sally Rogerson and her hairdressing journey started out in a small town in the north of England and after a fascinating and varied career 30 years later she is the proud owner of SR Academy which is a hairdressing education company based in Scottsdale Arizona. In today’s episode we discuss: Sally's hairdressing journey and the lessons she’s learnt along the way. Life-changing moments… and… How education is changing And lots more!   In this Episode: [00:55] Learn about my next guest, Sally Rogerson.  [02:11] Sally shares a bit about her backstory and how she got involved in hair.  [05:02] Does she miss anything about her younger years?  [05:53] Was she always focused on the education piece?  [07:03] What was the transition from London to L.A. like?  [08:29] Ha

Many hairdressers aspire to be educators. And over the last few years, due to the rapid growth in social media, and more recently with a little help from Covid, there has been an explosion of people jumping online and getting into the educator space. Some of them are obviously a lot better than others. So, what is it that sets educators apart? And what are the skills and mindset that a salon stylist needs to develop if they want to succeed as an educator?    My guest on today's Podcast is Chris Moody; hairdresser and educators’ educator.     In today’s podcast we discuss: What makes a good teacher The biggest mistake that educators make How education is changing How we need to ‘learn to learn’ in the online space…   And lots more!     In this Episode:   [02:33] Chris’s two different roles within the salon industry.   [04:28] Reasons that Chris loves working behind the chair, which he has been doing since he was 16 years old.  [07:55] Where Chris’s interest in becoming an educator originated, and what his jo

In today’s episode I am going to be answering a question which was asked by a listener; “How can I get my team to talk about and recommend professional take-home products to their clients?”  I have a complete module on this very topic in my online Super Stylist course so I will be drawing from that content in this episode. The focus will be on highlighting the typical objections that hairdressers have about recommending retail products to clients, and how salon owners can deal with these.    In today’s podcast we will discuss: Whose job is it to recommend take-home products? What are the 14 main objections that hairstylists typically have? What are the biggest fears stylists have when recommending take home?   And lots more!   In this Episode: [01:34] The ineffective approach that many salon owners use when trying to get their hairdressers to recommend take-home products.  [03:28] Why a full hairdressing service offering should include product recommendations.   [05:52] Profitability of the retail side of a

I am frequently asked questions about salon pricing and so I recently did a podcast episode where I spoke on the pricing of salon services (it was episode 127 if you haven’t already checked it out).   Today's episode is also about pricing, and I have not one but two guests on the show. They are husband and wife, Mick and Kylie Dwyer, who are former salon owners and educators. They have written a book, and developed an app and an online course all on the topic of pricing!     So in this episode, we are going to go much deeper into the pricing issue   In today’s episode we discuss: How to price your salon services The challenges that hairdressers have when it comes to raising prices Profit margins in salons today…   And lots more!       In this Episode:   [02:00] An overview of the careers of today’s husband and wife team, Kylie and Mick Dwyer. [04:07] Mick explains what inspired him to write his book, Pricing Your Services, what the writing process looked like, and what you can expect to learn from reading i

These are interesting and exciting times we are living in, and I’m not just talking about the last two years. The changes that are happening with consumer and employee expectations, lifestyle, technology and how people today want to live their lives today impacts on every area of what we do.  And in the hair and beauty business, I find that exciting as I see salon owners reinventing their business and questioning; what is the salon of the future? What role do salons have in the community today? And most importantly where are the opportunities? On today's podcast, we are talking to Benjamin Jay, co-owner of The Hair Loft salons and the With Love Collective in Chicago. In this episode we will discuss: The changing role of the hair salon in the community Creating a salon that also serves as an event space, a bar, a retail environment and a salon…  And lots more!   In this Episode:   [02:48] Ben shares a brief overview of his professional background, and what the past two years have looked like for him and his

My guests on this episode have been on the show before. In fact, they were the very first guests I had, way back in March 2018! They are Robert and Mary Cromeans who have a salon business based in San Diego. Aside from our conversation in 2018 they were also part of a group podcast interview I did with them when Covid first reared its ugly head about two years ago…  Two years is a long time in business, especially in today's world, and Robert and Mary have never been afraid to change their business, so it is interesting to see how their salons and their thinking has evolved since we last spoke… In this episode we discuss: How their salon business has changed What flexibility looks like for them and their team  Positive things have come out of Covid for them And lots more! In this Episode: [04:15] What Robert and Mary’s lives looked like prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, and how they have drastically changed since.  [12:20] Challenges that Robert and Mary have experienced recently with regard to staff turnover

I’m really lucky to have the opportunity to be able to have deep and insightful discussions with salon owners, and other people who have a vested interest in the salon industry. This year on the Grow My Salon Business Podcast, in every fourth episode I will be addressing a question sent in by a listener.  For today’s podcast, I am answering a question posed by Louise (from Albuquerque), which was about how to price salon services. This question is relevant to all salon owners everywhere and I felt it would greatly benefit this audience, so tune in today to hear my thoughts on the topic! In this Episode: [01:38] A common strategy for pricing salon services, and the problem with this. [02:18] Why decisions around pricing need to be based on maths, not emotion.  [03:07] The importance of understanding the difference between your profit and the salary that you pay yourself.   [03:45] A hypothetical exercise where I run through how to cover a $500 000 overhead and make a 10% profit.  [08:10] Examples of the numero

My guest today is someone who I have had the pleasure of knowing for a very long time as we worked together for a number of years in the ‘80’s.  After over 40 years of working for big brand names in the industry, he has now decided to go out on his own as a freelance educator, focused on the creative side of the industry. His name is Stephen Moody and he is well known to hairdressers everywhere as one of the industry’s great educators. In today’s podcast we discuss: Making courageous decisions Lessons from the barbershop industry  Key factors that make for successful salons How Stephen empowers hairdressers…   And lots more!   In this Episode:   [02:20] A rundown of what Stephen’s career in the hairdressing industry has looked like up until today.  [04:56] The courageous decision Stephen made which shaped the rest of his life.  [07:58] Why Stephen didn’t choose to open his own salon.  [11:06] How Stephen felt about being a barber at first, and why he is so grateful for the experience.  [16:47] The key to ru

My guest on today's podcast is Susanne Post.   Susanne is a hairdresser, salon owner and co-founder of ‘Shear Haven,’ an organisation whose purpose is to educate stylists and beauty professionals about the signs of domestic violence.  Domestic violence is a pervasive issue across the world, and as a survivor of domestic violence herself, Susanne has made it her mission to ensure that other people don’t have to go through what she did. Domestic violence is often associated with shame, denial, and hopelessness, but by talking about it we can begin to destigmatize it, and that is exactly what we are going to do today.  In this episode we discuss: What exactly is domestic violence and who does it affect? How do you recognise the signs of domestic violence? The impact that Covid has had on domestic violence. The free training program that is now available to hairdressers globally to help them recognise the issues around domestic violence.  And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit

The fact that you are listening to this means that you are probably a salon owner and therefore could probably be loosely described as an entrepreneur.  And if you are a regular listener, you’ve probably gathered that I love nothing more than a good entrepreneurial story where we get an insight and an understanding into the highs and lows of what it takes each of us on our unique journey to turn the dream into reality.  Because when we share our dream and the journey we take, it gives others the inspiration and courage to pursue their dream too. My guest on this episode is Victoria Tarrant a hairdresser who has a dream to solve a problem that exists in every salon, and that is addressing the issue of colour wastage and everything surrounding that from the impact that has on salon profits to correct pricing of colour services, the environmental impact waste has and efficient inventory management.   In this episode we discuss: What exactly is ‘SmartMix’? How it differs from competing brands The journey Victori

Have you ever wondered what it takes to build a 15 strong luxury brand salon group?  My guest on today's Podcast has done exactly that. He is Oscar Cullinan founder of the Oscar Oscar salon group in Australia. Oscar has built up a very successful 15 strong luxury salon partnership group in Australia and more recently has started his own product line. Many people want to achieve what Oscar has but very few manage to. So, what does it take to go from one salon that was opened on a ‘whim’ to becoming a household name in the Australian Hairdressing Industry? The answer is ‘partnership’ and the Oscar Oscar group have created a successful partnership model that is a win for everyone.  In this episode we discuss: Knowing when it’s time to expand  The partnership business model What it takes to create and culture and build a brand The importance of leadership in the salon industry And lots more! In this Episode: [01:04] The Salon Management course you should be signing up for if you want to grow your salon business

I often reflect on how lucky I am to interview lots of great people on this podcast and to have in-depth conversations with such a diverse range of people that have a story to tell and often have a unique area of expertise to share.  I’ve always said that it’s a great privilege that I have to be able to ask the guests that I have on this show the questions that I do and to get them to open up so that you the listener - and me, the host - can understand and learn something that perhaps we didn’t yet know. Often, the guests on the podcast will also mention the people that have mentored them, trained and inspired them, and that have managed them on their journey. For our listeners on their own journeys, these stories can inspire them to look at taking the next step in their professional careers.  And for many, they may feel their next obvious step is to open a salon business of their own.  Regardless of the career path we choose to take, it is a journey. And like all journeys where and when it starts, and what d

Gianni Scumaci was born into a hairdressing family, with a mother who was a hairdresser and a father who was a barber, the hairdressing 'gene' was in his blood right from the start. Living above the barbershop he was introduced into the world of hair as a young boy sweeping the floor and cutting hair from the age of ten. Today, Gianni is quite simply one of the very best haircutters there is. One of the things that make Gianni stand out is that not only is he good with his hands, he also has a great mind and is able to articulate and inspire hairdressers everywhere with his humility, enthusiasm and passion for the craft. In this episode we discuss: The importance of nurturing creativity The number 1 ingredient when it comes to suitability. Why it's important to have pride in being a hairdresser And lots more! In this Episode: [01:45] An introduction to today’s guest: Gianni Scumaci. [04:43] How Gianni defines creativity and suitability. [07:25] Gianni explains why aesthetic suitability is of little interest

A career in hairdressing means different things to different people. Although most of us start in the same place meaning after beauty school or an apprenticeship the next step is to be a stylist in a salon.    For some people, they will then spend their entire career building up a loyal clientele and the great relationships and friendships that come with it. But for others, they move into different parts of the industry, whether it’s as an editorial stylist, or an educator or perhaps into the product side of the business… there are many opportunities should you wish to pursue them.    My guest on today's Podcast is Mike Karg and although Mike started out on a traditional path he has worked in multiple roles from salon based stylist to platform artist to photographic work to being an educator and product developer.     In today’s podcast we will discuss: The options that a hairdressing career gives you if you want to pursue them  Why working in more than one salon has become a thing What it takes to develop y

There is a well-trodden path of hairdressers who want to transition into being photographers, some of them succeed better than others, and you can see the obvious connection of wanting to capture the images on film and wanting to be in control of that.  My guest on today's Podcast is Desmond Murray, who is not only an award-winning hairdresser but also a great photographer in his own right. In this episode we discuss: Making the transition from hair into photography What photography has taught him about being a better hairstylist The importance of hairdressing awards… and The role that social media plays  And lots more!   For full show notes, links and resources mentioned visit: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/119/   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 podcast. I also love to hear what’s been helpful and

I was recently listening to a discussion about climate change and one of the presenters said something along the lines of “It is not possible to achieve the targets we have set in the time frame available.”  And the other presenter said, “In 10 to 20 years’ time we will have technology and solutions that haven’t even been imagined today. And that is why these targets are realistic”.  Now if you are wondering what that has to do with today’s podcast, the answer is absolutely nothing. Except that in 10-20 years’ time there will be jobs and career paths in our industry that haven’t even been imagined today.  If you don’t believe me, just think of the jobs such as social media managers or influencers or App designers or SEO specialists. They are all jobs that have been invented in the last 20 years and are now in high demand.  And that is the connection with my guests today.  They are Annie Lerwill and Erin Short from ‘The Hair Nerds’ and they describe their business as ‘an alternative media agency’ that speciali

I had successful salons for 14 years, and like every business, they had their ups and downs …but definitely far more good times than bad.  The reality is that most businesses don’t last 14 years, so when you meet the owners of businesses that have survived and continue to grow and constantly reinvent for 56 years you know that there are some valuable lessons for the rest of us.    My guests on today's Podcast are Jason and Joshua Miller whose parents, Janet and Charlie Miller, started the Charlie Miller salons in Edinburgh, Scotland 56 years ago.  And those salons continue to flourish and reinvent to this day. In this episode we discuss: The key to business longevity Creating loyalty Embracing change The importance of giving back And lots more...   In this Episode: [02:35] Jason and Joshua share what each of their salon industry journey’s have looked like, and what their current roles entail.  [10:16] Two key ingredients that have kept the Charlie Miller salons going strong for 56 years.  [12:31] What drew