Grow My Salon Business Podcast
Antony Whitaker 359 episodes Nov 10, 2026
A podcast focused on the business side of the hairdressing industry, hosted by Antony Whitaker. It explores the challenges and rewards of being a salon owner, from the highs and 'a ha' moments to the frustrations and loneliness that can come with running a business. Whitaker talks with thought leaders about insightful, provocative, and inspiring ideas on adapting, learning, and growing. The aim is to keep salon owners informed, challenged, and inspired so they can continually grow their business.
Episodes
373 How to Get Local Clients Booking From Your Salon’s Instagram with Hayley Mears
For many salon owners, Instagram is an important part of their marketing strategy; the problem is that it can feel like a second full-time job, with hours of effort going into content that earns likes but rarely fills the appointment book. This week I’m joined by Hayley Mears, Instagram and Canva expert, who helps salons with this every day. We talk about how to get your Instagram bringin
372 Why All Business Development Starts With Personal Development with Debra Neill Baker
All business development starts with personal development, which is why salon leadership development has to start with you. Debra Neill Baker, CEO of Neill Corporation and co-founder of Serious Business, has lived by that idea for 50 years in the industry. As salon owners, we pour our energy into the team, numbers and clients, and our own growth gets pushed to the bottom of the list. So w
371 Seven Steps to Improve New Client Retention in Your Salon
Salon client retention is one of the most overlooked numbers in your business, and most salon owners have no idea how many first-time clients they’re losing. You spend money on promotions and social media to get new people through the door, then never see them again.In this episode, I talk about how to measure retention properly, why the numbers can vary so much between stylists, and what
370 Five Ways to Make the Most of the Festive Season in Your Salon
The festive season is one of the biggest spending periods of the year, yet most salon owners go into it without a real marketing plan. Meanwhile, every retailer, restaurant and online business is chasing the same share of your clients’ festive spending, and they planned their campaigns months ago. So the question every salon owner should be asking is: what’s my plan for the rest of this y
369 The Power of Showing Up: Lessons From 230 Salons with Denis McFadden
When one salon already feels like it's running you, scaling a salon business to 230 locations sounds impossible. I'm joined by returning guest Denis McFadden, founder of Just Cuts. Denis has just released his book, The Power of Showing Up, and we talk about the personal story behind it and the thinking that built the brand. And I ask the question every salon owner asks: how do I build a b
368 Is the Salon Industry Really All Doom and Gloom?
Spend any time in hairdressing groups on social media, and you could believe a successful salon business is almost impossible today. Rising costs, staffing problems and shrinking margins are real. But some of the salons I work with tell a very different story. These are profitable businesses with great teams, run by owners who have a life outside the salon. We just don't hear enough about
367 Are Business Partnerships a Good Idea for Salon Owners?
A salon business partnership usually starts with two hairdressers, a strong friendship and a handshake. It feels like a great way to share the load. Yet most of these partnerships fall apart within a few years, often with money lost and friendships damaged. The key to a successful partnership is all about how you set it up at the beginning. So here's a question worth asking: if you're thi
366 How to Scale a Salon Business From One Store to One Hundred with Sudheer Koneru
Why do some salon and beauty businesses grow beyond a single location while others struggle to scale? In this episode, I’m joined once again by Sudheer Koneru, co-founder of Zenoti, to discuss his new book, Growth Diaries: How the Best Beauty and Wellness Brands Scale from One Store to One Hundred Plus.Drawing on conversations with 42 successful founders across the salon, spa, med spa and
365 Five Things Every Growing Salon Needs in Place
Growth sounds like the obvious goal for any salon owner, but chasing a bigger business without a plan can break the one you've already built. I've seen owners open a second location only to end up with two salons that struggle instead of one that thrives. So what would your business actually need to look like if it grew the way you truly want?In this episode, I share the five things I bel
364 What Does Your Business Need From You?
Every salon owner learns eventually that to manage a salon business, you first have to manage yourself. It's easy to focus on the team, the standards and the accountability conversations you'd rather avoid. But before any of that works, you need to look honestly at your own time, habits and follow-through.This week I look at why being busy and managing well are two different things, why g
363 Why the Most Successful Salons Keep it Simple
Most salon owners assume their business feels complicated because it needs to be. But after years inside salons at every level of the market, I've noticed the opposite. The businesses that thrive are simple, while the ones that struggle are usually a collection of good ideas picked up along the way that were never designed to work together. So ask yourself: does your business actually fun
362 The New Rules of Salon Marketing in the Age of AI with Phil Evans
When it comes to marketing, many salon owners pour their time into Instagram, hoping it brings new clients through the door.My returning guest Phil Evans, founder of Salon Guru, has analysed over four and a half million visits to salon websites, and the results show that social media is not driving potential clients to your website in the numbers that you might expect.So here's a question
361 Stop Saying "We're Like a Family Here"
Treating your team like family feels warm and caring, but it might be working against your leadership and having a negative impact on the business.A family relationship and a business relationship serve two very different purposes, and in a business, when the boundaries are blurred, accountability gets harder, standards slip, and you start making exceptions you'd never normally allow. In
360 The Numbers Don't Lie
One of the bigger challenges the salon industry has always faced is getting reliable data. Fortunately, that is changing for the better, and today I break down a new industry benchmark report that has been put together by leading salon management software brand Zenoti.You'll hear why client retention, not marketing, is driving industry growth, what's really behind falling new client numbe
359 Two Salons, One Family, 25 Staff with Billy Ryan and Elle Foreman
Billy Ryan and Elle Foreman own the Tribe Salons group in London and Kent. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to build a successful family salon business and how they've evolved their employee-based salon culture to meet the expectations of today's workforce.You'll hear how they've built communication and shared values into the way they lead their team, why they moved away from a t
358 Seven Lessons on Education Every Salon Owner Needs to Hear
The way hairdressing education is delivered has changed dramatically since I started in this industry, and it will continue to evolve as new technology emerges. In this episode, I talk about those changes and the impact it has on salons, trainees, standards and productivity. And I ask the question I think salon owners are wondering: “What does the future of education look like and how wil
357 The 4 Disciplines Behind Every Salon Success Story
Most salon owners already know what they should be doing to build salon success. They know they should raise their prices, have the tough conversation with an underperforming team member, or get on top of their numbers, and they still don't do it. After more than 30 years working with salon owners in dozens of countries, I've watched the same four disciplines show up in every real success
356 Brand Promises, Team Agreements and Difficult Behaviour with Nina Kovner
Every salon owner has dealt with a difficult team member who is brilliant one week and impossible the next, leaving the whole team tiptoeing around them. Most owners have no idea whether to show compassion or hold the line, especially when a health issue might be part of the picture. This week, I talk to leadership coach Nina Kovner about handling it without making it personal.Nina breaks
355 Why Your Bank Account Never Matches Your Profit
Most salon owners can rattle off a client's colour formula from three visits ago without blinking, yet ask what their actual profit margin was last year and you'll get a shrug. In this episode, I break down what profit really is, why it gets confused with your own wage, and why accountants often have a dozen different names for the same numbers.You'll learn the real difference between pro
354 Why Hairdressers Don't Earn Enough (and What to Do About It)
The most common stereotype about hairdressers is that they don't earn enough. And in most cases, it's true. But the reason behind it is rarely discussed; you can only earn relative to what you produce. In this episode, I get into why so many stylists stay stuck and what it actually takes to change that.If you're a salon owner who wants to pay your team more, or a stylist who wants to earn
353 A Salon Owner's Guide to Negotiating With Product Manufacturers
When I opened my first salon I was passionate about hairdressing but like most salon owners I knew very little about business, and negotiating with product suppliers was where my naivety was fully exposed. This week I take you behind the scenes of what's really happening when you deal with a manufacturer or distributor.You'll come away understanding how the commercial side works: list pri
352 How Leading Salons Are Using AI Every Day with Martha Lynn Kale
AI in the salon is no longer something you can put off, and ignoring it won't make it disappear. This week I'm joined by Martha Lynn Kale, owner of Mirror Mirror in Austin, Texas, who has spent the past year building AI into how she leads, hires, trains and markets. We get practical about what she uses it for, where it earns its place, and the mistake that trips most owners up.If you're c
351 The 5 Things That Make You a Better Salon Manager and Leader
Most salon owners who struggle with their team have never stopped to ask whether the problem starts with them. Salon management is one of the hardest parts of running a salon business, and most people learn it by trial and error, often at the expense of their team's morale and their own sanity. In this episode, I'm sharing five things that will make you a more effective manager and leader
350 What are the 10 Forces Shaping the Salon Industry Right Now?
The salon industry is constantly changing. It always has and it always will. Some of the changes you’ll like and others you won’t. Either way, understanding what drives change allows you to anticipate the future and prepare for the opportunities that come with change. In this episode, I walk through 10 drivers of change that are reshaping how salons operate, who clients are becoming, and
349 How AI Is Changing the Front Desk with Universe Walker
AI has already and will continue to impact the salon industry. One area that is getting a lot of attention is the front desk and the role of AI in streamlining the client booking process, capturing missed calls and directly having a positive impact on salon revenue. My guest today is Universe Walker, a hairdresser, salon owner, and the founder of Beauty Desk AI, whose AI receptionist Eve
348 How to Use AI in Your Salon Without Losing the Human Touch with Frank Westerbeke
AI in the salon industry is moving fast, and most salon owners genuinely don't know where to start. My guest this week is Frank Westerbeke, co-owner of Gadabout and VerVe, a multi-generational salon group with six locations and nearly 300 staff in Tucson, Arizona. Frank's been using AI across his business for years, not just for Instagram captions, but for people management, financial ana
347 There Is No Perfect Salon Pay System (And That's the Problem)
How you pay your salon team is one of the most confusing decisions you'll make as a salon owner. Salon owners often compare pay structures with other salons, copying what seems to be working elsewhere.But the real problem isn't which pay system you're using. It's that most salon owners have never stopped to ask what a good pay system actually needs to do.In this episode, I cut through the
346 The 5 Numbers Every Salon Owner Needs to Know
Most salon owners don't have a money problem, they have a ‘lack of understanding’ problem. You can be fully booked, your team can be flat out, and yet you can still be running at a loss without realising it. That's what happens when you're managing your business without awareness of a few key numbers. On today's podcast, I'm walking you through the five numbers that, in my experience, det
345 Where Does All the Money Go? The 10-Part Financial Framework for Salon Owners
Hopefully your salon is busy, clients are coming through the door, and money is being taken at the till every day, so if that's the case, then why is salon financial management still such a struggle? This is the reality for a lot of salon owners: the numbers just don't add up, and the stress that comes with that is real. In this episode, I walk you through a 10-part framework for followin
344 Does Your Salon Have a Pricing Problem or a Productivity Problem?
Salon profitability is under more pressure than it has been in years, and the hard reality is that being busy isn't the same as being profitable. In this episode, I get into the financial fundamentals that too many salon owners avoid, because understanding your numbers is the only way to get in front of the problem before it becomes a crisis.By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly
343 The Mindset Behind Long-Term Salon Success with Scott Buchanan
Running a successful salon for nearly 40 years in one of the most competitive cities on the planet takes more than talent. It takes the willingness to keep evolving your model, your mindset, and even the words you use with your team. My guest today, Scott Buchanan of the Manhattan-based Scott J Salons, has done exactly that. With around 90 employees across two locations, Scott's story is
342 The 5-Step Framework for Training a Salon Manager
Training a salon manager is one of the things salon owners often get wrong, and most don't realise it until they've already hired the wrong person, put them on payroll, but still end up doing everything themselves. In this episode, I share a five-step framework for getting it right, from figuring out whether your business can actually support a manager right now, to the mindset shift that
341 Are Apprenticeships Still Financially Viable for Salon Owners?
The economics of running a salon have changed, and if your approach to training assistants hasn't changed with it, your margins are going to keep shrinking. In this episode, I answer the questions salon owners are actually grappling with right now: Is it still worth taking on apprentices, how quickly should they be contributing, and what does it look like when a salon actually gets traini
340 The Simple Three-Part Formula Every Million Dollar Salon Is Built On
Most salon owners believe their biggest problem is not getting enough new clients, but what if that’s not true? In this episode, I break down why focusing on client attraction alone is keeping you stuck, and what’s really stopping your salon from growing consistently.I share the simple (but often overlooked) three-part marketing formula that every high-performing salon is built on. The re
339 The Difference Between Average Salons and World-Class Ones
The difference between a good salon and a world-class one isn’t talent. It’s standards, and the leadership to hold them.In this episode, I take inspiration from the Netflix series Being Gordon Ramsay and unpack what it really takes to build a world-class business, whether that’s a restaurant or a salon. Because when you strip it back, the fundamentals are the same. It’s not about talent a
338 Instagram Marketing for Salons: What’s Changed in 2026 with Hayley Mears
Instagram marketing for salons is constantly evolving, and if you're relying on strategies from even a year ago, there are changes you need to know about. In this episode, I’m joined once again by Instagram specialist Hayley Mears to unpack what’s working on Instagram right now and what salon owners need to be doing differently in 2026.We dive into the simple three-step structure that eve
337 Why Predictable Growth Requires Predictable Marketing
Most salon owners think they have a marketing problem. In reality, what they usually have is a clarity problem, a positioning problem, and a consistency problem. And until those things are fixed, no amount of posting, boosting, or discounting is going to change the outcome.In this episode, I break down what marketing actually is, not the social media version, not the trend-driven version,
336 How AI Is Changing Google Search with Phil Evans
AI is changing Google search faster than most salon owners realise, and whether you like it or not, it’s going to impact your business. In this episode, I'm joined by returning guest Phil Evans from Salon Guru, and we're diving into what AI is doing to Google search and what that means for your salon business.We break down how Google's AI is already showing up in your potential clients' s
335 Leadership Starts With Training: Why Developing Your Team Is Non-Negotiable
There are many responsibilities that come with being a salon owner, and if we're honest, most of us give very little thought to them before we open our doors. One of the biggest blind spots is the ongoing training and development of our teams. Too many salon owners assume their people will arrive fully formed and ready to perform. But it just doesn't work like that.In this episode, I'm as
334 Why Modern Hair Education Must Meet Hairdressers Where They Are with Gerard Scarpaci
In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gerard Scarpaci, co-founder of Hairbrained and host of the Hairbrained Conversations podcast. We talk about the big shifts happening in hairdressing right now, how the next generation learns differently, and why the old business models have been turned on their head. Gerard shares what excites him most about the industry today, but he’s also refreshingly
333 Home Haircare Recommendations: Why Stylists Still Avoid It and What Needs to Change
Nearly four years ago, I recorded an episode about why hairdressers should be recommending professional retail. And yet, here we are, still having the same conversation. The fundamentals haven’t changed, but the world we’re operating in absolutely has. Inflation, online shopping, influencers, and changing client behaviour… all of it has added new layers to old objections.In this episode,
332 How One Salon Owner Turned Her Business Around
In this final episode of our three-part series on the five pillars of salon success, I take a different approach by talking you through the journey of Sarah, a real salon owner who in many ways reflects the journey that salon owners everywhere go through. Sarah’s a very good hairdresser, and she definitely doesn’t have a work ethic problem, but despite working harder than ever, doing ev
331 Why Your Salon Is Busy But Not Profitable
In this episode, I’m diving deep into the Money Pillar of salon success, because after more than 20+ years of coaching salon owners all over the world, I know this to be true: you can have a full appointment book, a talented team, and great marketing, and still be broke. Being busy does not automatically mean you’re profitable, and for a lot of salon owners, that realisation is both confu
330 The #1 Mistake That Keeps Salon Owners Stuck (It's Not What You Think)
After 20+ years of coaching salon owners, I can spot the pattern in under 5 minutes. Talented stylist opens dream salon, becomes overwhelmed operator, wonders what went wrong. If you're working harder than ever but not getting ahead, if you're the busiest person in your salon but still stressed about money, you're not alone.In today’s episode, I'm revealing the #1 mistake that keeps talen
329 New Year, New Opportunity: Taking Control of Your Salon Business
A new year always brings with it a sense of possibility. It’s that “that was then, this is now” moment where you get to draw a line in the sand and decide what happens next. But let’s be honest, for many salon owners right now, business feels tougher than ever. Clients are cautious, bookings feel unpredictable, and the world around us feels uncertain.In this episode, I talk about the real
328 Is Self-Employment Really the Answer for Hairdressers?
Not every hairdresser wants to be self-employed, and in this episode, I explain why that’s not only okay, but why it creates a real opportunity for salon owners to rethink what an employee-employer-based business can and should look like today. Too often, self-employment is sold as the only path to freedom, flexibility, and financial success, without anyone stopping to talk honestly about
327 The Relationships and Life Lessons that Begin Behind the Chair
This short episode is a reflection on the real relationships we form with the people who sit in our chairs. I’ve often said that clients aren’t your friends, they’re your clients. And professionally, that boundary matters. But every now and then, those lines blur in ways that are deeply human.I share a couple of stories from my time behind the chair that have stayed with me for decades. O
326 A Year in Review: Data, AI, and the Direction of the Hairdressing Industry with Gordon Miller
At the end of every year, I like to take a step back and look at what’s really happening in our industry. Not just at a surface level, but underneath it all. In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Gordon Miller for one of our now-regular “state of the nation” conversations, where we dig into the biggest shifts shaping the hairdressing industry right now.We talk about the growing im
325 Branding, AI & The New Rules of Instagram with Hayley Mears
In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley Mears, former hairdresser, branding expert, and the driving force behind Six Underground Media. Hayley is also one of the guest educators inside our marketing course, and she brings a level of insight into social media, branding, and digital trends that most salon owners simply don’t have access to.We dive deep into what salon owners should expect fro
324 Why People Problems Are Really Leadership Problems
In this week’s episode, I’m tackling the flip side of a happy, high-performing team, what to do when things are not going smoothly. Because after the recent episode titled “The Beautiful Chaos of Building a Team,” I received a flood of emails from salon owners struggling with people issues.So today, I’m breaking down the key elements that set your team up to succeed, and what to do when t
323 Leadership, Legacy & the Future of Juut with Coco Wagner
In this week’s episode, I sit down with someone who’s grown up alongside one of the most respected salon organisations in the United States.Today's guest is Coco Wagner, daughter of David and Charlie Wagner owners of the Juut Salon Spa’s. Coco brings a fascinating blend of global experience, fresh perspective, and deep respect for the culture her family has built over 40 years. What I lov
322 The Beautiful Chaos of Building a Team
I've been thinking a lot about what really makes a great salon, and it's not always what you might think. Sure, brilliant technical skills matter, but what really sets exceptional salons apart is the energy, the culture, and the people.A coaching client told me recently about the atmosphere in her salon, no drama, no bitchiness, just fun, laughter, and genuine support. Her clients connect
321 Courage, Culture, and Conscious Living with Rita Marcon
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Rita Marcon, whose story perfectly captures the courage it takes to follow your intuition and reinvent yourself. Rita is a former hairdresser who climbed the corporate ladder to become the Australian General Manager for one of the biggest haircare brands before taking a leap of faith to start her own business, I Am Conscious Living.Rita’s journey is f
320 The Culture-Building Potential of a Staff Christmas Party
As the end of the year approaches, it's tempting to push for maximum productivity, rush through holiday celebrations, and then collapse in a heap on Christmas Eve and call it done.But I want to challenge that. In this week’s episode, I’m talking about the power of celebration, why your team party isn’t just a party, but a culture-building strategy disguised as fun.I share stories from my
319 No One’s Coming to Save You. The Power of Self-Ownership with Blake Dufault
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Blake Dufault, whose story is as raw as it is inspiring. From a turbulent childhood filled with chaos and heartbreak to finding purpose through hairdressing, Blake’s journey is one of relentless growth and unshakable resilience. His book I Am_____ captures that journey beautifully, reminding us that our past doesn’t define us, our choices do.We talk a
318 How to Fix the Leaks in Your Salon Marketing
This is part three, the final episode, in my three-part salon marketing series, and today it’s all about solutions.If you’ve listened to the first two episodes, you’ll know that the biggest problem in most salons isn’t attracting new clients, it’s keeping them. So in this episode, I’ll show you how to identify where your business is leaking clients, how to use your data to pinpoint what (
317 Turning New Clients into Regulars: The Missing Link in Your Marketing
This is part two of my three-part series on salon marketing, and today we're diving into why most salons are reasonably good at attracting new clients but not nearly so good at keeping them. If you listened to last week's episode, you'll know that 60% of new clients never return for a second visit, and only one in ten make it to six visits. Today, I'm explaining exactly why that happens a
316 What Most Salon Owners Get Wrong About Marketing
In this episode, I’m kicking off a brand-new three-part series on one of my favourite topics - marketing. When I had salons, marketing was something I loved, and it even won us a few awards. But here’s the thing: most salon owners completely misunderstand what marketing actually is.So today, we’re starting at the beginning, with the real definition of marketing. I’ll walk you through what
315 Education, Leadership, and Legacy in the Salon Industry with Kristin Firrell
In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kristin Firrell, who after more than 40 years in the professional beauty industry, is stepping into the next chapter of her life. Kristin’s story is all about connection, trust, and education. From the very beginning, when Kristin realised that in hairdressing she had found her people, to stepping into leadership roles at John Paul Mitchell Systems,
314 When Is the Right Time to Expand? Luke Reynolds on Vision, Risk, and Reward
In this episode, I’m joined once again by salon owner Luke Reynolds, who’s just taken a massive step that so many owners dream about, moving from a 50-square-metre boutique salon into a stunning, purpose-built space. Luke and I talk through the entire journey: the decision to expand, the design process, managing a ballooning budget, and the lessons learned along the way.If you’ve ever won
313 Feedback, Surveys, and the Secret to Salon Growth
This week, I’m diving into what is often an overlooked growth strategy for salons, market research. The starting point for effective market research is to remember that “you are not your client.” The decisions you make about pricing, services, and the salon experience shouldn’t always be based on what you would want.In this episode, I share simple, practical ways to gather real insight fr
312 Curiosity, Growth, and the Making of a Great Educator with Chris Baran
In this week’s episode, I speak with Chris Baran. Chris has worn just about every hat in our profession: stylist, salon owner, podcaster, and global ambassador, but above all, he is a teacher. For nearly 60 years, he’s been evolving, reinventing, and staying at the forefront of education.We talk about what it really takes to be an educator, how education has changed in the wake of the pan
311 What lessons can you learn from a failing salon?
In this week’s episode, I share the true story of a local salon that went from being fully booked and thriving to empty and struggling, all in less than two years. It’s a perfect example of how quickly things can unravel when leadership, standards, and systems disappear.We’ll break down what happened, what went wrong, and the ten key lessons that every salon owner can take away from this
310 Hustle, Grit, and Growth: Building a Salon Career in a New Country with Mikki Auld
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Australian salon owner and stylist, Mikki Auld. Earlier this year, Mikki left her Brisbane salon in the hands of her team and took a huge leap, moving to Los Angeles to start over from scratch.Within no time at all, she was fully booked, not because of luck, but because of hustle, grit, and sheer determination.We talk about why she made the move, how
309 Want Your Team to Earn More (and Stay Longer)? Start Here
I'm calling BS on the idea that hairdressing doesn't pay well. The truth? There are plenty of hairdressers earning great money - some are even in the top 5-10% of all income earners. The difference isn't about age, experience, or even how good they are doing hair. It's about productivity.In this episode, I'm addressing one of the biggest frustrations I hear from salon owners: why aren't m
308 Coaching: Clarity, Confidence and a More Profitable Business
I’ve never done an episode solely about coaching before, but as more salon owners than ever are either having a coach or wanting to become a coach, I think it’s about time. Coaching has been one of the biggest game-changers in my own career and in the lives of hundreds of salon owners I’ve worked with across more than 14 countries. Yet for many, it’s still a bit of a mystery.In this episo
307 ADHD behind the chair: What every salon owner needs to know with Skye Waterson
Have you noticed that every second hairdresser you talk to these days seems to have been diagnosed with ADHD? That’s why this week I’ve invited Skye Waterson, a former academic turned ADHD coach and founder of ‘Unconventional Organisation’ onto the podcast to give us a proper crash course in understanding ADHD. Skye shares actionable tips that salon owners and stylists can implement immed
306 Building a Salon Culture That Creates High Earners
This week, I’m picking up where Episode 304 left off, diving deeper into the practical strategies that successful salon owners use to build strong teams, great cultures, and profitable businesses.If you've ever asked yourself, "Why can't I find good people?" or "Why won't my team step up?" this episode is for you. I'm walking you through the exact traits, systems, and standards that top-
305 Behind the Numbers: What Salon Data Is Telling Us with Sam Kendall
In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Sam Kendall, CEO of SalonIQ, one of the UK’s leading salon software companies. I always enjoy conversations with tech providers because they see real data, and that means real insights into what’s happening inside salons across the industry. Sam and I talk about AI, automation, online booking, the shift towards self-employment, and the surprising numb
304 The Self-Perpetuating Salon Leadership Crisis
In this episode, I’m diving into a conversation that might annoy some people, but it’s a conversation that needs to be had. We’ve got a leadership crisis in our industry. Not because people don’t care, but because too many salon owners don’t realise what they signed up for when they opened their doors. Leadership isn’t optional. It’s the job.This episode is for every salon owner who wants
303 What 30+ Years in Salons Taught Me About People, Pay, and Purpose with Keri Davis-Duffy
In this episode, I sit down with long-time industry leader Keri Davis-Duffy, whose career as a salon owner and educator spans more than three decades. Keri shares the wisdom earned through real-life experience, leading employee-based salons in a state that turned compensation models on their head, navigating leadership challenges, building culture, and bouncing back from the inevitable se
302 Are you The Boss, The Manager or The Leader of Your Salon?
In today’s episode, I want to get real about something that many salon owners don’t like to hear… your team problems might not be about your team. They might actually be about you and your style of leadership.We talk about the difference between being “the boss” and being a true leader. Because if you want loyalty, innovation, trust, and long-term commitment from your people, barking orde
301 Why Salon Culture Starts with Personal Development with Luke Reynolds
In this episode, I sit down with Australian salon owner Luke Reynolds to talk about one of the most powerful drivers of salon success, which he believes is investing in the personal development of your people.Luke shares how he's integrated monthly life coaching sessions, meditation practices, and even equine therapy into his team culture. It’s a fascinating conversation about building co
300 The 10 Financial Principles Every Salon Owner Needs to Know
Welcome to episode 300! It’s a milestone I’m incredibly proud of, and I want to thank you for being part of the journey. Whether you’re listening while walking the dog, doing the school run, or lifting weights at the gym, I’m grateful to have you here.In this episode, I’m sharing the 10 timeless principles of salon money management. These aren’t fluffy ideas; they’re hard-won lessons from
299 How Unite's Runway Ready Course Gets Salon Stylists to Fashion Week with Narad Kutowaroo
In this episode, I’m joined by Narad Kutowaroo, Creative Director for Unite Haircare in the UK, to talk all things Fashion Week and specifically, the Runway Ready bootcamp that gives hairdressers the opportunity to work backstage.Narad shares how Runway Ready gives salon stylists real-world experience at London Fashion Week and beyond, and more importantly, how the skills learnt translate
298 Cash Flow Crisis? Here’s What to Do (And Not Do)
In this episode, I’m sharing a real-life story from one of the salon owners in my online money course. She found herself heading into a cash flow crisis, not because she was doing something wrong, but because life happened. Staff resignations, injuries, and pre-booked leave collided to create a perfect storm of reduced income. The good news? She saw it coming. And that’s the power of plan
297 Mastering Google for Salons with Phil Evans
In this episode, I’m joined by Phil Evans, the founder of Salon Guru, who specialises in websites and digital marketing for salons. It's been five years since Phil was last on the podcast, and during that time, the digital landscape has evolved significantly, especially when it comes to how Google drives traffic to your salon.We dive deep into understanding Google Search, Google Profiles
296 A Level Playing Field: The Fight for Fair Taxation in UK Hairdressing with Toby Dicker
I know that the bulk of our listeners are not in the UK, but the changes happening to the UK hairdressing industry have been getting a lot of attention on social media, and as a result, I’ve had a lot of questions from hairdressers elsewhere.So, in this week's episode, I talk with Toby Dicker, co-founder of the Salon Employers Association, to discuss the challenges facing the UK salon ind
295 What is The Fastest Way to Grow Your Salon?
You don't grow a business just by getting more clients. You grow by keeping the ones you’ve already got. But many salon owners are so focused on acquiring new clients that they completely miss that the real problem is poor client retention.In this episode, I share the numbers you need to be watching, the three simple shifts that make all the difference, and why the fastest path to growth
294 Numbers Don’t Lie: How Data Can Make You a Better Salon Owner with Tom Bentley-Taylor
Some people love data! But let's be honest and say that for most hairdressers, studying the numbers in their business is not their favourite pastime. My Guest today is a returning Guest, Tom Bentley-Taylor, who, amongst other things, originally got the Salon Software brand Short Cuts established in the UK and is currently Managing Director at Vish in the UK. Tom is unashamedly a numbers
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