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 confidence, communication, and community in the workplace, and the profound effect this has on the day-to-day ...
Jun 24, 2025•42 min•Ep. 301
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 my own experience and from years of coaching salon owners around the world. If you want to go beyond just “...
Jun 17, 2025•14 min•Ep. 300
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 directly back into faster, better, and more confident salon work. We also discuss why styling is more than ...
Jun 10, 2025•47 min•Ep. 299
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 planning. We walk through the strategies I shared with her, what to do, what to avoid, and most importantly, how ...
Jun 03, 2025•19 min•Ep. 298
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 (formerly Google My Business), and how your salon website plays a vital role in converting online visitors i...
May 27, 2025•53 min•Ep. 297
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 industry. Following the recent march on Parliament by hairdressers protesting the unfair tax system, Toby provi...
May 20, 2025•52 min•Ep. 296
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 is fixing what you’ve already got. If it feels like you’re working hard but never getting ahead, this episod...
May 13, 2025•12 min•Ep. 295
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 guy. He loves data, but more importantly, he loves what data tells you about what's working and what isn’t wor...
May 06, 2025•43 min•Ep. 294
Over the years, I’ve seen many salon businesses, and inevitably, some stand out more than others. Some of them stand out because of the decor, others for the culture, some for their size and some for their success as a business. My guest today is Meagan McCormack, President of Visible Changes salon group in Houston, Texas, which is without doubt an amazing business. Meagan offers incredible insights on leadership, creating a positive culture, and the importance of authentic connection in today's...
Apr 29, 2025•56 min•Ep. 293
This week, I dive into what makes a truly effective salon manager in today's rapidly changing business landscape. I've titled it "The 9 Traits of a Modern Salon Manager", and I've consciously used the word 'Modern' because, like everything else in life and business, what worked yesterday may not work so well today. I explore the nine essential traits that modern salon leaders need to cultivate to build successful teams, create thriving businesses, and adapt to the evolving demands of our industr...
Apr 22, 2025•13 min•Ep. 292
One of the things that I constantly see in industry Facebook groups is how badly employees are paid, whether we’re talking about apprentices, assistants or stylists… And that isn’t country specific, it’s a general trend of people feeling they’re hard done by to the point of being exploited… But what I literally never see are comments about “How bad the productivity levels of the average hairdresser are.” And obviously that's part of the problem, because what you earn is always going to be a refl...
Apr 15, 2025•19 min•Ep. 291
It’s very rare that a new tool for cutting hair enters the professional market. And those that do usually tend to fade away. But occasionally something piques the imagination of both the creatives and the business side of the industry as being creatively different and commercially beneficial. My guest today is Frank Brormann, a German hairdresser, salon owner and inventor of Calligraphy Cut, a new tool and a new way of working with hair. In today’s podcast, we will discuss: What exactly is the c...
Apr 08, 2025•40 min•Ep. 290
In this week’s episode, I share a recent conversation I had with a Chicago-based stylist who is one of those rare people who is continually looking for those 1% improvements that separate good stylists from exceptional ones. I talk about why it’s essential that salon owners invest in training their team beyond just technical skills. Despite all the time, energy, and financial commitment you make as the salon owner, the real success of your business comes together when the stylist is standing beh...
Apr 01, 2025•10 min•Ep. 289
In this episode, I sit down with Sydney-based salon owner and colourist Kirby Lago. I’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow her business from a small salon to a thriving luxury business five times the size. Kirby is a great example of combining the life of being a very active behind the chair hairdresser with being a true business visionary and being prepared to put in the hard work and personal sacrifices that go with it. In today’s podcast, we discuss: ● How the modern salon of today is evo...
Mar 25, 2025•52 min•Ep. 288
One of the most common questions I get asked is: How do I get more clients? But is that really the right question? In this episode, I break down why simply chasing new clients isn’t always the answer and what you should be focusing on instead. We’ll dive into the importance of retention, how to track where your new clients are coming from, and what both stylists and salon owners can do to build a steady, sustainable client base. Whether you’re an owner or a stylist, this episode is packed with p...
Mar 18, 2025•23 min•Ep. 287
Is the future of professional hair colour undergoing a massive reinvention? Today's guests are Leilani Macedo, a seasoned salon owner, and Charles Brown, a tech entrepreneur who is passionate about applying Artificial Intelligence to real-world problems. And together they cofounded CLICS to create a solution for the problems around the current model of professional hair colour. So if you’re interested in tech, entrepreneurship, the salon business and what could be the future of professional hair...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 286
This is a reissue of one of our most popular episodes, where we revisit the keys to building an incredible salon culture with Meagan McCormack. Meagan is, amongst other titles, ‘Chief Operating Officer' of the Visible Changes salon group based in Houston, Texas. I promise that you are going to love this podcast. Visible Changes is an incredibly inspiring salon business that everyone can learn something from. On this episode, we cover the following key areas: 1️⃣ The importance of recognition, ce...
Mar 04, 2025•56 min•Ep. 285
In today's episode, I address a common concern among salon owners: “How do you get newly graduated beauty school students or apprentices to be profitable as quickly as possible?” Getting young team members profitable quickly is the result of a combination of recruitment, training, and leadership. So begin by developing an internal comprehensive training program. Recruit for attitude. And train for skill. Follow that up by giving trainees hands on experience as soon as possible. Weed out the non ...
Feb 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 284
In this episode of the Grow My Salon Business Podcast, I address a common question from salon owners about the distinction between business profit and the owner's wage. We’ll cover why salon owners should receive both a wage and a return on their investment. Drawing an analogy with other investments, I explain the importance of separating these two income streams and discuss various ways that salon profits should be allocated within the business. IN THIS EPISODE: [01:15] Listener question: Why a...
Feb 18, 2025•12 min•Ep. 283
**PLEASE NOTE: There was an issue with the audio on the episode published earlier today. This episode has the corrected audio.** Today's guest is Susan Wos, an American-based former hairdresser turned business broker who specialises in the salon industry and has now worked with clients in America, Canada, Dubai, UK and Australia… Susan brings valuable insights of the inner workings of the salon industry to the brokerage business. In today’s podcast, we discuss: - How much is your salon really wo...
Feb 11, 2025•46 min•Ep. 282
What do you need to know - Or what should you know in order to open your own salon? Whether that's a traditional employee-based salon, a rental salon, or even a salon suite, what is it that you should know so that you give yourself the best chance of success? Because, regardless of the type of business model that appeals to you, I think that it’s important that you set yourself up to succeed before you go into debt or spend your life's savings on going into business unprepared. In today's episod...
Feb 04, 2025•11 min•Ep. 281
I've been in the industry a long time, and as a result I’d like to think that I know a lot about all things to do with hair and hairdressing. But one area I haven’t had a lot of practical hands-on exposure to, is the ‘Hair Extensions’ side of the business. Heavily influenced by social media and reality TV influencers, the ‘hair extensions’ business has become a huge part of the salon industry, and as a revenue producer, it is certainly not something to be ignored. My guest on today's Podcast is ...
Jan 28, 2025•49 min•Ep. 280
For many salon owners, January is a time of the year when they’re getting the team refocused for the year ahead. Because traditionally, January is a time of new beginnings. It's when you let go of the year before, set goals and launch new ideas for the salon. So what’s the best way to get the team re-engaged motivated and excited for the coming year? Because if goals and ideas are to turn into reality, you need to get the team onside and excited about what the future holds. And to get the team ‘...
Jan 21, 2025•11 min•Ep. 279
Being in business isn’t easy in fact, “Being in business is hard, and it’s not about to get easy, so stop waiting for it to!” Having said that, being in business brings with it opportunities for personal and professional growth, a sense of control and opportunities for financial gain as well as the flip side of financial gain, which is obviously ‘financial loss’. And it's the financial side of running a business, which is typically the weak spot for salon owners everywhere, so in today's short p...
Jan 14, 2025•10 min•Ep. 278
In this episode, I’m talking with Mikey Denton, a former salon owner who shares his personal story of transitioning from a hairstylist to a business owner. Mikey discusses the pitfalls of relying on friends for business advice, the importance of getting everything in writing, and the impact of not understanding the financial and legal aspects of business ownership. He candidly reveals his journey through bankruptcy, the lessons learned, and how he is rebuilding his life and career. This episode ...
Jan 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 277
Happy New Year! For most people the last few days of December are a time for winding down as 2024 draws to a close, but it’s also time to reflect, and to reinvigorate as you get ready for a new year ahead! Now, of course ‘every day’ has the potential for a new beginning and you don’t have to wait until the beginning of the year to start afresh because you can start afresh at any time you decide. So as we begin 2025 start by identifying the goals that you want to achieve this year. Then ask yours...
Dec 31, 2024•10 min•Ep. 276
Salons and Christmas go hand in hand with stress and overwhelm. But hey “It’s over”. Now [hopefully] it’s your chance to spend time with family and friends and kick back and recharge and exercise some self care. As we begin to close out the year, this short episode is just my way of saying thank you for being a listener and to wish you and yours a safe and happy Christmas! Travel safe, have fun and most of all be kind to yourself. Happy Christmas! IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Welcome and Christmas G...
Dec 24, 2024•9 min•Ep. 275
The end of the year is always a time to recap and reflect on the year that’s been. You might choose to do that at a personal or salon level, but you can also look at what’s happening on an industry-wide basis and ask yourself what’s worked during the last year. What are the business trends, and where are the opportunities for the year ahead? On today's episode, I am talking with returning guest Gordon Miller, fellow podcast creator, AI enthusiast and someone who not only cares deeply about the i...
Dec 17, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 274
Every salon owner wants their business to grow, but many never break down that desire for growth into a tangible action plan for how to bring that real growth about. Growth begins with first defining ambitious but achievable growth targets, identifying who and where the potential for growth will come from and then ensuring that your team has the resources needed to deliver on the goal. In today’s episode, I talk you through a real example of how one salon owner increased her salon’s annual reven...
Dec 10, 2024•14 min•Ep. 273
Today's guest is London based Hairdresser, barber, fellow podcaster and salon owner Anthony Laban. On this episode, we discuss Anthony’s journey from managing a large store to owning two boutique salons and two barbershops. We dive into the challenges and opportunities these different business models present, including management, recruitment, and marketing strategies. Anthony shares insights on the evolution of barbershops, the advantages of boutique salons, colour-focused offerings, and hair r...
Dec 03, 2024•46 min•Ep. 272
