Bring this one back as it’s probably my most talked about and shared episode to date! Note: the title is a play off a podcast titled “F**K Retail” that left me angst-filled. In response, this is my "rant" on the larger idea of 'fake beauty news' - something that feels like a mirror image of disinformation in the larger world (that most on all sides of politics agree exists). Rebuttal of an anti in-salon retail argument is my primary focus - as most of those arguments are based on reasons that do...
May 03, 2023•18 min
A solo riff to reinforce my take on the never-ending challenge facing our larger industry: the lack of early career-focused education to help new professionals make it through the early years in the salon. Perhaps most importantly, everyone should realize that this larger challenge impacts us all in varied and significant ways. Today's topic is very much connected to and inspired by episodes #15 (Image and the Ongoing Labor Shortage), #21 (The Truth About Pro Compensation), and #26 (Our Shared R...
Apr 30, 2023•16 min
This is part 2 of my popular 4-part series on the ongoing evolution of specific segments of the pro salon industry. This episode shares observations on the current state of digital education - and ask what i hope are thought-provoking questions related to the future of the category. Past episodes in the series offer up my observations around Media, Events, Distribution and Brands. For more content, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter (and also get...
Apr 26, 2023•15 min
After receiving numerous requests to delve deeper into the state of social media (following Episode 25), today's discussion will be an extemporaneous riff on just that. Many of us have been active on social media for well over 15 years now, and it's clear that we're entering a new era in how we approach the various platforms. It's important today to consider changes in how we measure the results of our efforts, including time and money spent. Additionally, we need to connect the dots between soc...
Apr 23, 2023•19 min
One of our most downloaded episodes to date is #19, Part 4/5 of a 5-part series on the ongoing evolution of the pro salon industry. In this episode, I share observations on both the history (the abridged version for some context) and the current state of our distributor (including stores) and pro-brand segments; and ask what I hope are thought-provoking questions related to the future of each. Past episodes in this Future View series (#'s 6, 8 & 10) offer my take on the state of the media, e...
Apr 19, 2023•22 min
Iconic educator and platform artist Tippi Shorter Rank left day-to-day life in the salon over 15 years ago - but recently found herself thinking "something was missing" from her professional life. Not long after, the @mizani Global Artistic Director got to work creating the Hair Love Salon KC (in Kansas City, Missouri). In the process, the one-time NYC-based salon owner re-thought traditional business models in a profound way. Centered around the big idea of mentoring, Tippi has leaned into the ...
Apr 16, 2023•20 min
Our 2nd most listened-to episode is back. Considered one of the most iconic names in the pro beauty space, @TabathaCoffey has long been pushing the salon industry to be the very best version of ourselves. The self-described "Truth Teller, Dream Chaser, And Coach For Women Just Like You" has inspired countless professionals to reach for their dream careers and businesses. In this episode, Tabatha shares her take on the power of our "attention and intention" in moving our careers and lives forward...
Apr 12, 2023•18 min
My solo riff on the challenges the industry faces today with workforce retention (across all categories of business models) and how beginning to talk about this topic as a larger industry could have a profound and positive impact on our perceived 'labor shortage'. As independence rises, more are arguably at risk of leaving the industry sooner rather than later - and that has a ripple effect relative to the larger industry that is worthy of all of our attention. For early access to future episode...
Apr 09, 2023•18 min
Social Media is getting increasingly 'wonky' as well as overhyped and misunderstood (yes, I of all people said that!); while the AI conversation is quickly evolving as the currently limited tools do the same. Marketing guru Seth Godin says that "AI is dramatically underhyped and misunderstood. It's always going to be with us. The same as we went from using our phones from 4 minutes a day to 4 hours a day, it's going to change everything." Today I share an update on what thought leaders are proje...
Apr 05, 2023•15 min
The founder of the popular Successful Stylist Academy(and podcast), Ambrosia Carey is also the passionate owner of a successful 7-figure salon, an empowering business coach, well-known educator, brand ambassador, & stylist. Ambrosia and Gordon talk about her philosophy around choosing your clients well – and the power of retail to help lock in client relationships. Another short form yet deep conversation! For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign ...
Apr 02, 2023•18 min
This is an update following up on 5 past episodes, offering some added commentary and additional context on several of our many "hot topics" presented to date. Perhaps a series of mini-rants, the impetus for the episode is a combination of listener comments and recent experiences across several industry categories. For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for the free weekly e-newsletter. Follow Gordon on Instagram: @gordnm...
Mar 29, 2023•18 min
Antony and I have a faced-paced talk on money, business interruption vs the newer idea of disruption, and a reality check on financial expectations. Antony also shares his advice on how to best navigate what it takes to have a solid financial foundation from which to grow your business and/or career in a post-pandemic world. As always, this was a great conversation with @growmysalonbusiness - one of the industry’s leading thought leaders in business. For early access to future episodes, please v...
Mar 26, 2023•16 min
Few topics 'trigger' the collective industry more than public conversations (i.e. posts) about the government's suggestion that the mean annual income of hairdressers in the USA is $28,000+. We've been having versions of this conversation for at least 30 years - and yet have done little real work to set the record straight (and that's our 'bad'!). Perhaps the biggest challenge: new professionals have little in terms of actual data (and related practices) to serve as guideposts to grow (and plan)...
Mar 22, 2023•24 min
John Mosley is an iconic barber, educator/artist, Paul Mitchell Artistic Director, SalonCentric #ItTakesaPro team member, Andis Global Educator, CEO of the Popular Nobody brand, & NAHA's 2022 Educator of the Year. An entrepreneur at his core, John shares insights into the importance (and power) of a mindset focused on the business of doing hair (skin or nails). As John says in this episode "We are more than what our licenses are!" For early access to future episodes, please visit www.socialb...
Mar 19, 2023•20 min
Welcome to part 4/5 of a 5-part series on the ongoing evolution of specific segments of the pro salon industry. This week, I share observations on both the history (the abridged version for some context) and current state of both segments; and ask what I hope are thought-provoking questions related to the future of each. Past episodes in the series (#'s 6, 8 & 10) offer my take on the state of the media, events & online learning categories- and where each might be headed in the future. F...
Mar 15, 2023•22 min
Jack Howard and Gordon share their perspectives on being outwardly gay men in the professional beauty industry - in the past, the present, and their hopes for the future. A renowned colorist, educator, @LorealPro brand ambassador, and out and proud gay man, Jack shares his unique take on the topic as well as an update as to his big year ahead.
Mar 12, 2023•16 min
Adding iconic global business coach Antony Whitaker, (@growmysalonbusiness) to my typically solo midweek episode - to catch up on the quickly evolving global conversation about the pros, cons, and realities of artificial intelligence -and what it may (or may not) mean for the professional salon industry. As the controversy settles down around this not-so-new larger form of tech, it’s time (and ‘fun’) to further imagine its possible impact on salons, pros, and our clients.
Mar 08, 2023•35 min
Twenty fast-paced minutes with fellow podcasters Corey Gray and Tony Stuart on what it takes to succeed - as hairdressers, salon owners, or podcasters. The "Your Day Off Podcast" hosts share the story behind their successful podcast plus key lessons learned during their 30-year careers behind the chair -including the need to "stick with it" and have perseverance to the importance of showing up and finding support and mentorship. Listen to the end to get details about their 3rd annual Presley Poe...
Mar 05, 2023•21 min
A quick take on the never-ending conversation about what many within the industry perceive as the negative image of professionals (in the mind of the larger public); as well as what Gordon views as the misunderstood state of the labor market for salons. To be more specific, he asks the question: do we have a shortage of professionals - or clients? For more, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for our free weekly e-newsletter (as well as for early access to future podcast episodes...
Mar 01, 2023•13 min
Here to talk about pushing past the 'shackles' that hold most of us back in career and life, @DavidThurstonOfficial is known as an innovator. From Butterfly Lofts and Butterfly Circus (changing how many think about both suites and education) to becoming co-founder and now former CEO of Pulp Riot, David has been at the forefront of change for some time. His newest passion, @DangerJonesCreative, will launch its new color line on 4/1/2023 - in over 1200 stores with Cosmo Prof, Armstrong McCall &...
Feb 26, 2023•20 min
Salon owner, educator, brand advocate (SalonCentric & Authentic Beauty Concepts), & renowned curl specialist Evan Joseph @evanjosephcurls shares his perspective on the power of "niches" -and becoming an expert at your craft in a post-pandemic world. Evan has had a unique journey to prominence in the industry and shares some of the big ideas that helped him find his way to success.
Feb 19, 2023•18 min
Note: the title is a play off a podcast titled “F**K Retail” that left me angst-filled. I'm pausing my Future View series to rant on the larger idea of 'fake beauty news' - something that feels like a mirror image of disinformation in the larger world (that most on all sides of politics agree exists). A rebuttal of anti in-salon retail arguments is my primary focus - as most of those arguments are based on reasons that don't align with the larger reality. Although it is estimated that just 20% g...
Feb 15, 2023•18 min
In this episode, Part 2 of a talk that began with Mindset, @TabathaCoffey digs into the meaning and importance of Mindfulness as a follow-up and a bit of a contrast to Part 1. One of the most iconic names in all of pro beauty, Tabatha is a self-described "Truth Teller, Dream Chaser, And Coach For Women Just Like You". For more about Tabatha, follow her on IG or visit www.tabathcoffey.com
Feb 12, 2023•20 min
Welcome to the 3rd in a 5-part series on the ongoing evolution of specific segments of the pro salon industry. In past episodes, I've talked about Media and Online Learning - and today will talk about the pro salon events space. In each episode, I share findings around the specific category coming out of my many pandemic-time talks with a large and diverse number of professionals. In parts 4 and 5, I will be talking about Distribution and Brands respectively - from the point of view of pro feedb...
Feb 08, 2023•19 min
Paula Peralta is a leading coach, educator, independent professional, curly hair specialist, & Paul Mitchell Artistic Director. Throughout the pandemic, we heard a lot of talk about diversifying career interests & income - and Paula is the personification of both. The secret to much of her success? Along with her passion for learning and 'doing the work', Paula is passionate about the big idea of manifestation(defined as 'using our thoughts, feelings, and beliefs to bring something to ou...
Feb 05, 2023•15 min
Welcome to part 2 of my 5-part series of talks on the ongoing evolution of specific segments of the pro salon industry. Over the course of 5 weeks, I'll offer observations around Media, Events, Distribution, Brands- and, in this episode, Online Learning. I share my observations on the current state of digital education - and ask what i hope are thought-provoking questions related to the future of the category. For more, please visit www.socialbeautymakers.com and sign up for our free weekly e-ne...
Feb 01, 2023•15 min
A renowned coach, marketer, and thought leader in social and digital media, Nina Kovner, Passion Squared CEO, gives us a 15-minute master class on the fundamentals related to 'brand' and 'branding' -two words too often used interchangeably... in error. Today perhaps more than ever before, the essence of who we are and we show up (as businesses, professionals, or as humans) matters to those we connect with day-to-day. And just as education matters in your craft, so does it matter in raising the b...
Jan 29, 2023•18 min
Following so many great responses to our 2023 predictions for salons and pros(and the many requests to dig deeper), this is the 1st in a 5 part series of solo talks on specific segments of the pro salon industry: Education, Events, Distribution, Brands, and Media. In this episode, I share some critical history (for context) related to what some would call the radical evolution of the beauty media space in the face of changing technology - plus projections related to where we might be headed. For...
Jan 25, 2023•11 min
A pioneer in the pro beauty education and coaching space, @MichaelCole_Summit has, for over four decades, focused on sharing the big ideas that create and sustain success in salons. A curious and obsessive learner himself, Michael has long studied the best practices and ever-evolving related tactics to creating career satisfaction and longevity. His truly unique style of 'presentation' has inspired generations of pros to new heights.
Jan 22, 2023•16 min
Thanks to highly publicized platforms Open AI and DALL E, AI is seriously rocking our world - and Gordon predicts it will soon be coming to a salon like yours. Artificial intelligence has long been with us - and is one reason an App like TIKTOK has become the sensation it is today. From Google Translate and face recognition to customer service chatbots and SIRI or ALEXA, AI is not so new - but it is suddenly evolving at what feels like warp speed. And although the proverbial robots will not like...
Jan 18, 2023•15 min
