Have you ever wondered what it really takes to lead a salon, especially when thrown into the deep end? This is a situation I know all too well from my personal experience, and today I'm going to pull back the curtain and tell you about my rough start becoming a salon leader. In this episode, I reveal how I started in salon leadership and why I really needed to work hard due to some of the choices that were made for me as I entered the role. Get ready to hear the messy, challenging, and ultimatel...
Jun 23, 2025•30 min•Ep. 391
As you can probably tell from the title of this episode, things are about to get vulnerable here on the podcast today, as I reveal how very recently I almost gave up and completely shut down Thrivers. In this episode, I want to share the untold story behind my darkest leadership low. From chaotic team expansion and communication breakdowns to the silent sabotage of misaligned visions, it all brought me to the brink of selling my company… Fast forward to today, and I am at a place where I feel li...
Jun 16, 2025•32 min•Ep. 390
We’re coming to you live from XClub Retreat 2025 in Texas, and bringing you something special today. I’m sitting down with Kaytlin Garland, a salon owner chosen for the "hot seat" with Joey Coleman, an incredible author and renowned retention expert who spoke at the retreat. Kaytlin and I dive deep into this experience and the transformative insights she gained from it, and the entire retreat as a whole. In this episode, Kaytlin reveals how she's refining her target market and streamlining her c...
Jun 09, 2025•16 min•Ep. 389
Are you a salon owner feeling stuck in old routines, secretly wishing for a breakthrough? Get ready, because I have a full circle moment to share. Almost a year ago now, I released a podcast episode called the #ThrivingStylist60 Experience for Hairstylists & Salon Owners, which was a challenge to stylists on growth. What I was not expecting was the incredible impact it had on my life personally, and today I'm coming back with a new challenge for salon owners. If you’re a salon owner who has ...
Jun 02, 2025•18 min•Ep. 388
Have you ever wondered why talented hairstylists are packing up and saying goodbye to established salons? Stylists are leaving mediocre salons for amazing ones, as often happens in an economic downturn, and today, I want to share with you the real reasons why stylists are doing this. Forget the myth that it's all about studio suites and making more money. I want to talk about the underlying issues pushing stylists to seek new opportunities. You’re witnessing an evolving salon landscape, and what...
May 26, 2025•21 min•Ep. 387
Ever feel like you're throwing darts at a pricing board blindfolded? We need to have a bigger conversation about all the pricing models that are out there, because some of these pricing models or methods can deeply affect your business, for better or for worse. I dove deep into researching this topic, and today, I pull the curtain back on the 7 pricing models that are actually out there and reveal with you what I’ve learned. My hope in sharing this information is that you can make an educated de...
May 19, 2025•26 min•Ep. 386
Did you just get a surprise tax form you weren't expecting? Are your Venmo, PayPal, or even salon software tips suddenly under the IRS microscope? If you are a stylist or a salon owner that uses Venmo, PayPal, Apple Pay, Cash app, Tippy etc. and this has happened, then this episode is one you need to listen to. Today, I discuss the 1099-K form that a lot of stylists were not expecting when it came time to do their taxes, along with the new laws that have come into effect, which I don't believe w...
May 12, 2025•20 min•Ep. 385
Are you trying to make sense of the buzzword "tariffs" and what they could actually mean for your salon or stylist career? So much about the tariffs are changing in real time, and I’ve only reported on tariffs once in a previous episode of this podcast, but today I dig a little deeper based on information that’s now available at the time of recording. These tariffs are a complex issue, and so much of this is scary because our administrations are still in negotiations. It is my hope that after to...
May 05, 2025•32 min•Ep. 384
Feeling the pressure of a shifting economy with more client cancellations and stretched-out appointments, many stylists have been tempted to lean on discounts and loyalty programs to keep their chair full. Are these the right strategies to be using, or are they just surface-level solutions? Today, I break it all down and work the math to show how using these types of things really play out for your business in the long-run. I hope this episode arms you with the perspective and knowledge to make ...
Apr 28, 2025•20 min•Ep. 383
Have you ever felt the sting of a competitor trying to snatch your hard-earned clients? Are you battling the creeping fear of what I refer to as "Ninja Turtle" stylists who undercut your prices and poach your loyal clientele? Even if it’s something that you may not have experienced yet I want to talk about it, because it is becoming a very real trend in this industry. In this episode, I break it all down and discuss the client poaching trend, what it means and how to handle it. If you’re ready t...
Apr 21, 2025•22 min•Ep. 382
Are you feeling the shift? Is "charging your worth" leaving you and your clients feeling...unfulfilled? What if the key isn't about emotional pricing, but about genuine perceived value? Today we go deep into the "worth it" era, and look at how the rising cost of living and changing client expectations are reshaping the salon industry as we know it. In this episode, I share how people are still spending money, but they're spending money in the places that are worth it to them . So, are you ready ...
Apr 14, 2025•25 min•Ep. 381
Are your Instagram autoresponders secretly sabotaging your business growth? You set them up to save time, but are they actually pushing potential clients away? Today, I reveal my thoughts on if Instagram auto responders are still a good idea for us to use in 2025, and the advice that I give in this episode is going to be for those of you who want to grow your business over the next 18 months to two years. If you're ready to transform your Instagram strategy and stop unknowingly "bleeding out" po...
Apr 07, 2025•22 min•Ep. 380
Are you struggling to fill your chair as a stylist? What if the client surge you once enjoyed has vanished, and the old tactics just aren't cutting it? Today, I want to share some high-level tips and tricks from the hundreds of stylists that attended our 10 New Clients Every Month Bootcamp of March 2025. In this episode, you’ll hear what I have learned from our students who went through our program over the last few weeks, what you need to be doing right now to elevate your business and how to m...
Mar 31, 2025•24 min•Ep. 379
Ever feel like your salon's commission structure is holding your best stylists back? Are you trapped in a cycle of high turnover and struggling to keep top talent engaged? In the last couple of months, there have been a few conversations where I have had to address this topic of overpaying people and we have had to take a deep dive into the compensation model. In this episode, I share what overcompensating in the salon looks like, what the best way to calculate a compensation percentage is and s...
Mar 24, 2025•24 min•Ep. 378
Are your salon prices keeping pace with reality, or are you unknowingly sabotaging your business? Today I dive deep into the crucial topic of winning pricing strategies for 2025, challenging the common myths that are holding stylists back at this time. If you've felt the sting of rising costs both personally and professionally (and who hasn’t?), yet hesitated to adjust your fees or you’re clinging to the idea that "something is better than nothing," even if it means razor-thin margins, then this...
Mar 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 377
Have you noticed clients becoming more hesitant, even flaky? Are no-shows and last-minute cancellations eating into your profits and patience? Times have changed, things are different, and the “Great Divide” that I was speaking of in 2022 has indeed happened. In this episode, I dive deep into a brand-new level of the marketing funnel that's changing everything: trust. You’ll hear why the old ways of attracting clients simply aren't cutting it anymore and most importantly, what you can be doing a...
Mar 10, 2025•25 min•Ep. 376
Are you feeling lost in the ever-shifting sands of social media? Does it feel like the strategies that once worked are now falling flat? We are at this crossroads where some stylists and salons are about to be busier and more successful than they have ever been before, and some are going to start to feel like they’re sliding backwards and crashing. Today, I break it all down as we look at the social media shift of 2025, and I reveal why your current approach might be holding you back. In this ep...
Mar 03, 2025•29 min•Ep. 375
Are stylists truly getting what they deserve, and are owners protecting their bottom line? Compensation is always a hot topic, but right now especially everyone wants to make sure that they are getting what is appropriate. Today, we’re diving deep into the often-murky waters of salon profit margins and stylist compensation and I tackle the tough questions: Is your current compensation model actually hurting your business, and how can you ensure both stylist satisfaction and salon profitability? ...
Feb 24, 2025•23 min•Ep. 374
Are clients spending less, or demanding more? For years, you’ve heard me talk about the "Great Divide" that’s impacting our industry. Stylists and salon owners are asking: What's really happening? How are things shifting? How do we navigate this? In this episode, I provide you with the answers, so hold on tight as we dive deep into the seismic changes shaking our industry. Remember, this isn't just about surviving; it's about thriving. What I reveal today is the real story of how to position you...
Feb 17, 2025•38 min•Ep. 373
Are you setting revenue targets without a solid plan to achieve your financial goals this year? If so, I’ve got you covered! Today, we're diving deep into a game-changing tool, The Grow My Clientele Calculator, and I am so excited to be sharing more about it with you here on the podcast. In this episode, I break down why simply setting a yearly income goal just isn't enough and I reveal the common pitfalls stylists face when trying to increase their earnings. You’ll discover how this free calcul...
Feb 10, 2025•20 min•Ep. 372
Have you ever felt like you were just going through the motions, despite working hard? Are you holding onto relationships or situations that are no longer serving you? Are you ready to let go of the armor and embrace your true self? A very short time ago I would have answered a big “YES” to each of these questions, and I just knew that things needed to change in my life in order to get realigned and back on track. Today’s episode is going to be a bit different than what you're used to hearing fr...
Feb 03, 2025•35 min•Ep. 371
Are you a salon owner who dreams of stepping away from the chair and focusing on growing your business? If you did this, what would you spend your time doing? Following an Instagram post I recently shared, I saw that stylists out there really want to learn how to go from being a stylist to a leader of the salon, which is what I cover here today. In this episode, I reveal why you would want to consider this move in the first place, some of the fears owners have around it, as well as outlining a p...
Jan 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 370
As we all know, the economy is a little bit shaky right now, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes this leads to good people doing things they wouldn't normally do, and today we are talking about credit card charge-backs. In this episode, I share how these charge-backs work, the way that they are processed, and how to protect yourself if you find yourself in this situation. As we wade through these uncertain times, it’s not about making things more difficult for the client, ...
Jan 20, 2025•26 min•Ep. 369
Are you still relying on old social media strategies to grow your salon business? Think Instagram is the key to success? Think again... In this episode, I reveal a major shift in how clients find and choose salons, and you’ll discover how online reviews have become the queen of social media. I share how focusing on them in 2019 and 2020 has set some stylists up for massive success today, and I want to debunk common myths about online reviews, and give you insider secrets on why strategies that w...
Jan 13, 2025•21 min•Ep. 368
Have you ever wondered how much your salon is really worth? I know there are a lot of salon owners out there who are looking to sell their salon in the future, so today I want to cover how to calculate your salon's value and position yourself for a lucrative sale. In this episode, I share the factors that influence a salon's worth, from its clientele base to its reputation, and reveal how to build a strong foundation for your salon that will make it attractive to potential buyers. There are a lo...
Jan 06, 2025•23 min•Ep. 367
As we are right in the midst of the busy holiday season, the Thrivers team and I are releasing the second of two “Best of” episodes rather than our usual fresh content to wrap up 2024. Today, we’re replaying a popular episode we first brought you in June of 2024, where I shared a classic marketing concept that can help you attract more clients FAST in today’s economy, and also keeps them coming back to you time and time again! As we head into a brand new year, we invite you to take the time to l...
Dec 30, 2024•26 min
As we are right in the midst of the busy holiday season, the Thrivers team and I are releasing two “Best of” episodes rather than our usual fresh content to wrap up 2024. Today, we’re replaying a popular episode we first brought you in April of 2024, where I talked more about “The Great Divide” and the pricing crisis we’ve found ourselves in, along with the important things to keep in mind as we operate our businesses in today’s environment. As we head into a brand new year, we invite you to tak...
Dec 23, 2024•24 min
The IRS is now using AI to search tax records and open audits, but what exactly does this mean for stylists and salon owners? Today, I want to talk about how this latest news from the IRS could significantly impact your business, and I break down the key areas where the IRS’s AI is likely to focus, while sharing strategies to help mitigate risks and ensure your tax filings are accurate. Whether you're a solo stylist or own a thriving salon, it's important to stay informed about the latest tax de...
Dec 16, 2024•25 min•Ep. 366
It’s important to normalize the reality that not everything is always perfect, and it’s just a fact that there are a number of unexpected challenges that studio suite owners often face. Recently, I put up a question box to ask about the biggest struggles you have when building your business as a studio suite owner, and today we're going to talk about those issues and find solutions for you so that you can thrive in your studio suite. Whether you’ve been wondering about balancing work and life, f...
Dec 09, 2024•32 min•Ep. 365
As we step into a new presidential term in 2025, uncertainty looms large. How will these shifts impact our daily lives? From healthcare and taxes to retirement and social security, the implications are far-reaching. A lot of this is speculative, but today I wanted to dive into the facts and figures of how this administration could impact us. I realize that these are the issues that matter most to you and your family, and I hope this episode helps you navigate what is to come in the near future! ...
Dec 02, 2024•28 min•Ep. 364
