Beauty Business Matters

Two years and over 100 guest interviews later, it is time to pause, celebrate, and reflect on the journey so far. This special compilation episode gathers the most impactful golden nuggets, honest stories, and expert strategies shared across the very first 50 episodes.   From navigating unexpected career pivots and turning grassroots passion into purpose, to overcoming mental overwhelm, prici...

What does it truly take to transform a humble barn conversion into a multi-award-winning MediSpa? Join Susan Routledge as she chats with Michelle Stead, founder of Perfection MediSpa. Michelle shares her raw and inspiring journey from starting out with a tight budget to building a 17-strong team delivering 6-star customer experiences. Discover how she uses creative visual flashcards to align team...

Starting with small batches in a home kitchen to delivering 18 pallets worldwide for The Body Shop, true brand resilience takes heart, hard work, and genuine adaptability. Join us for a warm, candid conversation with Rosie Candwella, founder of Sugar Coated and Aqua Natural. Rosie shares her incredible life journey, from growing up in Tanzania learning resourcefulness to arriving in the UK and nav...

What happens when you swap selling aircraft engines for building a thriving spa and wellness community? Sara Young, founder of SpaWell, drops in to share her brilliant journey from corporate flight cabins to creating the go-to network for spa professionals. We dig into why connecting the spa and beauty sectors is crucial, the real tea on managing early-stage startup expectations, and how to naviga...

What does nearly five decades in the beauty industry actually look like behind the scenes? To celebrate the 100th interview episode of Beauty Business Matters, host Susan Routledge sits down with industry icon Fran Hayter for a deeply honest, joyful conversation. From driving a double-decker bus through Jordan to running 152 salons and launching Dove Spa globally, Fran shares the wild highs and to...

Ever wondered how much your gut health is secretly dictating your skin's glow? In this warm and inspiring conversation, host Susan Routledge sits down with naturopathic nutritionist Suzanne Hart, who shares her fascinating 33-year evolution from running a successful health and beauty salon to mastering holistic nutrition. Together, they explore how internal wellbeing directly impacts conditions li...

Ever wondered how a small loan can transform a life half a world away? In this chat, host Susan Routledge sits down with Tracy Horner, Head of Lend With Care, to explore how microfinance is empowering entrepreneurs in low-income countries. From supporting hair and beauty micro-businesses to setting up community savings groups, small investments can ignite massive, lasting change. They unpack the p...

Ever feel like you're stuck on the back-to-back treatment treadmill, trading endless hours for single bookings? Edinburgh's premier skin specialist, Liz McCamron, joins the show to share how she completely transformed her practice by ditching one-off facial menus in favour of high-ticket, bespoke skin journeys. Liz dives into her 30-year career evolution, explaining how she helps clients achieve r...

Ever wondered how CBD actually works beyond the industry buzzwords? Host Susan Routledge chats with former teacher turned CBD founder Jackie Taylor about her journey building Taylor CBD. From starting as a mobile therapist wearing 80s white dress uniforms to researching cannabinoid science at the British Library, Jackie shares how topical CBD interacts with body receptors to ease joint pain and mu...

Unlock the untapped potential of LinkedIn for your salon or clinic! In this episode, Chris Taylor from Social Selling and Chris Taylor Online reveals why LinkedIn is no longer just a stiff CV platform, but an absolute goldmine for beauty businesses.  Discover how to turn your profile into a powerful digital directory to connect with local clients, build credibility, and generate leads without...

Selling skincare doesn't have to feel like an uphill battle or an awkward sales pitch. It’s time to rethink what retail actually means in the salon and spa world. Beyond just bottles on a shelf, authentic retail is an essential extension of client care, connection, and long-term results. When therapists shift from "selling" to guiding clients on a personal wellness journey, everything changes—incl...

Ever felt like your business is running you instead of the other way round? In this inspiring episode, Chicago-based skincare specialist Katt Philipps shares her remarkable journey from working as a special effects makeup artist in Hollywood to creating a thriving, fully booked skincare practice. Kat opens up about hitting complete burnout, coping with illness, and the life-changing business shift...

Manifesting gets a reputation for being a bit woo-woo, but the truth is you are doing it every single second without even realising it. Joined by the brilliant Vicky Ross, this conversation dives deep into the real mechanics of how frequency, brainwaves, and childhood conditioning shape our day-to-day lives. From breaking free of the body’s addiction to stress and emotional drama to shifting money...

Ever wondered what it takes to turn salon ownership from a stressful hobby into a thriving, structured business? In this episode, multi-award-winning salon owner Justyna Rostek shares her incredible journey—from moving to the UK with basic English to building a top-performing Guinot franchise. Discover why salon owners need to charge based on their experience, how to pre-sell treatments before inv...

It takes an immense amount of courage to completely flip a business model when you're already running a highly successful, multi-award-winning clinic. Tessa Roszkowski joins the conversation to share the incredible journey behind her 20 years in the beauty and aesthetics industry, including the defining moment she decided to step back, close a branch, and completely drop traditional beauty treatme...

Running a business in the hair and beauty world is a beautiful thing, but it can take a serious toll if you aren't looking after yourself. In this conversation, Susan Routledge sits down with Sam Grocutt, a 30-year beauty PR veteran, director of Essence PR, and co-founder of Curated Beauty. They pull back the curtain on how much the industry has changed—moving from the days of fax machines and tra...

Ever wondered how to turn a simple chocolate truffle into a high-impact branding tool that leaves clients completely speechless? This conversation dives deep into the world of bespoke experiential gifting with the creative minds behind Mejoolies. Host Susan Routledge sits down with founders Carrie Farr and Lindsay Thompson to uncover their fascinating journey from accidental wedding favour makers...

Ever felt the pressure to jump on the latest machine trend, only to wonder if your clients actually want it? Navigating the noisy world of advanced beauty technology can leave you feeling overwhelmed and second-guessing your investments. This conversation strips back the marketing fluff to reveal how to align equipment purchases with real customer demand, check for genuine certifications, and buil...

It’s the dread every salon and clinic owner knows too well: waking up to a last-minute text from a staff member calling in sick because they simply didn't sleep well. Navigating the minefield of staff management, shifting legislation, and persistent absences can leave even the most seasoned bosses feeling entirely burnt out. Expert executive coach Sue Ingram shares the vital distinction between ma...

In this week's midweek business bite, Susan tackles the foundation of true salon and clinic success: defining and attracting your ideal client. It is incredibly easy to get swept up in social media metrics and the endless chase for new bookings, but trying to be everything to everyone often results in a book full of one-off visitors rather than loyal fans.  KEY TAKEAWAYS Stop Trying to Appeal to E...

It is easy to get completely wrapped up in the daily grind of running a business, but sometimes the greatest growth happens when you finally step back and give your team the space to breathe. This special compilation episode brings together the absolute best highlights and golden nuggets from previous conversations with industry powerhouses like Lara Morgan, Amanda Winwood, and Helen Portman-Brook...

Imagine a massage where you never have to turn over, your makeup stays intact, and you drift away on a bed of perfectly heated water. This isn't a futuristic luxury—it's the reality of a face up Hydrotherm treatment. Long-term wear and tear on a therapist's hands and wrists can end a career prematurely, but switching to a fluid, water-supported method preserves your body while offering an exceptio...

Ever feel like you’re shouting into an empty void on social media, spending hours making reels that get plenty of likes but zero new clients? Chris Taylor has built an entire business on the philosophy that you don’t need millions of followers to make serious money. In this high-energy conversation, the founder of Social Salon shares how he accidentally fell into the industry by documenting his ow...

Ever been told "no" and felt it just wasn't the right answer? Amanda Winwood has built an entire wellness legacy on asking "why." From witnessing her mother’s holistic lifestyle in a tiny Cheshire village to leading a movement in oncology massage, Amanda is a true force of nature in the beauty and hospitality sectors. In this episode, we dive into the 26-year evolution of Made for Life Organics an...

Ever wondered what it takes to keep a salon thriving for over three decades—and keep staff for over twenty years? Alison Laws joins us to share her incredible journey from opening a tiny "broom cupboard" salon in the Metro Centre to running Jesmond Beauty, a multi-floor landmark in the North East. In this candid chat, we dive into the secret sauce of her team’s longevity, including her "Rising Sta...