Beauty Business Matters

Host Susan Routledge shares her personal journey in the beauty industry, reflecting on her early fascination with makeup and hair, the challenges she faced while starting her own business, and the profound impact of her father's sudden passing. Susan discusses her evolution from a home-based beauty service to owning a successful salon, winning prestigious awards, and eventually stepping back to fo...

Susan Routledge interviews Lesley Castor, the founder of the multi-award-winning City Retreat salon chain. Lesley shares her fascinating journey into the beauty industry, starting from her unconventional beginnings in a factory to becoming a successful salon owner. She discusses the challenges she faced in the early years of her business, the importance of creating a positive team culture, and her...

Susan sits down with Nergish Wadia-Austin, the founder of PHAB Service Stars, to discuss her remarkable journey in the hair and beauty industry. Nergish shares her unique background, starting from her education in India and Hong Kong to managing the largest salon in the world at Harrods. The conversation delves into the importance of maintaining high standards in the industry and how the PHAB Serv...

Susan Routledge welcomes Marie Tudor, CEO of the Karen Clifford Skin Cancer Charity and Masced Training. They discuss the vital importance of early detection of skin cancer and the accessible training offered to beauty professionals and the general public for just £20. Marie shares her journey with the charity, highlighting the impact of education on skin cancer prevention and the role beauty indu...

Susan Routledge welcomes her friend and business mentor, Tony Bache, known for her expertise in scaling seven-figure businesses. The conversation delves into the transformative role of AI in the beauty industry, exploring how it can streamline operations and enhance marketing strategies for salons. Tony shares her extensive experience with AI tools, including ChatGPT, and discusses the importance...

Susan Routledge engages in an insightful conversation with leadership expert Sue Ingram, who shares her extensive experience in helping beauty business owners enhance their leadership skills. The discussion revolves around the six essential leadership skills necessary for success in the beauty industry, including the importance of having a clear vision, understanding different personality types, a...

Susan sits down with Sarah Abel, author of "The Power of Funding in the Hair and Beauty Business." Sarah shares her incredible journey from being a Saturday girl in a hair salon to securing over six million pounds in government funding for hair and beauty businesses. The conversation delves into her personal experiences, including her challenges with ADHD and how she has developed techniques to ma...

Susan Routledge sits down with Katie Lowndes, a former therapist from the northeast of England who has carved out an impressive career in the beauty industry. Now based in Melbourne, Australia, Katie shares her remarkable journey from working as a therapist to becoming a key figure in Elemis, where she has played a pivotal role in building distribution in Australia and New Zealand. The conversatio...

Susan Routledge interviews David Alpert from IIAA and Environ, celebrating the remarkable 30-year journey of their family-owned business. David shares insights into the company's humble beginnings, the challenges faced while establishing Environ Skincare, and the innovative strategies that propelled their success, particularly during the 2008 recession. The conversation delves into the importance...

In today's episode, Susan addresses two frequently sought after initiatives: the Beauty Directors Club and the Beauty Roundup events. She explains that the Beauty Directors Club, established in 2018, is a private membership for established beauty salon and skin clinic owners, fostering a supportive community focused on business excellence. Susan highlights the club's achievements, including collab...

Susan Routledge sits down with Mark Maloney, the CEO and founder of Professional Beauty Magazine and Trade Exhibitions. They delve into the origins of Mark's company, discussing the challenges faced during its early years, including a lack of profit for the first seven years. Mark shares insights on the evolution of the beauty industry, emphasizing the importance of community and collaboration amo...

In this episode, Susan broaches the topic of discounting in the salon and clinic industry. While she acknowledges that discounts can sometimes attract new clients, she emphasises the potential pitfalls of relying on them as a marketing strategy. Susan shares insights on how deep discounting can devalue treatments and harm a salon's reputation, urging owners to focus on retaining existing clients i...

Susan welcomes Amy Bates, a transformative figure in the beauty industry and founder of Beauty Rebellion. Amy shares her fascinating career journey, from her early days as a police officer to becoming a successful bridal hair and makeup artist, and ultimately focusing on body image and inclusion within the beauty sector. The conversation delves into the significant impact of societal standards on...

In today's episode, Susan explores the critical topic of cash flow management for salon owners. She emphasises the importance of mindset and effective business systems in maintaining financial health. Susan challenges listeners to reflect on their attitudes towards money and encourages them to take responsibility for their current financial situations. By sharing insights on visualisation, goal se...

In this episode of "Beauty Business Matters," Susan Routledge welcomes back the dynamic Vicky Ross for a deep dive into personal transformation and the power of mindset. Building on their previous conversation, they explore actionable steps for listeners to create the future they desire, emphasizing the importance of living life on one's own terms. Vicky shares her extensive background in NLP, hyp...

In this episode, Susan explores the vital role of gift vouchers in salon businesses, especially during the holiday season. She shares six effective strategies to maximize gift voucher sales, emphasising the importance of year-round promotion and eye-catching displays. Susan highlights the growing gift voucher market, worth £9 billion in the UK, and discusses how salons can attract clients by creat...

In this episode of "Beauty Business Matters," Susan Routledge sits down with Andrea Simpson, a remarkable beauty therapist and mentor, to discuss her unconventional journey from the British Army to the beauty industry. Andrea shares her inspiring story of transformation, detailing her experiences in various roles, including her time as a national trainer for prestigious spas and her successful est...

In this episode, Susan addresses a common concern among salon owners: how to attract and employ the right therapists. She emphasizes the importance of being specific in recruitment efforts and maintaining relationships with former employees, as they may return after realizing their new choices weren't ideal. Susan shares her proven recruitment process, which includes initial Zoom interviews, team...

In this episode of "Beauty Business Matters," Susan engages in a captivating conversation with personal development expert Vicky Ross, exploring the intricate relationship between our brain's functioning and achieving success. Vicky shares her multifaceted approach to transformation, emphasising the importance of understanding beliefs and paradigms that shape our behaviours. The discussion delves...

In this episode, Susan tackles the provocative question of if awards are actually a 'fix'. Drawing from her extensive experience as a judge for various beauty industry awards, she emphasizes the rigorous process behind award selection and the importance of distinguishing genuine awards from marketing gimmicks. Susan encourages listeners to view the award application process as an opportunity for s...

In this episode of "Beauty Business Matters," Susan Routledge sits down with the inspiring Sara Shoemark, founder of the multi-award-winning Glow Salons. Sara shares her journey from a young beauty therapy student to a successful salon owner with multiple locations. The conversation delves into her experiences in the beauty industry, the importance of training and supporting her team, and the litt...

In this midweek episode, Susan addresses the pressing issue of declining retail sales in salons. Susan emphasises that while clients are still purchasing products, salon owners must take responsibility for understanding why their sales are down. Susan offers practical advice, including the importance of communication with team members and clients, implementing a seven-day money-back guarantee, and...

In this captivating episode of "Beauty Business Matters," Susan sits down with the remarkable Andrew Hansford, a seasoned expert in the skincare and aesthetics industry. Andrew shares his unique journey, from his early days in hairdressing to his unexpected 14-year stint in Bermuda and a modelling career that exposed him to the darker sides of the beauty world. The conversation delves into Andrew'...

In this episode, Susan interviews the multi-award-winning salon owner Paula Clipsham, who shares her remarkable journey from a small basement salon to a thriving business with a dedicated team. Paula discusses the challenges she faced as a salon owner, particularly during the pandemic, and how she transformed her vision into reality by expanding her salon and fostering a supportive team environmen...

In this episode Susan shares her extensive experience in the beauty industry, having run her award-winning clinic for over 36 years. Susan addresses a key question from Beauty Directors Club member Verity Davies about the most important aspect of running a successful beauty salon. Susan emphasizes the significance of the salon owner as the CEO, highlighting the need for self-care, effective system...