Grow My Salon Business Podcast

After 20+ years of coaching salon owners, I can spot the pattern in under 5 minutes. Talented stylist opens dream salon, becomes overwhelmed operator, wonders what went wrong. If you're working harder than ever but not getting ahead, if you're the busiest person in your salon but still stressed about money, you're not alone. In today’s episode, I'm revealing the #1 mistake that keeps talented salo...

A new year always brings with it a sense of possibility. It’s that “that was then, this is now” moment where you get to draw a line in the sand and decide what happens next. But let’s be honest, for many salon owners right now, business feels tougher than ever. Clients are cautious, bookings feel unpredictable, and the world around us feels uncertain. In this episode, I talk about the reality of r...

Not every hairdresser wants to be self-employed, and in this episode, I explain why that’s not only okay, but why it creates a real opportunity for salon owners to rethink what an employee-employer-based business can and should look like today.  Too often, self-employment is sold as the only path to freedom, flexibility, and financial success, without anyone stopping to talk honestly about the rea...

This short episode is a reflection on the real relationships we form with the people who sit in our chairs. I’ve often said that clients aren’t your friends, they’re your clients. And professionally, that boundary matters. But every now and then, those lines blur in ways that are deeply human. I share a couple of stories from my time behind the chair that have stayed with me for decades. One clien...

At the end of every year, I like to take a step back and look at what’s really happening in our industry. Not just at a surface level, but underneath it all. In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Gordon Miller for one of our now-regular “state of the nation” conversations, where we dig into the biggest shifts shaping the hairdressing industry right now. We talk about the growing importance...

In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley Mears, former hairdresser, branding expert, and the driving force behind Six Underground Media. Hayley is also one of the guest educators inside our marketing course, and she brings a level of insight into social media, branding, and digital trends that most salon owners simply don’t have access to. We dive deep into what salon owners should expect from Instag...

In this week’s episode, I’m tackling the flip side of a happy, high-performing team, what to do when things are not going smoothly. Because after the recent episode titled “The Beautiful Chaos of Building a Team,” I received a flood of emails from salon owners struggling with people issues. So today, I’m breaking down the key elements that set your team up to succeed, and what to do when they don’...

In this week’s episode, I sit down with someone who’s grown up alongside one of the most respected salon organisations in the United States. Today's guest is Coco Wagner, daughter of David and Charlie Wagner owners of the Juut Salon Spa’s.  Coco brings a fascinating blend of global experience, fresh perspective, and deep respect for the culture her family has built over 40 years. What I love about...

I've been thinking a lot about what really makes a great salon, and it's not always what you might think. Sure, brilliant technical skills matter, but what really sets exceptional salons apart is the energy, the culture, and the people. A coaching client told me recently about the atmosphere in her salon, no drama, no bitchiness, just fun, laughter, and genuine support. Her clients connect with th...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Rita Marcon, whose story perfectly captures the courage it takes to follow your intuition and reinvent yourself. Rita is a former hairdresser who climbed the corporate ladder to become the Australian General Manager for one of the biggest haircare brands before taking a leap of faith to start her own business, I Am Conscious Living . Rita’s journey is full of...

As the end of the year approaches, it's tempting to push for maximum productivity, rush through holiday celebrations, and then collapse in a heap on Christmas Eve and call it done. But I want to challenge that. In this week’s episode, I’m talking about the power of celebration, why your team party isn’t just a party, but a culture-building strategy disguised as fun. I share stories from my own sal...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Blake Dufault, whose story is as raw as it is inspiring. From a turbulent childhood filled with chaos and heartbreak to finding purpose through hairdressing, Blake’s journey is one of relentless growth and unshakable resilience. His book I Am_____ captures that journey beautifully, reminding us that our past doesn’t define us, our choices do. We talk about how...

This is part three, the final episode, in my three-part salon marketing series, and today it’s all about solutions. If you’ve listened to the first two episodes, you’ll know that the biggest problem in most salons isn’t attracting new clients, it’s keeping them. So in this episode, I’ll show you how to identify where your business is leaking clients, how to use your data to pinpoint what (and who)...

This is part two of my three-part series on salon marketing, and today we're diving into why most salons are reasonably good at attracting new clients but not nearly so good at keeping them. If you listened to last week's episode, you'll know that 60% of new clients never return for a second visit, and only one in ten make it to six visits. Today, I'm explaining exactly why that happens and what m...

In this episode, I’m kicking off a brand-new three-part series on one of my favourite topics - marketing. When I had salons, marketing was something I loved, and it even won us a few awards. But here’s the thing: most salon owners completely misunderstand what marketing actually is. So today, we’re starting at the beginning, with the real definition of marketing. I’ll walk you through what I call...

In this week’s episode, I sit down with Kristin Firrell, who after more than 40 years in the professional beauty industry, is stepping into the next chapter of her life. Kristin’s story is all about connection, trust, and education. From the very beginning, when Kristin realised that in hairdressing she had found her people, to stepping into leadership roles at John Paul Mitchell Systems, her care...

In this episode, I’m joined once again by salon owner Luke Reynolds, who’s just taken a massive step that so many owners dream about, moving from a 50-square-metre boutique salon into a stunning, purpose-built space. Luke and I talk through the entire journey: the decision to expand, the design process, managing a ballooning budget, and the lessons learned along the way. If you’ve ever wondered ho...

This week, I’m diving into what is often an overlooked growth strategy for salons, market research. The starting point for effective market research is to remember that “you are not your client.” The decisions you make about pricing, services, and the salon experience shouldn’t always be based on what you would want. In this episode, I share simple, practical ways to gather real insight from the p...

In this week’s episode, I speak with Chris Baran. Chris has worn just about every hat in our profession: stylist, salon owner, podcaster, and global ambassador, but above all, he is a teacher. For nearly 60 years, he’s been evolving, reinventing, and staying at the forefront of education. We talk about what it really takes to be an educator, how education has changed in the wake of the pandemic, a...

In this week’s episode, I share the true story of a local salon that went from being fully booked and thriving to empty and struggling, all in less than two years. It’s a perfect example of how quickly things can unravel when leadership, standards, and systems disappear. We’ll break down what happened, what went wrong, and the ten key lessons that every salon owner can take away from this story. W...

In this week’s episode, I’m joined by Australian salon owner and stylist, Mikki Auld. Earlier this year, Mikki left her Brisbane salon in the hands of her team and took a huge leap, moving to Los Angeles to start over from scratch. Within no time at all, she was fully booked, not because of luck, but because of hustle, grit, and sheer determination. We talk about why she made the move, how she bui...

I'm calling BS on the idea that hairdressing doesn't pay well. The truth? There are plenty of hairdressers earning great money - some are even in the top 5-10% of all income earners. The difference isn't about age, experience, or even how good they are doing hair. It's about productivity. In this episode, I'm addressing one of the biggest frustrations I hear from salon owners: why aren't my team m...

I’ve never done an episode solely about coaching before, but as more salon owners than ever are either having a coach or wanting to become a coach, I think it’s about time.  Coaching has been one of the biggest game-changers in my own career and in the lives of hundreds of salon owners I’ve worked with across more than 14 countries. Yet for many, it’s still a bit of a mystery. In this episode, I u...

Have you noticed that every second hairdresser you talk to these days seems to have been diagnosed with ADHD?  That’s why this week I’ve invited Skye Waterson, a former academic turned ADHD coach and founder of ‘Unconventional Organisation’ onto the podcast to give us a proper crash course in understanding ADHD.  Skye shares actionable tips that salon owners and stylists can implement immediately,...

This week, I’m picking up where Episode 304 left off, diving deeper into the practical strategies that successful salon owners use to build strong teams, great cultures, and profitable businesses. If you've ever asked yourself, "Why can't I find good people?" or "Why won't my team step up?"   this episode is for you. I'm walking you through the exact traits, systems, and standards that top-perform...