Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Should you mix salon ownership with coaching, teaching, podcasting, session work, course creating, etc? These are all things that I have done or are currently doing… And they all provide reward, both in terms of personal fulfillment and the potential for financial gain. And they are right for some people, and definitely not right for others.  In this week’s episode we look at the numerous opportun...

Today's episode is Part 2 which follows on from last week’s episode with Tracey Woodward.   In today’s episode we delve into Tracey's career journey, starting from her transition into the hairdressing industry, her impactful time at Aveda and Urban Retreat, and the various roles she undertook.    Tracey opens up about overcoming personal challenges, imposter syndrome, and the transformative journe...

Our lives are a journey, and like every journey, where you start out and where you end up is what makes life so interesting.    My guest on this episode is Tracey Woodward, who, like many people, didn't have the easiest start in life. However, unlike many people, she didn't let her past define her future.    Tracey shares her life story, starting with being born prematurely to a teenage mother in...

My guest today is Hellen Ward who as well as being a wife, mother, author, lecturer, educator, and managing director, is also the co-founder along with her husband Richard of the Richard Ward hair and Metro Spa located in the heart of London’s Chelsea.   Hellen is highly regarded in the industry for not just having built a great business that is undoubtedly one of the country's leading salons but...

What does your salon and your country have in common?   That’s not a trick question!   This year, there are elections in many countries, and as always, politicians are making lots of promises about how they’re going to make our lives better by spending more money on the things that matter.    But here’s the problem: Your government, my government, or any government doesn’t make any money of their...

There are only a very small number of hairdressers who at any one time influence hairdressing all over the world.  I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview some of them on the podcast, and I always relish the chance to find out what it is that separates their ability from others.   My guest on today’s Podcast is returning guest Eugene Souleiman, who is without doubt one of th...

The role and opportunities for hairdressing education has changed dramatically over the last few years through social media and the various online learning platforms.    That has led to the rise of the independent educator. Today’s guest is DJ Muldoon, who has made a great name for himself both in the online world and face-to-face for being a fantastic educator.   In this episode we discuss: ●   ...

One of the ways we learn in life is by making mistakes.    But the problem is that the mistakes you make in business have a financial impact.   Sometimes, that impact is small, but other times, mistakes have a big impact on the profitability of your business.    So, as much as possible, although making the occasional mistake is inevitable, you need to learn from them quickly so that you reduce the...

When one door closes another door opens. Success and setback are two sides of the same coin but it takes a strong personality, self belief and determination to bounce back.  A couple of years ago I was at 'Salon International’ in London and there was a young barber on stage who was not only doing great work but she also had an infectious personality, combined with an amazing level of energy and co...

Every salon owner I’ve ever met wants to know how to better manage their business expenses so that they can be more profitable. And so they should.  Ultimately what that all comes down to is looking for ways to increase the income and reduce the outgoings which results in improved profit margins. Both of those topics are covered in depth in our online ‘Money course’.  But amongst the many potentia...

What’s your number? There is one number that we don’t talk about enough in this industry and that is probably because although it sounds simple to understand, it isn’t always easy to work it out.  So what’s the number I’m talking about? It’s the number that represents the amount of revenue you need to generate each week to keep the doors open and keep the lights on. And that number is referred to...

Building a successful business isn’t easy, and sometimes at the beginning of our journey, we look at established businesses and wonder how we could possibly ever achieve that.   The important thing to realise is that nobody starts with a big successful business. Every new salon owner has doubts and experiences setbacks and challenges along the way.    But through grit and determination and a never...

I don’t believe that there has ever been a family in the world of hairdressing that has made the impact that the Mascolo family has.  Whether it was the Toni & Guy salons and schools, the TIGI products, or the incredible shows, and stunning photography. Either way the Mascolo brothers, Toni, Guy, Bruno and Anthony were at the forefront of everything in hairdressing and created a hairdressing d...

Recently I was asked by a young hairdresser whether or not I thought he should go into partnership with a friend and open a salon together.    Partnerships are one of the many subjects we cover in the online management course that is currently open for enrolment, but I think it’s a great question and will make a good podcast topic as well.   Unfortunately, partnerships in small businesses don’t ha...

The entrepreneurial journey is an ever-evolving process and every stage brings with it unique challenges and opportunities.    The creative aspects of the salon industry are often what attract people to it, but if you’re going to make a success of yourself in a creative industry, it’s every bit as important to focus on the financial side too.    Today’s guest is Sean Hanna, a London-based hairdres...

As a salon owner you will have many responsibilities, but they can all be summarised by saying that; “You are the person that is ultimately responsible for the success of your business". And that takes more than just being good at doing hair, having a great location, and a column of your own clients…  Obviously, those things are important, and they will help you get ‘out of the gate’ so to speak,...

Success as a hairdresser comes in many forms. For some it's purely creative, for others it’s all about building a clientele, succeeding as an educator, or building a business. To have success in multiple areas isn't easy, which is why in many cases, when you see a successful business, it's often because there is a partnership between someone with a business focus and another partner with a creativ...

Why is it that 80% of businesses that go to market never get an offer, meaning those business owners have to close the doors on all their hard work and walk away.  If you’re a salon owner, the day will come when you are going to relinquish control of your business.  This episode focuses on how you can increase your chances of being able to sell your business when that day comes rather than being f...

One of the biggest changes to take place in the hair and beauty industry during the course of my career has been the uptake of tech, especially in relation to the business side of running a salon.   Today’s guest is Jo Burgess, a former hairdresser and the co-founder of Shortcuts Salon Management Software. Since the early ‘90s, Jo and her team have been at the forefront of developing tech-based so...

Most businesses don’t last more than a few years, so if you reach your 10th birthday, congratulations because you’re already one of the lucky ones! However, as the years go by, it’s essential that you don’t become too stuck in your ways because continuous evolution is a foundational principle for any successful business.    Inspired by an email from a listener, in today’s episode, I discuss what a...

As a salon owner, one of the biggest challenges affecting a salon's growth is that first-time clients are simply not returning, with numerous studies showing that after their first visit, 65% of clients are not going back to that same salon a second time.   My guest on today’s episode is Kati Whitledge, who has developed a piece of “matchmaking” marketing software, Mya, that not only assists salon...

“He or she who makes no mistakes usually doesn’t make anything.”    Business, just like life, is never going to go entirely to plan. So, be prepared to make mistakes! One of the biggest (if not the biggest) mistakes that salon owners make is underestimating what it takes to manage a business. If this sounds like you, don’t worry; we’re here to help.    In this episode, I take you through an overvi...

My guest on today’s episode is Mario Verrilli, owner of the Onaré Salon in Mississauga, Ontario, and author of a book titled, ‘The Fall of the Hair Salon and What to Do About It: A Step-by-Step Guide to the Future of the Beauty Salon Industry.’   The salon industry is under constant reinvention, and Mario has many years of first-hand experience with the changes that are taking place. This has led...

Owning a salon business will always come with a multitude of challenges, and when you’re in the midst of a struggle, it’s easy to focus on the negatives, which can very quickly lead you to overwhelm and burn out.    However, if you can change your mindset and start to see the positive side of things, you’re far more likely to overcome whatever hurdles you face.    My guest on today’s episode is Ma...

“Find your why because it will get you through anything.” The majority of our listeners are salon owners, and many of you are also parents, both of which come with a whole host of challenges and rewards.  My guest today is salon owner and father CJ Morello, and for him and his wife, the work-life balance struggles have been exacerbated by the fact that their two young children are profoundly autis...