PhorestFM: Building a Stronger Industry, Together

[260] A professional hair, beauty or spa business is only as strong as the team that holds it up. If you want to make your salon stand out for all the right reasons and hire a great team that lasts, offering a professional, people and growth-focused, rewarding place to work is an absolute must. Ahead of her presentation at the Salon Owners Summit 2023, we have the pleasure of wrapping the year up...

[259] Myths and self-limiting beliefs, i.e. "beliefs, world views or states of mind that limit you in some way that can be about you, other people or how the world operates", can hinder our progress and have us react in different ways: avoidance, dread, fight, flight or freeze responses, negative self-talk, etc. In a dynamic conversation, creator/co-owner of Bella Style Salon and PIP University pr...

[258] For salon and spa businesses alike, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas signal the busiest, most chaotic time of the year and can feel daunting to plan for. But it all comes down to keeping track of the year-on-year Ws and the Ls and getting your campaign ideas ready far enough in advance. Things start feeling much more manageable when you've got a plan and the right team to execute it....

[257] Loyal clients are the people that bring in referrals, typically spend the most with you, help create an atmosphere in your salon, and build genuine connections with you and your team. But no matter how good your client retention strategies and numbers are, there are always people who will leave, voluntarily or not. That's why ensuring you attract a steady stream of new clients (however small...

[256] Owner and leader Maggie DiFalco has invested over 25 years of her career to employing and mentoring young artists, giving back through charitable work and delivering outstanding guest experiences. When she retires, she'll be leaving big shoes to fill. But Maggie's not one to want to rush things. She wants to ensure the salon stays within the family and maintains its success well beyond her r...

[255] The more you discover about yourself and invest in self-development, the more your influence on others around you changes. And once you've embarked on that journey, one of the most powerful things you can do for your salon or spa is to cultivate a culture of education where connection, camaraderie, passion, purpose, fun, knowledge and empowerment are at the forefront. In this episode, hear e...

[254] If "authenticity" was already on all social media trend reports in 2019, today, it's what is expected in exchange for connection and loyalty. Across digital and in-person interactions with brands, consumers are looking for real two-way dialogues and relationships. But what does that entail? To find out, we must examine the "authenticity dilemma." In this episode, hear industry-renowned exper...

[253] One of the most celebrated and awarded artists in beauty, an outstanding role model, industry expert and business guru, Geno Stampora is known for keeping the creative juices of beauty professionals flowing and bringing incredible value to every one of his contributions to the industry. In this week's episode — consider it a Salon Owners Summit teaser — he offers his thoughts on a keynote pr...

[252] After a forced two-year hiatus, the flagship event of the year and Europe's most prestigious milestone on the salon ownership adventure is back and ready to inspire growth and action. Featuring Phorest's Global Events & PR Manager Abigail Walsh, this episode dives into everything Salon Owners Summit related: ethos, format change, attendee profile, venue change, speaker lineup... name it...

[251] In April 2022, a report commissioned by the National Hair & Beauty Federation (NHBF) from Pragmatix Advisory confirmed a skills crisis in the hair & beauty sector — sharing that "57% of hair & beauty businesses in the UK have unfilled vacancies." While the report identifies threats to the sector's future in the UK specifically, we're hearing salon owners globally also talking abo...

[250] The exploratory path to self-acceptance can be challenging in a world that often pushes so many expectations and judgements. We are told and encouraged to be ourselves from a young age, but that often comes with a silent reservation: "Be yourself, but don't make others uncomfortable." Workplaces aren't immune to society's deep conditioning and binary view of gender, and to quote gender decon...

[248] What is your default leadership style? How do you lead your team towards your shared definition of success? Are you a strategic, democratic leader? Are you more of a coach? This week's conversation with salon owner and visionary leader Bonnie Conte ( @avalonsalonspas , @ vibesalonlakezurich ) is an invitation to look at where your leadership style stems from and, more importantly, whether it...

[249] Every industry and even job comes with preconceived notions or stigmas. Still, when it comes to the hair and beauty industry, the most widely circulated ones cut deep and stick — often for far too long. Tara Rose Kidd, Founder of Tara Rose Salons and Training Academy, a salon educator and global keynote speaker, self-describes as an entrepreneur outlier. After launching her career as a haird...

[247] There is vulnerability in sharing our experiences, strength in owning our identities and power in creating communities and work environments that feel safe. In this week's conversation, Laura Graven (salon owner @tailoredsalon , stylist) and Brady Dahm (hair designer, founder of The Trans Experience @bradysbeautyy ) talk inspired action, openly recount various stories and memories and allow...

[246] The pandemic may have briefly stalled in-person experiences, but salons are now dialling up the experiential factor, designing ultra-unique spaces to transport guests away from everyday life. Designing a functional and attractive salon or spa that represents the brand and vision is one of the most exciting part of opening or growing a business. But for others, the whole experience can be pre...

[245] According  to research commissioned by Mind , a mental health charity in the UK, one in three people feel that their work is the most stressful aspect of their life. While it might not feel like it to guests, the salon and spa environment is typically high-energy, bustling behind the scenes. And when you're in a place where you're leading other people, you have a duty of care towards yoursel...

[244] Setting up a salon or spa business can be challenging and costly. On the other hand, buying an existing salon can reduce the setup costs. Still, there are other considerations. You're investing and inheriting equipment, branding, existing relationships, a team and clientele that might not fit your vision for the business' future. In this week's conversation — and with much honesty, vulnerabi...

[243] "It kind of never happens to get to choose how you can look, to that extent." At Phorest, passion and ambition connect us with salon owners and staff all over the globe, helping you grow and celebrating every success. We say yes to equality and no to hierarchy, and we show up tirelessly every day. Publishing a third rerun so soon after the last two wasn't part of the plan for May, but our ho...

[242] Ideas come in all shapes and forms, but often, they originate from dialogues, experiences or observations. To create products or services that serve others — and more than that, make a difference in their lives — we must welcome new perspectives. Allowing our hunches to connect with other people's hunches typically leads to better results. Featuring Phorest's Chief Product Officer Patrick "P...

[241] It’s never a pleasant experience to deal with unhappy customers, but it’s really not that uncommon in the service industry. Prevention is important, and so is making a real effort to make amends when possible, but sometimes, the best thing to do is to break up with a client. In this week’s conversation, Hair Educator and Business Coach Kristen Lumiere  (@kristen.lumiere)  talks about the dif...

[240] The second Phorest FM episode rerun picks up right where things left off last week: seeing things from a different perspective. When we frame an idea, a problem, or an opportunity, we choose a perspective. Look at a “glass as half-empty,” and we start conserving and protecting. See the same glass as “half-full”, and opportunity and growth emerge. Our thinking shifts simply by how we choose t...

[239] Phorest Growth Fund applications for 2022 are now open! We decided to offer two episode reruns for the occasion, the first one being a conversation from 2018 with business coach, CEO of High Performance Stylist and now Phorest Growth Fund panellist David Barnett. Managing a salon isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but salons and spas that find real success within the industry are the ones...

[238] Returning and new customers are obsessing over brands like never before. But beauty and hair salon marketing can feel overwhelming both time and money-wise. Not to mention how somehow, you're just 'supposed' to know how to be a social media and content marketing master, even though those skills are rarely taught in school. That's why this episode, featuring Founder and Director of Content Kw...

[237] International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day to recognize and celebrate women's and girls' social, economic, cultural, and political achievements. But also a time to raise awareness of the progress made towards achieving gender equality and the work remaining to be done. In that spirit, this week's episode features a woman who literally lives her life at full throttle while also helpi...

[236] If you know a bit about stoïcism, you'll know that turning adversity to advantage is an ancient art: "The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." (Marcus Aurelius) Amongst many other things, overcoming setbacks requires changing our perception, practicing persistence and channeling our energy so we can put it to good use. In this episode, hear industry...