PhorestFM: Building a Stronger Industry, Together

[162] With so many unknowns, building a monthly financial plan can be overwhelming. And like anything overwhelming to us, the best way to reduce stress is to break the task down into bite-size pieces. In this episode, Neil Ducoff, CEO and founder of business training and coaching company Strategies discusses the current crisis' financial stressors & shares free tools to both set accurate reopening...

[161] Did the coronavirus-induced chaos make you miss an episode? Catch up on everything that's happened in April with Killian and Zoe's round-up. This week's episode features an interview with Phorest Salon Software's Head of Product Patrick Monaghan, blog recaps, training and webinars you can put on your to-do list for upskilling as well as snippets from previous interviews with Joe Bolger (Mana...

[160] "If you are a hairstylist, sleep now — because when this is all over you better have your doors open 24/7 for the amount of un-groomed, boxed hair dyed, home cut bangs you're going to have to fix." NO — that's a hard no. If you're too busy to take care of yourself, how do you expect to deliver the quality standards in customer service that you hold yourself accountable to? Collectively, we'r...

[159] There’s a lot to be said about having a strong community and support system. In both business and in life, you need trusted people to rely on when things get tough. And along with friends and family, there are professionals and organisations who can help. Featuring Danielle Kennedy (President, IHF), Lisa Eccles (Vice-President, IHF) and Samantha Grocutt (President, Hair and Beauty Charity),...

[158] Something to keep in mind about the COVID-19 crisis is that salons and spas are going to be really busy when it all ends. The biggest concern right now, however, is the sheer uncertainty of how long this is going to last. If your salon has been forced to close, what are you doing now to ensure you come out the other end of it all standing strong? Will your salon be ready to handle a busier p...

[157] In Ireland & the UK, salons and spas have been forced to close as a result of government measures to overcome the spread of the novel coronavirus. In contrast, this is only being seeing in some states in the USA. While both situations (opened or closed) are significantly different, the pressure on business owners and their staff remains — only in different ways. Featuring Joe Bolger, Managin...

[156] With every new decade comes new challenges, and to discuss some of the beauty industry’s — gig economy, inclusivity, diversity, etc. — was the initial idea for this episode. However, adding another layer to the existing industry-related challenges is now the current coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide crisis. Businesses who thrive during uncertain times and economic downturns often have strong...

[155] Success, a lot like values, is defined differently by every one of us. Have you ever stopped to think about what it meant to you? Is it overcoming a hurdle, spending enough time with your family or winning awards? How do you define success, and when will you know you'll have got it? To help us explore the topic, we asked Dom Lehane  (@domlehane) , host of the 'How To Cut It' podcast to join...

[154] If teaching is a skill, then teaching can be taught. Featuring Redken Artist and teacher training specialist Chris Moody (@chrismoodyhair) , this week's conversation explores the world of adult education in the hair and beauty industry. More specifically, we'll be discussing learning styles, the difference between teaching and facilitating, what it takes to become an educator and how to trul...

[153] Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide; and sometimes, the people with the biggest smiles are the ones struggling the most. You never really know what people are going through. Following the recent UK and Irish movement to ban toxic publications in salon and spas, this episode takes a look at what bringing more kindness and positivity into...

[152] Did you miss an episode this month? Catch up on everything that's happened in February with Killian and Zoe's round-up. On the agenda: product and blog updates, upcoming webinars and events you can join as well as snippets from previous interviews with Selina Tomasich (CEO of Hair Aid), Michaella Blissett Williams (CEO of Salon718 salons), Marcus Allen (Global VP of the Refinery) and Josh Ha...

[151] If you're a salon or spa owner who finds it hard to keep staff engaged and motivated in their work, you're not alone. A recent survey Phorest has run within the hair and beauty industry found that of all the HR and training aspects of running a salon, a whopping 25% agree to say that retaining and motivating staff is their most difficult challenge. The good news is, it doesn't have to be tha...

[150] Often described as "thinking outside the box", creative thinking is what drives innovation and progress. Seeing situations from a different perspective can have a substantial impact on problem-solving, communication, leadership, sales, marketing, and many other aspects of running a business. For many, though, thinking in new, unconventional ways when facing adversity doesn't come naturally....

[149] Since its inception in 2010, Australian-based Hair Aid works globally with volunteer hairdressers to provide free haircutting training for people living in extreme poverty. The organisation has been doing this work in the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, and expanding its operations in Thailand and Vietnam last year, changing in total over 5000 lives. Part of the organisation's fundraising...

[148] Did you miss an episode this month? Catch up on everything that's happened in January with Killian and Zoe's round-up. On the agenda: product and blog updates, upcoming webinars and events you can join, Phorest Academy's official global launch as well as snippets from previous interviews with entrepreneur/star of 'The Apprentice' Pamela Laird, salon industry educator Jamie Dana, President of...

[147] With the right formula, retail is a scalable and profitable way to add revenue to your business without needing to hire more employees. Featuring The Buddha Beauty Company co-owners Llewelyn and Sam Thomas-Wood, this week's episode takes a look into what it's like — the wins and the challenges — to own a salon while also getting into the business of salon retail ecommerce, developing product...

[146] Phorest’s Salon Owner's Summit 2020 is Europe's largest and most prestigious milestone on that very adventure for salon owners who share one common purpose - to lead and evolve an industry that makes everyone feel and look like the superstars they were born to be. The aim of the summit is simple: to host an event with education, networking and festivities that brings salon owners and manager...

[145] The year 2019, done & dusted! We're talking over 30 hours of building a community through educational and inspiring stories and conversations, with guests from all around the world giving their take on topics that can help the industry shine and grow. In this very last episode of Phorest FM's third season, we give you the top ten most downloaded episodes of the year! Support Closing Days: US...

[144] The Phorest Blog: your trusted resources for all the latest salon marketing & management tips, trends & best practices. In this episode, Killian and Zoe discuss the top 10 most popular Phorest Blog articles published in 2019, based on how much traffic each post got over time. Cheers to another great year ahead! Support Closing Days: USA: 25th December and 1st January IRE/GER/UK/AUS: 25th, 26...

[143] Another year essentially done and dusted! In this episode, Killian and Zoe welcome back to the show Phorest Salon Software CEO, Ronan Perceval, and General Manager USA & Global Head of Sales, Barry Quinn, to discuss the past 12 months, what new features were released and more importantly, what’s in store for the company and product in 2020. Links: Request a callback for tickets to the Salon...

[142] We rarely stop to think about where traditions and professions come from. Be that as it may, history can help us discover how some human experiences aren't always so foreign to those lived centuries ago. In history, the hairdresser is an artistic and self-made character. Featuring Dr Seán Williams, lecturer in German and European Cultural History at the University of Sheffield, this week's c...

[141] Did you miss an episode this month? Catch up on everything that's happened in November with Killian and Zoe's round-up. On the agenda: the usual product and blog updates, upcoming webinars and events you can join, Phorest Academy's latest available courses as well as snippets from previous interviews with Olivia Smalley and Ronit Enos. Links: Sign up & receive the Phorest Content Round-Up 20...

[140] Money is great, right? Making lots of money is even better, right? But let's ask ourselves why. Why do we want more money? Like it or not, money brings shame and confusion. It's intimidating, and we make up stories about money that aren't true. What's your money story? Maybe you grew up with too little? Too much? Perhaps you were taught that it was wrong to want more? To ignore the money bec...

[139] After a first successful stop in Chicago earlier in the year, the Salon Owners Summit Roadshow has made its second stop in Philadelphia, home to Phorest Salon Software's USA office. Straight from The Lucy in the City of Brotherly Love, this week's episode gives you a taste of what it was like to be at the Salon Owners Summit Roadshow on the day. On the agenda: discussions with your co-hosts...

[138] Did you miss an episode this month? Catch up on everything that's happened in October with Killian and Zoe's round-up. On the agenda: product updates, the latest on the Phorest Blog, upcoming webinars and events you can join, Phorest Academy's latest available courses as well as snippets from previous interviews with Andrew Best, Joshua Howard, Angela Anderson and Shauna O'Halloran. Links: S...