SUMM IT UP

The relationship between a stylist and their repeat guest is special. But if you build that special relationship with enough people over time, you might feel maxed out because your days are so busy. You have a waiting list. So you raise your prices, but that waiting list doesn’t get any shorter.  Though you may feel like you can’t handle one more thing, this could be the perfect time to bring on a...

The way most salons manage their color results in a loss of profits - that's why Tim Howard co-founded Vish, software that is revolutionizing how salons manage their color so they can reduce waste and increase their profits. Tim has over 25 years of experience in the salon industry and is the former owner of two award-winning salons. He chats with Blake about how salons can charge clients correctl...

What is a day in the life of a content creator like? How do you balance your responsibilities as a creator with your work as a stylist behind the chair? And what does it take to amass a significant following on social media in the hair salon industry?  Our guest this episode is Alejandro Lopez , an incredibly talented stylist based in Orlando, Florida, with nearly 700k followers on social media. A...

What is going through students' minds when they go on salon tours? What gives them the sense that the vibes are right, and what is on their dreaded "ick list" when it comes to salon culture? This episode is all about supporting and welcoming the next generation of stylists who are ready to begin their careers.  Our guest this episode is Beonca Torres , Associate Trainer with the Summit Salon team...

The enneagram is a powerful personality assessment tool that looks at the core motivations and fears behind our actions. Knowing your enneagram type can help you play to your strengths, and be more mindful of your weaknesses. In a salon company, an enneagram assessment can help build better leaders, and help close communication gaps within a team.  Our guest this episode is Jen Culverhouse , owner...

In this episode, we switch things up and put host Blake Reed Evans in the hot seat. In conversation with Summit Director of Brand Development Tim Fisk, Blake spills the beans on how he became an influencer and super in-demand educator, while still working behind the chair and managing employees at Shear Art Salon in Tampa, Fl. Plus, how he balances family life and "time to do absolutely nothing" w...

Stacey Soble is Director of Brand Content Strategy at SALON TODAY, the only salon industry media solely focused on business. She's also the organizer and a judge of the SALON TODAY 200, one of the industry's most coveted awards.  She's been involved in the conversation of salon business for more than two decades—as a reporter, a consultant and as the editor in chief of SALON TODAY. In this episode...

Whether you have never worked with an associate before, or you've been a trainer for years and are looking to update your methods, this episode is for you! Not only do associates provide an extra pair of hands, but they provide the opportunity to book more guests, maximize productivity, and help your salon run like a well-oiled machine.  Our guest Molly Limes Getz is a Senior Educator and Partner...

Sam Villa is the founding partner of Sam Villa Professional Brand, the Redken Global Artistic Ambassador, and 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Famous across the salon industry for his line of tools and his educational videos, Sam is a master of change and adaptation, whether that be hair trends or the way education is delivered. Sam never stops learning, and you shouldn’t either.  In t...

As salon professionals, we have a unique ability to create a safe space for our clients, and lend a friendly ear. For someone in a domestic violence situation, the salon may be the one of the few or even the only place they can go without their abuser. So how do we identify the signs of domestic violence, and offer the right kind of support for clients and team members who may be in danger?  Our g...

You might know Elizabeth Faye from her Instagram , or maybe you've watched her Tedx Talk about how hairstylists can change the world or attended one of her retreats with Hair Love University . Elizabeth just announced her latest venture, The Vitality Project , the first wellness program designed for salon companies, barbershops and beauty schools!  In this high-energy episode, Elizabeth and Blake...

Faith Rivers contains multitudes. In the salon industry, she's worn many hats, including stylist, colorist, salon manager and manager of education and marketing for a major haircare brand. Faith also brings her experiences  in theater, journalism, and gender studies, as well as her Buddhist practice to bear in her work and in this wisdom-packed interview.  Topics include:  Setting and maintain bou...

Guest Bianca Rose is a stylist behind the chair, owner of Bianca Rose Salon in Fairfield, Ohio, and hair influencer known for vivid colors, including her own gorgeous pink hair. Bianca recently began working with a Summit coach and converting her salon company to Summit systems. She speaks with Blake Reed Evans about why she made the decision, and how to set expectations for your team and graceful...

You’re an associate, and the stylist you’re assigned to isn’t letting you get hands-on with clients. You work the front desk, and one of the stylists is consistently rude to you. You’re a stylist, and the front desk has been under-booking you for weeks. You’re a co-owner, and your business partner is over-spending on spa equipment. Situations like these require communication - and in a business wh...

 Stylists are increasingly seeing renting their own suite or booth as an appealing alternative to working in a commission salon.  Guest Anne Chesbro is co-owner of a commission salon company, Platinum Salon, as well as a suite rental business in Rochester, NY. She and her husband Joe Chesbro founded Platinum Salon Suites to meet the needs of stylists who wanted to strike out on their own. Unlike m...

Korie Lance is the owner of The Mae Salon and Spa in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Mae took home two 2024 Summit Unplugged Awards: for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Sound Financial Practices. Out of all Summit salon companies, The Mae was recognized for highest year over year growth: 192%!    In this episode, Blake and Korie discuss how The Mae has built a salon culture that's inclusive of all...

As stylists, we want to be there for our clients, while also setting professional boundaries around our time. Online booking saves time and takes some of the emotion out of setting up hair appointments. But today's guest says combining tech with a human touch makes for the best customer experience, and makes business sense too.  Guest Missy Megginson is Director of Sales and Business Development a...

Erin Gray and Annie MacArthur are The Hair Nerds , an independent pro beauty media and education company. Their signature events, called Hairventures , allow salon professionals to learn from top stylists around the world, as well as experience foreign cultures and build lasting friendships, at an affordable price. In this episode, Erin and Annie tell Blake about their recent trips to London and T...

We're still riding the high of Summit Unplugged, our first ever salon leadership conference and a time to really focus on ourselves and our wellbeing in the industry. (Did we mention it was on the beach in Cancun?!) If you missed this year don't worry: we've got a recap on this episode and info on how to get in on the next one.  Blake also hosted our first ever live SUMM IT UP episode at the confe...

As Blake says, hair stylists these days are in such high demand, they could set up shop in the middle of a field and people would still come to have their hair done! In addition, the new generation of incoming stylists care more than ever about company culture, including fair labor practices, flexibility and social and environmental values. So salon owners need to adapt to attract and retain talen...

The last four years have been a big reset for the salon industry. When we shut down in 2020 we learned that many of our clients see us as essential workers. We saw a surge in demand coming out of lockdown. But now, we once again need to raise our standards to keep our clients. The pandemic years also accelerated a trend towards employees asking for more flexibility in shaping their schedules.   He...

For Bil Neal, being a salon sales consultant isn't about pushing product. It's about building relationships and growing small businesses. Bil Neal is a salon business partner (SBC) with SalonCentric, a division of L'Oréal USA, working with Summit salons and other salon companies in southern Ohio.  Want to try out a new product without commiting? Call Bil. Want education for your stylists? Bil can...

Andrew Carruthers is a stylist educator and trainer and a Sam Villa culture ambassador, and coaches private clients inside and outside the beauty industry through his company The Journeyist . Our conversation this episode is about managing stress and controlling reactivity – skills essential to communication and leadership. You’ll learn simple breathing techniques from the Oxygen Advantage method,...

A member of the beauty industry since 2011, Colissa Nole recently left the salon company where she worked as a stylist and struck out on her own -- first in a booth rental space, and most recently her own space with a co-owner. While it's an adjustment becoming your own boss, Colissa says the change has allowed her to offer the best service of her career, and "fall in love with hair all over again...

We’re living in a time of cultural transition. Individuals are openly expressing gender and sexuality with more freedom than before. At the same time, some still believe that expression outside of the traditional cisgender heterosexual frame is a bad thing. Others want to be supportive, but are unsure about the correct pronouns and terminology to use, or how to respectfully acknowledge queer ident...