The Hairdresser Strong Show

The views and opinions of our guests are theirs and important to hear. Each guest's views and opinions are their own and we aim to bring you diverse perspectives, career paths and thoughts about the craft and industry so you can become Hairdresser Strong! They do not necessarily reflect the positions of HairdresserStrong.com.

HdS NEWS: Market Updates, Consumer Trends, and Tech

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

This week's episode breaks down what’s happening in the economy, how consumer behavior is shifting, and why it matters to you, the hairstylist/barber, owner, and hairpreneur.

From inflation and spending patterns to tech, AI, and crypto, this is about understanding the environment you’re operating in and how to position yourself within it.

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Key Takeaways:

🔅Clients are still spending, but they’re more selective – People are prioritizing essentials and experiences while cutting back on impulse spending, which means you need to clearly communicate why your service is worth it.

🔅Value matters more than ever – Clients are questioning pricing more, so your ability to explain, demonstrate, and deliver value directly impacts retention and rebooking.

🔅You’re in an experience-driven industry – As consumers shift toward spending on experiences, hairdressers have an opportunity to stand out by elevating the full client experience, not just the technical result.

🔅Higher-income clients are driving spending – In a “K-shaped” recovery, targeting and retaining higher-value clients becomes increasingly important for stability and growth.

🔅Raising prices requires better communication, not justification – Clients don’t care about your costs or inflation. They care about what they’re getting and how it makes them feel.

🔅Clients are more intentional with their money – Spending has shifted from convenience to justification, meaning every appointment needs to feel worth it before, during, and after the service.

🔅Small businesses feel the pressure more than big brands – Large companies can discount, but service providers must compete through experience, consistency, and relationship-building.

🔅Economic uncertainty affects client behavior – Inflation, housing, and market volatility all impact how confident clients feel spending money, especially at higher price points.

🔅Owning assets matters for long-term stability – If you want to build wealth as a hairdresser, understanding investing and asset ownership is critical in an inflationary environment.

🔅Uncertainty is the dominant theme right now – Markets, tech, and crypto are all influenced by policy and global events, which creates hesitation and slower decision-making across the board.

One of our missions is to raise the esteem and perceived importance & value of hairdressers across the USA. HdS NEWS is part of that effort. We believe to achieve this goal, we must raise the bar of professionalism, service, and sophistication of hairdressers. We hope you enjoy the news and look forward to your comments!

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DISCLAIMER: Robert holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance. Robert curates the news and explains his understanding. We suggest you use this information to talk with your financial advisor, business advisor, and/or CPA. Legal counsel may be required for some of your decisions as well. If you want business advice from Hairdresser Strong, you can hire us as a consultant/advisor, but we are not financial advisors, lawyers, or accountants.

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

Why Most Hairdressers Don’t Build Wealth (And How to Change It) | Anna Manukyan, CFEd. | Founder, Beautiful Finance Group & Beautiful Wealth

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Anna Manukyan, Certified Financial Educator and founder of Beauty Finance Group and Beautiful Wealth, breaks down why many hairdressers struggle to build long-term wealth even when they’re earning good money. She explains how mindset, habits, and financial literacy gaps keep people stuck and what it actually takes to change that.

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Key Takeaways:

🔅Making money is not the same as building wealth – Many hairdressers increase income but never translate it into long-term financial stability.

🔅Wealth is built through behavior, not income – Consistent habits around saving, spending, and investing matter more than how much you earn.

🔅Most people were never taught how money actually works – A lack of accessible financial education keeps many professionals repeating the same patterns.

🔅If you don’t keep part of what you earn, you’ll always feel behind – Building wealth starts with consistently setting money aside, even in small amounts.

🔅Lifestyle growth can quietly prevent wealth building – As income increases, spending often rises with it unless it’s managed intentionally.

🔅Your mindset shapes your financial outcomes – Shifting from short-term thinking to long-term ownership changes how you make decisions.

🔅Thinking like an investor changes everything – Viewing money as something to grow, not just spend, is a key turning point.

🔅You don’t need complexity, you need consistency – Simple, repeatable actions over time are what actually create financial progress.

RELATED LINKS

📸Follow Anna on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/amanukyan/

📸Follow Beautiful Wealth on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beautiful.wealth

💰Check out Beauty Finance Group's Website - https://beauty.finance/home

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From Stylist to Educator: Class Design, Inspiration, Philosophy, and What Comes Next | Ashleigh Taylor, Owner + Master Colorist + Educator | Taylor & York Salon

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Ashleigh Taylor of Taylor & York Salon reflects on her Signature Blowout Mastery class and the process behind teaching textured hair techniques while stepping into the role of educator. She explains how preparation, product knowledge, and intentional class design shape both the learning experience and the results behind the chair.

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Key Takeaways:

🔅Education starts with action – Inspiration alone doesn’t create opportunities. Turning ideas into structured learning experiences is what moves educators forward.

🔅Great classes require thoughtful design – A strong class isn’t just a demonstration. It includes context, discussion, technique breakdown, and real problem-solving.

🔅Preparation determines the final result – Cleansing, conditioning, and proper treatment create the foundation for a smooth, healthy finish.

🔅Product knowledge creates confidence – Knowing what products do and how they interact with different hair types allows stylists to work with intention instead of guesswork.

🔅Technique evolves through repetition – Mastery develops over time through consistent practice and refinement of movement, timing, and rhythm.

🔅Teaching reinforces your own craft – Explaining your process to others deepens your understanding of why techniques work.

🔅Education helps elevate the industry – When stylists share knowledge openly, the overall standard of the craft improves.

🔅Creative careers require courage – Leaning into your gifts and stepping into education means trusting your experience and being willing to share it.

RELATED LINKS

📸Follow Ashleigh on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/ashleighbtaylor/

📸Follow Taylor & York on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/taylorandyorksalon/

If you're interested in collaborating with Hairdresser Strong to develop, produce, and promote an educational class, reach out by DM or email (listen@hairdresserstrong.com)

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From Layoff to Barber Shop Owner: Building Community Through Business | Lesley Bryant | Owner and Founder, Lady Clipper Barber Shop | TheLadyClipper.com

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 06:00:00 -0400

After being laid off from a graphic design job in the commercial real estate industry, Lesley Bryant pivoted into barbering and eventually built Lady Clipper Barber Shop in Washington, D.C. from the ground up.

In this conversation, she shares how community relationships, relentless work ethic, and authentic connection helped turn a hallway-sized startup into a thriving neighborhood shop.

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Key Takeaways:

🔅Career pivots can create unexpected opportunities - After being laid off from a graphic design job in the commercial real estate industry, Lesley decided to pursue barbering and eventually built Lady Clipper Barber Shop.

🔅Start before everything is perfect - With only about $5,000 saved, Lesley began buying equipment piece by piece and even set up a temporary chair in her home while preparing to open her shop.

🔅Community is the foundation of the business - Lesley explains that a barber shop isn’t just about services; it’s built on the people who trust you with their hair, their stories, and their milestones.

🔅Ask for opportunities instead of waiting for them - Instead of waiting for the right space to appear, Lesley drove around neighborhoods, called landlords, and asked about openings until someone gave her a chance.

🔅Work ethic can replace outside funding early on - Long days behind the chair and consistent saving allowed her to fund the business herself before opening the shop.

🔅Support the community and the community supports you - Featuring local artists in the shop created stronger neighborhood relationships while giving creatives a place to showcase their work.

🔅Prepare before someone gives you a chance - Having a clear plan, realistic numbers, and the ability to explain your vision helps when landlords, lenders, or partners consider taking a chance on you.

🔅Transparency helps retain a strong team - Clear expectations around clientele, commission structures, and culture help barbers understand the environment and stay long term.

🔅Authenticity builds loyalty - Clients often follow stylists into new ventures when they trust the relationship and believe in what the business is building.

RELATED LINKS

📸Follow Lesley on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/lesleyladyclipper/

📸Follow Lady Clipper Barber Shop on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/ladyclipper/

Check out Lady Clipper Barber Shop's Website - https://www.theladyclipper.com/

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The Hairdresser Confidence Index: What the Data Says About Job Satisfaction | Gerard Scarpaci | Co-Founder, Hairbrained

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Gerard Scarpaci, Co-Founder of Hairbrained, breaks down the Hairdresser Confidence Index and what the latest data reveals about job satisfaction, confidence, investment behavior, and why so many stylists describe their work with one word: overwhelmed.

This conversation goes beyond surface metrics like retail and ticket averages to uncover what’s happening below the waterline — and why salon owners who understand the emotional drivers behind performance will build stronger, more stable teams in 2026 and beyond.

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Key Takeaways:

🔅Overwhelm is a leading indicator - Across surveyed stylists, “overwhelmed” was one of the most commonly used words to describe how they feel at work. When overwhelm rises, satisfaction and performance often decline.

🔅Job satisfaction directly impacts growth - Stylists who report higher satisfaction are more likely to invest in education, retail, and long-term career development. When confidence drops, so does investment.

🔅Revenue metrics don’t tell the whole story - Retail per client and service tickets matter, but what’s happening emotionally beneath the surface often determines whether those numbers rise or fall.

🔅Energy management affects retention - Time between appointments, schedule control, and “protection of time” strongly influence whether stylists feel sustainable in their role.

🔅Timely education increases confidence - Education that solves current challenges, not recycled trends, contributes to stronger morale and performance.

🔅Leadership requires curiosity, not assumptions - Owners who regularly ask how their team is feeling and why gain clearer insight into performance gaps before they become attrition.

🔅Sentiment predicts behavior - When stylists feel uncertain, they hesitate to invest. When they feel confident, they expand, market, and grow.

🔅Below-the-waterline issues determine longevity - Burnout, pressure, and unclear expectations quietly erode teams long before it shows up in revenue reports

RELATED LINKS

📸Follow Gerard on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/gerardscarpaci/

📸Follow Hairbrained on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/hairbrained_official/

📊Download the full Hairdresser Confidence Index Report HERE

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Community Conversations: Career & Entrepreneurship Advice for the Hair Industry | Will Stamm | Entrepreneur, Master Barber, Educator, & Author | ProFRESH Barber Academy + ProFRESHional Cuts + ProFRESH Foundation

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0400

💬 This isn’t just another podcast...we’re releasing our 01/06/26 Community Conversation from Instagram Live with Will Stamm, Entrepreneur, Master Barber, Educator, & Author.

What does it really take to build a lasting career in the hair industry? In this Community Conversation, Will Stamm shares the mindset shifts that separate short-term wins from long-term careers behind the chair. From financial intelligence and mentorship to leadership and sacrifice, he explains why mastering your craft isn’t enough if you don’t also master your habits.

This conversation challenges stylists and barbers to think bigger, lead better, and treat their career like the business it already is.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅Short-term wins don’t equal long-term careers – The professionals who last focus on consistent habits, not quick momentum.

🔅Master your habits, not just your craft – Technical skill opens doors, but discipline, structure, and routine create sustainability.

🔅Financial intelligence is non-negotiable – Understanding revenue, expenses, and reinvestment turns a stylist into an entrepreneur.

🔅Ownership mindset starts before ownership papers – Even as an employee, thinking like a business owner changes your decisions and growth path.

🔅Leadership is built through example, not title – How you show up daily determines your influence in the room.

🔅Mentorship accelerates maturity – Learning from those ahead of you prevents costly mistakes and sharpens perspective.

🔅Sacrifice is part of scale – Growth requires giving up comfort, distractions, and sometimes ego.

🔅Character compounds over time – Reputation, consistency, and integrity create opportunities you can’t manufacture overnight.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Will on Instagram

👉Follow ProFRESH Barber Academy on Instagram

👉Follow ProFRESHional Cuts on Instagram

👉Follow ProFRESH Foundation on Instagram

👉Check out Will’s Linktr.ee for trainings, business consultations, and more - https://linktr.ee/willstamm_

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From High School Cosmo to Salon Owner: Learning, Leading, and Growing With Intention | Sam Lackney | Hairdresser & Owner | The Rare Bird

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Sam Lackney, hairdresser and owner of The Rare Bird, shares her journey from high school cosmetology to salon ownership, shaped by curiosity, community, and hard-earned perspective. She opens up about the lessons that come from learning the business side early, navigating uncertainty, and building a salon culture that prioritizes people, sustainability, and long-term growth.

This conversation explores how artistry and accountability intersect, and why sustainable salons are built on clarity, care, and long-term thinking.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

📺Watch this episode on YouTube📺

Key Takeaways:

🔅 Growth isn’t linear – Sam’s path from high school cosmetology to salon ownership shows that careers are built through persistence, pivots, and staying open to learning at every stage.

🔅 Learn the business early – Understanding numbers, retention, and performance metrics early on helped Sam make smarter decisions long before ownership was on the table.

🔅 Creative voice needs the right environment – Moving into a salon suite allowed Sam to refine her style and confidence, proving that where you work deeply impacts how you grow.

🔅 Community creates momentum – Rare Bird Salon was built quickly, but not alone. Strong relationships and asking for help made ownership possible.

🔅 Culture is a daily practice – A supportive salon isn’t defined by values on paper, but by how people are treated, supported, and developed every day.

🔅 Financial planning is non-negotiable – Ownership requires clear budgeting, realistic expectations, and the discipline to plan beyond the creative side of the work.

🔅 Ask questions before you get stuck – Sam emphasizes that progress often comes from being willing to ask for guidance instead of trying to figure everything out alone.

🔅 Education keeps careers sustainable – Ongoing learning, professional development, and curiosity are what keep both stylists and salons relevant long-term.

RELATED LINKS

📸Follow Sam on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/seesamcut/

📸Follow The Rare Bird on Instagram -https://www.instagram.com/therarebirdsalon/

👉Check out The Rare Bird's Linktr.ee for their website and events - https://linktr.ee/therarebirdsalon

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Why Fundamentals, Education, and Relationships Still Win in Beauty | Yene Damtew | Stylist, Hair Loss Specialist, Founder & Owner | Aesthetics Salon

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Yene Damtew shares her journey from early curiosity about hair to becoming the founder of Aesthetics Salon, and why education, fundamentals, and business awareness matter at every stage of a beauty career.

This conversation is about longevity, ownership mindset, and building something sustainable beyond trends or titles.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

📺Watch this episode on YouTube📺

Key Takeaways:

🔅Curiosity is the starting point of a lasting career – Yene’s early fascination with hair turned into a lifelong commitment to learning, proving that curiosity is the fuel for long-term growth.

🔅Trade careers require courage, not fallback thinking – Choosing cosmetology meant pushing against cultural expectations, but trades demand discipline, resilience, and entrepreneurial thinking.

🔅Fundamentals protect you when trends change – Mastering core techniques allows stylists to adapt as trends cycle instead of starting over every few years.

🔅Even employees must think like owners – Your book of business, relationships, money, and reputation are still your responsibility no matter how you are paid.

🔅Education is not optional at higher levels – Continued learning in both craft and business is what allows careers and salons to scale.

🔅Relationships are the real asset – Strong client connections protect income, create loyalty, and sustain careers during industry disruptions.

🔅Long-term planning creates freedom – Thinking about savings, injury, family leave, and retirement early allows stylists to build careers that survive life changes.

🔅Community and mentorship prevent burnout – No one builds alone, and seeking guidance is a strength, not a weakness.

📺Watch this episode on YouTube📺

RELATED LINKS

📸Follow Yene on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/yenedamtew/

📸Follow Aesthetics Salon on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aesthetics.salon/

👉Check out Yene’s Linktr.ee for classes, tools, and more - https://linktr.ee/yenedamtew

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Building a Salon, Real-Time Docuseries Pt. 2: From Demo to Doors Open | Franky Acevedo, Barber & Gabby Bastos, Stylist | Co-Owners, Corte

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In Part 2 of our real-time salon build docuseries, we return to Corte in Washington, D.C., now fully built and officially open. Gabby and Franky, two first-time salon owners in Washington, D.C., reflect on the months between construction and opening day, sharing hard-earned lessons on patience, budgeting, design compromises, team building, and what it actually feels like to step into ownership.

This episode goes beyond the build to discuss comfort, workflow, client experience, and what it takes to step into ownership intentionally.

👀Watch this episode on YouTube to see their salon!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Patience is not optional – From signing the lease to opening day took six months, with half that time spent waiting on permits before any work could begin.

🔅Budget for time you can’t use the space – Paying rent on a location you can’t touch yet is a real cost of ownership and should be planned for upfront.

🔅Expect your vision to evolve – Design ideas you feel “married to” will change as limitations surface, and often the final result works better than the original plan.

🔅Comfort and workflow matter more than size – Narrower stations, wider walkways, and intentional spacing improved movement, client comfort, and overall functionality.

🔅Prioritize where clients spend the most time – Investing more in stations and touchpoints paid off, while other design elements were kept intentionally lower-budget.

🔅Outside input can strengthen your vision – Feedback from trusted peers helped refine the space and made it feel more welcoming and alive.

🔅Customer experience starts at the door – Clear points of contact, knowing where to go, and feeling acknowledged immediately shape how clients experience the salon.

🔅Community and education fuel long-term growth – Beyond opening, Gabby and Franky are building toward education and collaboration as the next phase of ownership. Check out Corte Education.

Corte is a space where clients feel at home and stylists feel supported. Gabby and Franky aim for their salon to be recognized for its precision cutting, creativity, and collaboration, while cultivating a culture of leadership, education, and comfort for both guests and their team.

👉Follow Corte on Instagram

📱Follow Gabby on Instagram

📱Follow Franky on Instagram

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Community Conversations: Clean Beauty - Looking Beyond the Label | Adria Marshall | Founder + CEO | Ecoslay

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0400

💬 This isn’t just another podcast...we’re releasing our 11/13/25 Community Conversation from Instagram Live with Adria Marshall, Founder + CEO of Ecoslay.

In this Community Conversation, Adria Marshall, breaks down what clean beauty really means beyond marketing labels. She shares how to read ingredient lists, why scanning apps can mislead consumers, and how stylists can build trust by educating clients with clarity instead of fear.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅Clean beauty has no universal definition – What’s considered “clean” varies by person, brand, and values, making education more important than labels.

🔅Ingredient order tells the real story – Ingredients are listed by volume, so the first five ingredients make up most of the product and deserve the most attention.

🔅Scanning apps can mislead more than they help – Ingredient apps often oversimplify complex science and can give conflicting results for the same product.

🔅Natural doesn’t automatically mean safer – Some synthetic ingredients are more stable and less irritating than natural alternatives, especially for sensitive clients.

🔅Moisture is the foundation of curly hair care – Healthy curls rely on proper hydration first, supported by protein balance and regular clarifying.

🔅Sustainability goes beyond ingredients – Packaging, sourcing, and manufacturing practices play a major role in a brand’s environmental impact.

🔅Education builds stronger client trust – Stylists who confidently explain ingredients help clients feel informed instead of fearful.

🔅The best conversations start with listening – Asking clients what matters to them creates better recommendations and stronger relationships.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Adria on Instagram

👉Follow + learn about Ecoslay's products on Instagram

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Reinventing Beauty Through Technology, Trust, and Infrastructure | Dasha Minina | Founder & CEO, BeautyAList & Licensify | Built to Protect Licensed Beauty Professionals

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Dasha Minina, CEO and founder of Licensify, BeautyAList, and Maxus Nails, shares how her journey into beauty exposed critical gaps in technology, licensing, and consumer trust.

This episode explores what it really takes to build the infrastructure the beauty industry has long been missing and why modern systems matter for professionals and consumers alike.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅Licensing builds trust, not just compliance – Dasha’s experience showed that licensing protects consumers and signals professionalism, not just a regulatory requirement.

🔅Technology should reduce friction for professionals – Tools should make life easier for beauty pros, not add more admin, content pressure, or manual work.

🔅Solve the problem you personally experienced – Licensify was born from Dasha’s own frustration as a consumer navigating an unverified industry.

🔅Infrastructure gaps create opportunity – The beauty industry is behind in technology, which leaves room for founders to modernize broken systems.

🔅You don’t need to work behind the chair to serve the industry well – Proximity, education, and listening can create meaningful tools without pretending to be something you’re not.

🔅Build with people smarter than you – Progress came from assembling experts rather than trying to master everything alone.

🔅Failure strengthens systems when you keep going – Losing an entire first product order led to better contracts, tighter processes, and stronger decision-making.

🔅Smaller, intentional communities are the future – Trust and attention are shifting toward focused platforms that provide real value.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Dasha on Instagram

👉Check out Licensify (helps beauty brands verify licenses, prevent product diversion, and power pro-only eCommerce with patented compliance automation.)

👉Check out BeautyAList (support professionals, educate clients, and bridge the gap between top-tier beauty services and the people who need them.)

👉Check out Maxus Beauty (skin and nails)

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Building With Intention: A Salon Owner’s Story | Kimberly Christoph | Salon Owner & Color Specialist | Mane Street Georgetown

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, salon owner and color specialist Kimberly Christoph shares her 22-year journey from behind the chair to opening her own salon (Mane Street Georgetown) in DC. She speaks honestly about financial risk, long-term planning, continuous education, and how building with purpose shaped the kind of salon, culture, and experience she wanted to create.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅Ownership doesn’t have to be rushed – Kimberly waited until she felt grounded in her craft, finances, and life before opening, proving that timing matters more than speed.

🔅Experience is preparation, not delay – The years she spent behind the chair gave her clarity, confidence, and perspective that made ownership feel intentional instead of overwhelming.

🔅Education supports long-term confidence – Continuous learning helped Kimberly stay relevant and prepared to lead, not just perform services.

🔅Clear goals guide big decisions – Setting intentional goals helped her recognize when it was the right moment to move forward with ownership.

🔅Financial readiness creates peace – Honest financial planning allowed Kimberly to take calculated risks instead of reactive ones.

🔅Sacrifice is part of building on purpose – Liquidating personal assets was not easy, but it aligned with her long-term vision and commitment.

🔅Environment reflects values – Kimberly focused on creating a welcoming, calm space that matched how she wanted clients and staff to feel, not just how it looked.

🔅Team culture grows from care – Investing in staff benefits and support reinforced loyalty and created a workplace people wanted to be part of.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Mane Street Georgetown on Instagram

👉See what opportunities are available at Mane Street Georgetown HERE

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From Stylist to CEO: Strategy, Mentorship, and Longevity in Beauty | Tanya Tymus-Bellamy | Salon Owner & CEO, McKenna Jordan Salon Bar | Product Line Owner, TRHI for ICONIC Hair | Serial Entrepreneur & Beauty Strategist

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, salon owner and serial entrepreneur Tanya Tymus-Bellamy shares lessons from a 39 year career spanning ten salons across multiple cities. From funding and staffing to mentorship and long-term strategy, Tanya breaks down what it really takes to build a sustainable, high-end beauty business.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅Relationships compound over time – Tanya credits long-term success to trust built with clients, mentors, and investors. Strong relationships create opportunities that skill alone cannot.

🔅Talent opens doors, strategy keeps them open – Early in her career, Tanya relied on skill. Longevity came from planning, systems, and learning how to run a business intentionally.

🔅Funding choices shape your freedom – By using investors instead of traditional loans, Tanya protected flexibility and avoided pressure that can stall growth before it starts.

🔅Mentorship shortens the learning curve – Guidance from experienced owners helped Tanya avoid costly mistakes, and she now pays that forward by mentoring others.

🔅Location is a business decision, not a vibe – High-end services require the right market, positioning, and clientele. Where you open directly impacts profitability.

🔅Staffing is leadership work – Hiring and retention became even harder after COVID, reinforcing that people management is an ongoing skill, not a one-time task.

🔅Beauty is a career, not a side hustle – Tanya challenges stylists to treat this industry as a serious, lucrative profession with long-term potential.

🔅Longevity comes from adaptation – Across relocations, economic shifts, and shutdowns, Tanya stayed relevant by evolving instead of walking away.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Tanya on Instagram

👉Check out Tanya's Salon, McKenna Jordan Salon Bar

👉Check out Tanya's product line, TRHI for ICONIC Hair, on Instagram

👉Check out Heir Beauty Collective from Tanya (We train stylists to earn 6 figures behind the chair and grow to 7-figure beauty entrepreneurs )

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Finding Your Place in the Industry: Lessons from a New Stylist | Avery Wilder | Hairstylist | Sadona Salon + Spa

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Avery Wilder shares what it's really like to move from cosmetology school into the salon world, from confusing interviews to finding the right culture and education. This is an honest look at the lessons every new stylist learns in their first years behind the chair.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅 Pay attention to what clicks – Avery didn't start school knowing her path, but a layered haircut demo helped her realize cutting was where she thrived. Those moments matter.

🔅 Ask questions before you accept a role – Titles like “assistant” can mean very different things. Avery learned the importance of asking what daily responsibilities, education, and growth actually look like.

🔅 Understand how you’re paid – When commission numbers didn’t add up, it exposed deeper issues. New stylists should track their numbers early and ask questions when something feels off.

🔅 Don't rush independence – Avery chose a salon environment over a suite because she didn't yet have the skill set, client base, or support system.

🔅 Advocate for your growth – Speaking up, asking for education, and choosing environments aligned with learning shaped her career path.

🔅 Education retains talent – A lack of structured learning was a major reason Avery left previous salons. Growth opportunities directly impact whether new talent stays.

🔅Customer service and first impressions matter – Being remembered by the front desk, welcomed & acknowledged, made Avery feel confident in her choice of salon. Customer experience starts long before the chair.

RELATED LINKS

👉Connect with Avery on Instagram

👉Check out Sadona Salon + Spa, where Avery currently works

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Hairdressers on a Mission: Inside Hair Aid’s Global Impact | Corey Gray | Co-Host, Your Day Off Podcast | @Hairdustry & Alannah Zilkowsky | Hair Aid International Project Leader

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Corey Gray and Alana Zylkowsky share what it’s really like volunteering with Hair Aid, a global charity teaching haircutting skills to break the cycle of poverty. From Cambodian prisons to women’s shelters, this conversation explores service, resilience, and the power of education.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅Get involved through Hair Aid - They train people in developing countries to cut hair for micro-businesses and provide free community haircuts by volunteer hairdressers. Hair Aid works with trained hairdressers who volunteer to teach in partnership with local NGOs. Stylists can apply to volunteer, donate, or support through awareness and fundraising.

🔅Education breaks the cycle - For many trainees, this is their first formal education, creating opportunity where there previously was none.

🔅Community is the real impact - Graduates go on to train others, open salons, and place stylists across their cities, creating ripple effects throughout entire communities.

🔅Relationships matter more than travel - Volunteering is not tourism. Cultural immersion, humility, and relationship-building are what make the work meaningful and effective.

🔅Service transforms you, the volunteer, too - Volunteers consistently report renewed purpose, personal growth, and healing from burnout through service.

🔅Corey’s experience wasn’t just professional, it was personal - He describes Cambodia as deeply emotional, perspective-shifting, and centered around surrender, humility, and presence

RELATED LINKS

👉Learn more about Hair Aid & get involved on their website

👉Follow Hair Aid on Instagram & Facebook

👉Connect with Alannah on Instagram

👉Connect with Corey on Instagram

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TX to DC: Building a Thriving Business Through Content, Clarity, and Client Care | Kayli Nicole | Natural Hair Care Specialist, Colorist, Educator | Love, Kayli Nicole Hair & Beauty

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, natural hair specialist and educator Kayli Nicole shares how she rebuilt her career from Texas to DC, created a waitlist before she ever arrived, and transformed her business through content, clarity, and courage.

Her story is a masterclass in resilience, navigating debt, rebuilding financial confidence, and intentionally growing a client base.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways:

🔅 Use content to establish demand before you arrive — Kayli repositioned her brand, shifted her location tags, and showed her personality online, allowing clients in the DMV to connect with her before she ever stepped foot in the city.

🔅 Let your client experience justify your pricing — Her multi-hour, education-based new-client appointment created clarity, trust, and transformations that matched her premium rates.

🔅 Plan your move with intention — Kayli strategically prepared for her transition by organizing her branding, reviewing her finances, and building a waitlist to ensure momentum on day one.

🔅 Financial literacy is part of being a successful stylist — Facing her debt, working with an accountant, and applying for a grant strengthened her business foundation and improved her long-term stability.

🔅 Connection converts — Clients told her they booked because they felt like they already knew her. Her voice, energy, and presence online built trust long before the first appointment.

🔅 Authenticity is a growth strategy — Posting her work, her personality, and her process helped Kayli attract the right clients—people who valued her expertise, her care, and the experience she delivers.

RELATED LINKS

👉Learn more about Kayli on her website

👉Connect with Kayli on Instagram

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Leasing a Salon or Shop? Key Steps & Advice From Pedal Retail Advisors | Sheila Laderburg Tarasiuk | Cofounder & Retail Real Estate Consultant | Pedal Retail Advisors

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Signing a commercial lease is one of the biggest and irreversible decisions a salon or shop owner will ever make.

In this conversation, Sheila Laderburg Tarasiuk of Pedal Retail Advisors explains what it truly means to be transaction-ready and shares the essential steps, costs, and protections every beauty professional needs before moving into a retail space.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Be transaction-ready before you even look at a space — Sheila stresses that you must have a full business plan, financial clarity, and a real understanding of commercial real estate before a broker will take you seriously.

🔅Know what you’re signing — leases are long, binding, and hard to escape — A commercial lease isn’t casual paperwork; Sheila explains it can be harder to exit than a marriage and comes with years of personal financial commitment.

🔅Have real money ready — opening a salon usually costs around $200,000 — Even “simple” or “turnkey” spaces require deposits, build-out, signage, legal fees, utilities, and upfront operating capital.

🔅Don’t go in alone — the landlord’s broker does NOT represent you — Sheila’s direct warning: every building has a broker, and their job is to protect the landlord’s interests, not yours.

🔅Your business plan must be detailed, researched, and math-driven — A real business plan takes months, not a weekend, and requires deep thinking, budgeting, and market analysis before approaching landlords.

🔅Preparation is what keeps you grounded when emotions hit — When clients panic at the final signing stage, Sheila brings them back to their business plan to make sure every assumption still holds.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Pedal Retail Advisors on Instagram

👉Connect with Sheila on LinkedIn

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Systems, Scaling & Salon Success: Lessons from a DMV Salon Owner | Jannay McIver, Owner of Asili Hair Care Center | www.asilihaircarecenter.com

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From earning her cosmetology license at eighteen to opening three thriving salons, Jannay McIver shares how mastering business systems, finances, and leadership transformed her from a behind-the-chair stylist into a visionary salon owner shaping the future of beauty entrepreneurship.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start with structure — every successful salon begins with clear systems that define how clients are served and how teams operate.

🔅You can’t scale chaos — written processes create consistency across locations, ensuring the same guest experience every time.

🔅Learn the numbers — understanding cash flow, pricing, and profitability is essential to sustain growth and protect your business.

🔅Delegate with trust — empowering your team and letting go of control is how you move from stylist to true owner.

🔅Keep learning, always — education—from industry training to business programs like Goldman Sachs—keeps your leadership sharp and your vision current.

🔅Lead with purpose — blending beauty, wellness, and financial literacy builds stronger professionals and stronger communities.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Jannay on Instagram

👉Follow Asili Hair Care Center on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

Changes Beyond Your Control? Pivoting with Courage, Agility, and Determination | Jahnaya Harris | Naya’s Chair | Holistic Hair Care Provider

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Most people wait until they feel ready — Jahnaya didn’t have that luxury. In this honest conversation, she shares what it’s like to build a career and a business at the same time, how she’s learned to trust the process, and why entrepreneurship is more about courage than confidence.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start before you feel ready — Jahnaya graduated the week D.C. shut down but kept moving forward, taking clients from home and turning uncertainty into opportunity.

🔅Adapt quickly and strategically — When her salon job offer vanished overnight, she pivoted to a home setup, stayed compliant with safety limitations, and kept serving clients with professionalism.

🔅Invest in yourself through education — From cosmetology school to ongoing classes, Jahnaya proves that independent stylists must replace salon training with self-driven learning to stay sharp.

🔅Make customer service your superpower — Clear communication, comfort, and care helped her grow from three to sixty clients—proof that great service builds stronger referrals than social media alone.

🔅Be resourceful with what you have — She started with one salon chair, a mat, and minimal tools, showing that success comes from creativity and consistency, not a large budget.

🔅Connect beauty with wellness — Her holistic approach blends hair care with mindset and emotional health, emphasizing that inner well-being directly impacts hair health.

🔅Dream beyond the chair — Jahnaya’s long-term vision of a community-centered wellness space reminds stylists to see their career as a platform for larger impact, not just income.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Jahnaya on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

The Power of Co-Creation: Building Beauty Spaces With People, Not For Them | Dana Fountain | Beauty Platform Creator/She-E-O Pin Me Up Chicago & Your Beauty Blueprint

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a little different— because instead of just talking about business models, we’re walking through them in real time.

While in Chicago, we spent time with Dana Fountain, visionary beauty entrepreneur, author of The Beauty Blueprint, and founder of Chicago’s largest bridal beauty agency, Pin Me Up Chicago. She’s built 7 unique salon concepts, each designed around the stylists who call them home.

In this episode, Dana takes us on a live tour through her 7 salon concepts and her wedding/event venue, Row 24. Along the way, we discuss collaboration, partnerships, and what it truly means to create spaces where stylists can flourish, grow, and thrive.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Collaboration is a growth strategy, not a personality trait. Dana doesn’t “add people into her business” — she builds businesses with people from the start.

🔅Don’t build a space and hope someone fits — build a space because someone fits. Her salons look different because the stylists inside them are different — the model begins with the human, not the floor plan.

🔅The right partnerships multiply your impact. Partnership isn’t about expansion; it’s about co-creation that produces something neither party could have built alone.

🔅The space is the business model. Each location functions differently by design because each was built around the work, lifestyle, niche, and goals of the people inside it.

🔅Culture isn’t “set” by the owner — it’s co-created. The identity of each location emerges from those who work there, not from a template being replicated.

🔅Leadership is shared, not centralized. Dana empowers people to co-steward the space, which creates stickiness, alignment, and true ownership — emotionally and operationally.

RELATED LINKS

📺See all 7 concepts by watching on YouTube!

👉Follow Dana on Instagram

💡Check out all of Dana's platforms from Your Beauty BluePrint and her salon concepts, to her bridal agency and event space HERE

CONNECT WITH US

Entrepreneurship with Heart: The Discipline, Hustle & Philanthropy Behind 25 Years of Growth | Winn Claybaugh | Dean and Co-Founder of Paul Mitchell Schools | Podcast Host, MASTERS

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

What does it look like to build a business with heart over 25 years — not just success on paper, but a legacy rooted in people, purpose, and service?

In this powerful conversation, Winn Claybaugh (author, speaker, and co-founder of Paul Mitchell Schools) shares what it means to lead with generosity, stay grounded in discipline, and build a culture where kindness is non-negotiable. From mentorship to brand stewardship to showing up for your team long before you ask anything of them, Winn breaks down why sustainable entrepreneurship starts with character, not ego.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Lead by serving first – Make deposits into people before you expect performance. Service builds trust, trust builds influence.

🔅Create culture through behavior, not slogans – Culture is what you consistently model, not what you print on a wall.

🔅Kindness should be operational, not accidental – Build it into how you onboard, give feedback, celebrate wins, and repair mistakes.

🔅Schedule your discipline – The “unseen” habits (training, reflection, preparation) are what create longevity, not the public moments.

🔅Mentor early and often – You don’t have to be “finished” to lift others; lead from exactly where you are.

🔅Build people before you build a brand – When your team grows, your business grows with them — not the other way around.

🔅The spotlight isn’t where success is built - Longevity comes from discipline — the quiet, consistent work you do when nobody is watching.

🔅Mentorship multiplies impact - Legacy isn’t what you build — it’s who you build.

RELATED LINKS

👉Follow Winn on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter/X

👀Check out his website - www.winnclaybaugh.com

Listen to Winn's podcast, MASTERS - www.mastersbywinnclaybaugh.com

📺YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/winnclaybaugh

📚Learn more about Paul Mitchell Schools - www.paulmitchell.edu

CONNECT WITH US

[LIVE from '25 Beauty Business Brunch] Serving & Building Community Through Entrepreneurship & Education | Herson Bautista | CEO, DC Barber Expo | Owner, Heritage Barber & Co.

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Special Edition: Live from the Beauty Business Brunch

What does it really take to build a thriving local industry? In this fireside chat recorded live at the 2025 Beauty Business Brunch, Herson Bautista—CEO of DC Barber Expo and Owner of Heritage Barber & Co.—joins Host, Robert Hughes, to talk entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and the power of community.

From lessons learned launching the DC Barber Expo to the importance of serving your team and showing up for one another, this conversation dives deep into what it means to grow through service, education, and connection.

🎟️ Exclusive Access: Until now, the in-depth takeaway and reflection guide was only available to Beauty Business Brunch attendees — but we’re sharing it with our podcast listeners for a limited time.

👉 DM us “recap” on Instagram to grab your free copy.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Lead through service - Entrepreneurship is about more than making money—it’s about showing up for your team, your clients, and your community.

🔅Feed your team first - “If your team isn’t eating, they won’t hunt.” When you invest in your people, they’ll pour that energy back into your clients.

🔅Take action, even when it’s risky - Overthinking can paralyze progress. Growth comes from acting on ideas, even when the outcome is uncertain.

🔅Do your homework - Before jumping in, research what’s already been done, learn from others’ paths, and build from there.

🔅Redefine success - Not everyone needs to own a business to win. You can live well, build wealth, and love what you do without being a salon owner.

🔅Embrace failure as part of the journey - Setbacks don’t define you—they refine you. Learn, adapt, and keep going.

👉Follow DC Barber Expo on Instagram

👉Herson Bautista on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

Anniversary in Greece: An Entrepreneurial Journey of Love and Business | Sammi Heffron, Co-Founder + Marketing + Events | Robert Hughes, Co-Founder + Host + Educator | HairdresserStrong

Tue, 07 Oct 2025 05:45:00 -0400

This week’s episode is a little different — and more personal.

Recorded on our anniversary trip in Greece 🇬🇷, we took a moment to pause, reflect, and talk honestly about what it really takes to build a business — and a life — together.

💬 How do you find balance when your work and your purpose are so deeply connected?

💬 How do you give yourself space to think when you’re always in “go mode”?

From the quiet lessons of slowing down to the big realizations about what we truly need to succeed, this episode captures a moment of reflection — and a reminder that growth doesn’t always mean doing more.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

🎉For those in the DC, MD, VA area, we are having our last Hairpreneur Happy Hour of the Year on Monday, October 13th at STK Steakhouse.

No Fee, No Pressure - Just show up, grab a bite and refreshment, and vibe with your fellow hairdressers!

Send us a DM to let us know you’ll be there!

🗣️The other event coming up is our Virtual Hairpreneur Roundtable on October 15th 7:30pm - 8:30pm EDT. This is a bi-monthly call for salon owners, stylists, barbers, and rising talent at any stage to ask big questions, get expert advice, and turn challenges into opportunities for growth.

Interested? Send us a DM to find out how to join!

CONNECT WITH US

From Stylist to $13M CEO: Terra Harvell on Entrepreneurship, Hair Extensions, Systems & Salon Success | Terra Harvell, CEO of Harper Ellis Hair Co. & CEO of Strata Salon Systems

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From stylist to $13M CEO, Terra Harvell shares how she built her empire through hair extensions, smart systems, and leadership—and why new talent and startup hairpreneurs need to think beyond the chair to create lasting success.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Build a strong foundation first — new stylists should learn the full spectrum of skills to become well-rounded before choosing a niche.

🔅Specialize to stand out — once you’ve mastered the basics, hone in on a niche (like extensions) to attract high-value clients and grow faster.

🔅Think like a CEO early — treat yourself as an entrepreneur from day one, not just a service provider.

🔅Master emotional intelligence — success comes not only from technical skills, but also from leadership, communication, and resilience

🔅Build scalable systems — create processes so your business thrives even when you’re not behind the chair.

🔅Invest in mentorship — seek out guidance to accelerate growth and avoid costly mistakes.

🔅Redefine success — focus on both profitability and fulfillment, aligning your career with your long-term vision.

👉Follow Terra Harvell on Instagram

👉Follow Harper Ellis Hair Co. on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

SPECIAL: Building a Salon, Real-Time Docuseries: Construction | Franky Acevedo, Barber & Gabby Bastos, Stylist | Co-Owners, Corte

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for Part 1 of our docuseries with Gabby and Franky, two first-time salon owners in Washington, D.C., as they open Corte—sharing the real challenges, surprises, and lessons of building a salon from the ground up.

👀Watch this episode on YouTube to see their salon!

Corte is being built to be a space where clients feel at home and stylists feel supported. Gabby and Franky aim for their salon to be recognized for its precision cutting, creativity, and collaboration, while cultivating a culture of leadership, education, and comfort for both guests and their team.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Opening a salon requires patience with permits and inspections—timelines often extend far beyond expectations.

🔅Budget more than you think you’ll need; cushion funds for rent, construction, and delays are critical.

🔅Building strong relationships with landlords, contractors, and architects can save time, money, and stress.

🔅Designing for stylist comfort and workflow—like wide walkways and real break rooms—pays off in staff satisfaction.

🔅Using downtime wisely (like training in leadership) can prepare you for managing a team before the doors open.

🔅Don’t shy away from the process—if you feel called to salon ownership, the rewards outweigh the challenges.

👉Follow Corte on Instagram

📱Follow Gabby on Instagram

📱Follow Franky on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

Entrepreneurship, Mentorship, & Beauty Gives Back | Mireya Villarreal & Julie Hightower Co-Founders, Beauty Gives Back Foundation

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, learn how purpose-driven leadership, mentorship, and community-building can transform businesses, lives, and the future of the beauty industry with Beauty Gives Back Co-Founders Mireya Villarreal & Julie Hightower

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Build with purpose: Tie your business to a mission that creates impact beyond profits—it will strengthen your brand and community.

🔅Seek mentors and be a mentor: Success in beauty comes from guidance, and paying it forward accelerates industry growth.

🔅Prioritize wellness: Protect your mental and physical health to avoid burnout and sustain a long career in beauty.

🔅Invest in financial literacy: Understand cash flow, funding, and strategic planning so you can grow without losing stability.

🔅Leverage events for growth: Networking and education events (like Beauty Gives Back) are opportunities to gain tools, connections, and scholarships that directly support your career.

🔅Give back strategically: Find ways to support your community—whether through scholarships, mentorship, or volunteering—to create a ripple effect of empowerment.

🎟️On September 15th, join Beauty Gives Back™ for a one-day experience filled with mentorship, networking, and inspiration from some of the most influential leaders in the beauty industry.

👉 Get tickets here: www.beautygivesbackfoundation.org

👉Follow Mireya on Instagram

👉Check out Pink Pewter

👉Check out Pink Pewter Foundation

👉Follow Julie on Instagram

👉Check out Daisie Foundation

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Financial Foundations for Beauty Business Owners: Cash Flow, CFOs & Cushioning Risk | Kevin Caldwell | Founder & Advisor, Islands East Advisors | Founder & Consultant, Islands East Financial Solutions

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Financial advisor Kevin Caldwell shares the money moves every beauty business owner needs to know—from separating personal and business finances to building an emergency fund, leveraging fractional CFOs, and mastering cash flow so your salon can thrive today and in the future.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Separate personal and business finances—mixing them can put your personal assets at risk and complicate taxes.

🔅Build a 3–6 month emergency fund to protect your salon or chair rental business when unexpected challenges arise.

🔅Leverage a fractional CFO to gain expert financial guidance without the cost of a full-time hire.

🔅Stay ahead on taxes—plan throughout the year instead of scrambling in April.

🔅Master cash flow forecasting so you can anticipate slow seasons, manage payroll, and make smarter growth decisions.

🔅Plan for the future—whether expanding, opening a new location, or preparing for an eventual exit.

👉Islands East Advisors website

👉Islands East Financial Solutions website

CONNECT WITH US

Building Beyond the Chair: Realities, Relationships, and Resilience | Jake Sturm | Salon Owner, Cosmetologist, & Barber, Salon Blaq | Educator & Brand Ambassador

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Jake Sturm—salon owner, educator, and brand ambassador—opens up about the realities of salon ownership, the resilience it took to overcome personal and professional challenges, and how building authentic relationships has shaped his journey beyond the chair.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Jake Sturm’s early career included 200+ days of travel in his first licensed year, building a wide network of mentors and opportunities.

🔅His journey demonstrates how education and brand ambassadorship can expand reach and credibility in the beauty industry.

🔅Jake emphasizes networking with intention—reaching out to those you admire and building real relationships.

🔅As a salon owner, he highlights the value of admitting mistakes and maintaining transparency with clients.

🔅He shares lessons on balancing multiple roles—salon owner, barber, cosmetologist, educator, and ambassador.

🔅Jake’s story shows that resilience and persistence are key drivers in building a long-term, sustainable career.

👉Follow Jake on Instagram

👉Check out Salon Blaq on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Presley Poe
The Powder Group
Paul Mitchell
Hair Love Retreat
Curl Cult

From Barber to Tech Startup Founder: How I Launched Cutnova | @dorian_barber_yt | CEO & Founder, Cutnova

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From the barber chair to the tech world, Dorian shares how he turned a gap in the booking app market into Cutnova—a platform blending appointments with community to help barbers grow, connect, and thrive.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Identify gaps in your industry by listening to pain points—Dorian created Cutnova after realizing existing booking apps isolated barbers instead of connecting them.

🔅Combine functionality with community—Cutnova merges appointment booking with a social network for barbers to share ideas, inspire each other, and grow together.

🔅Transitioning from hands-on work to tech requires research—Dorian studied market demographics and competitive platforms before development.

🔅Build with mentorship—partnering with his developer helped Dorian navigate technical challenges as a non-coder founder.

🔅Adapt and improve—future plans for Cutnova include AI integration and interactive features to deepen engagement.

🔅Entrepreneurship is about persistence—overcoming funding hurdles, building relationships, and staying committed to your vision are key to startup success.

👉Follow Dorian on Instagram

👉Check out Cutnova on Instagram

👉Check out Cutnova's website

CONNECT WITH US

Brand Partnerships & Salon Ownership: Jeremy Stephens’ Career Playbook | Jeremy Stephens | Owner, Jeremy Stephens Salon | Brand Ambassador & Global Artist

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Industry veteran Jeremy Stephens shares how he built a thriving salon and long-term brand partnerships with names like BaBylissPRO and Living Proof—offering a blueprint for stylists who want to grow in and beyond the chair.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Jeremy began his career in the industry through an apprenticeship after stepping away from college, eventually working his way up to become a salon owner.

🔅He emphasizes the power of relationship-building—with mentors, clients, and product reps—as the foundation for long-term growth.

🔅His career expanded when sales reps and brand leaders recommended him for education and ambassador roles based on his professionalism and work ethic.

🔅Commission-based salon ownership allowed him to build a consistent, branded client experience—something that mattered more to him than taking an easier booth rent route.

🔅Jeremy reminds stylists that brand relationships should align with your values and standards: “Don’t say yes to everything. Use the product. Ask questions.

🔅He advocates showing up professionally, listening first, and building trust to unlock long-term industry opportunities.

👉Follow Jeremy on Instagram

👉Check out Jeremy's Salon on Instagram

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Startup Story: Test. Sell. Build. Scale. Lessons from a Co-Founder | Dharmendra Manwani | Co-Founder & CEO, ArtistOnGo

Mon, 21 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Entrepreneur, CEO, and Co-Founder Dharmendra Manwani shares the startup journey behind ArtistOnGo, offering a real-world look at how to turn an idea into a product—through validation, iteration, and solving the right problem at the right time.

ArtistOnGo is a business in a box solution for beauty and wellness professionals empowering them with all the resources needed like space, digital storefront, wholesale purchases, payments, insurance etc to set up/operate their independent brand and business in less than 30 mins with Zero upfront investment.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅The evolution of the beauty industry has led to a demand for flexible working arrangements, prompting a shift towards independent practices among beauty professionals.

🔅Dharmendra Manwani (DM) co-founded ArtistOnGo after noticing a growing demand from stylists for flexible, independent work models.

🔅DM shares a founder’s playbook: validate demand, sell the concept, then build.

🔅Before writing a single line of code, he pre-sold Artist On Go to 30 salons—proving the market need.

🔅Listening to users and iterating quickly helped shape AOG into a platform stylists actually want to use.

🔅Building a tech product for stylists requires more than great code—it takes industry empathy and problem-solving.

🔅Entrepreneurship isn’t about chasing trends—it’s about solving a pain point others ignore.

🔅AOG’s evolution reflects what happens when tech meets deep industry insight and agile execution.

👉Follow ArtistOnGo on Instagram

👉Check out ArtistOnGo's website

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What Stylists Need to Know About Micro Salons & Suite Ownership | Kat Scott | Owner, The Rosewood Salon Co. | Business Coach, Destroy the Hairdresser

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Salon owner and business coach Kat Scott shares how she went from burned out in traditional salons to thriving as the owner of a micro salon—and what stylists need to consider before jumping into salon suites or opening a space of their own.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Not all independence is created equal — Kat breaks down the differences between salon suites and micro salons, explaining the mindset and preparation needed for each model.

🔅Don’t Skip the Strategy: Before going solo, plan your finances, schedule, and goals—freedom without structure can backfire.

🔅Build for More Than Today: While the flexibility of suite life can be appealing, Kat urges stylists to consider scalability, systems, and burnout risk.

🔅Culture Over Aesthetics: Whether you're joining a salon, building a team, or going independent, Kat explains why alignment is more important than aesthetics.

🔅Educate yourself early — Understanding taxes, pricing, and scheduling as a suite stylist or micro salon owner will set you apart before you even open your doors.

👉Follow Kat on Instagram

👉Follow The Rosewood Salon Co. on Instagram

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From Chair to CEO: Building a Scalable Salon Team with Systems That Stick | Diane Cole Stevens | CEO & Owner | Cole Stevens Salon

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Diane Cole Stevens—CEO of Cole Stevens Salon—shares how she built a high-performing team, established white-glove systems, and grew a brand rooted in excellence, mentorship, and leadership that scales.

🚨Diane will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on July 27th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bbb25

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Train leaders, not just stylists: Diane built her salon by identifying team members’ strengths, documenting how they learn, and creating space for regular 1:1 meetings and growth check-ins.

🔅Leadership starts with clarity: From written service standards to team-wide communication systems, Diane ensures her brand is delivered consistently—whether she’s present or not.

🔅Brand = Experience: For Diane, her brand isn’t just a logo or vibe—it’s the way clients are greeted, how they’re educated, and how every stylist interacts with intention and care.

🔅Great teams are built, not found: Diane believes in investing time and mentorship into her team. Many of her key staff have been with her for years because they feel supported and seen.

🔅Systems support freedom: By developing operational systems—from front desk flow to white-glove service protocols—Diane empowered her team to deliver excellence independently, allowing her to focus on vision and growth.

🔅Know your leadership style: Diane knows her strength is vision and communication. She hires leaders with complementary strengths (organization, technical training, etc.) and builds a layered leadership model.

🔅Intentional branding creates trust: Every decision at Cole Stevens—from the scent in the air to the tone of voice in client scripts—is intentional and aligned with the brand promise of elegance and care.

👉Follow Diane on Instagram

👉Follow Cole Stevens Salon on Instagram

👉Check out Diane's nonprofit, The Cinderella Foundation

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From Dorm Room to Studio: Creative Paths in the Beauty Industry | Cameron Moore | Versatile Hairstylist | Bossybeautybooking.as.me/

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Cameron Moore reveals how she turned a passion into a growing hair business—balancing school, marketing work, and a passion for empowering others through braiding and beauty.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Cameron taught herself how to braid during the COVID-19 lockdown and began offering services while still a college student.

🔅She utilized Instagram and word-of-mouth within her university community to attract clients and establish a strong local brand.

🔅Cameron emphasizes the importance of having a clean, client-friendly environment, whether working from home or in a salon suite.

🔅Hosting a summer braiding camp and teaching workshops are part of how she gives back and builds community.

🔅She recommends consistent content creation and intentional branding as key to growing a beauty business.

🔅Her dual career in marketing and hairstyling allows her to blend strategy with creativity, showing stylists how to diversify skills and income streams.

🔅Cameron believes in being resourceful, building your portfolio, and networking to expand your opportunities.

🔅She advises new stylists to be patient, practice constantly, and show up consistently—even when progress feels slow.

🔅She leverages both in-person and digital tools, like email marketing, to stay top-of-mind with clients and build long-term relationships.

👉Follow Cameron on Instagram

👉Check out Cameron's feature in VoyageBaltimore Magazine

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The State of Customer Service: Insight from the Restaurant Industry | Daniel Samir | Seasoned DC Restaurant Operations & Customer Service Expert

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Hospitality expert Daniel Samir shares what today’s customers really want, how COVID reshaped service expectations, and the lessons salon professionals can take from the restaurant world.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Clear communication and setting expectations upfront are critical for ensuring positive customer experiences.

🔅Over-communicate when delays or service issues arise—transparency builds trust.

🔅Soft skills like empathy, patience, and problem-solving are more important than ever in a post-COVID world.

🔅Today’s customer often expects luxury and speed—success lies in balancing both without sacrificing quality.

🔅Social skills and professionalism among younger workers are shifting; managers must adapt training and coaching styles accordingly.

🔅Empower your team and customers by offering thoughtful options rather than flat rejections.

🔅Invest in staff relationships and back-of-house/front-of-house unity—great customer service is a team sport.

🔅Turning around a bad experience can leave a lasting impression, sometimes even stronger than a flawless one.

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A Startup & Business Evolution Hair Story + Advice for Hairpreneurs, Barbers & Stylists | Jared Scott | Owner + Barber + Master Educator, His Grooming | Member, DC Board of Barbering and Cosmetology

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Jared Scott—barber, business owner, and board member—breaks down the real-life lessons from two decades in the industry, from building clientele and opening a shop to redefining what ownership can look like through micro-shop/salon suites.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Jared’s barbering journey began in college: While pursuing a business degree at West Chester University, Jared cut hair in dorm rooms—building both skill and clientele from day one.

🔅He moved to DC to pursue barbering full time: After college, he obtained his barber license through an apprenticeship, allowing him to gain hands-on experience while completing his hours under the supervision of a licensed professional before opening his own shop.

🔅Build structure before success hits: Jared emphasizes that systems and personal organization are essential before scaling a business—success can collapse a business if the foundation isn’t solid.

🔅Your personal life impacts your professional results: From punctuality to finances, Jared shares how personal discipline directly affects the consistency clients expect in a grooming business.

🔅Don’t mistake skill for readiness: Being good at cutting hair doesn’t mean you’re ready to run a barbershop—business ownership requires a whole different set of skills.

🔅Plan your path with intention: Whether you're opening a suite, launching a shop, or joining a team, having guidance and infrastructure in place will reduce burnout and churn.

🔅Consider the micro-shop/salon model: Jared shares how converting his barbershop into multiple suites helped him balance entrepreneurship and community, giving pros autonomy with support.

👉Follow Jared's shop, His Grooming, on Instagram

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Building the Future + Lessons From a Serial Entrepreneur | Larry E. Roberts, Jr. | CEO, Larry's Barber College | Serial Entrepreneur

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From cutting hair in his basement to building barbershops, colleges, and launching a credit union, Larry E. Roberts Jr. shares how grit, vision, and community-first leadership transformed his career—and how barbers and stylists can build sustainable wealth and impact too.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start Early & Learn by Doing: Larry began cutting hair at age 13 and emphasizes the value of practical experience—even if it starts in your basement with $20 clippers.

🔅Licensing Is About Safety, Not Just Skill: Roberts highlights the importance of theory and licensing, not just for credibility, but to ensure health and safety in the profession.

🔅Build Before You Own: He warns new barbers and stylists not to rush into ownership. Without a strong client base and clear systems, you risk burnout and instability.

🔅Commission Over Booth for Beginners: Larry recommends commission-based setups for new professionals to guarantee income and learn operations before jumping into booth rental.

🔅Financial Literacy = Longevity: From paying taxes to planning retirement, barbers and stylists need financial systems to build wealth and security.

🔅Create Ecosystems, Not Just Businesses: Larry has built an integrated empire—including barbershops, schools, housing, transportation, a clothing line, and a credit union—to support beauty professionals from all angles.

🔅Think Long-Term: Whether launching a product, barbershop, or school, every move Larry made was part of a 10+ year vision.

🔅Pay It Forward: Larry uses his nonprofit to provide free services, open schools in jails and high schools, and offer housing and mentorship to those in need.

👉Follow Larry on Instagram

👉Follow Larry's Barber College on Instagram

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From Barber to Hairpreneur + An Educator's Student Update | Phillip Dawson | Barber + Owner, PND Grooming Lounge | Educator, The TEMPLE Annapolis

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From barber school to celebrity clients to shop owner and educator, Phillip Dawson shares how he built his career from the ground up—and gives real talk on what students need to succeed after graduation.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Phillip Dawson’s journey from barber school to celebrity barber showcases the power of persistence, networking, and following your calling.

🔅He built his career by showing up, putting himself in the right rooms, and creating opportunities—rather than waiting for them to appear.

🔅Building clientele is a numbers game—consistency in handing out flyers and word-of-mouth still works, even in a digital age.

🔅Phil took a two-year break from barbering but found his way back through a chance opportunity and rebranded himself with a focus on service and professionalism.

🔅Opening a barbershop during the pandemic, Phil used available resources and community support to build the PND Grooming Lounge.

🔅As an educator, Phil sees a shift: more students are now open to working in salons or commission-based shops to build stability before going independent.

🔅He emphasizes financial responsibility, marketing beyond social media, and building a client base while still in school.

🔅Salon/shop owners looking to hire new talent must offer more than just a chair—they need to provide mentorship, growth opportunities, and benefits to attract and retain new professionals.

👉Follow Phil on Instagram

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Growing an Empire: 7 Salon Concepts + Agency + Venue Space | Dana Fountain | Beauty Platform Creator/She-E-O | Pin Me Up Chicago & Your Beauty Blueprint

Mon, 19 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From salon assistant to She-E-O of 7 salon concepts, a bridal agency, and an event space, Dana Fountain shares the scrappy, strategic moves that helped her build a beauty empire from the ground up.

In this episode, she breaks down how to calculate your financial needs, grow without debt, choose the right business partners, and turn relationships into real opportunities—all while staying true to your vision

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start Small, Grow Smart: Dana began by renting a tiny space with four chairs and scaled slowly, ensuring each move was financially viable before expanding.

🔅Understand Your Break-Even Point: Dana emphasizes learning how to calculate your true financial needs, using tools like her Your Beauty Blueprint workbook to plan realistically.

🔅Partnerships Require Clarity: She advises establishing aligned goals and mutual benefit before entering any business partnership—and always recommends formal agreements.

🔅Diversify Revenue Streams: Dana’s empire includes salons, bridal services, and venue rentals—demonstrating how to blend passion with profitable business models.

🔅Relationships Are Everything: From clients to collaborators, Dana stresses that relationship-building has been key to every venture she’s launched.

🔅Utilize What You Have: She maximized her network and client base to build capital, including personal loans and non-traditional funding approaches to start owning property.

🔅Get Business Literate: Her success is grounded in learning to run the numbers—she advises stylists to treat their careers like businesses, not just a craft.

👉Follow Dana on Instagram

💡Check out all of Dana's platforms from Your Beauty BluePrint and her salon concepts, to her bridal agency and event space HERE

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Building a Clientele & Launching a Suite After School | Shantel Phillips | Owner, CodeGlam Salon Suite

Mon, 12 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

After transitioning from beauty school to working in salon environments for 7 years, Shantel Phillips shares how she built deep client relationships and made the leap into suite ownership, offering real talk on what it takes to succeed at every stage.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Shantel worked in salons for 7 years before opening her own suite, crediting that time with helping her build confidence, strong relationships, and a loyal clientele.

🔅Her salon experience gave her real-world training that school alone couldn’t provide—especially in client interaction, business flow, and team dynamics.

🔅She emphasizes that building client trust over time is key to retention and long-term growth.

🔅Balance is possible, but priorities shift — Managing executive roles while building a brand taught Nick that clarity and boundaries are key to avoiding burnout.

🔅The emotional transition from being part of a “salon family” to working solo in a suite can be tough, but it is necessary for personal growth.

🔅Financial preparedness and knowing how to manage income, expenses, and taxes are crucial before going independent.

🔅For new stylists, Shantel recommends gaining experience in a salon first before jumping into suite life.

👉Follow Shantel on Instagram

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Community Conversations: Real Talk - Why Shadowing is a Game-Changer | Jenae Botts | Recent Graduate | Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute Arlington

Mon, 05 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

💬 This isn’t just another podcast…we’re releasing our 3/28 Community Conversation from Instagram Live.

In this special Community Conversation, Jenae, a recent Aveda Grad, shares how shadowing in real salon environments gave her clarity, self-assurance, and insight she didn’t get in the classroom.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

Shadowing bridges the gap between school and salon life, offering an inside look at how different businesses operate and stylists approach their craft.

Feeling nervous is normal, but doing some prep, like researching the salon and preparing questions, can ease anxiety and help shadowers confidently show up.

Every salon has a different vibe and workflow—shadowing helps students see where they might fit best and what environment they thrive in.

Being proactive during a shadowing session, like asking thoughtful questions and observing closely, turns it into a high-impact learning opportunity.

Jenae’s real-world experience gave her a front-row seat to aspects of the job not taught in school, such as retail strategies, client conversations, and team dynamics.

Shadowing builds community—talking with stylists and owners creates mentorship moments, connections, and clarity on what success in the industry can look like.

Showing up with intention and curiosity matters—a shadower’s mindset influences what they walk away with.

👉Connect with Jenae on Instagram

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HdS NEWS: Navigating Economic Trends: Insights for Business Owners

Sat, 03 May 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Tariffs, Recession, Expanding your Business, Inflation Employment Trends, and Consumer Trends

This conversation explores various economic trends affecting consumers and businesses, focusing on the shift towards skilled trades, the impact of inflation, recession fears, and the importance of mental health in the workplace. It also delves into luxury market psychology and the implications of student loans on financial stability.

takeaways

Economic trends are crucial for understanding consumer behavior.
There is a growing trend of Gen Z opting for skilled trades over college.
The ROI of college degrees is increasingly questioned.
Inflation continues to impact consumer spending habits.
Recession fears are influencing how consumers approach spending.
Mental health is becoming a priority for employees in the workplace.
Luxury purchases are driven by psychological factors.
Customer experience is vital for business success.
Global economic shifts are affecting local markets.
Student loan policies are becoming stricter, impacting borrowers.

Resourece:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/preparing-americans-for-high-paying-skilled-trade-jobs-of-the-future/

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/24/gen-z-workers-opt-out-of-college-and-go-into-trades.html

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gen-z-terrified-recession-ditching-155850124.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/recession-hair-rcna200248

https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/how-to-build-a-brand-that-the-ultra-wealthy-cant-resist/488991

https://fortune.com/well/2025/04/18/gen-z-millennial-workers-mental-health/

https://nypost.com/2025/04/16/lifestyle/why-no-one-wants-to-make-work-friends-anymore-experts-say/

https://apnews.com/article/global-economy-tariffs-imf-d15febaaaab65c7df8538cce170231eb

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/student-loan-borrowers-will-see-social-security-checks-tax-refunds-disappear-over-defaulted-debt-trump-administration-says-d132bbed

Coming up in the hair industry I never understood why hairdressing is not as respectable as getting a college degree required job... Now, I think the college degree idea is changing, but still not quite there with hairdressing. Join us in changing that!

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Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

DISCLAIMER: Robert holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance. Robert curates the news, explaining his understanding. We suggest you use this information to talk with your financial advisor, business advisor, and/or CPA. Legal counsel may be required for some of your decisions as well. If you want business advice from Hairdresser Strong, you can hire us as a consultant/advisor, but we are not financial advisors, lawyers, or accountants.

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Community Conversations: Unlocking Recession Resilience - Enhancing Soft Skills for Strong Customer Bonds

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

💬 This isn’t just another podcast…we’re releasing our 3/25 Community Conversation from Instagram Live with Diana Varvaro (School Director at Paul Mitchell the School NYC) and Frank Bennett (Co-Founder & Hair Coloring Director at A.F. Bennett Salon & Wellness Spa)

In this special Community Conversation, Diana Varvaro and Frank Bennett share real-world insights on how soft skills, mentorship, and intentional hiring practices can help both rising stylists and salon leaders build resilient, client-focused businesses—even in uncertain times.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

For Stylists & Students:

Develop soft skills like communication, empathy, and active listening—they’re just as important as technical ability when building long-term client relationships.
Ask intentional questions during interviews to find a salon that aligns with your values and growth goals.
Don’t chase the trendiest salon—look for environments that offer mentorship and professionalism.
Show up with curiosity and consistency; reliability builds trust with clients and teams.

For Salon Owners & Leaders:

Hire based on character and values—not just skillset—to build a cohesive and growth-driven team.
Soft skills should be part of your hiring rubric and training processes.
Set clear expectations from day one and reinforce them regularly to avoid confusion or conflict later.
Treat every conversation—whether hiring or firing—as a chance to lead with clarity and kindness.
Support team development with feedback loops and ongoing education, not just technical upskilling.

👉If you have any questions 💭 or comments, Send us a DM

👉Connect with Diana on Instagram

👉Connect with Frank on Instagram

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From Stylist > Executive > Launching a Luxury Beauty Line | Nick Stenson | Brand Founder & CEO | Nick Stenson Beauty

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Nick Stenson, Brand Founder & CEO of Nick Stenson Beauty, shares his journey from stylist to executive to entrepreneur—offering real-world insights on brand building, navigating uncertainty, and creating meaningful impact in the beauty industry.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Follow your passion, not the plan — Nick’s pivot from aspiring orthopedic surgeon to beauty industry leader shows how true success often comes from following what excites you, not what you originally mapped out.

🔅Building a brand requires relentless testing — Nick spent years working with top chemists, refining each formula until it met luxury standards—no shortcuts.

🔅Trust, but verify — After experiencing business partnership challenges, Nick stresses the importance of carefully vetting who you go into business with—and protecting yourself financially.

🔅Balance is possible, but priorities shift — Managing executive roles while building a brand taught Nick that clarity and boundaries are key to avoiding burnout.

🔅Community is everything — Whether in salons or through products, Nick believes the beauty industry thrives when it focuses on uplifting people and creating positive, lasting experiences.

🔅Navigating uncertainty is part of the journey — Rather than fearing unknowns, Nick encourages embracing them with a mindset of curiosity, resilience, and adaptability.

👉Follow Nick Stenson Beauty on Instagram

👉Follow Nick on Instagram

👉Check out Nick Stenson Beauty's website

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Social Media Trends & Tools Update! | Jenna Stakias | CEO & Founder, The True Empire

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Jenna Stakias, CEO & Founder of The True Empire, shares her top tools, trends, and strategies to help beauty pros and content creators elevate their social media game—without the overwhelm.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Diversify your platforms — Don’t rely on just one (like TikTok); repurpose content across Instagram, Pinterest, and more to protect and grow your digital presence.

🔅Nail the hook — Capture attention within 3 seconds using movement, voiceover, or a visual prompt (like applying lip gloss while talking).

🔅Behind-the-scenes content performs — Audiences crave authenticity. Quick salon tasks like folding towels can turn into effective and engaging content.

🔅Tools don’t need to break the bank — Apps like InShot for video and Canva for graphics are free and powerful for everyday creators.

🔅Short is sweet, but quality wins — The 10–15 minute “sweet spot” for video can build trust and connection—especially when paired with high-quality production.

🔅Lean into community — Content that invites followers into your world, like vlogs or “get ready with me” clips, builds loyalty and encourages engagement.

👉Follow The True Empire on Instagram

👉Follow Jenna on Instagram

👉Check out The True Empire website

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Identify & Help Clients w/ Trichotillomania - Pulling Hair Out | Ellen Crupi | Director of Awareness & Business Development | HabitAware

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Ellen Crupi of HabitAware joins us to share how stylists can recognize and compassionately support clients dealing with trichotillomania and other body-focused repetitive behaviors—offering tools, hope, and healing behind the chair.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Trichotillomania and other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs)—like hair pulling, skin picking, and nail biting—are common yet often misunderstood conditions rooted in stress, not vanity or lack of discipline.

🔅Stylists are on the front lines and can play a powerful role in supporting clients with these disorders through empathy and awareness.

🔅HabitAware’s Keen bracelet helps individuals gain awareness of their repetitive behaviors by vibrating during triggering movements, allowing them to make conscious choices.

🔅The condition often begins in childhood, particularly around puberty, and impacts people regardless of gender, ethnicity, or background.

🔅There is no quick fix, but tools like Keen, therapy, and peer support can help people gain control and build healthier habits.

🔅Salon owners can position their business as safe, informed spaces by providing resources and training—potentially gaining new loyal clients in the process.

💡Email Ellen (ellen@habitaware.com) if you are interested in receiving brochures on Trichotillomania and other Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs)

👉Follow HabitAware on Instagram

👉Check out HabitAware's website - www.habitaware.com

💡Read Ellen's Modern Salon Article - How to Help Clients With a Hair-Pulling Disorder

👉Check out Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors Changemakers - www.bfrbchangemakers.org

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Checking-In! ~4 Years Licensed, Now Full-Time in a Suite with Tiffany Anyanwu | Stylist + Owner, Studio NinetySix | Co-Founder, Coda Hair

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

What does it take to go full-time in a suite?

Tiffany Anyanwu breaks it down—from balancing side gigs and budgeting wisely to setting boundaries and nurturing client relationships that go deeper than hair. Her journey is a real look at the hard work behind building something of your own in today’s beauty industry.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Tiffany’s Transition to Independence: After four years of building her experience in both commission and hourly-based salons, Tiffany took the leap into full-time suite ownership—marking a personal and professional milestone.

🔅Gradual Growth Strategy: She maintained financial stability by continuing to work at a dry bar while gradually building her own clientele, illustrating a smart and sustainable approach to going independent.

🔅Client Relationships Matter: Tiffany built deep, loyal connections with her clients, often seeing them grow with her over time—from proms and weddings to baby showers—highlighting the personal nature of her business.

🔅Boundaries & Systems: She stresses the importance of creating clear cancellation policies and establishing boundaries around time management and self-care as a solo stylist.

🔅Advice for Aspiring Stylists: Tiffany encourages new stylists to learn from different salon environments before going independent, emphasizing the importance of humility, budgeting, and learning from mistakes.

🔅Vision & Expansion: As she nears her one-year anniversary in her suite, Tiffany is already thinking about future growth—possibly expanding her brand to New Jersey while staying rooted in her values.

👉Follow Tiffany on IG here.

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HdS News: Trump Tariffs = Inflation Uncertainty & Market Crash Fears

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Trump Tariffs = Uncertainty around Inflation + Slowing Interest Rate Cuts!

What do we do during uncertain times? How are our customers feeling? + A special fun story to change the subject from Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

Takeaways:

📉 Stock Market & Economy

U.S. markets saw major drops in Q1 2025 due to tariff concerns.

S&P 500 down 4.6%, Nasdaq down 10.5%—worst quarter since 2022.

Tech stocks were hit hard (e.g., Tesla down 36%).

🧾 New Tariff Announcements

President Trump plans to implement new tariffs on “Liberation Day.”

Aimed at reducing reliance on foreign goods, but details unclear.

Analysts warn of higher prices and lower household income.

💸 Consumer Spending & Inflation

Consumer spending up 0.4% in February—but inflation still sticky.

Core PCE inflation rose 2.8% year-over-year, raising stagflation fears.

Spending is up, but prices are still outpacing wage growth for many.

😟 Consumer Sentiment

Confidence dropped nearly 18% in March.

Economic outlook among consumers is becoming increasingly negative.

Could impact how much people spend in the months ahead.

🚀 Astronaut Curveball Story

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore & Suni Williams spent 9+ months in space due to Boeing Starliner issues.

The mission was meant to be short-term—extended for safety.

Despite delays, astronauts voiced full confidence in Starliner’s future.

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/futures-tumble-tariffs-fuel-recession-worries-2025-03-31/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/-couldn-t-care-less-trump-embraces-price-hikes-ahead-of-tariff-rollout-235838021947

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-consumer-spending-rises-february-core-inflation-firmer-2025-03-28/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/nasa-astronauts-press-conference-stuck-space-iss-wzv7fzw2s?utm_source=chatgpt.com®ion=global

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THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Stress Isn’t the Enemy: Reframing Pressure for Success | Rebecca Heiss, PhD | Stress Physiologist + Author + Keynote Speaker

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

April is Stress Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to rethink how we handle pressure behind the chair.

Tune in to hear Dr. Rebecca Heiss, a stress physiologist and author, break down the science of stress, revealing how hairstylists can reframe pressure and turn stress into a tool for success in a fast-paced, client-focused industry.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Stress is a Tool, Not an Enemy – Dr. Heiss explains that stress itself isn’t bad; our perception of it determines its impact.

🔅Reframing Stress Can Change Your Life – When we view stress as a source of energy, we can channel it into motivation and resilience.

🔅Your Brain’s Survival Mode Can Work Against You – Our stress responses are wired for survival, but by understanding them, we can redirect stress to work for us.

🔅Mindset is Everything – Research shows that believing stress is harmful makes it more damaging. Shifting this belief can improve health and performance.

🔅Breathe Like a Pro – Slowing down your exhale signals safety to your nervous system, helping you stay calm and focused behind the chair.

🔅Reframe Client Stress – Instead of seeing a difficult client as a threat, shift your perspective—this is an opportunity to improve your communication skills and build resilience.

🔅Move Your Body to Reset – A short walk between appointments or shaking out your hands can help discharge built-up stress and prevent burnout.

🔅Community is Key – Connection with others can help reduce stress and improve well-being. Talking to fellow stylists can make challenges feel more manageable.

💡Connect/Follow Dr. Heiss on LinkedIn

📷 Follow Dr. Heiss on Instagram

👉Send Dr. Heiss an email - rebecca@rebeccaheiss.com

💡Learn more about Dr. Heiss and her work

👉Get a copy of "Springboard: Transform Stress to Work for You" by Dr. Heiss

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, Seasoned Stylists, and Industry Professionals sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.⁠

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Community Conversations: Behind the Chair in Uncertain Times | Ashleigh Taylor | Owner + Master Colorist + Educator | Taylor & York Salon | DC

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 19:00:00 -0400

💬 This isn’t just another podcast…we’re releasing our 3/12 Community Conversation from Instagram Live with Ashleigh Taylor of Taylor and York Salon in Washington, DC.

The DMV is changing fast—layoffs, inflation, and uncertainty are on everyone’s mind, including our clients. As hairstylists, we’re not just service providers; we’re trusted confidants, problem solvers, and business owners navigating these challenges alongside our customers.

So how do we keep them coming back when they’re cutting back❓
Should we raise prices or cut expenses❓
And how do we protect our energy while supporting others❓

💡We’re sharing real talk, smart strategies, and actionable steps to protect your business, your well-being, and your future—without burnout.

🔊 Listen in and let us know💭: How are YOU adapting?

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Protecting Your Business

Evaluate your pricing: Is now the right time to raise prices?
Identify areas to cut costs without sacrificing quality.
Focus on retention—how to keep clients coming back even when they’re budgeting.
Stay proactive: Marketing and engagement strategies for slow periods.

Protecting Your Energy

Set boundaries with clients—being supportive doesn’t mean absorbing their stress.
Self-care is non-negotiable: How to recharge without guilt.
Avoid burnout by balancing service excellence with personal well-being.

Elevating Your Service

Small tweaks that create big impact—enhancing value without increasing workload.
Communicating your worth: How to confidently navigate pricing conversations.
Creative add-ons that make clients feel cared for (without extra cost to you).

👉If you have any questions 💭 or comments, Send us a DM

👉Connect with Ashleigh on Instagram

👉Connect with Robert on Instagram

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Celebrity Styling, Business Growth & The Power of Niche with Dr. Seven | Dr. Adrin Seven Washington | Founder of EverBen Oil | Doctor of Professional Cosmetology | International Sew-In & Hair Extensions Expert | Small Business Specialist

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Dr. Adrin Seven Washington—celebrity stylist, educator, and business strategist—shares how he built a career working with top names like Patti LaBelle and Naomi Campbell while earning a doctorate in cosmetology.

We discuss the importance of education, networking, finding your niche, and creating multiple income streams to achieve long-term success in the beauty industry.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Education Opens Doors: Dr. Adrin Seven earned his doctorate in cosmetology from the National Institute of Cosmetology, an institution founded by Madam C.J. Walker to provide advanced education for beauty professionals.

🔅Celebrity Styling & Industry Influence: His career has led him to work with high-profile clients like Patti LaBelle, Naomi Campbell, and major TV networks, showcasing the power of skill, reputation, and networking.

🔅The Power of Specialization: Dr. Seven emphasizes the importance of finding your niche in the beauty industry—whether it's hair extensions, color, or another specialty—to stand out and command higher rates.

🔅Multiple Streams of Income: To create long-term success, beauty professionals should explore various income streams, from salon work and education to consulting and product development.

🔅Networking is Key: Success in beauty often comes from strong relationships, mentorship, and being in the right rooms—aligning yourself with industry leaders can open doors.

🔅The Business Side of Beauty Matters: Beyond technical skills, beauty professionals must learn about business, financial literacy, and customer service to build sustainable careers.

💡Follow Dr. Seven on Instagram

📷 Follow Seven & Company on Instagram

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The State of Cos Students & Raising The Bar for Hairdressers | Wayne White | Hairstylist | Educator, Chantilly Academy | Former Marine

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

What does it really take to help new stylists succeed?

In this episode, Wayne White—hairstylist, educator, and former Marine—shares his insights on mentorship, patience, and the challenges facing new professionals in the beauty industry. We discuss how to bridge the gap between school and real-world success, why so many stylists struggle with anxiety, and how salon owners can better support rising talent.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Patience is Key: Both salon owners and seasoned stylists need to be patient with new talent, guiding them as they transition from school to the real world.

🔅The Reality of Anxiety in New Stylists: Many young professionals enter the industry with high anxiety and unrealistic expectations about career progression.

🔅Education & Mentorship Matter: Bridging the gap between theory and hands-on experience is crucial for student success, and seasoned professionals should be more open to mentorship.

🔅Building a Career Takes Time: Many stylists leave the industry too soon because they don’t see immediate success. Wayne stresses that hard work, consistency, and persistence are essential.

🔅The Importance of Professionalism: Cleanliness, organization, and punctuality are non-negotiables in a successful career. Being late or unprepared sends the wrong message to both clients and colleagues.

🔅There Are No Secrets in Hairdressing: Sharing knowledge and supporting others benefits the entire industry—competition should be about self-improvement, not keeping others down.

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, Seasoned Stylists, and Industry Professionals sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.⁠

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From Hairdresser to President of John Paul Mitchell Systems | Jason Yates | Hairdresser | President, John Paul Mitchell Systems

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

From apprentice to President of John Paul Mitchell Systems, Jason Yates' journey is proof that hard work, humility, and seizing the right opportunities can lead to incredible success. In this episode, Jason shares his insights on leadership, career growth, and why the beauty industry is as resilient as ever.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅From Stylist to President: Jason Yates started as a 15-year-old apprentice in the UK and worked his way up to become the President of John Paul Mitchell Systems, proving that dedication and adaptability can open incredible doors.

🔅Hard Work & Humility Are Key: Yates credits his success to working harder than those around him, staying humble, and constantly learning—even from those with less experience.

🔅Opportunities Come from Taking Risks: He emphasizes the importance of overcoming fear and taking chances, noting that many talented stylists don’t advance because they hesitate to step outside their comfort zones.

🔅The Beauty Industry is Resilient: While salons and stylists face challenges, Yates remains optimistic, stating that successful professionals will always find ways to innovate and thrive.

🔅Loyalty and Long-Term Growth Matter: He believes that sticking with the right opportunities and gaining real experience over time leads to greater success than chasing quick promotions or job-hopping.

🔅The Industry Thrives on Relationships: Whether behind the chair, in education, or corporate leadership, building strong relationships and partnerships has been a crucial part of his journey.

💡Connect/Follow Jason on LinkedIn

📷 Check out Paul Mitchell on Instagram

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The State of Education, Training, & Hiring New Talent | Steve Reiss | Executive Director, Industry Relations & Insights | PIVOT POINT International

Mon, 03 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Steve Reiss, Executive Director of Industry Relations & Insights at Pivot Point International , as we explore the evolving landscape of beauty education, the power of mentorship, and why the future of the beauty industry depends on shifting perceptions and investing in the next generation.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅The Beauty Industry is a Lifestyle, Not Just a Job: Steve emphasizes that careers in beauty go beyond paychecks—they foster community, creativity, and personal fulfillment.

🔅Shifting Perceptions: The outdated stereotype of beauty as a backup plan is evolving, with more parents and career counselors recognizing beauty careers as viable and rewarding paths.

🔅Smart Work Over Hard Work: Success in the beauty industry requires not only hard work but also curiosity, strategic networking, and seizing opportunities.

🔅Education is Evolving: With the rise of digital tools and social media, educators must shift from content creators to content curators, guiding students through the flood of online information.

🔅Mentorship & Outreach Matters: Salon owners and educators must actively engage with beauty schools and students to identify top talent and inspire the next generation.

🔅Community Connection Drives Success: Building relationships at all stages of your career creates long-term opportunities and industry resilience.

🚨Relevant Links🚨

💡Pivot Point Int'l White Paper: Post-Pandemic Education

💡Pivot Point Int'l White Paper: Beauty as a Career, Career Counselors

💡White Paper: Beauty Changes Lives Industry Leader Roundtable - The Generational Divide

💡Webcast: Beauty Changes Lives Roundtable Moderators Follow Up

📷 Check out Pivot Point International on Instagram

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HdS NEWS: Inflation + Trump Govt Cuts + New Talent Leadership Expectations

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Inflation is scary and likely to not give up in the near term. Trump's government is slashing government jobs and spending, which is definitely not going to help the economy in the near term. Ultimately, I share findings from a study on Gen-Z and how they think about leadership!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

Takeaways:

*The dynamics of the US stock market are shifting, necessitating a reassessment of investment strategies.

*Despite the recent economic turbulence, the US economy is projected to outperform its global counterparts in 2025.

*Consumer sentiment is currently low, with many individuals expressing concerns about inflation and financial stability.

*The impact of government job cuts is likely to ripple through the economy, affecting overall productivity and growth.

*Documentation of internal processes is essential for attracting and retaining new talent, particularly from the Gen Z demographic.

*Understanding customer sentiment regarding economic conditions is critical for business success in a fluctuating market.

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pce-report-inflation-federal-reserve-february-2025/

https://www.wsj.com/economy/week-ahead-for-fx-bonds-focus-on-u-s-jobs-ecb-decision-china-congress-and-tariffs-c977b07b?mod=economy_lead_pos3

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/incomes-not-keeping-up-with-inflation-opinion-poll-2025-02-27/

https://www.fastcompany.com/91281732/gen-z-isnt-quiet-quitting-theyre-rejecting-outdated-leadership

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82954cfvRms&t=1795s

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Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

SPECIAL EDITION: Indie Education, The State of the industry, & Left Brain Group | Aryn Detres | Founder of The Left Brain Group + The Hair Index

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for a special episode with Aryn Detres, Founder of The Left Brain Group and The Hair Index, as she champions the rise of independent education in the beauty industry.

Discover how indie educators are reshaping the landscape, creating community, and offering accessible learning experiences outside of major brands.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Independent Education is Thriving: Aryn highlights the growing movement of independent educators creating valuable learning opportunities outside of major brands.

🔅Empowering Artists Through The Left Brain Group: Aryn founded The Left Brain Group to amplify artists’ unique voices without the limitations of corporate sponsorship.

🔅Authenticity Drives Demand: As salon owners and stylists seek more tailored, impactful education, indie educators are filling the gap with personalized training that resonates beyond social media clout.

🔅The Hair Index Connects the Industry: This new platform will act as a centralized hub for discovering independent educators, making education more accessible and connected across the beauty community.

🔅Passion-Led Education is the Future: The best educators aren’t just teaching skills—they’re sharing their stories and empowering others to find their own creative voices.

📷 Connect with Aryn on Instagram

💡 Learn more + follow The Left Brain Group on Instagram

🎟️ Get your tickets for Bayou St. Blonde (30+ Artists, 3 Days, 1 City - New Orleans.), their eventMarch 16-18, 2025

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The Grind to Success: Setbacks, Hard Work, & Resilience | Sam Nolan | Master Barber | Educator & Manager of Creationz Barbershop

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Barbering isn’t just about cutting hair—it’s about perseverance, resilience, and putting in the work.

In this episode, Sam Nolan shares his inspiring journey from struggling student to successful barber, shop manager, and educator. We dive into the real challenges of the industry, from overcoming setbacks to building a loyal clientele, mastering the craft, and pushing through the grind to build a lasting career.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Overcoming Industry Challenges: Sam's journey highlights the obstacles barbers face, from navigating education to building a clientele and recovering from setbacks.

🔅Networking Creates Opportunities: Building strong relationships within the barbering community opens doors to career growth and new job opportunities.

🔅Mental & Physical Health Matter: Injuries and burnout are real risks—barbers must prioritize self-care and financial preparedness to safeguard their future.

🔅Social Media Can Be a Double-Edged Sword: While it helps build brand awareness, it often creates unrealistic expectations of success.

🔅Resilience is Key: Sam’s career shows that success comes from determination, adaptability, and learning from failure.

🔅Education & Mentorship Elevate Careers: Teaching others has helped Sam solidify his skills and make a lasting impact in the barbering industry.

📷 Connect with Sam on Instagram

📷 Check out Creationz Barbershop on Instagram

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SPECIAL: Salon Opening, Real-Time Docuseries: The First Months | Jessica Morrison + Brianne Blazosky | Co-Owners, Darling Nikki Salon

Sun, 16 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0400

This special episode continues our real-time docuseries with Brianne and Jessica of Darling Nikki Salon as they share what it’s really like to open and grow a salon from scratch.

From their grand opening to hiring their first stylists and building a community, we dive into their early challenges, big wins, and next steps on their salon journey.

👀Missed Part one?

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

Watch on YouTube

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Attracting Talent Takes Strategy: Brianne and Jessica found success hiring stylists by targeting suite renters looking for a collaborative salon environment.

🔅Community Engagement is Key: They actively connected with local businesses, distributed promotions, and built relationships to drive foot traffic.

🔅Branding & Aesthetic Matter: Creating an inviting and well-branded salon space was essential for attracting both stylists and clients.

🔅Education Fuels Growth: They invest in ongoing education for their stylists, hosting classes to build confidence and skills.

🔅Balancing Business & Compliance: Salon ownership involves more than just the creative side—HR, payroll, and compliance require serious attention.

🔅Adapting to Challenges: Their first months showed that salon ownership is a constant learning experience, requiring flexibility and perseverance.

👉Follow Darling Nikki Salon on Instagram

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Pros & Cons of Working with Brands + How to Get There | Ben Mollin | CEO + Founder, Ben Mollin Project

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us as Ben Mollin, CEO and Founder of the Ben Mollin Project, shares the real pros and cons of working with brands, how to stand out in a crowded industry, and why staying true to your purpose is the key to long-term success.

🔔Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Know Your "Why": Before working with brands, clarify your motivations—whether it's teaching, visibility, or financial growth—to ensure alignment with your goals.

🔅Authenticity Matters: Staying true to your artistic identity while working with brands helps maintain credibility and prevents "selling out."

🔅Networking is a Major Benefit: Partnering with brands opens doors to valuable industry connections, education teams, and corporate resources.

🔅Prepare for the Highs and Lows: The excitement of brand work comes with challenges like burnout, imposter syndrome, and industry competition.

🔅Stand Out by Filling Gaps: Instead of following trends, focus on what’s missing in the industry to carve out a unique niche and attract opportunities.

🔅Give Back with Purpose: Aligning your work with a cause or mission adds depth to your career and makes your efforts more impactful.

📷 Connect with Ben on Instagram

📷 Check out Ben Mollin Project on Instagram

💡Learn more about Ben Mollin Project

👉Subscribe to Ben's YouTube Channel

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New Year, New Approach: Your Prices, Your Value, Your Followers | Gina Sicard | @IamGinaBianca | Salon Business Educator | Owner, The Network Salon

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us as Gina, salon business educator and owner of The Network Salon, shares her insights on pricing, education, and creating exceptional client experiences.

This episode dives deep into how hairstylists can align their value with their services and build a sustainable, client-focused career.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Customer Experience Over Social Media: Gina emphasizes focusing on providing exceptional client experiences rather than prioritizing social media clout.

🔅Education Fuels Growth: Investing in continuous education—whether hands-on, online, or through mentorship—helps stylists refine their craft and stay inspired.

🔅Pricing Should Reflect Value: Stylists should base their pricing on demand, experience, and consistent bookings, ensuring that value aligns with the client’s expectations.

🔅Transparency Builds Trust: Discussing pricing and services upfront prevents misunderstandings and enhances client satisfaction.

🔅Adaptability is Key: Gina’s journey from team-based pay to booth rental highlights the importance of adapting business models to align with personal and industry needs.

🔅Focus on Why You’re Here: Remembering that hairstylists serve clients first and foremost can lead to a more fulfilling and successful career.

👉Connect with Gina on Instagram

👉Check out Gina's Salon on Instagram

💡Explore Gina’s programs and resources to elevate your career HERE

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All Things Tips! Accepting, Claiming, Taxes, & Salon Liability | Ashley Rivera | Sales Specialist + Host of Tippy Talks Podcast | Tippy

Mon, 20 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for an insightful conversation with Ashley Rivera from Tippy, as we dive into all things tips—claiming, taxes, and salon liability. Learn how proper tip management can build financial stability and set you up for long-term success in the beauty industry.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Claiming Tips Builds Financial Stability: Properly claiming tips provides proof of income, essential for securing loans, mortgages, and unemployment benefits.

🔅Digital Systems Simplify Tipping: Tools like Tippy streamline tip management, creating a transparent and efficient system for salon professionals and clients.

🔅Advocate for Your Worth: Tipping is about more than money—it’s a gesture of gratitude and acknowledgment of exceptional service.

🔅Plan for the Future: Claiming tips ensures contributions to Social Security and retirement plans, safeguarding long-term financial well-being.

🔅Salon Owner Accountability: Owners must track and report tips accurately to avoid potential audits and discrepancies with the IRS.

🔅Education Empowers Decisions: Understanding the pros and cons of claiming tips helps salon professionals make informed choices about their financial practices.

🚨Mention Hairdresser Strong Podcast and get A FREE YEAR of TIPPY - Book a Demo

👉Connect with Ashley on Instagram

👉Check out Tippy on Instagram

👉Check out TippyTalksPodcast

👉Learn how Tippy can help you

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Salon to Suite to Salon Ownership: Success Through Grit and Relationships | Rachel Hall & Wynter DePriest | Co-owners + Stylists, Jovi Salon

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:30:00 -0400

Join us as Rachel Hall and Wynter DePriest, co-owners of Jovi Salon, share their inspiring journey from working in a salon, then suite renters to salon owners. In this episode, they discuss building a supportive team culture, navigating the financial realities of ownership, and the resilience it takes to create a thriving salon community.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Navigating Different Salon Models: Rachel and Wynter’s journey from salon stylists to suite renters and eventually salon owners highlights the diverse paths available in the beauty industry.

🔅Building a Supportive Environment: Creating a salon culture that celebrates individuality, fosters collaboration, and supports staff is key to their success.

🔅The Financial Reality of Ownership: Running a salon comes with unexpected costs like payroll taxes, maintenance fees, and amenities, which require careful planning and adaptability.

🔅Resilience Through Challenges: Their story underscores the importance of adaptability, especially when facing sudden changes like relocation or business restructuring.

🔅Community and Diversity Matter: A diverse team and inclusive environment elevate the experience for both clients and stylists, making the salon a welcoming space for all.

🔅Learn and Grow from Mistakes: They stress the value of owning mistakes, learning from them, and maintaining humility and integrity in all aspects of business.

👉Connect with Wynter on Instagram

👉Connect with Rachel on Instagram

👉Follow Jovi Salon on Instagram

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Separate Yourself from Competition, Master Cashflow, and Understanding Credit | Leo Kanell | Founder | 7 Figures Funding & My Figures

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 07:00:00 -0400

Join us as Leo Kanell, Founder of 7 Figures Funding and My Figures, shares powerful insights on mastering cash flow, leveraging creative financing, and using data-driven strategies to grow your business and stand out from the competition!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Understand Credit to Unlock Funding: Building a strong personal credit profile is essential for securing business financing, especially for new entrepreneurs.

🔅Creative Financing Tools: Strategies like credit card stacking and 0% interest business credit cards provide flexible options for startups.

🔅Maintain a Cash Reserve: Keeping a buffer of cash in your business account offers stability for emergencies and opportunities.

🔅Track Costs and Margins: Analyzing the costs of services and focusing on high-margin offerings helps improve profitability and cash flow.

🔅Set Yourself Apart: Differentiating your services with unique experiences can attract high-value clients and increase revenue.

🔅Data-Driven Decisions: Tracking financial data and forecasting cash flow enables smarter business decisions and long-term success.

* This is not financial advice. You should do your own research to ensure you are handling your money as is best for you*

👉Connect with Leo on Instgram

👉Connect with Leo on YouTube - @CashFlowSecrets-MyFigures

👉Learn more about My Figures

👉Download your FREE copy of "The 3 Cash Flow Secrets That Create 7 Figures of Cash Flow In Any Business" which includes a free class - https://www.cashflowsecrets.com/free

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Navigating Success in Hair + Education & Brands with Heart & Passion | Beto Sanchez | Ulta Beauty Design Team Specialist & Elite Stylist | Wella, GHD Brand Educator

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0400

From stylist to educator, Beto Sanchez shares his inspiring journey while discussing the importance of mentorship, embracing creativity, and balancing career success with personal well-being.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Structured Apprenticeships Build Confidence: Beto emphasizes the importance of an apprenticeship program to bridge the gap between school and the realities of salon life.

🔅Mentorship Fuels Growth: His journey from stylist to educator shows how mentorship and continued education can shape a successful career.

🔅Clientele Comes from Connection: Personal connections, great service, and word-of-mouth referrals are key to building a loyal client base.

🔅Embrace Gender-Neutral Trends: Beto highlights the growing acceptance of gender-neutral haircuts and colors, reflecting a shift towards individual expression and creativity.

🔅Teach What You Love: Aspiring educators should focus on teaching topics they are passionate about to ensure authentic and impactful education.

🔅Balance Career and Well-Being: Beto stresses the importance of taking time for personal life, mental health, and focusing on projects that truly matter.

👉Connect with Beto on Instagram

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Serious Business & Real Talk | Debra Neill Baker | Principal + Chief Energy Officer, Neill Corporation

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Join us for an inspiring conversation co-hosted with Corey from the Your Day Off Podcast @hairdustry, featuring Deborah Neill Baker, Principal and Chief Energy Officer of Neill Corporation.

Together, we dive into redefining leadership, fostering community, and evolving for success in the salon industry.

This episode is packed with insights from a 47-year industry veteran and the heart behind the Serious Business conference.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Personal Development Fuels Leadership: Deborah emphasizes that successful salon leadership stems from self-awareness, critical thinking, and continuous personal growth.

🔅Hustle Culture: She advocates redefining hustle culture to focus on sustainable progress and mental well-being, rather than burnout.

🔅Community Drives Success: Events like Serious Business foster collaboration and connection, enabling salon professionals to grow together and share industry insights.

🔅Invest in Yourself First: Deborah highlights the importance of working on oneself to better lead a team and navigate the challenges of salon ownership.

🔅The Evolving Industry Needs Open Minds: Staying adaptable and embracing new ideas, including technology and AI, is essential to thriving in the modern beauty business.

🔅Salon Owners are Leaders First: Owning a salon isn’t just about hairstyling—it’s about leading, mentoring, and creating a culture of trust and growth.

👉Connect with Debra on Instagram

👉Follow Serious Business on Instagram

🗓️Learn more about Serious Business®, an annual conference that inspires and educates beauty professionals!

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The Road to Success: Brand Educator + Suite Life + Make an Impact | Brea Retic | Global Educator, Andis | Member, Salon Centric “It Takes a Pro” Team | Mother + Wife + Suite Renter + Barber + Philanthropist

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Brea shares her journey from barbershop beginnings to suite life success, highlighting the power of service, integrity, and balancing career with community impact.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Gain Experience Before Going Independent: Brea stresses the importance of building a strong clientele and honing skills in a barbershop before transitioning to a suite.

🔅Practice Makes Permanent: Consistent effort and dedication lead to skill mastery and professional growth.

🔅Create a Career, Not a Hustle: Brea emphasizes the value of treating barbering and hairstyling as a professional career, which includes filing taxes and managing finances ethically.

🔅Serving Others is Central: She believes that the beauty industry thrives on serving clients and creating meaningful, positive interactions.

🔅Balance Personal and Professional Life: As a mother, wife, and entrepreneur, Brea highlights the importance of intentional self-care and family time.

🔅Philanthropy Builds Community: Her nonprofit, A Different Cut, supports children with autism and trains stylists to create inclusive spaces, demonstrating the impact of giving back.

👉Connect with Brea on Instagram

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Community Conversations: Building Wealth, Investing, and Retirement | Daniel Mason-Jones | Salon Owner + Stylist + Educator + Public Figure | Muse Salon and Spa

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 07:00:00 -0400

💬 This isn’t just another podcast…We’re releasing our 11.1 Community Conversation on wealth-building, investing, and retirement planning with special guest Daniel Mason-Jones

Tune in to hear us chat about everything from the sexy investing to the foundational concepts of insurance and emergency funds. We cover the gamut when it comes to these topics.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Proactive Wealth Building is Essential: Saving money is not enough; investing is key to building lasting wealth.

🔅Start Early and Leverage Compound Interest: Understanding and using compound interest can significantly accelerate financial growth.

🔅Claim Your Tips Ethically: Reporting all income, including tips, opens up loan opportunities and better financial credibility.

🔅Invest in Real Estate and Beyond: Diversifying investments, such as real estate, mutual funds, and stocks, provides multiple paths to wealth.

🔅Balance Today and Tomorrow: It’s vital to enjoy life now while planning for future retirement needs through disciplined saving and investing.

🔅Surround Yourself with Experts: Building a financial team of advisors and accountants is crucial for sound investment strategies and wealth management.

Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. Always consult a financial advisor and do your own research to ensure your plans are right for you.

👉Connect with Daniel on Instagram

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SPECIAL: Salon Opening, Real-Time Docuseries: Pre-Opening Intro | Jessica Morrison + Brianne Blazosky | Co-Owners, Darling Nikki Salon

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0400

This special episode kicks off our new miniseries following Brianne and Jessica, co-owners of Darling Nikki Salon, a four-chair salon in Pittsburgh, PA. Join us as we document their journey from pre-opening to opening and beyond, exploring the challenges, triumphs, and unique approaches that shape their salon's story over the next year!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅A Strong Support System is Crucial: Brianne and Jessica highlight the importance of leaning on friends, family, and personal connections to navigate the challenges of opening a salon.

🔅Concierge Management Empowers Stylists: Their innovative business model focuses on handling all operational tasks, allowing stylists to channel their energy solely into creativity.

🔅Darling Nikki Reflects Their Fun Vibe: The salon’s name, inspired by the Prince song, embodies their playful and unique approach to building a welcoming and stylish space.

🔅Expect the Unexpected: Opening a salon takes longer than expected and comes with unforeseen challenges, but persistence and adaptability are key.

🔅Take Risks and Follow Your Passion: They encourage aspiring salon owners to seize opportunities and pursue their dreams, even when the path is uncertain.

🔅Collaboration Builds Culture: The duo emphasizes creating a team environment where stylists contribute to shaping the salon’s culture, fostering a sense of ownership and connection.

👉Follow Darling Nikki Salon on Instagram

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Living Your Purpose: Mentors, Skills, and Owning Your Why | Coko Taft | Regional Education Manager, OLAPLEX

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Coko shares her journey to success, the value of mentorship, and how to live your purpose in the beauty industry.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅The Journey to Success: - Coko shares her inspiring path from working in different industries to becoming the Regional Education Manager at OLAPLEX, emphasizing the importance of perseverance and adaptability.

🔅The Power of Mentorship - Mentorship played a significant role in Coko’s career. She highlights the value of learning from others, building relationships, and seeking guidance to grow professionally and personally.

🔅Living Your Purpose - Coko discusses the importance of understanding and staying true to your "why," reflecting on how purpose can drive decisions and sustain motivation through challenges.

🔅Skill-Building and Continuous Learning - Coko stresses the need for stylists to embrace continuous education, improve technical skills, and adapt to industry trends to stay competitive and successful.

🔅Authenticity in the Beauty Industry - By being her authentic self, Coko connects with others and creates meaningful impact, showing how genuine connections and relatability can build a strong community.

👉Connect with Coko on Instagram

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The Compensation Ecosystem: Building a Thriving Salon Team | Nikki Le | CEO and Founder of Statements Inc. and Nikki Le Consultancy | Beauty Industry Business Coach | Salon HR Consultant | Compensation Consultant

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Nikki Le breaks down how to build a thriving compensation ecosystem, from pay structures to benefits, to attract and retain top salon talent.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅A Strong Compensation Ecosystem is Essential: Effective compensation includes not only pay but also benefits, growth opportunities, and clarity around job progression.

🔅Career Ladders Build Loyalty: Creating defined career stages, from junior stylist to senior roles, helps team members see their growth path and increases retention.

🔅Use Data to Drive Improvement: Tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) such as client retention and productivity ensures that growth and compensation are aligned with performance.

🔅Employee Experience is Key: Benefits like PTO and flexible scheduling are highly desired post-pandemic and help create a more competitive and loyal team.

🔅Personalized Career Paths Retain Top Talent: Offering customized growth plans, including leadership roles or commission-based overrides, can keep high-performing team members engaged and prevent turnover.

👉Follow Nikki on Instagram

👉Learn more about Nikki and here offerings here

👉 Nikki's webinar on HRAs and creative benefit planning

👉 Nikki's webinar on the 5 phases of compensation planning

👉Join us 11/18 @ 5:30pm Eastern Time on Instagram for Community Conversation - A Spotlight on Flex-Schedule Benefits & Paid-Time-Off (PTO)

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Stop Renting: How to Buy the Building for Your Salon or Shop | Paul Neal | Owner, Vantage Point Commercial Capital | Host, The Brick & Mortar Money Show Podcast

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Paul Neal reveals essential strategies for salon owners looking to own their building and build wealth.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Gain Financial Stability and Build Equity: Buying the building your business operates from offers a long-term investment that builds equity and creates financial stability over time.

🔅Plan Ahead for Property Ownership: Begin the process well before your lease expires, ideally 12-24 months in advance, to maximize options and smooth the transition.

🔅Work with a Commercial Realtor: A skilled commercial realtor can help you find the best property, negotiate favorable terms, and guide you through market-specific nuances.

🔅Understand the Power of Equity: Equity is the difference between your property’s value and what you owe on it, building wealth as property value and loan payments progress.

🔅Leverage Tax Advantages and Expense Control: Owning your space provides tax benefits and shields you from unpredictable rent increases.

🔅Strong Cash Flow is Essential: Maintaining healthy cash flow and financial stability is critical to securing the best financing options for your property purchase.

👉Go to OwnYourBuildingNow.com and get a copy of Un-lease Your Business to read through and get your baseline understanding of Commercial Real Estate as a first step to buying the building you run your business out of.

👉Connect with Paul on LinkedIn

👉Learn more about Vantage Point Commercial Capital

👉Check out Paul's podcast, "The Brick & Mortar Money Podcast"

CONNECT WITH US

Building Your Biz + The State of Education & Licensing | Vonetta Dumas Jennings | Member, DC Board Barb & Cosm | Owner, Signature Image Salon | Educator | Author

Mon, 28 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Vonetta shares insights on building a beauty business, navigating salon ownership, and the industry's evolving landscape of education and licensing.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Have a Roadmap for Success: Planning and setting clear goals are essential for navigating the complexities of salon ownership.

🔅Work-Life Balance is Essential: Finding balance is key, especially post-pandemic, as salon owners juggle personal well-being and business demands.

🔅Invest in Staff Training and Development: Building a strong team through continuous education ensures long-term success and staff alignment with salon goals.

🔅Integrity Builds Trust: Maintaining integrity in client relationships reduces mistakes, dissatisfaction, and the need for redos, fostering client loyalty.

🔅Address the Risks of Unlicensed Activities: Unregulated services can harm both consumers and the industry’s reputation, highlighting the importance of proper licensing.

🔅Collaboration Creates Better Outcomes: Stronger partnerships between schools and salons can offer students real-world experience, preparing them better for industry challenges.

👉Follow Vonetta on Instagram

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From Stylist to Director: Crafting Careers & Education | Jason Snyder | Director of Sales & Education, Neill Fulfillment (VoMor Hair Extensions) | 17 Yrs, Aveda

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Jason Snyder shares his journey from Stylist to Director of Sales and Education at VoMor Hair Extensions offering insights on starting a salon, managing & inspiring a team, and working in education for an international brand!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Mentorship Shapes Careers: Support and guidance early on can make or break a stylist's journey, as seen in Jason's challenging start without proper onboarding.

🔅Understanding Team Motivations: Knowing what drives each team member fosters growth, satisfaction, and stronger team dynamics.

🔅Salon Culture Matters: Establishing a clear mission and a positive culture is essential, especially when managing multiple locations.

🔅Adaptability is Key: Flexibility is necessary to navigate the different dynamics within multiple salons and evolving industry trends.

🔅Continuous Learning Fuels Success: Ongoing education and embracing new opportunities are essential to staying relevant in the beauty industry.

🔅Networking Opens Doors: Building and maintaining strong relationships with mentors, peers, and industry contacts unlocks future opportunities.

👉Follow Jason on IG here.

👉Follow VoMor Extensions on IG here.

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Catching-Up 3 Yrs Later: From School to Salon AND Suite | Tiffany Anyanwu Stylist + Owner, Studio NinetySix | Co-Founder, Coda Hair

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

We catch up with Tiffany three years after graduation, as she shares her story, from salon team member to suite owner.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Tiffany Ayanwu has navigated her journey in a way that deserves attention. Building a successful career in this industry takes thoughtful planning, writing down goals, and steady perseverance.

🔅Transitioning from assisting to working independently can be financially challenging but rewarding.

🔅Salon owners must communicate clearly with apprentices about expectations and growth opportunities.

🔅Building a clientele takes time, and stylists should be prepared for client attrition.

🔅Emotional resilience is crucial in the salon industry, especially when facing interpersonal conflicts.

🔅Investing in training and development is vital for both stylists and salon owners.

👉Follow Tiffany on IG here.

CONNECT WITH US

Building a Beauty Business: Planning, Research & Finding Your Niche | Ajia Minnis Cruz Lanham | CEO+ Owner & Founder | Thrive Hair Bar

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Ajia shares her insights on business planning, funding, customer experience, and creating a niche in the beauty industry.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅From Tech Sales taking her around the country, Ajia always had a challenge finding someone to work with her natural hair, so she opened Thrive Hair Bar to fill this gap.

🔅If you want to open up your own business, make a plan and do your research. Who is your target audience? How are you going to fund it? Have you looked into grants? Google: “government grants” and use that to start your research!

🔅The difference between a salon and a suite is that a salon is a team and cohesive experience, while a suite is a one-on-one experience with walls separating everyone. These are very different customer experiences.

🔅Thrive hair bar does not do any chemical work or extensions. So, stylists who want to do those services are free to work elsewhere or have a suite to do those services.

🔅Creating membership and unique experiences creates stickiness for customers through brand loyalty and ecosystem inclusion

🔅Funding your business can come from grants, savings, 401k loans to yourself, investors, and loans. Make sure you are asking for enough money for a runway. If you are taking a loan or hitting up your 401k, make sure you calculate the ROI first to make sure this move is worth it.

👉Follow Ajia on IG here.

👉Follow Thrive Hair Bar on IG here.

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Good, Bad, & Reality of Coaches, Recruiting, & Retaining | Charlene Esoff | Hairstylist + Salon Manager + Coach + Mentor | The Delforge Group, US

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to get insights from Charlene on smart hiring, valuing the right coaches, and building a team culture that keeps your employees engaged and loyal!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Charlene trained as a hairdresser but found a love and passion in management, and later coaching with The Delforge Group out of the UK.

🔅Growth into management started with working at the desk and then doing inventory and more and more duties until she was doing it all!

🔅FRONT DESK: The bigger your salon, the more dedication you must have toward the hiring process. Depending on your size, you may need to hire a person to do the hiring.

🔅FRONT DESK: You MUST have protocols on how to handle people calling out, so you make sure to have coverage. Do not let your employees cancel work just to go to the beach without taking care of your customer’s experience. Protocols must be in place!

🔅FRONT DESK: A deskless option is worth exploring as an expedited check-in process to reduce wait time and enhance your customer's experience. You do not need to think of it as getting rid of the desk, but adding it to your existing model will help you and your business in more ways than you can imagine.

🔅Attracting and Retaining new hires: Make it attractive to work for you via promises. If you want to keep these new hires, keep your promises.

🔅Shopping for a Coach? Beware of scams and large upfront costs with no human support! What do you want? Do you want someone to jump on a video call when you are in need? Or are you a self-learner who needs books, manuals, formulas, etc.?

🔅The top 2 main concerns Charlene has coached Salon Owners on are their financials AND recruiting. New regulations, inflation, and budgeting are always something owners need to pay attention to...

🔅Recruiting has been a challenge; you have to touch base with the local schools everywhere. Ask the teachers to put flyers with QR codes about the salon and ways to apply..

👉Follow Charlene on IG here.

👉Follow The Delforge Group® on IG here.

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The Start-Up Process, Branding, & Publicity | Darius Davie | Mens Stylist | Co-Founder + Creative Director, Groom Guy

Mon, 16 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to learn how to craft a business plan, perfect your pitch, and strategically network your way to success while hearing expert advice on partnerships, press, and storytelling.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Start with a plan. “Before it’s hair, it’s business.” Develop a business plan, understand your brand, and determine who your team and/or support are.

🔅 Put together your pitch and know it intimately.

🔅Use every opportunity to network and share your pitch. Remember, you may be talking to your next investor or partner. Be proactive and strategic in your networking efforts, and you’ll be surprised at the opportunities that come your way.

🔅Partnership requires clear expectations, transparency, and having your lawyers iron out the terms of the agreement.

🔅When pitching to anyone, you want to phrase your value in a way that causes people to ask questions. This gets you "buy-in" and a chance to dive deeper into your concept at their request.

🔅Make sure you know your audience and pitch when appropriate. Remember, not everyone wants to hear your pitch. Respect their time and interests by understanding who they are and what they need.

🔅“When you tell your story loud enough, someone will hear you.”

🔅Getting press requires good storytelling. Do you have an interesting story that evokes emotion in others when they hear you tell it?

🔅The Press world is different from the hair world…learn to speak their language and how they work or hire a PR firm to help; that’s what they do. To start, figure out:

1: How are you going to connect with members of the Press?

2: What is your why, and why should people care?

🔅"If you try to shortcut, you sell yourself short."

🔅Success takes time, whether you like it or not...get ready, do the research, network, and do the work.

👉Follow Darius on IG here.

👉Follow Groom Guy on IG here.

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Partnership Realities, Team-Based Pay, & Building Oasis Curl Salon | Wafaya Abdallah | Owner, Curly Oasis Educator, Art of Curly Hair | Host, The Curl Code Podcast

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

🚨STOP! Before you enter into a partnership with anyone or think about Team-Base Pay, listen to Wafaya tell you all about it while sharing her story of building Oasis Curl Salon!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

🔅Training her way up, building her book, and learning the business, Wafaya offered to buy into the salon where she worked, which was accepted. After a while, the owner grew tired of running the business, and Wafaya was able to buy the business.

🔅Wafaya steered away from hoity-toity salons because they are too intense and cutthroat. It is so important to pick a salon that fits you.

🔅Beware of partners. Do you share the same vision of the future? Do you trust that they can handle economic or business downturns financially? Do you have everything documented for your business journey?

🔅Do not stay in toxic cultures.

🔅Oasis is a team-based business specializing in naturally wavy, curly, and tight spiral hair. They take a holistic approach because beauty is inside out.

🔅Joining Oasis means you will undergo a skill certification as part of getting on the floor.

🔅Team-based means the staff is salaried. They are paid hourly. The rates are not all the same, but everyone gets consistent pay. The team is collaborative, helping each other with clients and even working on parts of the business. No matter how much hair you cut, team members are given raises based on attitude and work ethic.

🔅When the company hits their goals, the team members get a bonus.

🔅Open-book management means the employees know the numbers, what the business makes and spends, and understand the business.

🔅Check out Wafaya's podcast: The Curl Code!

👉Follow Oasis Curl Salon on Instagram here

👉Listen to Wafaya's podcast & learn more about Oasis Curl Salon here

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Barber Shop Owners, Rising Stylists, and Seasoned Stylists sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won't stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

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Tech, Business, & Social Media: Getting to The Truth of What Matters | Gordon Miller | CEO, Beauty Cast | Founder, Social Beauty Makers

Mon, 02 Sep 2024 07:00:00 -0400

If you think you understand the industry, watch this and find out! Tune in as Gordon Miller gives context to tech, culture, social media, and beyond, which dispel and reveals a perspective you don't want to miss!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

🔅Gordon isn't a salon owner or a hairdresser. He studied finance and economics at university and started his career working for a chain of salons and schools. He then moved to Pivot Point, followed by Milady, where he eventually ran the company. After that, he became the Executive Director of the National Cosmetology Association. His journey then took him into media and social media, where he became the publisher of American Salon magazine and later the CEO & President of Hairbrained. This experience led him to do consulting, Beauty Cast Network, and his podcast, Social Beauty Makers!

🔅Technological advancements in our industry come from the application of tech in other industries and from R&D by the big product and salon companies, the industry players who have the money.

🔅The desire for independence in our industry is not new, but the technology to enable solopreneurs is a game-changer. With the advent of business management software and the power of social media, not only can you communicate with customers, but you can also be influenced by independent influencers. This technological empowerment is reshaping the beauty industry, offering new opportunities for growth and success.

🔅The success rate of startups is 20% or less.

🔅If you are going out on your own to a suite, are you professionally mature enough? Do you have the experience needed to handle your own business?

👉Follow Gordon on Instagram here

👉Follow Beauty Cast Network on Instagram here

👉Check out Social Beauty Makers (Gordon's weekly FREE e-newsletter & podcast) here

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Dispelling the 3 Most Current Trends in Health & Fitness | David Castle | Co-Founder, Industry Aligned | Expert: Biomechanics, Exercise Science & Nutrition; 25 Years

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Intermittent fasting, rest & recovery, and cold plunges...tune in as David dispels common and current health & fitness trends.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

🔅Cold plunge: reducing inflammation

🔅Focus on your lifestyle and diet before dunking yourself in ice water. The science about inflation can be misleading and misinterpreted, but inflation can also be good and important for your recovery

🔅Stop with the cure-all. There's no such thing. You have to work to be healthy and not be in pain.

🔅Intermittent fasting: heightened, temporary brain function + energy storage. Again, pay attention to your body. Are you getting enough nutritional density on a 24-hour cycle?

🔅Rest & Relaxation: Rest is not recovery. Rest over-self-prescribed and over-prescribed by doctors.

🔅We're too used to making life soft and easy. This is not helping you; it is hurting your physical body. Recovery is a lot more than rest.

It's important to note that this podcast does not provide medical, fitness, or health advice. Our goal is to interpret the takeaways of this episode. We strongly encourage you to conduct your own research and seek professional advice. Remember, HairdresserStrong.com does not give medical, fitness, or health advice.

👉 Follow Industry Aligned on Instagram

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Building Business & Transforming Your Career | Tuesday McClain | Colorist + Educator + Owner | Savvy Color Salon Inc.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Elevate your business and career as Tuesday deep-dives into understanding the steps to building the life you want—proving that the path to success is never a straight line.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

-- From a young age, Tuesday was doing hair and got into the industry in an unconventional way.

-- Going from working for someone to working on her own, then back to working with others before opening a salon! Lots of experience!

-- Educators: Teach what you know and have the experience to set your students up for success.

-- Entrepreneurs: Make sure the people advising you and teaching you have the experience you lack and want to learn.

-- Social media is not where we should be looking to understand the work it takes to accomplish something. Social media is where folks show their wins after all the work.

-- Diversifying your experience in business, teams, clients, etc., is a great way to understand how to achieve your goals.

-- The pathway to your goals is not a straight line. It is mired with twists, turns, struggles, triumphs, and relationships.

-- Tuesday had two parents with different paths, which showed her the value of BOTH textbook learning and experience. This built a foundation of learning, education, hard work, and success.👉Follow Tuesday on IG here.

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HS NEWS: Social Media Trends + Impact on Your Health and Business + Inflation & Interest Rate Update

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Social media impacts our health and business, for better of worse. Well, this plays into financial perspective, so tune in and get "in-the-know" with the latest in financial and business as it pertains to the Beauty Industry!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.fastcompany.com/91162287/de-influencing-effectively-sways-69-of-u-s-social-media-users

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/23/new-research-young-people-are-reshaping-the-happiness-curve.html

https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/why-so-many-gen-zers-and-millennials-have-money-dysmorphia-even-if-they-are-financially-better-off-than-they-realize/articleshow/112048662.cms

https://www.wsj.com/economy/consumers/inflation-costs-housing-utilities-purchases-8b6f18d8?mod=Searchresults_pos5&page=1

https://apnews.com/article/inflation-economy-federal-reserve-interest-rates-04d2877f47f3913acc2f992d8ef1581b

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/fresh-inflation-data-show-cooldown-continued/story?id=112799345

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

One of our missions is to raise the esteem and perceived importance & value of hairdressers across the USA. HS NEWS is part of that effort. We believe to achieve this goal, we must raise the bar of professionalism, service, and sophistication of hairdressers. We hope you enjoy the news and look forward to your comments!

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THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #thehairdresserstrongshow #entrepreneur #modernsalon #hairstylists

How I Built Salons, Bought the Building, & Create My Future | Jamal Edmonds | Owner, JE Parlour | Educator & Texture Expert

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Jamal Edmonds’ inspiring story of building businesses, acquiring assets, and creating multiple revenue streams through determination and meaningful relationships!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

-- Early in his career, Jamal faced challenges in doing hair and managing, but his perseverance helped him overcome the uncertainty.

-- Remember, perseverance is key. Despite the hurdles and struggles, don't give up on your dreams. Seek mentorship; it can make all the difference.

-- Jamal shifted from booth rental to a commission-based salon, relocating from DC to Maryland, where he bought a commercial property with a lower mortgage.

-- Joining Mizani was a turning point for Jamal, shaping him into a dynamic educator and master of relationships, key to his success

-- Things Jamal has learned:

-- Mentors are super important!

-- Work-Life balance, whatever that means to you, is very important!

-- Color and Commission Salons were unknown and opened a whole new world in hair!

-- Stay a forever student!

-- Do not look at TikTok to compare yourself to anyone else; our stories are different, which makes us unique.

-- Learn and grow from coworkers first. Suites are ideal for senior stylists with a large clientele. Build your book, finances, and skills before considering a suite.

-- Multiple streams of revenue are important, but asset acquisition allows you to generate capital and leverage to acquire more assets.

👉Follow Jamal on IG here.

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Building Multiple Revenue Streams As a Beauty Pro | Tyler Kelbert | Stylist + Barber + Educator + Award Winning Artist

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Multiple revenue streams and hair competitions; Tyler tells you what you need to know!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

12-year industry veteran
Tyler went to both Barbering and Cosmetology School
If you want to work with brands, find out what they want. Talk to your rep, look up on their website, follow your favorite brands, tag them, and submit to any ambassador program, educator opportunities, and/or competitions! The more consistent you are, the better your chances of getting picked up!
Hone your craft and build relationships by going to as many classes and hair shows as you can.
If you pursue a career in education and events, be prepared for your salon/suite/shop clients to find their way into someone else chair due to your unavailability.
Participating in a photo contest costs money, and the more photos per contest required the more money. Start with the One Shot or another award in which you only have to submit one picture. Then, you have to budget for things like wigs, photographers, lunch for everyone, wardrobe, makeup, etc.
Tinker with your career by offering to teach a free class at a local hair school or for local stylists.
If you pursue multiple revenue streams, that pursuit could hinder your ability to build or maintain a healthy and robust clientele, beware.

👉Follow Tyler on IG here.

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What Are The Steps + How Much Money Do I Need Before Opening Up Shop? | Joe Agnello | CEO + Co-Owner, City Image Barber Shop Chain (10 Locations) | Barber Shop Owner Coach

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to understand how much money and credit you need + how to get there so you can open your own spot in the future!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

Startup costs are higher than they have ever been, and landlords are tough post-COVID
Opening a Barber Shop will cost you about 30k at the bare minimum in a lower cost-of-living area.
You have to pay yourself when you start your business because you may think your business is doing better than it is.
Receiving payments in cash may seem convenient, but it's not advisable. Demonstrating a clear income on paper and paying taxes on it is essential for securing loans. Without a documented income, obtaining a loan can be challenging.
Most of the time, the landlord will not give you anything. You are responsible for everything; this is not a residential rental.
Do not just listen to one coach, advisor, or influencer. Diversity in perspective will serve you better than buying into just one person.

👉Follow Joe on IG here.

👉Follow City Image Barber Shop on IG here.

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HS NEWS: Interest Rates Coming Down + Worker Satisfaction High + Gen Z Starts Saving + More!

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

GREAT NEWS! Interest Rates Coming Down + Worker Satisfaction High + Gen Z Starts Saving + More!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/15/powell-indicates-fed-wont-wait-until-inflation-is-down-to-2percent-before-cutting-rates.html

https://www.apa.org/pubs/reports/work-in-america/2024

https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/bank-of-america-survey-finds-gen-z-most-impacted-by-cost-of-living-214650437962

https://www.fastcompany.com/91150442/genz-college-internet-economy

https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/15/climate/polar-ice-melting-day-length-time/index.html

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #thehairdresserstrongshow #entrepreneur #modernsalon #hairstylists

Communal Care: Going Farther with Others Than on Your Own | Domenique Harrison, MPH, LMFT, LPCC | Founder & Licensed Psychotherapist, The Racial Equity Therapist

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together". Tap into the power of communal care with Domenique and discover how you can accomplish more and have greater depth to life with community.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Communal care is about having care in Community, and holding each other accountable for caring for your mind, body, and spirit.

🔅When we focus too heavily on doing things by ourselves, we depend on ourselves for things that should invite inquiry and curiosity from others. We put too much on our shoulders; we're too self-dependent.

🔅Community starts with one other person, so if you are nervous about letting people in, start with one person. This invites us to not be so rigid and become more open...all good things ;)

🔅Community is made up of relationships, but relationships do not necessarily make an active community. Active Community is rooted in intent, difficult conversations, accountability, and giving.

🔅Social Media is a great opportunity, if used well, to think critically and come together at different levels of learning.

🔅Even if you "like being alone," you need to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. Even if you take time to regularly go to a park and put yourself in a position to interact with someone.

🔅If you are an extrovert and external processor, remember to take time to invite those you know who tend to go it alone to do things together or into the community. Do not just ask once; keep inviting! That is part of communal care.

👉Follow Domenique on IG here.

👉Learn more about Dom and check out her website here.

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Branding & Scaling Your Career or Business Beyond Convention | Darius Davie | Mens Stylist | Co-Founder + Creative Director, Groom Guy

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Do you want to grow? Tune in to learn all about branding, business-building, and career planning while hearing Darius’s journey to building Groom Guy.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Off to a choppy start, Darius was let go at his first shop, which only fueled him to push harder, learn, and grow! He went to school, got a job in management at a shop, and then transitioned to behind-the-chair.
Darius is building his business, Groom Guy, to partner and offer grooming services and products in hotels worldwide.
Learn your target demographic and where they shop, live, and hang out. Use this and more research to tailor your services and experience to that customer based on all this information. The customer's experience starts before they enter the shop or salon and doesn't end when they walk out the door. If you fully understand this about your customer and can answer all of this, you are (or on the way to) delivering a high-end service!
"The chair is one of the most powerful places for you to make connections...you are a walking LinkedIn".
You will only sometimes stay at the same place for the rest of your career, but you should learn how different folks run their businesses so you can grow your career and endeavors!

👉Follow Darius on IG here.

👉Follow Groom Guy on IG here.

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International Salon Suites + State of Education | John Gillespie | Managing Director at Phenix Salon Suites | Celebrity Hairstylist | Businessman | Speaker

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Taking salon suites international and discussing the state of education in the industry with John Gillespie.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅 John is the Managing Director of Phenix Salon Suites and focuses on the UK and Europe.

🔅Salon Suites were not in the UK before John was connected with the Founder of Pheonix Salon Suites due to his work with brands developing education.

🔅After seeing Salon Suites in the US, John told the founders he thought it would work in the UK; they said: DO IT!

🔅John brought the color line owned by the Pheoniz Salon Suites folks and education to Salon Suites in the UK. This way, hairdressers have easy access to buying color on short-term notice and the empowerment of education to stay on top of their game.

🔅Education in the industry changed with Instagram, but now, with the saturation of educators AND the increased costs of business and living, education is changing again!

🔅Aspiring Suite Renters: Make sure you build your book before going out on your own. Check out hybrid salons, booth renting, or suites. Do what works for you and is comfortable with you.

🔅Current Suite Renters: Remember—it is on you to find education and collaborate with others. Go and find it and make it happen for yourself! Do not stop your creativity and development, or you will go stale!

👉Follow John on IG and check out his personal recommendations here.

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Opening a Salon: The Challenges No One Talks About | Nikita Montgomery | Co-Founder, Hazel O. Salon | www.nikimonty.com

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Nikita Montgomery share the truth about opening a salon that no one talks about.

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released.

Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Nikita, inspired by fashion, entrepreneurship, and her Grandma, opened Hazel O Salon. Nikita is not a stylist but creates a space for stylists and clients alike, serving all hair textures and bringing greater diversity in services to Old Town Alexandria.
Opening a salon, construction, and permitting are very important aspects that can derail your ambition or cost you time, money, and stress if you do not handle them correctly. It is also confusing if you do it yourself.
A general contractor will help you navigate the permits, but they will cost you a TON of money!
Building a team from ZERO and not having her own clientele, Nikita used Indeed to hire people with little to no clients to start building off of walk-ins and new client requests.
ASPIRING SALON OWNERS: Build a clientele and hone your craft before opening a salon. Practice teaching and working with assistants to hone your skills at growing others. This is the magic ingredient to success in salon ownership.
Know that your team/employees have lives and free will. They will likely have ambitions and leave you at some point. Being okay and prepared for this is very important to your long-term success as a business owner and leader.
Be involved in your local community if you want to have a successful career as a service provider or business. People help and support each other in the community.

👉Follow Nikita on Instagram

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HS NEWS: Inflation, Politics, Interest Rates, and Your Business

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Today, we discuss the uncertainty around election years for the economy, the current economic data, and what it all means for you, your business, and your customers.

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/06/12/cpi-report-june-inflation.html

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-job-openings-fall-more-than-expected-april-2024-06-04/

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-producer-prices-unexpectedly-fall-may-2024-06-13/

https://youtu.be/WuNqxn3HdoY?si=Eg6725IskYoAoT4p

https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/election-market-impact#:~:text=Historically%2C%20US%20markets%20have%20generally,no%20guarantee%20of%20future%20results.

https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/nam/en/insights/markets-and-investing/tmt/3-election-year-myths-debunked

https://www.wsj.com/economy/inflation-april-cpi-report-interest-rate-55eda190?mod=article_inline

https://hbr.org/2009/04/how-to-market-in-a-downturn-2#:~:text=Companies%20need%20to%20understand%20the,prices%2C%20and%20postpone%20new%20investments.

https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/how-do-elections-affect-the-stock-market/

https://www.yahoo.com/news/human-missions-mars-doubt-astronaut-090649428.html

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

How I Built My Book, Businesses, and Career | Stephen Adams | Co-Owner, Moxie Hair Salon + ShairedSpace + Stepshair.com | Founder + Exec. Dir., Beauty Certified Education

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Stephen share some of the most valuable advice you can get in this industry!

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released.

Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Before getting on the floor, Stephen Adams spent years learning the business and training.

🔅Once he was ready to advance onto the floor, he sped up the process by going out and promoting himself. He had so many requests that he was able to skip ahead in his apprenticeship program to get on the floor.

🔅Due to a family emergency, Stephen was asked to step in for someone he assisted. Stephen said yes, even though he had little to no experience leading a show on stage. While it was nerve-racking, he made it through, and this willingness to seize an opportunity led him to new and other opportunities!

🔅When Stephen accomplished his career goals, it was time for the last goal: salon ownership.

🔅Stephen started Beauty Certified Education to provide Continuing Education Units (CEUs). He then made the classes available online to help everyone in the state have easier access.

🔅Go to your state board meetings! The only way to make changes in curriculum or local rules. Changing a rule usually takes 2-3 years, so get ready to get involved!

🔅Do not get into education for the money. It is very hard to make good money from education unless you do it full-time and build a large social media following. Start by focusing on building your business behind the chair to give you the income to support yourself and invest in building your following and demand as an educator.

🔅If your team is walking out on you, it is your fault. make sure you foster open communication and have a pathway for people to leave you and go out on their own

👉Follow Stephen on Instagram

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HS NEWS: New Inflation Data, Consumers Are Reducing Spending, Social Media, & Employee Retentiion

Tue, 28 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

CPI is still ringing in hot so do not expect interest rate cuts unless inflation comes down more and/or unemployment goes up. Keep your employees excited about working for you by including organized community outreach and volunteer opportunities. Be authentic and own your mistakes to appeal to Gen-Z clients (or employees)! Consumers are continuing to restrict their spending, and the category which contains Hair services and products have gone up over 4% each!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://fortune.com/2024/04/28/company-volunteer-programs-nonprofits-lower-employee-turnover-workforce-retention/

https://fortune.com/2024/05/23/gen-z-ignores-brand-messaging-marketing-advertising/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7aRfqBxbsC/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cpi.pdf

https://youtu.be/uaPLZp4qgGQ?si=74Pk34LAVKe2m1kY

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Recap & What's Next | Beauty Business Brunch | Robert Hughes, Host + Stylist | Sammi Heffron, Marketing + Community Engagement | HairdresserStrong.com

Mon, 27 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Robert & Sammi recap their Beauty Business Brunch and discuss what's next!

The Beauty Business Brunch fosters local industry community, focusing on business, professionalism, and well-being, uniting business owners and operators in workshops and interactive discussions to learn from industry leaders and collaboratively address challenges.⁠

👉Here's what the day looked like!⁠

⁠

🟡Welcome, Food, Drinks, Networking⁠

🟡Keynote⁠

🟡Interactive Panel Discussions⁠ (topics & questions chosen by you!)

👉️Investing in the Future: Generational Wealth + Retirement Planning + Growing/Scaling your Business⁠

👉️Revolutionizing Customer Experiences & Pricing in a New Era of Service (The Human, The Digital, & AI)⁠

👉️Growth Through Challenges: Confidence, Burnout, Communication, & Access⁠

🟡Workshop⁠s⁠

🟡Brunch, Networking, Expo⁠

🟡Jeopardy Prize Drawing⁠

We’ve heard from many of you that YOU WANT MORE! In the next few weeks, we will ask for your feedback and input on what types of events and how often to make sure it’s valuable to you.

⁠To ensure you’re the first to know what’s upcoming, sign up for our free newsletter - https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/newsletter

Shadow Program - Use this link to learn more and be the first to PILOT this new platform - https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/shadow-program-join-now

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Cosmo. Students: Getting to Know Them, From Their Teacher | Raegine Hunter | Stylist + Educator, PR at Partners | Educator, Wella

Tue, 21 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear what students want, from their teacher!

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Biggest focus of Cosm. Students: Finances; specifically how to make a salon suite after school work financially

🔅Cosm. Students are being taught to build their IG, and Raegine is seeing success.

🔅Social media and a good financial strategy are not enough, though. They have to have the drive to make it work.

🔅60-70% of students are going straight to suite rental.

🔅Raegine has noticed more success over time with this move. However, their success still hinges on drive and the commitment to continuing their education and not relying on the education they got in beauty school.

👉Follow Raegine on Instagram

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HS NEWS: Market Shift? Consumer Sentiment + Inflation + Employment News

Tue, 14 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

The market is shifting. Consumers getting Tired of High Prices, Savings Rates are Low, CC Balances High, Inflation is Stubborn, Rates Staying High, Employees Seek Internal Growth or want to Leave You.

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are, too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/05/06/howard-schultz-weighs-in-on-starbucks-earnings-miss.html

https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/business/retailers-cutting-prices/index.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/great-resignation-effectively-over-now-192507915.html

https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/inflation/current-inflation-rates/

https://www.jpmorgan.com/insights/outlook/economic-outlook/fed-meeting-may-2024

https://www.bls.gov/cpi/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=in7wGXFe5Gw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrK8UDchAN0

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

How I Went From Assistant > Mom > Stable & Secure Salon Owner | Maria Alexandra Marrero | Stylist + Owner, Salon ALO

Mon, 13 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear how Maria navigates and discovers balance with family, salon ownership, and seeks advice and education to realize her dreams with less stress than most.

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Maria was an assistant at 2 salons, then a licensed stylist at another salon, ran a home salon, and then went to a suite for about 10 years before opening her own salon.

🔅Seeing fellow hairdressers at a salon that she assisted at own their homes, have nice cars, and have more control of their lifestyle, Maria knew this was the career for her!

🔅Once Maria started growing a family, she decided to launch a salon in her home, which meant no rent, and that was the year she says she was " RICH"!

🔅The home salon made it hard to have boundaries, which led to her going to a salon suite, which made things great!

🔅Looking for a commercial broker, she discovered that male brokers gave her a lot of crap and even hung up on her! Finally, she found a spot to rent that was part of a spa and started her booth-renting salon!

🔅If you think you will make a lot of money, do not open a booth rental salon unless you have a large space.

🔅Do not go to a booth rental until you have a full clientele because of the rent that comes out weekly or monthly.

🔅Being innovative with business models means you could be discovering something new that the entire industry adopts.

🔅Maria sold her house to ensure she was well capitalized for her business to give her, her family, and her team stability and security.

🔅You should have 6-12 months of bills when you start to give yourself peace of mind to build your business without pressure.

🔅Peace of mind is important for you to focus on building your business. Stress will reduce your productivity.

👉 Follow Maria on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mariaalexstyles/

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Success After School: Student > Apprentice > Stylist > Educator | Raegine Hunter | Stylist + Educator, PR at partners | Educator, Wella

Mon, 06 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear how Raegine went from being a student to becoming a stylist and educator for two companies.

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅If you want to learn and be trained in a way that speeds up your progress toward the big goals, starting at a company with a robust training program is more valuable than starting on your own or at a place that throws you on the floor or charges rent.

🔅Current Generation of Rising Stylists expects school will give them everything they need so they can get started with their career without the need for further education and experience. Lots of ambition; we love ambition!

🔅Regine is grateful for the apprenticeship she took after hair school. The additional learning and experience that she got through training after school elevated her in a way she would have never accomplished without many years of training and paying for her own education.

🔅Education is so very fulfilling when you are the one responsible for someone learning something new or you see a "light bulb" go off.

CONNECT WITH US

Success & Higher Prices = Navigating Biz Ups & Downs + Great Cust. Experience | Kathleen Lauer | Owner & Stylist, Inspire Salon

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Kathleen share how to build a customer-centric brand and navigate the highs and lows of business⁠.

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

🚨Kathleen will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bbb24

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅 Jumping around between salons is normal at the beginning of your career.

🔅 Seek community and mentors when looking for somewhere to work early in your career.

🔅 Before venturing into the salon business, it's essential to meticulously plan every aspect, from the location and brand to the mission and financing, considering the impact on all stakeholders.

🔅 Kathleen started getting to know customers in what is now called the "pre-consult" before we had the technology to make it easy to accomplish! Trailblazer!

🔅 Color services have become very expensive, so making clients feel special and appreciated is imperative. The experience keeps them returning and paying the prices you want to charge!

🔅 Prices increased quickly, and customers demanded more than good hair. They are used to having good hair at a lower price, but with new looks, they do not understand the additional cost and time, so they need to be educated. Their experience will make up the difference between the cost they think it should be and what they pay.

🔅 Stylists want to work less and charge more. Some are making the same working less, some are pricing themselves out of their market, and others hit a ceiling, so they add hours...the jury is out

🔅 Be prepared for downturns, walkouts, and attrition. People will leave you; that is part of the business.

🔅 Aspiring SALON OWNERS: Plan out your first few months of rent because the excitement and fun will be disrupted by your bills being due 30 days later.

🔅Cancellation policies are best as a warning and for clients who take advantage (which is probably less than 5% of people).

👉Follow Kathleen on Instagram

👉Follow Inspire Salon on Instagram

🚨Kathleen will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bbb24

CONNECT WITH US

Retirement Planning & Securing Your Family’s Future | Marcos Serrano | Financial Planner, Primerica

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Marcos Serrano, Financial Planner, tell you how to prepare for retirement and secure your family’s financial future!

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🟡Marcos fell in love with helping his community (immigrant community) and other middle-income families

🟡1 of 2 things are guaranteed to happen:

🟡1)You will hit Retirement Age

🟡2) You will pass away before you hit Retirement Age

...Thus, retirement planning and protecting your family's financial future in the event of a loss are two things to cover so make sure to set up a retirement plan AND get Life Insurance

🟡80% of surviving spouses (a married person whose spouse passes away) lose their home in the first 12 months!

🟡Over 158 Million Families do not have life insurance; that's a lot of people who are likely to lose their homes if they own it within a year of an unfortunate death!

🟡Questions to think about when planning for retirement:

🟡What is your retirement age?

🟡What is your risk tolerance; when it comes to investing, there is always risk.

🟡Do you want to travel in your retirement years? What does that look like?

🟡What do you want to achieve in retirement?

🟡Is it important to you that your house is paid off in retirement?

Marcos will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bbb24

👉Follow Marcos on Instagram

👉Follow Primierica on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

**This is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Seek out a registered/licensed professional. This information is from Marcos Serrano, a Financial Planner, on retirement planning and protecting your family's financial future in the event of a loss.

WAY Bigger Than You Think: Importance of Email in Your Biz | Claire Monroe | Hair Designer | Virtual Assistant | Consultant | Claire Monroe Hair Co.

Mon, 15 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Claire Monroe tell you why you better not sleep on email marketing...engagement is 5x higher than IG

⁠⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

--- IG engagement ~1%-4%

-- Average Hairdresser Email Open Rate ~20%

-- Email enables you to identify who saw your important messages about anything from price increases, promotions, or your travel plans! Then, you can reach out to those separately if you want/need to to make sure they get the message.

-- Every business should consider having multiple forms of communication and marketing, and one of them should definitely be email...+ The engagement rate for email over IG is 5x higher!

-- Claire recommends against providing a coupon or discount to incentivize clients to sign up for your email list. Instead, give them advice or educational content that provides value, not just a discount or a sales pitch.

-- Do not sell every time you send an email; sometimes, you must give value and create excitement about yourself and your brand.

-- Claire recommends and helps you understand how to use Flow Desk and develop your email marketing system.

-- Email marketing doesn’t have to be more than 1x month as long as you are consistent.

-- Integrated email marketing systems (the ones that come with your booking software) tend to have design issues and are not as powerful as separate systems like Flowdesk

-- Ideas for emails:

-- Make a tutorial video on social media and then send it via email

-- Short email about a new puppy or a team member or yourself had a baby

-- You or a team member had a life event

-- Monthly newsletter

-- New team member

-- A new restaurant or cafe near the salon opened

-- Consistency is the name of the game

-- Lived in looks = not seeing clients as much which might = they forget to book their appointment; stay top of your clients’ minds with regular communication...email is one of the best forms!

👉Follow Claiew on IG and check out his personal recommendations here.

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Building a Sustainable Salon Business: Systems, Coaches, and Community | Stephanie Dillenseger | Owner, Eclips Salon

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Stephanie share how to build a sustainable salon business!

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Stephanie started at the front desk and then started hair school part-time while staying at the desk part-time. Then she transitioned to being an apprentice/assistant until she got on the floor full-time.

-- Stephanie's two salons were different experiences. One Salon was already existing, and she became part of the salon and then took over it. The second location was built.

-- If your salon culture isn't where it needs to be, nothing else will matter; you have to get this together and everyone on the same page if you want to be successful.

-- You have to take time to work on your business and not just in your business.

-- Having systems to help organize your business and organize your teams' pathways to success will help you retain team members and excite new hires.

-- Salon Owners tend to be firefighters, always just dealing with what arises when it arises. With systems and planning, you can take control of your business.

-- In order to do hair because you want to vs. having to do hair to pay your bills and not just owning your job, you must systematize your business, get your culture on track, and be able to work on your business as a leader and coach. Get a coach to help you take your vision and turn it into a plan.

-- Plan your business out, do the research, and seek mentors and salon owner groups before starting your business. If you already started your business, get a coach to help you navigate setting your business up!

Stephanie will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bbb24

👉Follow Eclips Salon on Instagram

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Pioneering Success: Community, Consistency, & Collaboration | Cindy Feldman | Leader of Amazing Beauty Professionals, Progressions Salon Spa Store | Board Member, PBA

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Cindy’s key points to growing an incredibly successful business through embracing innovation and community.⁠

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Cindy worked while she was in school for aesthetics.

-- Started her business at 22 years old with the help of an SBA loan. Entrepreneurs, check out the SBA!

-- Find a location, write a business plan, team up with a bank that participates in the SBA's 7(a) loan program(community banks might offer a more relationship-based service), and get a loan from them.

-- Passion, positive attitude, relationships, and "jumping through hoops" enhance one's success in accomplishing one's goals.

-- It becomes clear very quickly that running a business requires you to run your business just as much or more than you need to take clients.

-- Finding common goals of love and respect amongst team members will help you go far

-- Surround yourself with people who have more experience and success, and with others whom you can learn from and get advice. This can be found through community organizations such as the local Chamber of Commerce, the Professional Beauty Association, and other professional meet-ups, associations, and groups.

-- Coaching is the highest level of adult learning; get coached and coach others.

-- Ask for help and take advice from those with more experience than you.

-- Bring in Innovation and go to Industry Events to take you out of the salon to help you build your brand.

-- Relationships, Community, Asking for Help, Asking for Advice, Consistency, Love, and Respect are the keys to accomplishing your goals.

Cindy will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. Use this link to learn more, and join us! - https://www.eventcreate.com/e/bbb24

👉Follow Cindy on Instagram

👉Follow Progressions Salon Spa Store on Instagram

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Crafting the Future: Fostering Integrity and Growth in Hairdressing | Victor Scotti Jr. | Creative Director & Stylist, Our S.P.A.C.E. | Soon to be graduate, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Arlington

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Victor Scotti Jr. explore the critical need for holistic education and transparent communication in the beauty industry to bridge gaps, foster integrity, and ensure sustainable growth for hairdressers.⁠

⁠Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Our S.P.A.C.E is a holistic wellness and healing space that stands for Safety (he moves at the speed of safety), Play (what fuels his creativity), Agency (pushes him to say what he means and mean what he says & holds others accountable), Community (you can’t do anything alone; finding like-minded peers in, Exploration (keeps you growing)

-- Victor believes that every individual on a spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical level needs those things (his own personal values that guide who he lives and leads)

-- Victor has a non-traditional perspective of the industry (he thinks a lot about people and experiences in a given space). He is 33 and had a career in Corporate America (worked with students and been in HR) prior to joining the Beauty Industry.

-- Victor sees a gap between exiting school directly and being the stylist you want to be.

-- There are a number of different things cosmetology schools can do to increase the awareness of the students and help prepare them for longevity in the Beauty Career

-- Bringing in people like Industry Aligned to discuss body mechanics and how it can impact your career or exposing students to L'Oréal’s Head-Up mental health training program

-- Having an undergrad degree, he recognizes that many life skills aren’t taught in college, so it’s not just the Beauty Industry

-- As Victor prepares for graduation by shadowing and interviewing at different salons, coming from an HR background, he feels there are places where we can add more structure, rigor, and process, especially so people have the information they need to make informed decisions to set themselves on a path to success

-- How do we know what you say is what you’ll do if it’s not written down? How can I assess integrity and growth plans if it’s communicated casually as opposed to a place to access/as a resource?

-- Think about providing various touchpoints of opportunity to learn more about people on a behavioral level

-- Understand what the Rising Stylist does well and how they want to grow from a technical level

-- Goal alignment: Where do you want to be, and how can we both push each other to grow and learn together?

-- There needs to be more intentional conversations (less open-ended) but also honesty about the vision for the salon/space, how you are looking for folks to grow, and what might be coming that is on the road map. This will help Rising Stylists make informed decisions and Owners be more comfortable about talent coming into their space.

-- This is not an individual profession; being a business owner is not an individual task (you’re leading & managing people and shepherding a vision. You can’t effectively shepherd without being able to share a clear vision, get feedback, and share expectations.

-- At school, people have varying experiences because they don’t know what they should experience.

-- Do the educators stay with you for the whole haircut or walk away and come back? How do we work together?

-- Victor predicts that we will return to caring more about the fundamentals (WE all need to define what that means), but it will be led by the guests’ needs/wants.

-- Guests will notice you gave them the exact cut they wanted, but if they say it doesn’t look the best on them and a stylist doesn’t have the fundamentals, they won’t be able to satisfy the client.

-- Clientele and, ultimately, our pocketbooks will be the catalysts for this deep change in the industry, and he hopes we can begin to make that change for the health and integrity of the industry BEFORE it becomes critical.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉Follow Victor Scotti Jr. on Instagram, check out his personal recommendations, and more on his episode page.

Find Victor's Pinq Magic Hair Growth Oil here!

Victor will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. CLICK HERE to learn more, and join us!⁠

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Int. Educator, Social Media Trailblazer & Salon Owner; Here's My Story | Ruby Devine | Owner + Stylist, The LABoratory, a Ruby Devine Salon

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear the incredibly fun and brilliant Ruby Devine tell you how she blazes trails in adding value to your career & social media⁠.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Ruby started her journey with humble beginnings and expectations. Finding the hair industry was fate, as she had no intention of building a career in hair and had no idea about the world of stage, shows, and production.

-- Being able to learn means being in a safe space to make mistakes while having the support and confidence knowing someone can step and and save you.

-- As an early adopter to building her brand and clientele, Ruby used MySpace and found Mavens amongst sororities and groups to help grow her book.

-- Ruby became a Bumble and Bumble educator and moved to DC-Maryland-Virginia area.

-- Continuing her lean into technology, she built a big Periscope following and led to her becoming an independent educator.

-- Then, she was pushed out of her salon out of fear she would take the stylists. Then, the stylists ended up leaving anyway.

-- Using social media, Ruby shared so much information and created so much content that she was able to build her reputation, which transcended the virtual world into her reality. This meant salon ownership, people wanting to work with her, and international education.

-- Use AI for scripts and captions on social media!

👉Follow Ruby on Instagram

Ruby will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. CLICK HERE to learn more, and join us!⁠

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Laying a Foundation: Student to Fully Booked Stylist | Vonetta Dumas Jennings | Member, DC Board Barb & Cosm | Owner, Signature Image Salon | Educator | Author

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Vonetta share how to navigate the early days of your career and handle moving to a new area and starting all over.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Embrace mentorship for invaluable guidance and support on your hair styling journey, especially when facing challenges from a lack of support from your circle.

-- Overcoming financial challenges starts with mastering the basics. Focus on your foundational skills for long-term success.

--Apprenticeships offer a great opportunity to learn and sharpen skills through hands-on experience and guidance. They also offer the ability to build a strong clientele.

--- Taking the time further to develop your craft and customer service skills after school can set a solid foundation for success, rather than rushing into working in a salon, suite, or booth rental.

-- Opt for positive environments instead of the break room; use slower times as opportunities to work on improving your skill and, turning potential downtime into productive growth.

--- While building a clientele, diversifying your work experience early in your career can accelerate your learning and open doors to exciting opportunities and financial rewards.

👉Follow Vonetta on Instagram

Vonetta will also be a Panelist at our upcoming Beauty Business Brunch on May 19th in Washington, DC. CLICK HERE to learn more, and join us!⁠

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The Road to Success: Understanding Tenacity, Resilience, and Balance | Travis Parker | Founder | Travis Parker Academy

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Travis’s stalk about overcoming failure via a discussion on tenacity, resilience, and balance…what do these terms mean to you?

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

[Tenacity -] How much do we really desire something to happen, and how much are we willing to forfeit in order to come to fruition?
You learn the most about yourself when you hit your bottom based on how you react.
Resilience refers to the ability to adapt and bounce back in adversity. It involves the capacity to withstand and recover from difficult situations, setbacks, or traumatic experiences. Resilience is often associated with emotional strength, flexibility, and maintaining a positive outlook despite adversity. Resilient individuals can cope with stress effectively, stay focused on their goals, and emerge from difficult situations with newfound strength and insight.
Tenacity is being persistent and determined to pursue a goal or objective. It involves an unwavering commitment to a course of action, often in the face of obstacles, challenges, or delays. Tenacity is characterized by perseverance, grit, and a refusal to give up in adversity. Tenacious individuals are willing to work tirelessly and overcome obstacles to achieve their desired outcomes.
Are you or the people you follow living and following through with their affirmations? Just making the affirmation does not mean it will happen.
Titles need to be earned. This takes proving yourself and showing others; you must accept where you are and work towards your goals because they do not just happen.
Failure is a self-proclaimed thing, not an absolute thing.
Do not fake it until you make it...Make it; don't fake it. Accept where you are and that it is okay not to know everything. Focus on learning, growing, transparency, and acceptance of where you are in your journey and experience.
It's okay to be imperfect and even fail. This makes you more interesting, and more people want to work with you!
If you work with a coach, consultant, or third party, ensure you are organized for your vision because other people will have their own ideas for you that can conflict with you or other parties. This will decrease the money you spend and the stress of trying to figure out what you want.
“You can't rush excellence, you just can't rush it, and expertise is built upon tremendous amounts of information, thousands of hours... so we will always use the people we look at on Instagram and our influencers as inspiration, but just know that there are thousands of hours behind all of their edited reels and all of their stories; there are thousands of hours we don't see that make them who they are. Don't skip those moments because that’s what gives you your story, and that's what makes you special."

👉Follow Travis on Instagram, check out his website, listen to his previous episode and get his personal recommendations on his episode page

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Taxes, Deductions, and Red Flags for Tax Season | April L. McDaniel | Certified Public Accountant | Certified Retirement Services Professional | Consultant | Educator | Kopsa Otte CPAs + Advisors

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear April McDaniel of Kopsa Otte CPAs + Advisors unveil crucial tax season secrets, from decoding the intricacies of deductions for beauty industry professionals to demystifying the ever-changing meal rules. Don't miss this episode if you want to ensure you're not overlooking vital information that could save you money and headaches during tax season!

*This is not financial, legal, or tax advise

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

April started off as a private sector auditor before working with Kopsa Otte helping the beauty industry with their taxes!
If you are a suite owner, you are a business owner and must look at taxes differently than an employee.
Service Sales vs Retail Sales are going to be your source of income.
Keep your receipts, write down, in detail, why it is a business-related expense, and take a picture of the receipt and save it in a Google Drive file! The IRS says that your credit card statement is not sufficient; they want to see itemized receipts.
Meal rules change every year, so make sure to talk to your accountant to understand the new rules for deducting meals.
Personal car use is only a business expense when you use it explicitly for business purposes...driving to and from work does not apply.
Get QuickBooks and learn it; it will make your life amazing.
Solopreneurs and salon owners have a better argument for the home office deduction, but you must document it by keeping a calendar that shows the time you spent in the office. S-Corps, not so much.
Car Deductions: it has to be primarily used for business purposes and your commute to and from work does not count as a business purpose, technically.
Meals at super expensive restaurants could be seen as research on your part into hospitality and customer service, but you must document the service on your receipt when you store it. Otherwise, it could look sketchy....basically, meals are not easily deductible and you do not get 10%
Tips are income, and you have to claim all of that income. Venmo is a paper trail, and they will report you to the IRS eventually, so stay apprised of all updates and start claiming your tips now!
TIPS: the Govt can assume you make 10-15% in tips of your total revenue. So, if you are not claiming your tips at all, then you could be due to pay back taxes and penalties. VENMO and ZELLE have systems to identify your transactions, so do not think that using those platforms and not claiming tips is safe.

👉Follow Kopsa Ottee CPAs + Advisors on Instagram, check out their website, and get April's personal recommendations on her episode page

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Equality in Pricing: A Deep Dive into Inclusion vs. Gender-Based Models | Georgia “G” Tournai | Owner, G TOURNAI Hair + Creative Studio | Educator + Salon Consultant

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Georgia "G" Tournai speak in depth on varying pricing structures and ask: "why do you still have gender-based prices?"

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Gender-based pricing for haircuts does not make sense anymore. You used to have beauty and barber shops where the women and men (respectively) would go weekly to get their hair done. Now, everything is a hybrid. Men get color and blowouts, and women get clipper cuts!
The easiest transition away from gender-based pricing is based on the length of hair: clipper cut>short cut>long cut.
Gender-based pricing is not a political, social, or religious issue but a moral one. Is it okay to charge different prices for the same haircut solely based on gender?
If you want to give out discounts, for whatever reason, do not discount your services! Referral program for free products...give away products, not services, so you do not build a clientele always looking for discounts.
Time-based pricing makes more sense for those who perform more time-intensive services, such as extensions and color corrections.
Shorter services could turn into a debate with time-based pricing. If you finish a cut 5 minutes earlier than usual, do you give the customer a discount? Does the customer hassle you about the start time even though their appointment time is different from the start time?...consider all of this before making your decision.
Do not specialize right away in your career. You should take time to learn the basics of a wide variety of work because you may not know how much you will love and be happy doing a service you never imagined!

👉Follow G on Instagram & check out their website and previous episode on their episode page

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New Client Traffic is Going to Tech Savvy Salons; Level Up Now | Scott Moon | Founder, Salon S.O.S. | www.SalonSOS.ca

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Scott Moon, Founder of Salon S.O.S tell you why and how to set yourself apart and level up your customer experience!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Consumers are already online looking for reviews, bookings, and other information regularly; they want the same from you.

🔅Utilizing technology in new ways elevates their experience and gives you a current and cool effect that differentiates you.

🔅Picking a booking software is a very personal thing. Each salon has different needs, so there is not just one platform for everyone.

🔅Functionality:

🔅Online booking should sync with your Google or other personal calendar(s) for easy updating.

🔅Booking steps need to be easy, but information needs to be available

🔅You must have automatic confirmations and reminders to the guest; some have the ability to customize the message, and some have the ability to require a client to confirm by clicking or texting back before their appointment date

🔅You want an automated message soon after their appointment to tell them to rebook and/or write a review

🔅You want your online booking system to be able to remember your clients’ nuanced needs

🔅Pre-Visit Consultations: Consult with them before you book so you properly book them for the services they want.

🔅Use your downtime to reach out to clients who are coming in just to say, "Hey, I was just going through my schedule and saw that you have an appointment booked. I thought I'd check in to see if you would be making any changes. If you are, I want to ensure we have enough time to do something new. If you want to see some of my latest inspiration, here is a link ... or if you have some pictures, I'd love to see them!"

🔅If you are not currently charging for virtual consultations, ask your clients for feedback and run a test/pilot.

🔅There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution; get used to designing a strategy, piloting things, & getting feedback before implementing it in full.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉 Follow Scott/Salon S.O.S. on Instagram, check out his website and more on his episode page.

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Breaking Boundaries: New Salon Model, No Regulations | Nick Mirabella | Entrepreneur | Mentor | Coach | TheWarehouse.salon | NickMirabella.com

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Nick tell you all about his new business model that does not have to adhere to licensing and other regulations.

*Confirm with a lawyer, this is not legal advice*

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Nick runs a Private Membership Association (PMA)
A PMA means that the Federal and State Government rules do not apply as long as no one is in immediate danger and you are not conducting evil practices (verify legal language with a lawyer)
There are service-providing members and service-receiving members
A PMA is allowed to pay for the lifestyles of its members.
Service-Providing Members are instructed to form an LLC and collect a % of dues collected from service-receiving members.
The PMA needs to have meetings regularly to maintain legitimacy
All members can have varying levels of influence. There are also founding members.
Service-receiving Members pay a lifetime membership or a monthly membership. Or you can make the dues payable based on the services they received on each visit...for example: "What amenities did you take advantage of today?... Your dues for the day are..."
Check out Revel Alliance on YouTube: search- "Revel Alliance YouTube Private Membership Association."
PMAs do not require and do not have to comply with state licensing, health department inspections, alcohol service, etc.
PMAs do not have to wait around for licensing when first opening. This means you are not paying rent for a property you cannot use while you are waiting for the state to grant you licensure.

👉Follow Nick on Instagram & check out his websites on his episode page

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HS NEWS: Interest Rates & Inflation + How To Get Rich + Cyber Security + Latest in Tech News

Fri, 02 Feb 2024 07:00:00 -0400

FED Speaks on Interest Rates and Inflation

The Mother of All Data Breaches, What You Need to Know

Disney Releases First VR Treadmill

8 Ways to Get Rich While Making the Same Income for Years!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/31/1227890390/federal-reserve-interest-rates-inflation-economy-recession-rate-cuts

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/01/the-mother-of-all-breaches-26-billion-records-found-online/amp

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/disney-holotile-vr/

https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/lanny-smoot-to-be-the-first-disney-imagineer-inducted-into-the-national-inventors-hall-of-fame/

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/8-ways-people-become-rich-150021627.html

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

CONNECT WITH US

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Sam Villa on Customer Service and Delivering Value | Sam Villa | Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Sam Villa | Global Artistic Ambassador, Redken

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Sam's guide to delivering value and achieving success behind the chair!

🚨Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅 Communication builds wealth: money, spiritual, etc.

🔅Add Value:

🔅Educate customers on retail. "Tell, Don't Sell" is about value and education, not about selling products.

🔅Your body language + word choice + tone = communication; consider all this in your interactions with customers

🔅Don't do whatever the client wants without educating them on the maintenance and other red flags.

🔅Product is not an option; it is a necessity...I could care less if they buy the product...“my attitude is not sell, my attitude is tell... I've embraced it as part of my professional responsibility."

🔅Communication and Connection between owner and stylist is important: in today's world, owners need to listen to their team's needs vs their advisors and your personal needs. Find success by including your team in the development of policies and procedures.

🔅THINK before you post:

T- Is it true, or are you just making something up to build followers?
H- Is it really helping someone?
I- Is it inspiring, or is it creating issues?
N- Is it necessary?
K- Is it kind?

🔅RETAIL: make it interactive, and don't just educate your customers on how to use products based on the directions on the back; show them how to use them in ways that are "outside of the box."

🔅Word of mouth is more powerful than social, so wow your customers through communication and education.

CONNECT WITH SAM

👉Check out Sam's personal recommendations and previous episode here

👉Follow Sam Villa on other social channels and learn more about educational & tools here

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Suite Success: How I Grow My Clientele with Email | Claire Monroe | Hair Designer | Virtual Assistant | Consultant | Claire Monroe Hair Co.

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Claire (@clairemonroehairco) tell you why social media is not as important as email in growing and managing your business!⁠

⁠

Key Takeaways

Claire has worked in a suite, a small town, a salon, and a big city!
Right before COVID, Claire became independent, renting at a studio, and then COVID-19 caused her to go to a suite!
Suite owners have to do cleaning, hair, bookings, marketing, etc...it can be very overwhelming!
Using email enabled Claire to manage her clientele and stay connected, more so than Instagram.
Instagram is not going to get you the engagement that emails will.
Suite vs. salon stylists should consider reducing their administrative work by focusing less on social media and more on connecting with customers.
Create an email system to stay connected. Start with a welcome email with location, directions, getting to know you, and other things to know.
Make sure your pricing is correct; it will likely differ from a salon.
Schedule a day to handle your business, laundry, marketing, and admin time per week...you are a business owner now; you have to work on your business and not just in your business.
The extra day gives you wiggle room to handle clients if you cancel on clients at the last minute.
Take time for yourself, enjoy your life, and feel confident in working with systems in place to help you manage your business; email is a must-have!

🔅 Stop undercharging your clients! You are losing lots of money! 65% of hairdressers in the UK are self-employed, hence the rise of salon suites!

👉Follow Claiew on IG and check out his personal recommendations here.

CONNECT WITH US

NEWS: Business + Branding + Cyber Security + Electronics + Generational Studies + E-commerce

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

SBA COVID Loans Grace Period

FedEx New E-Commerce Platform Competes with Amazon

CES Update

Google Accounts At Risk, Do This NOW!

Gen-Z Attitude & Goals Update

Harvard Tells Us the "Right" Way to Build a Brand!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.inc.com/ali-donaldson/sba-offers-grace-period-to-business-owners-with-covid-era-loans.html

https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/14/24038042/fedex-fdx-e-commerce-platform-amazon-rival-shoprunner

https://www.livescience.com/technology/ces-2024-5-new-tech-products-stealing-the-show-this-year

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/01/info-stealers-can-steal-cookies-for-permanent-access-to-your-google-account/amp

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/18/gen-z-says-they-have-it-harder-than-their-parents-did.html

https://hbr.org/2024/01/the-right-way-to-build-your-brand

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Building One of the Largest Privately Owned Barber Shops in the U.S. | Joe Agnello | CEO + Co-Owner, City Image Barber Shop Chain (10 Locations) | Barber Shop Owner Coach

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Joe Agnello, CEO + Co-Owner of City Image Barber Shop Chain, tell you exactly what you need to know to build and grow your business!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

Key Takeaways

-Joe is not a barber, but his brother is. After helping his brother here and there with the business side of the barber shop, they had a chance to open a 2nd location, and Joe joined the team!

-Do not pay yourself a lot in the beginning, and reinvest your money into your business if you plan on scaling (aka growing)

-Having a 2nd location is not ONLY double the work; it is so much more than that! You have team building, decisions on how to divide your attention, and a lot less free time.

-When the economy tanks and you have been stacking your money for reinvestment, you can relieve someone of their failing business. This is great for you and them because you expand, and you take a headache off of their hands! Taking over leases for struggling people can be a "God Send"!

-Joe left a 6 figure job and went to a $0 salary initially.

-When you have employees, you have a huge responsibility to keep the business secure.

-If you want to retain your employees/team members, YOU MUST SHOW GROWTH.

regular maintenance of the space
community events
social media investments
staying relevant, not necessarily expanding to multiple locations

-Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

Be ready to sacrifice time with your family
sacrifice time with your friends
sacrifice football on Sundays or whatever pastime you are used to enjoying
sacrifice money

-Your employees should not work more than you unless you have made it as far as you want in the expanding and building of your business...but you will still need to stay relevant and show growth to retain your employees

-Business ownership is a mindset more than anything else....do you have the mindset of willingness to see the long game and make short-term sacrifices for long-term gains and fulfillment?

-Build a cushion in your bank account before paying yourself more than the bare minimum.

-Once you have enough money for payroll and to pay your bills, then build some emergency money of $5k-$10k (may vary if not a barber shop and geographic location)

Playing it too safe is not good for business
you are probably not paying your employees enough
you are probably not staying on top of growing and maintaining your business

-Having partners is a marriage and both should have the same mindset.

-Partners should not come in just for money

Humanize your team; do not make it all about numbers, but do not skip the numbers.

CONNECT WITH US

HS NEWS: New Contractor Rule! + CPI, Inflation, Unemployment Reports + ChatGPT vs NY TImes Lawsuit

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

New Contractor Rules?!

Inflation and Unemployment Reports Released Today

AI Lawsuits! OpenAI vs NY Times!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-admin-announce-independent-contractor-rule-that-could-upend-gig-economy-2024-01-08/

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/us-consumer-prices-rise-more-than-expected-december-weekly-jobless-claims-fall-2024-01-11/

https://apnews.com/article/openai-new-york-times-chatgpt-lawsuit-grisham-nyt-69f78c404ace42c0070fdfb9dd4caeb7

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

DISCLAIMER: Robert holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance. Robert curates the news, explaining his understanding. We suggest that you use this information to talk with your financial advisor, business advisor, and/or CPA. Legal counsel may be required for some of your decisions as well. If you want business advice from Hairdresser Strong, you can hire us as a consultant/advisor, but we are not financial advisors, lawyers, or accountants.

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Community Conversations: Attracting & Retaining Top-Tier Rising Stylists

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

On January 8th, , we were joined by:

Diana Varvaro (@thebeautyartistnyc), School Director of Paul Mitchell The School, NYC

Nick Mirabella (@nickmirabella), Entrepreneur + Mentor + Coach, theWarehouse.Salon & NickMirabella.com

Sazuan Judkins (@mricreate_confidence), Barber + Barber Instructor, Hair Lab Detroit Barber School

Ashley Gray (@ashesrgray), Owner + Master Stylist, Ash Salon

to discuss strategies and other things you can do to attract & retain Gen-Z and other Rising Stylists!

Here are the key takeaways:

🔅Your Salon/Shop needs to be a destination. It needs to be cool. This is discovered via:

Social media and online. Your digital presence is very important
Word of mouth from other stylists and Rising Stylists

🔅Be Nice! Generally, caring about people is supported by so much market research when it comes to being a leader that others want to work for or follow.

🔅Study up on leadership, not just color and cutting skills!

🔅Coach your staff on your core values; do not attack the person. Make any issues you have with behavior/performance/etc about your business's core values and the brand. It is not about the individual sucking; it is about you (the leader) finding the right team!

🔅Get to know them! You may have noticed that Rising Stylists seem guarded or fearful, ask them how they are and care about them. This goes to a previous point… this is about humans, treat each other how y’all want to be treated!

🔅Get to know how they learn…going with the previous point!

🔅Mentor Rising Stylists: do not throw them in the fire and see how they do…they will leave you.

🔅Take time to outline your training program so they understand their expectations, you have something to refer to when mentoring/coaching them, and so they feel confident in their potential to grow in your salon or shop.

🔅Consider how/if you can adjust your training process to get your trainees “hands in hair” ASAP. They want to take clients and get working, so if you can figure out a way to promote them in steps, that would be amazing for them and you! (do not jeopardize the integrity of your brand, and DM if you want to talk about how to do that)

One example is to have a blow dry bar that you can promote them to earlier in their growth process.

👉If you have any questions or comments, Send us a DM: https://www.instagram.com/thehairdresserstrongshow/

CONNECT WITH US

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📸 Connect on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thehairdresserstrongshow/

📝 Check out our Blog - https://www.hairdresserstrong.com/blog

Pioneering Salon Suites in the UK - My Story | John Gillespie | Managing Director at Phenix Salon Suites | Celebrity Hairstylist | Businessman | Speaker

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear John Gillespie share his story, from platform artist to celebrity styling to being the person responsible for bringing Salon Suites to the UK!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅 38-year industry veteran brought salon suites to the UK and is expanding across the EU!

🔅 Growing up in salons with both parents being hairdressers, John was exposed to platform artists and knew that's what he wanted.

🔅 Do not let anxiety or fear be your excuse not to take advantage of any opportunity; someone else will take it if you do not.

🔅 John held the title of most expensive haircut: "The 30,000-pound haircut."

🔅 Focus on building a solid clientele, and you can rely on it. Once you have a solid base of clients, you will have the security and income to do everything you want.

🔅 Do not spread yourself too thin; hone in on your goals and focus. Build your skills and clientele before starting other businesses. You will have greater success!

🔅 Ask others for help; they want to help you! If you find someone who doesn't just move on to the next person, more people want to help vs do not want to help.

🔅 Just because you are not getting paid for an opportunity doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. Some opportunities don't pay dollars or pounds; some pay in exposure, relationships, and experience.

🔅 Stop undercharging your clients! You are losing lots of money! 65% of hairdressers in the UK are self-employed, hence the rise of salon suites!

👉Follow John on IG and check out his personal recommendations here.

CONNECT WITH US

HS NEWS: 2024 New Year Predictions and Outlook! + Executive Presence = How to Be Seen as Leaders

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

2024 Economic & Consumer Predictions and Outlook! + Executive Presence tells us how to be seen as leaders!

Data Points to Optimism

Uncertainty Dampens Optimism

Inflation, Recession, & War = Uncertainty

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-customers-behaving-strangely-making-122818871.html

https://www.wsj.com/articles/investors-hope-for-2024-a-return-to-long-lost-normalcy-4029df63?mod=Searchresults_pos5&page=1

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/drought-panama-canal-december-latest

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ceo-12th-largest-u-retailer-141431896.html

https://hbr.org/2024/01/the-new-rules-of-executive-presence

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

One of our missions is to raise the esteem and perceived importance & value of hairdressers across the USA. HS NEWS is part of that effort. We believe in order to achieve this goal, we must raise the bar of professionalism, service, and sophistication of hairdressers. We hope you enjoy the news and look forward to your comments!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Does Work-Life Balance Exist? The Life Of An Independent Stylist, Artist, & Mother | Shannon Romano aka “PIGMENT” | Professional Hairstylist + Artist + Wig Designer

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear how Shannon aka "PIGMENT" makes her passion and dreams a reality!⁠

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Following your passion and pursuing those interests are the only ways to accomplish your goals.

🔅Life is all about getting back up when you fall down, and hair kept calling her to come back.

🔅Getting new clients as an independent niche creator is a constant effort of putting her work out there, collaborating with others, and producing her own shoots.

🔅Clients will buy her creations, and at other times, they will tell her what they want her to create, and it's more like a client in your chair telling you what they want.

🔅Shannon enjoys working with clients in collaboration as well as creating what she wants.

🔅Getting clients means getting to know your ideal client and your existing clients.

🔅Being an entrepreneur and building your business means understanding what opportunities to take and what not to take; be careful turning down opportunities.

🔅Work-Life Balance Does Not Exist. Work is part of your life, just like family and friends. Success in goals and pursuing your passion means learning to intertwine, juggle, and task-switching between work, family, rest, friends, community, etc.

🔅Practice, Practice, Practice: Never practice what you just learned in a class on a paying client. Always practice on mannequins and models before using new tools and techniques.

🔅Clients should like the product they get and Shannon does not want anyone to pay her for something they do not like.

👉Follow Shannon aka "PIGMENT" on IG and check out her previous episode "Celebrity Clients & Mastering Your Craft" on her episode page.

CONNECT WITH US

Stop & Prevent Pain Behind the Chair | David Castle | Co-Founder, Industry Aligned | Expert: Biomechanics, Exercise Science & Nutrition; 25 Years

Mon, 25 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear David talk about your pain, discomfort, and what to know to have a long and healthy career.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅David has a long career in health and fitness with a focus on biomechanics.

🔅Dealing with spinal issues, David helped heal Jenny where doctors couldn't and started Industry Aligned to bring attention to the physical side of hairdressing!

🔅Everyone has pain; this is a normal part of human physiology. Pain is a great teacher. If you did not experience pain, you could end up injuring yourself even more!

🔅Younglings, you are no different than the older hairdressers; YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY.

🔅ALL BEAUTY PROS: you have no excuse for not being informed about your health... do your research

🔅Folks of all ages are experiencing nerve damage, neck pain, wrist pain, etc.

🔅David does not believe you should be handing off your responsibilities to others; you need to learn to take care of your life, body, and mind. Too many people who do not experience long-term results blame their coaches, trainers, and practitioners instead of owning their personal responsibility.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉 Follow Industry Aligned on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

Customer Experience Revolution: Tech's Vital Role in Salons | Scott Moon | Founder, Salon S.O.S. | www.SalonSOS.ca

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Scott Moon, Founder of Salon S.O.S deliver you valuable information on how and why to adopt tech in your business NOW!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅Scott is not a service provider. He’s in Marketing.

👉 History: Marketing, L’Oreal & a GM for top color line in Canada

👉Scott went from working through corporations and now directly w/ Salons and Independent Stylists

👉After experiencing the gratitude of a salon owner whom he had helped during all of his work with L'Oreal, he went out on his own!

👉Build and leverage your network to start your own business...in that order! It's all about relationships!

👉Salon SOS is designed to be affordable for website creation, management, SEO, social media work, and a salon loyalty app

👉Focusing on building relationships will help elevate client loyalty

👉Online booking is what customers want, and 25% of the industry is already using it... despite your reasons for not adopting it!

👉With online booking comes digitization of their experience, which enables so much more connection than without it!

👉SALON OWNERS: If you want to attract stylists into the future, digitize your customers' experience and systems because the new generation does not want to work for dinosaurs. You gotta be on top of your tech game to attract these Rising Stylists.

👉INDEPENDENT STYLISTS: You are your own business, not just a hairdresser. You will need to stay on top of business education and deal with the constant need for new clients! Technology can also help enhance the customer experience and increase efficiency, which gives you more time to focus on your business and new client acquisition.

👉RISING STYLISTS: Help the industry and salons push the envelope! Collaborate and lead Salons and folks that are behind the time and with vast deficiencies in their use of tech; they/we need you!

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉 Follow Scott/Salon S.O.S. on Instagram, check out his website and more on his episode page.

CONNECT WITH US

HS NEWS: Fed Talks NEW Economic Data + Walmart Warning + Gen-Z Entrepreneurs + AI Mind Reading + AI Biz Tools

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

The Fed spoke on Interest Rates this week, cautiously optimistic

Walmart CEO talks about customer spending and behavior

We have 2 Really Big AI news updates

And we have a new study on the entrepreneurialism of gen-z

LEAVE COMMENTS HERE:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C09reHeRqWA/?igshid=ZWI2YzEzYmMxYg==

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.stlouisfed.org/in-plain-english/the-fed-and-the-dual-mandate

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/scarcity-money-mindset-amid-recession

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/13/fed-meeting-today-live-updates-on-december-fed-rate-decision.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/walmart-customers-behaving-strangely-making-122818871.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/many-gen-zers-think-best-140000180.html

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-12-portable-non-invasive-mind-reading-ai-thoughts.html#google_vignette

https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/12/durable-cements-14m-to-build-ai-powered-tools-for-small-businesses-in-service-industries/

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

DISCLAIMER: Robert holds a B.A. in Business Administration with a Minor in Finance. Robert currates the news, explaining his understanding. We suggest using this information to talk with your financial advisor, business advisor, and or CPA. Legal counsel may be required for some of your decisions as well. If you are interested in getting business advice from Hairdresser Strong, you can hire us as a consultant/advisor, but we are not financial advisors, lawyers, or accountants.

THIS IS NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE. THIS IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. IF YOU NEED LEGAL, TAX, OR FINANCIAL ADVICE, SEE A LAWYER, CPA, OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR, RESPECTIVELY

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Empowering Through Hair: A Rising Stylist's Equity Mission | Victor Scotti Jr | Founder, Our S.P.A.C.E. | Rising Stylist, Aveda Arts & Sciences Institute, Arlington

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear how and why Victor Scotti Jr. is blazing trails, pushing equity and access for underserved folks.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

🔅 Coming from a heavily racially segregated city, Chicago, led Victor to pursue a mission to tackle equity and access for underserved communities and folks.

🔅 Majored in Sociology and Urban Education at the University of Pennsylvania

🔅 After Realizing that Victor could not express himself completely, he sought other avenues and found hair!

🔅 Doing hair gifts us the ability to be closer to our loved ones during the process of caring for their hair!

🔅 Cosmetology school curriculums only focus on straight or wavy hair, and this is a proxy for whiteness.

🔅 Opening to more textures and person types is important for progression, and more folks should be diversely educated.

🔅RISING STYLISTS: stay connected with your schools and shadow at salons before applying.

🔅SALON OWNERS: equity, true teamwork, education, salaried pay, and other benefits are very attractive and give you a competitive edge.

🔅Victor is looking for a salon that has a similar mission of equity and access, provides training, and wants to be able to serve folks who wear their hair in diverse ways like barbering, locs, twists, color, etc.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉Follow Victor Scotti Jr. on Instagram, check out his personal recommendations, and more on his episode page.

CONNECT WITH US

COMMENT HERE! COMMENT ON IF BY CLICKING HERE; I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

HS NEWS: Comprehensive, but Mixed Economic Data + Work-Life Balance is Flawed?! + Less Think $$ = 😁

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

We got some Mixed economic data, which includes

Record online sales for holidays
Lowest job openings in 2 years
And fear from small business owners across the country is palatable
vigilance is still the best policy right now

Then, we have a study on work-life balance…

Apparently, the concept is flawed at its core!
We have some employee - employer relationship information you don't want to miss!

And last but not least, the % of people who think

Money can buy you happiness, but it is shrinking. Let's find out why!

Check out this week's news updates, build Strong Business, and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customers about!

Sources:

https://www.statista.com/topics/1103/holiday-season-e-commerce/#topicOverview

https://www.businessinsider.com/job-openings-federal-reserve-economy-markets-investors-interest-rates-labor-2023-12

https://www.uschamber.com/small-business/small-business-weekly-forecast

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/push-life-balance-fatally-flawed-171642670.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/almost-75-millennials-67-gen-113000279.html

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customers?

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Finding Balance & Success via Focus, Determination, & Discipline | Ashlee Norman | Hairstylist + Educator + Mom | AshleeNormanHair.com

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear how Ashlee Norman inspires us all to be our best through focus and determination!

Missed her first episode? We've got you!

👉 Click here to listen on Spotify. 👉Click here to listen on Apple Podcasts

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Ashlee made her financial goal from teaching in order to make their family goals, which looks like Ashlee teaching and traveling instead of staying home with the kids.

-- After childbirth, she recruited and paid her mother-in-law to be their on-the-road nanny and assist with child care to enable Ashlee to have someone she could trust and was familiar with to watch her children while she worked!

-- Sometimes, we hold back from taking leads to opportunities and don't follow up for various reasons like fear and anxiety.

-- If you want something, it will likely be hard. Do not give up; push through the work and the harder times to get to the other side of success.

-- During the pregnancy of her 2nd child, Ashlee left her salon for a salon suite, decided to film her education and sell it, and out-earned her husband that year in the spire of pregnancy and delivering child #2!

-- Maintaining financial discipline will enable you to manage your finances during emergencies...even a pandemic!

-- When you are independent, but in all aspects of the hair industry, you have to do a good job to get a referral and continuously grow to be successful!

-- You dream of good health, but you PLAN for the things you want.

-- Do not let outside factors determine your worth or place in this world. Have security in yourself and trust in God.

-- Find balance through planning, focused execution, & not letting distractions of social engagements, other's opinions, or any other external force get in your way. Stay focused, keep your eye on your goal, but enjoy the journey along the way.

-- Nothing is guaranteed in this life, so focus on your craft, passion, and progression.

👉Follow Ashlee Norman on IG, check out her website, and all of her personal recommendations on her episode page

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

CONNECT WITH US

HS NEWS: New Business Trends from Gen-Z! TOP 7 Candidate Types for Hiring or Getting Hired, Gen-Z!

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Entrepreneurship and Employment!

Gen-Z entrepreneurs do business differently

And if you hire or want to keep your Gen-z employees,

you do not want to miss this!

OR If you are looking for a job, you want to know what employers are looking for!

Check out this weeks news updates, build Strong Business and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customer about!

Sources:

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/chamberlain-coffee

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/retail/omnichannel.html#:~:text=What%20does%20omnichannel%20mean%20in,%2C%20social%20media%2C%20and%20apps.

https://nypost.com/2023/11/25/lifestyle/im-a-gen-z-employee-if-you-think-wor-is-rough-here-are-my-tips-to-survive-a-9-to-5/

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/21/types-of-incredibly-rare-employees-who-are-better-than-everyone-else-according-to-top-ceo-and-recruiter.html

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customer?

#hair #hairnews #hairpreneur #beautypreneur #hairdresserstrong #hairdresser #strong #entrepreneur

Community Conversations: Hiring, Training, and Retaining Rising Stylists | Diana Varvaro | School Director | Paul Mitchell The School, NYC

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 08:30:00 -0400

On November 27th, we were joined on Instagram Live by Diana Varvaro, School Director of Paul Mitchell The School NYC, to discuss hiring, training, and retaining Rising Stylists.

Community Conversations are an opportunity for audience members to jump into conversations in real-time to create a dialogue instead of a static recording to listen to later.

We asked if you had any questions for the students of Paul Mitchell The School NYC so here are just some of YOUR questions we covered:

What struggles do students have with salon owners?
What’s your biggest motivator? Is it money, satisfaction, helping people, etc.?
What makes an ideal boss?
What determines whether you stay at your ideal salon home for the long term?
What’s the 1 thing you’re looking for in a salon?
Besides technique & education, what’s the 1 thing you want to learn at your new salon?
Are you willing to train for 6-12 months? This is not a mandatory time sentence, but 90% of our apprentices need, at least, 6 months, but the majority need 12 months of training.

This is a list of questions the students say they have for Salon Owners (prepare these answers in advance for all your upcoming interview!)

1.) How many days/hours are you going to give me as a schedule?

2.) Are you flexible if we need time off or vacations, holidays or emergencies

3.) What kind of benefits or incentives do you offer? And when will we get paid?

4.) What does your training program look like?

5.) Is your salon busy?

6.) How can I grow and advance here?

7.) What is your dress code policy?

8.) What does your walk-in system look like, and how would I be able to build a clientele?

👉CLICK HERE to download a copy of ALL questions and answers we received!

We will also be checking in with YOU to see if you used any of this information shared today to update your interviewing and other processes next month…

So, mark your calendars for Jan 8th at 7:30 PM ET, when we will be discussing strategies and other things you can do to attract Gen-Z and other Rising Stylists…or just get them through your door to interview!

👉If you have any questions or comments, Send us a DM: https://www.instagram.com/thehairdresserstrongshow/

CONNECT WITH US

Cuts & Connections: The Key Ingredients to Success & Job Satisfaction | Gino Maggio, Owner + Educator

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Gino Maggio share the secrets of success through relationships!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

👉 Relationships that we build with our clients are very special. There are all different types, too! Some are more transactional than others, and some are more intimate than others. The work we do and the impact we have is so much more than the transaction of haircuts, colors, and other chemical work.

👉 If you dread going to work in the morning at your shop or salon, you should go on vacation, take a break, and ask yourself if you love this enough. If you do not love it, you will probably be miserable.

👉 This industry is not for the weak. It is a lot of stress on the body, so stay on top of your posture and physical health… not to mention, working with so many different people with personalized needs is very mentally draining as well. Do you love it?

👉 Go to shows, introduce yourself, ask to shadow or assist to get your “foot in the door,” and remember that relationships are key to your success.

👉 Remember you put your pants on one foot at a time, and most doorways only allow one person through it at a time, so move at your own pace and focus on one step at a time, and you will be on your way to success and happiness.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉 Follow Gino on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ginothebarber813/

👉 Follow Gino's Shop on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebarbershop813/

CONNECT WITH US

HS NEWS: Big AI Drama! Economic Update! New Study Advises Salon Owners + Gen-Z Rising Stylists!

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Big AI News: Sam Altman of Open AI Fired?!

Inflation & Economy Updates

New study gives advice to Salon Owners & GenZ Employees

Check out this weeks news updates, build Strong Business and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customer about!

Sources:

https://www.vox.com/technology/2023/11/20/23969589/openai-sam-altman-fired-microsoft-chatgpt-emmett-shear-silicon-valley

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/21/us-treasury-yields-investors-await-fed-meeting-minutes.html

https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/fed-minutes-likely-anchor-careful-approach-policy-2023-11-21/

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/16/how-to-ask-your-boss-for-feedback.html

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

One of our missions is to raise the esteem and perceived importance & value of hairdressers across the USA. HS NEWS is part of that effort.

We believe in order to achieve this goal, we must raise the bar of professionalism, service, and sophistication of hairdressers.

We hope you enjoy the news and look forward to your comments!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customer?

Beyond Trends: True Education, Sacrifice, & Financial Freedom | Ashlee Norman | Hairstylist + Educator + Mom | AshleeNormanHair.com

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Ashlee Norman share her story, how to think about education, and how to find your financial freedom!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Ashlee went to cosmetology school during High School and then went to University while working part-time in the salon.

-- The ability and habit of focus and hard work was a natural fit to become an independent educator.

-- She married her high school sweetheart, and ten years into hairdressing, she had her first child, and her husband joined her company to become a business team not long after.

-- Out of school, it was hard to build a clientele because there was no social media.

-- Ashlee got into education through visiting NYC, re-teaching at her salon, and building an apprenticeship program.

-- In order to invest in her education and career, she did not go out much and took financial advice and this meant living in a 450 sq ft apartment ... hard work, sacrifice, and investment!

-- If you want to have a truly enriched life, you must learn to manage your finances, which means not always getting your fancy coffee or nails done. It means staying in and saving sometimes when others are going out. Like the bible says: "A debtor is a slave to the lender" or in other words, living paycheck to paycheck is a form of modern-day financial slavery, and the only way to break the bondage is to make sacrifices of spending money and putting value in places that others around you may not see. Saving and budgeting early in your career is one of the most important things you can do.

-- Getting into education before social media required working with a brand and working your way, slowly, up the ladder. Now, anyone who knows how to build social media can skip those steps of training and become an independent educator. Ashlee is working to bring back the super high quality of academy training from before social media to the world while using social media’s relevance.

👉Follow Ashlee Norman on IG, check out her website, and all of her personal recommendations on her episode page

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HS NEWS: Inflation + Interest Rates + Gen-Z Gets Career Advice from TikTok!

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Positive Inflation News!

Interest Rates: More of the Same :(

Gen-Z Gets Career Advice from TikTok and It's Working?

Check out this weeks news updates, build Strong Business and serve your customers better!

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customer about!

Sources:

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-cpi-report-inflation-11-14-2023/card/october-cpi-report-here-s-what-to-expect-IoD4SMHAyAOnySxsq7lM

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/09/powell-says-fed-is-not-confident-it-has-done-enough-to-bring-inflation-down.html

https://fortune.com/2023/11/02/gen-z-tiktok-career-advice/

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem there than they were in the USA...I want that for us!

Is this useful?

Is this interesting?

Are there any other topics you pay attention to that you believe help you run your business or serve your customer?

How to Hire & Retain Gen-Z, From Their School Owner | Patrick Guarniere | School Owner, TSPA DC | Stylist | Nat'l Artist, Redken | Member, DC Cos. Board

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Patrick Guarniere share his insight as a Cosmetology School owner on how to hire and retain Gen-Z Rising Stylists!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Rising Stylists are interested in specializing, not doing all types of services

-- Some states are starting to allow for licensing in specific areas to get rid of the general license

-- Rising Stylists are not afraid to speak up and talk back...and they need to know why they are being asked what to do EVERYTHING

-- Schools usually have an advisory board made up of local salon owners and industry leaders to discuss the needs of the local industry and future employers of the graduates

-- Schools spend every hour that a student is present teaching them the only curriculum they are allowed to and that which is relevant to the state board.

-- Attend ALL state board meetings to get involved and shape the future

-- Successful Salon Owners in attracting and retaining Rising Stylists

-- they get out of their own way

-- listen to the younger generation and adapt to their needs

-- they provide massive flexibility and leveraging social media

-- Salon Owners who are not having success with Rising Stylists

-- they want Rising Stylists to train the same way they did

-- they want Rising Stylists to "pay their dues" vs. teaching them "the ropes"

-- SALON OWNERS:

-- codify all expectations and growth paths so you can refer to this anytime you have challenges from your Rising Stylists

-- call your local school and ask if they have an advisory board and get on it

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

👉Follow Patrick on IG, check out his other episodes, and get all of his personal recommendations on his episode page

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HS NEWS: Economic News + Housing Market + AI Breaks Law + Court Drama + Social Media, Mental Health

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:00:00 -0400

The FED Speaks on Interest Rates and The Economy

The Housing market shows signs of cooling

AI is making waves again because it committed a crime and lied about it

The highest profile court case after former President Trump's cases has come to an end!

And, new research shows some pretty scary effects from social media use!

This week's news is a heavy lift of information, but it is all important information for you to be aware of the macro economy and tech developments. Staying apprised of this type of news will help you understand your business and clients even more.

We are all impacted by the economy and tech advancements. Your clients are too!

Being informed is an integral part of the success of any community or business.

You now have extra things to talk to your customer about!

Sources:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/01/fed-meeting-today-live-updates-on-november-fed-rate-decision.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/housing-market-starting-crack-sellers-221220807.html

https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-bot-gpt-4-financial-insider-trading-lied-2023-11

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/sam-bankman-fried-guilty-whats-next-for-ftx-customers-sentencing-rcna123514

https://www.psypost.org/2023/11/new-research-explores-why-college-students-overuse-short-video-platforms-214312

Coming up in the hair industry and visiting London for classes, I noticed that hairdressers were held in higher esteem than they were in the USA. One of our missions is to raise the esteem and perceived importance & value of hairdressers across the USA. HS NEWS is part of that effort. We believe in order to acheive this goal, we must raise the bar of professionalism, service, and sophistication of hairdressers. WE hope you enjoy the news and look forward to your comments!

How will you use any of this?

What of this news is important to you?

Dissecting Social Media Trends & My Story | Crystal Green | Podcast Host + Author + Coach + Course Creator + Speaker + Master Stylist | YourHairMentor.com

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Crystal Green and Robert address and dissect the most popular Social Media trends that pertain to the customer!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Crystal wanted to be a dentist, but after joining her sister for a haircut appointment after she cut her sister's hair, the hairdresser noticed her natural talent and suggested she go to cosmo school.

-- After going to school, Crystal worked at a salon doing hair for an hourly wage. After 2 years of working at the salon on hourly wages, Crystal went to a booth rental.

-- The biggest struggle Crystal overcame in building her business(es) is social media. Now there are tons of courses and podcasts where people discuss and teach so many different things that you can just google: "how to..."

-- CUSTOMER SERVICE & EXPERIENCE:

greet every single client the same way to ensure consistency
never let a client go unattended at the desk and welcome & acknowledge clients as soon as they enter your space
clients need to feel like they come first, not us
boundaries are important, but they are not necessarily something that you need to post about and/or signal to clients that they need to respect your boundaries...this can come off as egocentric or you having a bad attitude
do not push clients away; you are here to serve. If you do not accept this reality of service, you will have a hard time being successful long term
ask your clients what they like AND what they don't like about their previous service and remove your EGO so that you can
better serve your clients

-- Our business is like a membership...you want recurring business, not a constant flow of new clients

-- Clear communication throughout the entire service about what you are doing and managing expectations. This will enable you to charge the customer to change their hair if they decide they don't like what they asked for...messing up someone's hair and not delivering what you promised means you have to pay to fix it.

👉Follow Crystal on IG, check out her website, and all of her personal recommendations on her episode page

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$2m+ E-commerce & 4 Membership-based Salon Owner, How I Did It | Nick Mirabella | Entrepreneur | Mentor | Coach TheWarehouse.Salon | NickMirabella.com

Mon, 30 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Nick tell us how he built a multi-million dollar e-commerce business and what is a “private membership-based salon”; is this a new business model for the future?

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Inspired by his sister and receiving bad haircuts growing up, Nick got into hair. After 9/11, Nick joined the Marines as a result and got back into hair after he got back.
A natural hustler, Nick tried many different pathways to make money which landed him in trouble.
Focused on personal growth, Nick changed his focus and dropped his "bad" friends.
Nick started an e-commerce platform because he was tired of his clients buying online. Now he has a multi-million business, and he has in-salon pickup for locals, which he converts into salon clients.
Nick built a salon up with a friend and then had a falling out. After getting bought out, he started his 2nd salon. All this while growing his e-commerce business.
His salon is a Private Membership Association (PMA). PMAs mean that the stylists AND the clients are members. They are service-providing members and service-receiving members, respectively.
Leadership is the most important thing to study for business owners and aspiring business owners.
Nick has a routine to help him stay on course. Early rising, affirmations, reading, working out, etcetera are all part of his routine which helps him handle a heavy workload.
If you want to run a business and build, do not enter with too many boundaries. You should remain open and flexible to adapt to your business through the hardest part: building your business
Nick has 3 locations in New Jersey, 1 location in Florida, and his e-commerce building.
Use block scheduling, get a coach, work on discipline to handle the schedule, and strive to be the best version of yourself, and you can find success too!

👉Follow Nick on Instagram & check out his websites on his episode page

CONNECT WITH US

Celebrity Clients & Mastering Your Craft | Shannon Romano aka “PIGMENT” Professional Hairstylist + Artist + Wig Designer

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Shannon aka "PIGMENT" share how to get celebrity clients and the truth about mastering your craft!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

- Shannon did an apprenticeship program, no formal school. This is where you get to learn on the job.

-- Her apprenticeship led to automatic clients within the shop where she worked. Clients gain trust, and you are cheaper, so they switch to you. Then, if a stylist leaves, you get their clients too.

-- Shannon moved to Vegas only to realize building anew is very challenging if you didn't work in a salon and have those relationships. So she left hair, only to come back!

-- Starting back off, she went to a commission salon to build with the help of the salon and its brand AND without the cost of rent.

-- Shannon began pursuing her passion for design and creativity to explore her hair piece and wig designing.

-- This process required a LARGE investment of time and energy to hone her craft. This also cost her money for the wigs and hairpieces. She was her own model and worked with what she had to grow herself.

-- Now, Shannon works with designers, charitable organizations, and celebrities like Cardi-B

-- Try to stay mindful of your emotions and ask yourself why you are feeling the emotions you are feeling. Do not give into them, but ask yourself why.

-- Why do you feel those things and figure out how to work on the reasons why, and not the feelings you are feeling...they will consume you, think depression and anxiety.

-- If you want to work with celebrities, you have to be a master of your craft...this takes serious amounts of time, no way around it.

👉Follow Shannon aka "PIGMENT" on IG

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Community Conversations: The Secret to Rising Stylists | Diana Varvaro | School Director | Paul Mitchell The School, NYC

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Diana and Robert chat about what they’ve learned over the last couple of years about Rising Stylists… this is a guide to understanding them for all salon owners.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Rising Stylists will ghost you if they are scared, feel uncomfortable, or detached from you, your brand, or your team.
Constantly checking in with your Rising Stylists and team members is imperative to retaining them. This builds buy-in to your brand and is the glue that keeps the team together.
Salon Owners: Break down your training program for transitioning Rising Stylists from Apprentice to behind-the-chair Stylist to attract more interest. Systems, systems, systems!
The secret to Rising Stylists is to be nice, organized, willing & able to have conversations around work, and pay different from previous generations.
If you do not want to "hold their hand" or have a play-by-play for their work and training, they will likely not stay with you.
You may have to teach Rising Stylists things that you think should be common sense or come naturally. This is not unique to you, and you should not get frustrated...just accept this fact or deal with a ton of turnover until you find the "right" one.

👉Follow Diana on IG, check out her other episodes, and all of her personal recommendations on her episode page: www.hairdresserstrong.com/episodes/diana-varvaro

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From Stylist to Salon Owner, Now Coaching With NLP & Timeline Therapy Brigette Sobus | Owner + Founder | Power and Joy Coaching Academy

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Listen to Brigette tell us about overcoming significant challenges in life as a salon owner and then how she uses NLP and Timeline Therapy to help others in the industry live a better life.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

--Brigette became a stylist, then a 6 figure stylist, then a salon owner before making a transition to coaching.

--After getting through a 2 year nasty divorce (which included bankruptcy on over $1M), she had to battle breast cancer twice! Getting through this has made her stronger to tackle other tasks and share her story with you!

--Brigette learned about NLP and timeline therapy which helped her throughout all of this!

--NLP: Neuro Linguistic Programing- a study of modeling excellence, practicing how to be mindful of your words and thoughts

--Timeline Therapy is just like Scrooge in A Christmas Carol where you go back and forward on your timeline through this work which includes hypnosis to work on making your life better!

--Do not get caught up in your clients' finances or stories. You have a business to run. Giving discounts to people who claim to have challenges with money is very disappointing when the client comes in next time talking about their travels and shopping sprees.

👉Follow Brigette on IG, check out her website, and All of their Personal Recommendations on their episode page: www.hairdresserstrong.com/episodes/brigette-sobus

The Hairdresser Strong Show is all about Salon Owners, Rising Stylists, Seasoned Stylists, and other Industry Professionals sharing their experiences, successes, failures, and advice to inform, educate, and empower their Fellow Hairdresser. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

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How I “Came Out” After Building a Business “In The Closet” | Georgia “G” Tournai | Owner, G TOURNAI Hair + Creative Studio | Educator + Salon Consultant

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Listen to G Tournai as they share their journey of building a business within limitations. Discover how their struggle with authenticity and readiness for change motivated them to embrace their true selves and assist others in creating safe, accessible, and authentic salon spaces.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

After shaving a trans friend’s hair and seeing the transformation, Georgia (aka G) knew they wanted to do hair!
G went to school, started at Super Cuts, then moved to a new small town and started working at a local shop, then got approached to buy a barbershop!
The barber shop owner financed the loan to buy the business (aka seller financing). This relationship turned into a mentorship, and G still stays in touch with this person!
Starting off, G appreciated the community in which this shop is located but had to handle a small town mindset and their issues.
A new landlord bought the building and decided to take the barbershop!
The relationship of a customer became G's investor!
Moving locations while your old location will be your competitor is a stressful experience, but G made it happen with the help of friends, family, and even a client!
Take online business courses! It helped G understand what they were doing!
Focusing on building the business and respecting the brand and the history of the shop caused G to keep their sexual preference and gender identity to themselves. This coupled with the readiness to end running this business, G sold the business, maintained the property, and embarked on their own thing.
G now helps other salons update their business and space to be safe, accessible, and authentic to you, the owner.
New Entrepreneurs: Write a business plan, know your dream clients and pursue them, and work when others do not work.

MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

👉Follow G Tournai on IG, Check out their Website, and All of their Personal Recommendations on their episode page here.

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H.S. NEWS: Inflation Is Still High💸 + Poll Says Parents Care Less About Manners👼 + Senate Signals Personal Image Is Not Important😣

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Inflation Is Still High💸 + Poll Says Parents Care Less About Manners👼 + Senate Signals Personal Image Is Not Important😣

Every week I drop a video with information on what happened this week in the news that is relevant to the hairdresser, business owner, and entrepreneurs in this industry!📰🗞️

Two stories this week have a lot to do with the conversation around attire, manners, and etiquette. 📣

It is important to understand that manners have everything to do with how we treat each other. Being respectful and polite saying thank you and please are examples of good manners. Etiquette is generally regarded as a set of rules that tell us how to behave in various social and professional settings. Etiquette is constantly being questioned and changed, but manners tend to be relatively universal.

🤵🤵‍♀️🤵‍♂️🤵🏿‍♂️🤵🏿‍♀️🤵🏿🤵🏽‍♂️🤵🏽‍♀️🤵🏽

What does etiquette mean to you?

When I think of these stories where 36% less parents believe manners are important than they did back in 1990, or the Senate suspending dress code for elected officials, I started to wonder how this is going to impact our business. I want people to want to get dressed up and go out places. I want people to be excited to come in and get their hair done or try on a new outfit.🎉

I'm also working on a course to help train your front desk and apprentices in creating a high-end customer experience. This is a great opportunity for me to get your input so...🙏

Do you think manners and or etiquette are important in our business? I really want to hear from you because I'm in the middle of thinking so much about this. I really want your input.🤔

#thehairdresserstrongshow #beautyindustry #modernsalon #beautyindustry #beautylaunchpad #cosmetology #hairstylists #business #news #personalimage #etiquette #manners

How We Built a New Salon Business Model | David Bosscher & Cyd Charisse | Destroy The Hairdresser

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Cyd Charisse and David Bosscher share how they built Destroy The Hairdresser and what it’s all about!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

--Born out of a desire to see hairdressers have a better life and the tools to not end up with a broken body and little money.

--From working at a salon to helping someone flip their salon to teaching for Aveda where the two met and devised their plan to launch DTH!

-DTH is a lifestyle and outlook transformation. This is not just about business. All students need to understand how to see the industry differently first.

IDEAS behind DTH:

-Hourly Pricing Only

-Gratuity Free (NOT TIPPING)

-Gender Neutral Pricing

-Station Sharing

-Unlimited time off

-Open door policy (STYLISTS CAN WORK AT ANY SALON)

-Deskless salons (NO RECEPTIONIST)

MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

👉Follow Cyd & David on IG and check out their Website on their episode page here: www.hairdresserstrong.com/episodes/destroy-the-hairdresser

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Understanding Isolation, Negative Self-Talk, & Imposter Syndrome | Krystine Sherwood | Internationally Certified Coach | Salon & Spa Owner | The Beauty Pro Coach

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:30:00 -0400

Tune in for Krystine to help you understand Isolation, Negative Self-Talk, & Imposter Syndrome.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Most Stylists ask their coach to help with the following:

-- getting clients

-- negative self-talk

-- low confidence

-- imposter syndrome

-- Do not forget your job. It is not your job to manage your client’s finances. You don’t have to change your prices to accommodate your client’s finances.

-- Selling should not be hard. Your clients have needs, and you service them by recommending the products and tools they need to keep their hair looking good in-between visits.

-- If you are struggling to build clients, you may have personal work to do yourself. Maybe you doubt yourself too much, maybe you beat yourself up, or maybe you just are not doing as much of the work that is needed to accomplish your goals.

-- Coaches, mentors, and doctors can help you navigate these things.

MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

👉Follow Krystine on IG, Check out her Website, and All of her Personal Recommendations on her episode page here: www.hairdresserstrong.com/episodes/krystine-sherwood

CONNECT WITH US

What is Human Design & How Can It Help Hairdressers? | Lindsey Means | Human Design Expert + Guide | LindseyMeans.com

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 01:45:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Lindsey share how she helps hairdressers reach their maximum potential!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

- Pause this video when you are told to, and follow the instructions for your free human design map.

-- Four things to know about Human Design:

-- Manifester (trailblazer, pioneer)

-- Projectors(40% of pop): recognized for their leadership)

-- Generators(35% of Pop): slow and steady builder, mastery

-- Manifester Generators (35% of pop): find the fastest, easiest way to do things, sprint & rest

-- Use Human Design to help you better manage a team, build greater relationships with your team, and better inspire them.

-- Gaining a better understanding of oneself enables us to live our best and more fulfilled life. This is a benefit of Human Design!

MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

-- Follow Lindsey on Instagram

-- Check out Lindsey's website

CONNECT WITH US

The Path I Took & Things I Learned: Shop Owner + Brand Educator | Gino Maggio | Owner, The Barbershop Tampa | Educator, BaByliss4Barbers

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Gino share his path to becoming a shop owner and a brand educator. He includes the lessons he learned and detailed steps on how to get there!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Working in retail and/or with people prior to working in a barber shop or salon helps set you up for success because that is our business: working with people!

-- Gino's barber put his down payment for barbering school and was his first boss! Relationships are HUGE!

-- Gino was paying 30%, which was about $400/week, and that was high at the time for rent, and then he went to a booth rental ($160/month) for one year to save money for his own Shop!

-- As a BaBylissPRO Barber educator, Gino is on stage, teaching in-person & online classes and posting online.

-- Gino was recruited after he was in the industry for 12 years and suggests that if you want to become an educator, go to shows and introduce yourself and ask to assist...make an impression and build relationships!

-- You are your own brand, and you are already working for yourself. Recognize that and go work at a shop or salon to learn how it operates and continue to build your personal brand.

-- Gain experience and learn the ins and outs of ownership BEFORE starting your own thing.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Gino on Instagram

-- Follow Gino's Shop on Instagram

-- Follow BaBylissPRO Barber on Instagram

CONNECT WITH US

A Hairdresser's Dream: From Student to Stylist to Suite Owner to Salon Owner | Amanda Hickox | Mother | Salon Owner + Colorist + Extension Specialist | Salon de Muse

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in as Amanda shares how her career connections propelled her from student to apprentice, stylist, suite owner, and finally, salon owner!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Starting as a student, Amanda waited to finish school and trained at Sasoons, but before finishing training, Amanda decided that was not the place for her. She went to a salon to do color, teach, & then went out on her own with some colleagues to open a suite!
Going out on her own was prompted by reaching the top of her position with her company. She was a national educator, and at the top of the commission scale she could reach there, so the next step was going out on her own.
Amanda leveraged her clientele, which included a development company that helped her current commercial space. They helped with architects, interior designers, etc.
Salon de Muse was designed to create a space where budding hairpreneurs can build their business outside of suite ownership. She wants to give guidance and other assistance to hairdresser entrepreneurs (hairpreneurs).
Relationships with customers not only pay Amanda for her services, but they also helped her open her salon! Relationships are so important!
Being perfect at your craft is a nice goal, but is not achievable. The relationship with your client will get them coming back year in and year out WAY MORE than your skill set.
Learn from your fellow hairdressers, do apprenticeships, take classes, and always remember there is something you can learn from everybody!

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

Follow Amanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda.demuse/
Check out Amanda's Salon, Salon de Muse: https://www.thesalondemuse.com/

CONNECT WITH US

Becoming a Legend: Education, Hard Work, and Relationships | Sam Villa | Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Sam Villa | Global Artistic Ambassador, Redken

Mon, 21 Aug 2023 08:15:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Sam Villa tell his story of building an industry-renowned career and his advice to stylists trying to build and sustain their businesses.

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The key to growth in this industry is education!
Sam Villa was inspired to get into hair because his dad was in the industry.Going to shows with his dad while he was coming up as a stylist, Sam wanted to be on stage with the other platform artists.
If you want to be on stage, know that there may not be as much money in it as you might think. Focus on your why or your purpose. If this is your goal, pursue it; just know all the information.
Mentorship and Apprenticeship is an incredible way to upgrade what you learned at school. Find a salon that fits your needs and has a robust and comprehensive apprenticeship program.
Your ability to communicate will help you build wealth.
Relationships with colleagues, family, and clients will provide the support, confidence, and income you need to achieve your goals.
How you make a person feel (their experience) is more important than the hair.
Focus on your purpose, and the money will follow.
Create an experience for people where they want to come back. Do they want to laugh, chat, chill, or do something else? Get to know your clients and make it about them, not just your work.
Go above and beyond to make your client happy and ensure they are able to style their own hair with a customized video for them that you record while they are in your chair.

CONNECT WITH SAM

-- Follow Sam Villa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samvillahair/

-- Follow Sam Villa on other social channels and learn more about educational & tools here: https://linkin.bio/ig-samvillahair

CONNECT WITH US

Becoming a School Owner, Nat'l Educator, and Cos. Board Member | Patrick Guarniere | School Owner, TSPA DC | Stylist | Nat'l Artist, Redken | Member, DC Cos. Board

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Patrick Guarniere share his story from apprentice, to stylist, to Redken Educator, to School Owner AND Member of the DC Board of Cosmetology & Barbering!

Follow/subscribe to be the first to know when new episodes are released. Like what you hear? Leave us a review!

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Working at a salon straight out of school that is big on education and allowing the stylists to use those points to bring in outside educators can greatly impact your career as a stylist.
Teaming up with Redken and growing as an educator and artist also led to an opportunity to open up The Salon Professional Academy in DC (a Redken School)
Patrick's first chance to work at a salon was as a temporary fill-in for a classmate/friend who had to go to the hospital and couldn't cover their shift. You never know when your opportunity will present itself!
The old-school vibes meant that if you couldn't make it to work, you could get replaced, despite your need for a break or day off on short-term notice.
Rising Stylists are not interested in working like previous generations. Reduced and flexible schedules, the ability to take days off without shame and questioning, and working smarter, not harder, are what they are looking for.
Becoming a National Redken Artist required an application process and four weeks of training.
Being an educator, at least in the beginning, is more about your passion and love for teaching and learning. If you do it for the money fresh out of the gate, you may find yourself with no one paying you to teach.

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Patrick on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick_guarniere/

-- Follow TSPA DC on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tspadc/

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How Can Schools and Salons Do Better for Rising Stylists?! | Diana Varvaro | School Director | Paul Mitchell The School, NYC

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Diana Varvaro share her thoughts on how schools and salons can best serve and set Rising Stylists up for success!

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Rising Stylists' biggest challenge is finding a salon where they feel accepted and appreciated.
SALONS: Do a shadow day to help introduce your business, culture, and team to Rising Stylists
SALON OWNERS: Visit and speak to Rising Stylists AT SCHOOL to inform them about what it was like for you to train and build so they understand what they need to do in order to accomplish their goals.
GUEST SPEAKERS & ARTISTS are the keys to building RELATIONSHIPS for the future!
Experience is paramount and highly recommended for Rising Stylists while in school if their state allows it.
RISING STYLISTS: Nothing is easy, even if people on social media say it is. You can accomplish your goals! You just have to work hard for it!

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Diana Varvaro on Instagram

-- Follow Paul Mitchell The School, NYC on Instagram

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How to Build a Brand | Adam Muncy | Co-Owner + CEO | Samson's Haircare

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Adam Muncy, Co-Owner + CEO of Samson's Haircare, deliver tons of valuable information about building a brand! ⁠

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Is your brand you, or do you want to have a separate brand from your own identity? This can also look like separating the Brand from you and your partner(s)

-- BUILDING A BRAND? Start with a mood board. Figure out what matters to you in terms of colors, imagery, and tone, and consider the emotions that this all invokes and align it with your desired brand.

-- Are you a tastemaker? Do you have an eye for good vs bad haircuts, color, styling, music, food, etc? Pick out what brands you like and consider that when putting your mood board together in the brand identification process!

-- Your brand identity needs to be thorough. Everything about your brand...EVERYTHING...communicates something. Make sure all decisions you make are in line with the brand! Music, fonts, memes, ingredients, products, lighting, etc...IT ALL MATTERS!

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Samson's Haircare on Instagram

-- Check out Samson Haircare's website

👉 HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

Cash Flow, Customer Relationships & Success in Business | Nina Tulio | Speaker + Educator | Business Edu & Tik Tok Amb., Oligo Professionel

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Nina Tulio tell you the most important thing for you to have a STRONG and sustainable business!⁠

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Cash Management, Cash Flow, Budgeting, and Pricing are the most common issues amongst commission owners, hybrid owners, and independents!
Nina uses facts and data to help you make your decisions so when you doubt yourself, your decision, or your plan, you have the data to fall back on, giving you confidence!
Full-Time hairdressers should aim to work from 32 - 35 hours
Most stylists are undercharging and need to update their prices
Rent should be less than 20-30% of your revenue
Commission salon owners payroll should be under 50% to be able to make money as an owner and have a sustainable business.
Relationships are the primary factor in the success of a hairstylist and any entrepreneur.
Remember to serve your guests and come up with ways to service them when times are tough without discounting services.
Do not forget that we service AND are, ourselves, humans first...Treat clients like they are human and not a commodity that you can easily replace.
Make Magic with clients and grow your business via strong relationships and knowing your data/numbers!

MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

-- Get Nina's personal recommendations here

-- Follow Nina on Instagram

-- Follow Nina on Tik Tok

-- Check out Nina's website

We deliver curated resources, coaching, advice, and first-hand experience so you may become a well-rounded, self-sufficient, business-savvy, and strong individual, ready to transition or transform yourself and the industry. We won’t stop until we are all: Hairdresser Strong.

👉 For more episodes, resources, and our blog, please visit us here

Tips on Hiring Rising Stylists & Gen Z | Michael Cole | Beauty Business Jedi

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 12:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Michael Cole explain how Salon Owners should consider adjusting their business for success with the new generation!

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Some, if not many, of the old ways of building a book or business, are not as relevant and maybe even irrelevant.
Stylists can check out salons by hanging out in their digital space. There is a lot to find out about a business online in their search results, reviews, pictures, videos, website, career path opportunities,
SALON OWNERS: be very clear and concise with a measurable apprenticeship/training program to grow onto the floor; this builds trust and accountability for you and your team
Have Rising Stylists speak to their future instructors before hiring them and convey to them the investment of a "graduate program" (aka apprenticeship program) will ensure greater success. This should help getting over the mandatory training conversation during interviews.
Give Rising Stylists an "opportunity day" to build their own clients and show you and other leaders how well they do and where they need help. This will keep them happy because they will feel the independence of being a stylist and building a book while they are assisting and training.
Stay hiring and always have another stylist ready to step up when people leave you un-announced

MENTIONED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:

-- Follow Michael on Instagram

-- Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram

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👉 Head to our website for guest recommendations, resources, and our blog

How We Adopted Genderless Pricing in a Multi-Generational Salon | Maria Elizabeth | Owner + Founder + Stylist | Salon deZEN | VA

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 07:00:00 -0400

Tune in to hear Maria Elizabeth explain her experience and process on how she transitioned from an old-school pricing model to a genderless pricing model and how she handled the friction between multiple generations of stylists!

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

-- Salon deZEN changed their prices to be genderless.

-- First, they had a meeting, and then they got "buy-in" from the team.

-- Next, they introduced the new pricing structures.

-- Mens cuts were transitioned into barber cuts, and then they were a genderless priced salon!

-- Friction with changing the salon culture over to being respectful and considerate of everyone’s gender identity with both the younger and older generations is explained:

--Younger generations were so excited to be in a progressive industry and not very patient with the older generation, who was trying to adjust the language they used to be more considerate and respectful of gender identity

--The older generation struggled to change the way they speak to remove gender and/or be more aware of others who are different.

-- Hire an expert to help coach you and your team on the transition from gender-based services to gender-affirming or genderless pricing.

-- Embrace change or risk your business becoming irrelevant or harder to survive.

MENTIONED IN TODAY'S EPISODE:

-- Follow Salon deZen on Instagram

-- Follow Maria on Instagram

-- Check out Salon deZEN's website

-- Get Maria's personal recommendations here

👉 For more episodes, resources, and our blog, please visit us here

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