In this episode of the Hair Hustle podcast, Heather Podlesney hosts representatives from Surface, Sean Carlson and Cassie Laub, to discuss industry insights, brand support, retail strategies, and upcoming events. They share valuable tips for salon owners and stylists to thrive in a competitive market, emphasizing the importance of education, brand partnerships, and strategic planning.

CONTACTS:

Heather: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Cassy: claub@surfacehair.com

Sean: scarlson@surfacehair.com

LINKS:

Retreat:

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hair Hustle Podcast

01:24 Meet the Surface Team

06:10 State of the Industry: Challenges and Opportunities

14:06 The Importance of Brand Support

21:26 Questions to Ask Your Brand

27:58 Finding the Right Brand and Distributor

34:50 The Emotional Connection to Products

39:56 Navigating Brand Loyalty in Salons

45:43 The Importance of Awareness and Responsibility

51:06 Thriving vs Surviving Salons

57:16 Identifying Survival Mode in Salon Owners

01:00:39 Connecting with Support for Salons

01:04:10 The Importance of Partnership in the Beauty Industry

01:05:40 Wellness Sanctuary Retreat: A New Experience

01:08:03 Spilling the Tea: Insights from the Brand Side

01:16:01 Surface's New All-In Product Launch

01:22:38 Introducing Surface Unscripted: A New Podcast

01:25:45 How to Connect with Surface Team

Keywords

hair industry, salon retail, brand support, Surface, salon success, retail strategies, industry insights, salon coaching, Surface Unscripted, salon events

In this episode, Heather Podlesney discusses the five common money mistakes that hairstylists make annually, offering practical advice to improve financial health and avoid stress during tax season. Perfect for independent stylists looking to work smarter and create a sustainable income.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Common Money Mistakes

03:34 Mistake 1: Confusing Revenue with Income

04:49 Mistake 2: Not Setting Aside Taxes

06:07 Mistake 3: Pricing Without Knowing Your Numbers

08:12 Mistake 4: Treating Business Money as Personal Money

10:44 Mistake 5: Avoiding Your Numbers

Keywords

hairstylist finance, money mistakes, tax tips, independent stylist, budgeting, pricing, financial planning, salon business

Contact Heather - helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Summary

This episode explores effective spring retail strategies for salon owners, emphasizing the importance of timely promotions, resetting retail displays, and leveraging seasonal buying behaviors to boost sales.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Spring Retail Promotions

02:49 Understanding Consumer Behavior in Spring

05:51 Creating Effective Retail Promotions

08:57 Spring Promotion Ideas and Strategies

14:32 The Importance of Incentives in Retail

Keywords

salon retail, spring promotions, retail reset, salon marketing, retail strategies, beauty industry, retail tips, salon business, seasonal sales, retail promotions guide

Grab the ULTIMATE Independent Stylist Workbook HERE for only $37

Summary

This episode addresses the common misconception that busy equals profitable for stylists, especially during tax season. It offers practical advice on understanding where your money goes, organizing finances, and improving profitability beyond just working hard.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:29 Navigating Tax Season: A Reality Check

02:23 Understanding Profitability vs. Busyness

05:06 Organizing Your Finances for Success

07:59 Tools for Financial Clarity and Stability

Keywords

stylist finances, tax season, profitability, money management, independent stylist, financial organization, salon business, tax tips, budgeting, income tracking

Summary

This episode guides independent stylists on how to effectively pay themselves and organize their finances during tax season. Heather Podlesney shares practical tips on setting up accounts, mindset shifts, and creating a stable income system.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:57 Understanding Tax Season for Independent Stylists

02:21 The Mindset Shift: From Stylist to Business Owner

05:41 How to Pay Yourself as an Independent Stylist

09:12 Organizing Your Finances for Stability

Keywords

independent stylist, pay yourself, business finances, tax season, salon owner, financial organization, money management, income stability

Summary

In this episode, Heather Podlesney breaks down the three key numbers independent stylists need to know before tax season. She offers practical tips on setting income goals, understanding expenses, and estimating tax payments to reduce financial stress and boost confidence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:00 Navigating Tax Season for Stylists

02:10 Understanding Your Income Goal

05:59 Calculating Monthly Costs and Expenses

08:28 Tax Percentages and Saving for Taxes

12:05 Mindset and Confidence in Business

Keywords

hair stylist, tax season, income goals, expenses, self-employment taxes, financial planning, salon business, independent stylist, money management, tax tips

Key Topics:

1. The common anxiety around approaching tax season, especially for independent stylists
2. The importance of not panicking and maintaining a clear head to assess financials
3. How to organize your expenses and income to be ready for tax filing
4. The role of a tax professional and why hiring one is critical
5. Creating a plan based on your income and expenses, including quarterly payments
6. Strategies to estimate taxes owed if you have no savings yet
7. How payment plans and extensions can help manage tax liabilities
8. Building a system of awareness around your finances for future tax seasons
9. The importance of patience and self-compassion in managing money

Timestamps:

00:00 - Why tax season can cause anxiety for stylists

00:27 - The importance of staying calm and not panicking

00:53 - Common mistakes and misconceptions about taxes in the industry

01:18 - How to get clear on your finances and organize your numbers

02:15 - The importance of working with a tax professional instead of DIY

03:11 - Understanding income, expenses, and planning for taxes

03:41 - Tips for estimating how much you owe and setting aside funds

04:12 - Creating a tax-saving system and staying ahead for future years

05:09 - Paying quarterly estimates and how to set up your business properly

06:21 - Adjusting payments and planning for tax year-end liabilities

07:47 - How to use professional help to set up payment plans and extensions

09:07 - Addressing changes in family or business situation that affect taxes

10:03 - Final reminders: stay informed, plan ahead, and reach out for professional help

10:32 - Action steps: organize your financial records and find a tax pro

11:01 - Encouragement to build awareness around money and reduce shame

Connect with Heather:

helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Let this episode be your turning point for stress-free tax planning. Remember, understanding your numbers is the key to building a more confident and organized business. Reach out if you have questions — you’re doing an amazing job!

Questions or work with Melissa Gross: 616-299-4869 and mgross@manocoblue.com

Summary

In this episode, Heather Podlesny interviews Melissa Gross, a seasoned salon sales consultant with over 25 years of industry experience. They discuss how stylists and salon owners can leverage sales consultants for business growth, retail success, and industry insights, emphasizing community, confidence, and strategic systems.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:20 Melissa Gross's Industry Journey and Experience

03:38 Successful Salon Systems and Retail Strategies

06:17 Misunderstandings About Sales Consultants' Role

09:12 Industry Trends: Cleaner Ingredients and Sustainability

11:33 Helping Struggling Stylists and Small Salons

14:47 Maximizing Value from Your Sales Consultant

19:23 Add-on Services and Business Growth Ideas

21:42 Melissa's Unexpected Industry Insights

24:11 Community, Support, and Overcoming Industry Challenges

27:02 Salon Owner and Stylist Complaints and Misconceptions

30:02 Addressing Common Salon Industry Complaints

31:49 Melissa's Advice for Engaging with Sales Consultants

35:33 Supporting Your Salon Community and Collaboration

37:15 Closing Remarks and Resources for Listeners

Keywords

Salon sales, retail strategies, industry insights, salon community, business growth, salon owner tips, sales consultant role, salon success, hair industry trends

Discover why carousels are making a comeback in social media marketing, especially for hairstylists and salon owners. Learn practical strategies to create engaging carousels that educate, tell stories, and boost your social media presence without the overwhelm of video content.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the resurgence of carousels

01:50 Why carousels slow down swipers and increase engagement

02:55 Carousels for education, explanation, and storytelling

03:45 When to use a carousel instead of a reel

04:21 Content ideas for hairstylists and salons

06:16 Creating a simple carousel formula

07:19 The importance of a strong hook in carousels

08:40 Structuring your carousel: from hook to call to action

11:43 Shifting focus from likes to saves for engagement

12:41 Common mistakes to avoid in carousel content

Keywords

social media marketing, carousels, reels, hairstylist marketing, content strategy, engagement, storytelling, social media tips

Summary

In this episode, Heather Podlesney shares a practical framework for stylists to simplify and improve their social media content strategy. She introduces the four E's of content—Educate, Elevate, Entertain, and Encourage—and offers actionable tips to build confidence and consistency in posting.

Key Topics

The 4 E's of content: Educate, Elevate, Entertain, Encourage

Creating a consistent posting schedule

Building confidence in social media marketing

Engagement strategies for stylists

Simplifying content creation

Keywords

social media, content strategy, hair stylist, marketing, engagement, social media tips, salon marketing, content creation, social media framework, Heather Podlesney

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney shares essential tips for hairstylists on creating effective short form videos and reels. She emphasizes the importance of keeping the process simple, focusing on three key components: the hook, the bridge, and the call to action. By using relatable analogies, Heather guides listeners through the steps to engage their audience and drive action, ultimately enhancing their social media presence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Short Form Video Creation

01:10 Understanding the Importance of Hooks

03:52 The Bridge: Delivering Your Content

05:41 The Call to Action: Engaging Your Audience

Keywords

short form videos, reels, social media, hairstyling, content creation, marketing strategies, engagement, beauty industry, salon business, video tips

Want to be a guest on The Hair Hustle Podcast? Contact Heather at helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Summary

In this episode of the Hairhousel Podcast, Heather Podlesny discusses the concept of 'money dates'—a structured approach to managing personal and business finances. She emphasizes the importance of regular check-ins with finances to reduce anxiety and improve financial awareness. Heather outlines the steps to implement money dates, including setting a consistent schedule, focusing on key financial metrics, and asking constructive questions. The episode concludes with an invitation to access a cheat sheet to simplify the process of starting money dates.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Money Dates

01:04 Understanding Money Dates

04:43 Implementing Money Dates

08:13 The Structure of a Money Date

12:44 Closing the Money Date

13:17 The Impact of Money Dates

Keywords

money dates, financial planning, salon business, budgeting, personal finance, stylist strategies, salon owner tips, financial awareness, money management, emotional connection to money

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney discusses the challenges stylists face in the beauty industry, particularly focusing on what they can and cannot control. She emphasizes the importance of mental health and the need to let go of things outside of one's control, such as cancellations and client spending habits. Heather encourages stylists to focus on clear communication, service structuring, and budgeting as areas they can influence. The episode concludes with a practical exercise for listeners to identify what they can control and what they need to let go of, promoting a healthier mindset in their professional lives.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:35 Understanding the Beauty Industry's Challenges

00:41 What Stylists Can and Cannot Control

03:01 The Importance of Letting Go

07:21 Focusing on What You Can Control

09:14 Shifting from Reaction to Intention

10:43 Practical Exercise for Stylists

12:41 Conclusion and Next Steps

Keywords

beauty industry, salon management, stylist tips, mental health, control, communication, client relationships, business strategies, self-care, professional growth

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney discusses the evolving landscape of consumer behavior in the beauty industry. She emphasizes the importance of understanding shifts in guest spending habits, the need for clear pricing, and the necessity for stylists to adapt their strategies to meet changing consumer expectations. Heather encourages stylists to analyze their business metrics, embrace a mindset shift, and focus on providing value to clients to thrive in 2026 and beyond.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hair Hustle Podcast

00:52 Understanding Consumer Behavior

02:55 Shifts in Guest Spending Habits

04:45 The Importance of Clear Pricing

08:19 Mindset Shift in the Beauty Industry

09:53 Adapting to New Consumer Expectations

Keywords

hair salon, consumer behavior, stylist tips, salon business, guest spending, financial awareness, mindset shift, beauty industry, retail strategies, salon success

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney addresses the current financial climate affecting stylists and salon owners. She emphasizes the importance of developing a budgeting habit rather than just focusing on the numbers. Drawing from her own experiences and conversations with industry peers, Heather shares insights on how to navigate the emotional weight of money management, especially during uncertain times. She encourages listeners to view budgeting not as a punishment but as a form of permission to make informed financial decisions that support their lives and businesses.

Heather also discusses the cyclical nature of income in the beauty industry, particularly the seasonal dips that stylists often face. She reassures listeners that feeling stressed about money is common and does not equate to being bad at business. Instead, she advocates for a proactive approach to budgeting, suggesting that stylists take control of their finances by regularly reviewing their income and expenses. By fostering a positive mindset around budgeting, Heather aims to empower her audience to create a sustainable financial future in the beauty industry.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:21 Reflecting on Financial Challenges

00:43 The Importance of Budgeting Habits

05:17 Understanding Income Fluctuations

10:29 Changing Your Money Mindset

14:12 Practical Steps for Budgeting

19:23 Closing Thoughts and Encouragement

Keywords

budgeting, financial advice, beauty industry, salon owners, money management, hairstylists, financial habits, income stability, salon business coach, Hair Hustle Podcast

Show Notes Not working today! I had some technical errors, but here is the FREE new guest template I talked about!

NEW GUEST TEMPLATE that actually gets guests!

See you next week!

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney shares essential insights for stylists as they enter 2026. She emphasizes the importance of understanding profitability versus mere busyness, the necessity of charging appropriately for services, and the significance of setting healthy boundaries. Heather also encourages stylists to embrace their roles as CEOs of their businesses and to practice kindness in their interactions, recognizing that everyone faces challenges. This episode serves as a motivational guide for stylists to start the new year with clarity and purpose.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast

02:32 Setting the Stage for 2026

02:56 Understanding Profitability vs. Busyness

05:48 The Importance of Charging What You Deserve

07:51 Establishing Healthy Boundaries

10:43 Embracing Your Role as CEO

12:56 The Power of Kindness in the Industry

Keywords

hair, salon, stylists, business coaching, profitability, boundaries, self-care, kindness, 2026 goals, beauty industry

This is one is meant for you!

Contact Heather at helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney shares valuable insights on simplifying social media strategies for hairstylists. She emphasizes the importance of consistency, intentional posting, and creating a content plan that includes connection, education, and proof. Heather provides practical examples and tips to help stylists build trust, showcase their expertise, and engage with their audience effectively.

Chapters

1. 00:00:00 Introduction to Social Media Strategy
2. 00:03:00 Creating a Content Plan
3. 00:06:00 Building Trust and Engagement
4. 00:09:00 Showcasing Expertise and Proof
5. 00:12:00 Conclusion and Final Tips

Keywords

Hair Hustle Podcast, social media strategy, hairstylists, consistency, content plan, connection, education, proof, Heather Podlesney, salon marketing

Follow @thehairhustle.podcast on IG and FB

FREE 20 Minute RESET Checklist HERE

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney reflects on the past year and introduces a simple 20-minute reset process for stylists and salon owners to prepare for the upcoming year. She emphasizes the importance of reviewing key business metrics, setting non-negotiables, and choosing a theme for the year to foster growth and productivity. Heather encourages listeners to take actionable steps to improve their business and personal development as they transition into the new year.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Year-End Reflections

02:36 The 20-Minute Year-End Reset Process

05:23 Identifying Key Business Metrics

07:49 Setting Non-Negotiables and Themes for the Year

Keywords

hair, beauty, salon, business coaching, year-end reset, personal development, stylist strategies, salon owner tips, productivity, growth

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney discusses the critical distinction between price and cost, emphasizing that the cheapest option may not always be the best choice for stylists and salon owners. She explores how purchasing decisions impact not only finances but also time and client experience. Heather encourages listeners to consider the long-term value of their purchases and to prioritize quality over price in order to enhance their business and client satisfaction.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Hair Hustle Podcast

00:53 Understanding Price vs. Cost

02:29 The Impact of Cheap Options

07:56 Evaluating Value Over Price

11:46 Key Questions for Smart Purchases

Keywords

hair salon, price vs cost, business strategies, salon management, client experience, value over price, beauty industry, stylist tips, financial advice, salon coaching

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesny discusses the emotional challenges faced by stylists in the beauty industry, particularly the feelings of shame and vulnerability that can arise during slower business periods. She emphasizes the importance of tracking numbers to combat these feelings and encourages stylists to reframe their mindset regarding market changes. The conversation also touches on the impact of social media on perceptions of success and the necessity of adapting to a more sustainable business model.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:23 The Shame Game: Acknowledging Vulnerability

04:52 Understanding Industry Trends and Emotional Impact

09:59 Tracking Numbers: The Key to Overcoming Shame

12:08 Adjusting to Market Changes: Reframing Expectations

19:39 Strategies for Success: Embracing Change and Growth

Keywords

Hair Hustle Podcast, beauty industry, shame, emotional impact, tracking numbers, market changes, sustainable business, salon strategies, stylist coaching, industry trends

Contact Heather Spencer: heather@spencergellisesalon.com

Heather Spencer's Leadership Workbook & Freebie: HERE

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney welcomes Heather Spencer, a seasoned beauty industry professional with over 27 years of experience. They discuss the importance of leadership in the salon environment, emphasizing the need for self-leadership as a foundation for leading others. Heather shares her journey from stylist to salon owner and educator, highlighting the challenges and lessons learned along the way. The conversation also touches on daily habits to avoid burnout, the significance of mindset, and the balance between family and career. Heather offers insights on establishing non-negotiables in life and the importance of setting boundaries to protect one's energy. The episode concludes with Heather introducing her leadership workbook, designed to help others define their leadership style and goals.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:13 Heather Spencer's Journey in the Beauty Industry

03:50 The Importance of Leadership in the Salon

05:07 Leading Yourself First: The Foundation of Leadership

09:27 Daily Habits for Stylists to Avoid Burnout

12:02 Mindset and Energy in Client Interactions

19:05 Problem Solving as a Key Leadership Skill

21:51 Balancing Family and Leadership in the Beauty Industry

25:44 The Trade-Offs of Flexibility

28:00 Navigating Corporate Challenges

29:54 The Journey of an Educator

36:29 Establishing Non-Negotiables

42:25 Setting Boundaries and Managing Energy

46:45 Leadership Workbook Insights

Keywords

leadership, salon, beauty industry, self-care, burnout, family balance, daily habits, problem solving, non-negotiables, hairstylist

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney discusses the importance of energy management for stylists, particularly during the busy holiday season. She introduces the concept of the $1,000 hour, emphasizing that stylists should value their time and energy as they would their earnings. Heather encourages listeners to identify energy leaks, set boundaries, and implement strategies to recharge and prevent burnout. The episode serves as a reminder for stylists to prioritize their well-being while navigating the demands of their profession.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Energy Management

00:22 Understanding the $1,000 Hour Mindset

01:54 Protecting Your Energy

03:59 Identifying Energy Leaks

05:38 Strategies to Recharge and Refocus

Keywords

energy management, $1000 hour, salon business, boundaries, burnout prevention, time management, self-care, productivity, salon strategies, holiday season

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesny discusses the importance of planning and organization for stylists, especially during the chaotic holiday season. She emphasizes the need to transition from merely surviving to thriving by implementing effective scheduling and administrative practices. Heather introduces the 80-20 rule, encouraging stylists to focus on the most impactful tasks to enhance their productivity and well-being. The episode concludes with a motivational call to action for listeners to take control of their schedules and start winning instead of winging it.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:28 Navigating the Holiday Chaos

01:13 From Surviving to Thriving

02:37 The Importance of Planning

04:29 Implementing the 80-20 Rule

06:10 Conclusion and Call to Action

Keywords

hair hustle, salon business, planning, productivity, holiday season, stylist tips, time management, thriving, admin work, 80-20 rule

Link to full focus planner: HERE

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney discusses the importance of organization and time management for salon owners and busy professionals. She introduces the 'Big Three' method, a strategy designed to help individuals prioritize their tasks and reduce feelings of overwhelm. Heather emphasizes the significance of brain dumping to clear mental clutter and shares practical tips for implementing the Big Three in daily life. The episode concludes with encouragement to share the method with others who may benefit from improved organization.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:25 Feeling Overwhelmed: The Need for Organization

01:43 The Big Three: A Time Management Strategy

03:53 The Importance of Prioritizing Tasks

05:36 Brain Dump: Clearing Mental Clutter

08:05 Creating Your Running List

10:00 Conclusion and Call to Action

Keywords

organization, time management, salon owners, productivity, big three method, mental clarity, overwhelm, planning, business strategies, self-care

FREE Take Control of your Money Worksheet HERE

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney discusses the concept of 'chair money'—the income stylists retain after expenses. She emphasizes the importance of tracking finances, understanding income allocation, and managing expenses effectively. Heather provides practical advice on how to categorize income and expenses into three buckets, ensuring stylists can maintain financial health and achieve their goals. The episode concludes with tips on establishing a routine for financial tracking to reduce stress and enhance business management.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Chair Money

01:27 Understanding Chair Money

03:48 Tracking Your Income and Expenses

08:03 The Three Buckets of Financial Management

11:09 Using Data to Make Informed Decisions

15:45 Establishing a Routine for Financial Tracking

Keywords

chair money, financial tracking, salon business, independent stylist, budgeting, salon expenses, income management, stylist coaching, salon profitability, salon growth

Interested in the $59 offer mentioned today? - Contact Joe!

Contact Joe via email: joesileo1@gmail.com

Contact Joe via phone: 201-739-0548

Do Good Consulting Website: https://dogoodconsulting.co/

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney welcomes Joe Sileo, a seasoned professional in the beauty industry, to discuss the importance of mindfulness, human connection, and personal development for stylists and salon owners. Joe shares insights from his extensive experience in training and development, emphasizing the need for stylists to connect with their clients and avoid burnout through mindful practices. He introduces his upcoming program, 'Finish Strong, Start Unstoppable,' designed to help participants set and achieve their goals for the upcoming year while maintaining a balanced approach to their personal and professional lives.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

02:35 Meet Joe Sileo: A Journey in Beauty Industry Training

04:58 The Importance of Human Potential in the Beauty Industry

10:24 Mindfulness: A Tool for Personal and Professional Growth

16:51 Avoiding Burnout: Mindfulness Strategies for Stylists

23:39 Mindful Planning: Finishing Strong and Starting Unstoppable

32:53 The Journey of Connection and Reflection

34:29 Nuggets of Wisdom: Staying Focused and Present

36:46 The Importance of Connection in the Industry

39:31 Letting Go: The Art of Not Picking Up Others' Burdens

40:33 Moving Forward: Strategies for Progress

44:41 Creating a Culture of Support: The Eight-Minute Rule

46:17 Mindful Program Launch: Preparing for Success

49:20 The Value of Information: Simplifying Learning

52:08 Creating Unique Experiences in the Salon Industry

55:26 Surviving and Thriving: Building Momentum for 2026

57:56 Procrastination: A Path to Mindfulness and Clarity

Keywords

Hair Hustle, beauty industry, mindfulness, salon owners, stylist training, Joe Sileo, burnout, human connection, personal development, salon culture

Dream Client Exercise

Holiday EVERYTHING Guide

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney addresses the prevalent issue of social media burnout among stylists. She shares her personal experiences and insights on the challenges of content creation, emphasizing that feeling burnt out is common and not a reflection of one's abilities. Heather discusses various triggers of burnout, such as posting without purpose and the dangers of comparison, and offers practical strategies to combat these feelings. She encourages listeners to create content with intention, focus on connection rather than perfection, and provides creative content ideas to inspire engagement and growth in their social media presence.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Social Media Burnout

07:20 Identifying Burnout Triggers

14:18 Strategies to Combat Burnout

18:07 Creating with Purpose and Planning

24:39 Inspiration and Series Ideas

Keywords

social media burnout, content creation, hairstylist tips, salon marketing, social media strategies, creative content, burnout triggers, salon business, social media tips, hairstylist community

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney discusses the enduring principles in the beauty industry that have remained constant despite changes over the years. She emphasizes the importance of relationships and connections with clients, the power of word-of-mouth referrals, the necessity of mastering one's craft, the reality of hard work behind the chair, and the significance of key indicators in salon business. Heather provides insights and tough love for stylists looking to thrive in their careers while maintaining a focus on what truly matters in the industry.

00:00 Introduction to Hair Hustle Podcast

02:47 Tried and True Principles in the Beauty Industry

04:12 The Importance of Relationships and Connections

07:02 The Power of Word of Mouth Referrals

08:30 Mastering Your Craft: Skills That Matter

12:55 The Reality of Hard Work Behind the Chair

16:16 Key Indicators in Salon Business

hair hustle, salon business, beauty industry, relationships, referrals, craft mastery, hard work, key indicators, coaching, stylist success

00:00 Introduction to Changes in the Beauty Industry

03:50 The Impact of Social Media and Marketing

06:27 Advancements in Technology and Online Booking

07:47 Evolution of Education and Accessibility

12:05 Shifting Client Expectations

15:23 Changes in Product Technology and Processing Times

Keywords

beauty industry, social media, marketing, technology, client expectations, education, product technology, salon business, hairstyling, coaching

00:00 Introduction to the Journey

04:33 Leaving Corporate America

09:05 The Dream Job in Sales

15:38 The Impact of COVID-19

27:52 Realizations and Reflections

30:36 Navigating Corporate Challenges

35:12 Personal Transformations and New Beginnings

39:58 Facing Uncertainty and Change

45:55 Decisions and Reflections

52:32 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

Keywords

beauty industry, corporate life, personal growth, career change, salon business, emotional journey, COVID-19 impact, entrepreneurship, self-care, empowerment

LINK TO FREEBIE https://heatherpod.kit.com/133031041f

LINK TO PLAYBOOK Retail Promo Playbook for $69

Takeaways

Tracking is essential for success in salon businesses.

What gets measured gets managed; it's crucial to track performance.

Retail is not just extra profit; it matters for every salon.

Gift cards can significantly boost cash flow and attract new clients.

Incentives can energize teams and enhance the holiday experience.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) should be established and monitored.

Setting a baseline helps in comparing future performance.

A holiday roadmap and checklist can streamline planning.

January can be a productive month with the right strategies.

Continuous improvement is key; always aim to beat your previous performance.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Holiday Series

01:01 The Importance of Tracking in Business

01:48 Team Incentives and Planning for Success

03:43 Recap of Previous Episodes

06:48 Understanding Key Performance Indicators

08:39 Setting Up for the Holiday Season

14:51 Creating a Holiday Roadmap

17:42 Preparing for January and February

20:23 Conclusion and Next Steps

Keywords

salon business, holiday strategies, tracking performance, retail sales, gift cards, salon incentives, beauty industry, business coaching, salon success, holiday planning

FREE Holiday Plan!!!

Retail Promo Playbook

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, Heather Podlesney discusses effective strategies for salon owners and stylists to boost their business during the holiday season. She emphasizes the importance of beauty business boosters, including holiday menus, add-ons, team incentives, and creating a festive experience for clients. Heather provides actionable ideas for service menus, effective add-on services, and incentives for both guests and team members, all aimed at enhancing the salon experience and increasing revenue. The episode concludes with a call to action for listeners to implement these strategies and share the podcast with others in the beauty industry.

Takeaways

Beauty business boosters are essential for increasing service revenue.

Holiday menus and add-ons can enhance client experience.

Creating a festive atmosphere encourages spending.

Team incentives improve morale and engagement.

Service menus should include seasonal options.

Small add-on services can significantly increase revenue.

Use AI to help create effective scripts for promotions.

Incentives for guests can drive sales and loyalty.

Simple gestures can make a big impact on team motivation.

Sharing knowledge and resources benefits the entire salon community.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Beauty Business Boosters

02:46 Holiday Menus and Add-Ons

05:46 Creating a Festive Experience

08:42 Team Incentives and Morale

11:38 Service Menu Ideas

14:45 Effective Add-On Services

17:14 Utilizing AI for Marketing

20:17 Guest and Team Incentives

23:07 Wrapping Up and Future Steps

Keywords

beauty business, salon strategies, holiday promotions, service add-ons, team incentives, client experience, retail strategies, salon management, beauty industry tips, holiday season planning

Holiday Fool Proof Roadmap: https://heatherpod.kit.com/133031041f

Here are the show notes for your Apple Podcasts episode on the Hair Hustle Podcast:

Title: The Power of Gift Cards in the Salon Industry

Episode Description: In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney dives into the world of gift cards and their impact on salon businesses. Discover why gift cards are a game-changer for both small and large salons, and learn strategies to maximize their potential. Heather shares eye-opening statistics, promotional tactics, and tips on managing gift card revenue effectively. Whether you're an independent stylist or a salon owner, this episode is packed with insights to boost your business during the holiday season.

Key Takeaways:

Gift card sales in beauty and wellness are up 20% year over year. The average spend on a gift card is $142, with 25% of redemptions from new clients. Strategies for organizing gift card revenue and promotional ideas to increase sales. Importance of National Use Your Gift Card Day and how to leverage it.

Call to Action: Don't miss out on the opportunity to grow your salon business with gift cards. Share this episode with fellow stylists and salon owners, and start implementing these strategies today!

Hashtags: #HairHustlePodcast #SalonSuccess #GiftCardStrategy

Contact Heather: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:57 The Importance of Holiday Strategy

07:14 Retail: A Key to Salon Success

11:38 Understanding Retail Statistics

20:06 Setting Targets for Holiday Retail

25:45 Planning Your Inventory

31:59 Creating a Marketing Calendar

36:08 Looking Ahead: Future Episodes

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:22 Understanding the Anxiety of Raising Prices

03:35 Personal Experiences with Pricing Strategies

06:26 The Shift from Bundling to A La Carte Pricing

09:19 Recognizing the Right Time to Raise Prices

12:07 Letting Go of Money Anxiety

14:12 Communicating Price Changes Effectively

17:40 Handling Client Pushback on Price Increases

29:38 Empowering Stylists to Raise Prices with Confidence

Episode Description: Join Heather Podlesney in Episode 45 of the Hair Hustle Podcast as she unveils the 90-Day Power Plan tailored for stylists. This episode is packed with actionable strategies to enhance your guest experience, optimize pre-booking systems, and boost your retail and upselling techniques. Heather shares insights on setting realistic financial goals and maintaining holiday boundaries, ensuring you hit the holiday rush with a full book and a healthy bank account.

Key Takeaways:

Focus on guest experience and pre-booking in September. Enhance retail systems and upselling in October. Control booking and set holiday boundaries in November. Set achievable financial goals and track progress weekly. Explore creative marketing ideas like the "Try Me" menu and pre-booking contests.

Next Episode Preview: Tune in next week for Episode 46, where Heather discusses raising your prices without raising your anxiety.

Contact: For questions or feedback, email Heather at helloheatherpod@gmail.com.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:50 Introducing the 90-Day Power Plan

02:42 Recap of Previous Episode and Mindset Shifts

03:28 Breaking Down the 90-Day Framework

05:31 September Focus: Guest Experience and Pre-Booking

09:59 October Focus: Retail and Upselling Strategies

12:48 November Focus: Booking Control and Holiday Boundaries

15:10 Setting Financial Goals for the Holiday Season

18:55 Marketing Ideas for Increased Sales

22:44 Client Appreciation and Gift Ideas

23:28 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser

Take Control of Your Money FREEBIE: https://heatherpod.kit.com/c9f316e834

00:00 Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:25 Mid-Year Reset: Reflecting and Planning Ahead

06:34 Three Big Mindset Shifts for Stylists

18:30 Mini Reset: Action Plan for August

THE MOST downloaded episode - TEN Ways to make 2025 a Success BEFORE it Begins

Any questions, please reach out to helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Number 2 most downloaded episode - Part 1 of the Guest Experience Series

Any questions, please reach out to helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Number 3 most downloaded episode - The Content Plan you can START TODAY

Any questions, please reach out to helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Number 4 most downloaded episode - Evolve or Expire with BECKY DuRussel

Any questions, please reach out to helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Number 5 most downloaded episode - THE FIVE STEPS TO HOLIDAY SUCCESS!

Any questions, please reach out to helloheatherpod@gmail.com

IG: @sheryldorais @thesassygardeners

Contact Heather: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:13 Meet Sheryl Dorais: A Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur

06:02 Sheryl's Journey in the Beauty Industry

08:42 Starting Your Own Makeup Line

11:01 The Importance of Customer Service in Sales

20:02 Embracing Social Media for Business

29:12 Being a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur

34:38 Advice to Younger Self

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:05 The Importance of Guest Experience

01:48 Word of Mouth as a Marketing Tool

03:17 Driving Organic Growth Through Experience

06:11 Encouraging Referrals Without Awkwardness

09:32 The Rebooking Ritual

11:53 Recap of the Guest Experience Series

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:14 Customer Experience Series: Talk Retail to Me

03:07 Reframing Retail: From Selling to Serving

05:04 Retail as Part of the Guest Experience

07:57 Overcoming Fears in Retail Conversations

12:00 Effective Strategies for Discussing Retail

20:58 Consistency in Retail: Building Trust and Loyalty

Episode 23 with Emily Bautista of Bonded HERE

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:04 The Importance of Client Experience

03:26 Setting Healthy Boundaries

09:06 Common Boundary Struggles

14:15 Elevating Client Experience with Boundaries

18:52 Conclusion and Next Steps

Contact Atilola: info@thegoodhairtribe.com

Follow on IG @thegoodhairtribe

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

02:49 Meet Atilola: Bridging Science and Beauty

05:47 The Journey to Becoming a Trichologist

08:00 Understanding Hair Loss: A Stylist's Perspective

13:56 Signs of Hair Loss and Scalp Health

15:52 The Good Hair Tribe Bootcamp Overview

18:37 The Head Coaching Boot Camp Overview

22:42 Empowering Hairstylists as Coaches

23:43 Effective Communication with Clients

27:33 Bridging the Gap in Hair Coaching

33:29 Advice to My Younger Self

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:26 The Importance of Customer Experience

01:36 Consistency: The Secret Sauce

03:02 Why Consistency Matters More Than Perfection

05:25 Identifying Areas for Consistency

09:37 The Link Between Consistency and Word of Mouth

12:27 Systems That Support Consistency

15:35 Closing Thoughts on Consistency

Episode on Pricing: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stop-guessing-your-way-to-profitability/id1767511345?i=1000676658640

It is Episode 7: Stop Guessing your way to Profitability

My Dream Client Exercise that is referenced: Grab it HERE

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:46 Guest Experience Series Overview

02:58 Aligning Guest Experience with Brand

10:21 Understanding Different Levels of Luxury

20:19 Creating a Seamless Checkout Experience

Contact Heather: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:58 Simplifying Social Media for Stylists

02:44 The Importance of Consistency in Posting

05:10 Content Types: Connection, Education, and Proof

11:22 Building Credibility Through Proof

14:15 Creating a Weekly Content Plan

18:20 Final Thoughts on Social Media Strategy

Becky's INFO:

Salon: The Style Shoppe, Frankenmuth, Michigan

IG: @styleshoppe

FB: The Style Shoppe

Email: rsdurussel@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

02:13 Meet Becky: A Journey of Evolution

05:03 Embracing Change: The Importance of Location

07:45 The Role of Education in Success

12:09 Planning for Continuous Learning

13:50 Motivating Teams for Growth

19:00 Addressing Overwhelm in the Beauty Industry

22:51 The Power of Three: Simplifying Tasks

26:25 Organizing Education and Trends in the Salon

30:34 Retail Strategies for Stylists

41:05 Advice for Young Stylists: Embracing Education and Positivity

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:48 Celebrating Milestones and Community Engagement

02:15 The Importance of Personal Branding

04:02 Overcoming Cringe: Embracing Reels

06:20 Myth Busting: Reels and Their Purpose

08:18 Creating Non-Cringe Reels: Practical Ideas

16:17 Mini Tutorials and Quick Tips for Engagement

18:04 Authenticity in Reels: Being Yourself

22:22 Final Tips and Encouragement for Reels

My Dream Client Exercise FREE

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Personal Branding in Beauty

03:24 Defining Your Identity as a Stylist

05:48 Curating Content for Your Brand

09:08 Showing Up as Your Brand

11:48 Recap and Final Thoughts on Personal Branding

https://www.heatherpod.com/product-page/social-media-class-10-7

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

00:56 The Importance of Social Media for Stylists

05:56 Statistics on Social Media Usage

09:32 Visibility Over Fame: Building Local Influence

14:17 Consistency is Key: The Long Game in Social Media

Contact Heather: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Hair Hustle Podcast

01:15 Understanding Salon Structures

03:04 Pros and Cons of Commission Salons

10:47 Exploring Independent Stylists

16:52 Finding Your Place in the Industry

Website: https://attractionssalon.net/

FB & IG: @attractionshairnailsalon

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hair Hustle Podcast

01:15 Cassidy's Journey to Salon Ownership

05:19 Transitioning from Technician to Owner

08:38 Leading a Team Without Technical Skills

08:43 Lessons from Running a Commission-Based Salon

13:02 Navigating the Pandemic as a New Owner

16:45 Advice for Aspiring Salon Owners

18:45 Future Plans for Attraction Salon

Summary

In this episode of the Hair Hustle Podcast, host Heather Podlesney interviews Cassidy Bouchard, the owner of Attraction Salon. Cassidy shares her unique journey of becoming a salon owner in January 2020, just before the pandemic hit. She discusses the challenges of leading a commission-based salon, the importance of patience and grace in leadership, and how she navigated the difficulties of the pandemic while learning the ropes of business ownership. Cassidy also offers valuable advice for aspiring salon owners, emphasizing the importance of support and community engagement.

(A teaser for your $99 local class in April)

🎙 Intro (1-2 min)

• Welcome to The Hair Hustle Podcast!
• Quick reminder: social media isn’t just about posting—it’s about building a business.
• Exciting announcement: I’m hosting a live, hands-on social media class in April for only $99—you’ll leave with a month of content planned and a strategy that works for your business. But today, I’m giving you three quick social media tips to get you started!

Tip #1: Post with Purpose (3-4 min)

• Every post should fall into one of three categories: Attract, Nurture, Convert.
• Attract: Posts that get new eyes on your page (trending sounds, collaborations, local hashtags).
• Nurture: Posts that build trust (education, behind-the-scenes, transformations).
• Convert: Posts that sell (appointment openings, service highlights, retail promos).
• Quick action step: Scroll your last 10 posts—how many were actually built to attract, nurture, or convert?
• In my April class, I’ll help you plan content that works instead of posting randomly.

Tip #2: Stop Overthinking & Start Repeating What Works (3-4 min)

• Your best-performing content holds the secret to your next viral post.
• Look at your top 5 posts from the last 3 months—what do they have in common?
• Was it a reel? A before & after? A funny trend?
• Strategy shift: Instead of reinventing the wheel, remake your top-performing post with a fresh twist.
• April class: We’ll go over analytics made simple and set up a system so you always know what to post.

Tip #3: Consistency Beats Perfection (3-4 min)

• Posting twice a week, every week, beats posting daily for a month and then ghosting.
• Find a realistic posting schedule and stick to it. Example:
• 2 reels per week (one hair transformation, one educational tip).
• 1 story per day (quick BTS, client shoutout, salon life).
• 1 conversion post per week (booking reminder, service highlight).
• April class: I’ll help you create a month of content in under 60 minutes—so no more stress about what to post!

🎙 Outro & Call to Action (1-2 min)

• Loved these tips? Imagine what we can do in 2 hours, together, in person!
• The $99 April class is perfect if you want a social media plan that works—no guessing, no stress.
• Spots are limited! DM me the word SOCIAL on Instagram to grab yours!

• IG: @beauty.by.bautista
• IG: @bonded_beauty_studio
• FB: Beauty By Bautista
• FB: Bonded Beauty Studio

Episode 23: Balancing Motherhood & Business: A Stylist’s Journey from Solo to Salon Owner

1: Emily’s Journey 

1. You’ve gone from independent stylist to suite owner to now a salon owner with employees—what inspired each transition, and how did motherhood play a role in those decisions?

Segment 2: Balancing Business & Motherhood 

2. With four kids and a growing business, what does balance actually look like for you day-to-day?

• Follow-up: What systems or routines have helped you manage both worlds?

3. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a mom and business owner, and how have you worked through them?

• Follow-up: Have you ever struggled with ‘mom guilt,’ and how do you handle it?

4. How do you set boundaries between work and family, especially now that you have employees depending on you?

• Follow-up: What advice would you give to stylists who feel like they have to ‘do it all’?

Segment 3: Advice & Industry Insight 

5. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to a stylist who wants to grow their career without sacrificing time with their family?

IG: @trilogymidland

FB: Trilogy Salon

Website: www.trilogymidland.com

Episode 22: From Solo Stylist to Salon Owner: Understanding Commission vs. Independent Careers with Cara Miller of Trilogy Salon

Segment 1: Your Journey (10-15 min)

1. What made you decide to transition from an independent stylist to a commission salon owner?

• Follow-up: What challenges did you face in making that leap?

Segment 2: Understanding the Career Paths (15-20 min)

2. Can you break down the key differences between a commission employee, a 1099 contractor, and an independent stylist?

• Follow-up: What are the biggest misconceptions stylists have about these roles?

3. What do you wish you had known earlier about taxes, benefits, and  overall financial planning in each of these roles?

• Follow-up: How did your financial responsibilities shift when you became a salon owner?

4. What type of stylist thrives in a commission salon, and who might be better suited for independent work?

• Follow-up: What factors should new stylists consider when choosing between these career paths?

Segment 3: Advice & Industry Insight (10-15 min)

5. What advice would you give to a stylist who is debating between commission and going solo?

• Follow-up: Are there any red flags stylists should look out for when considering job offers?

BONUS Question!! Listen in to hear what it is!

Keeping your cool in the age of keyboard courage

Total Duration:

Approximately 15 minutes

Detailed Conversational Outline with Time Stamps

Introduction

• Welcome & Episode Hook:
• Hey everyone, welcome back to The Hair Hustle Podcast!  I’m Heather Podlesney, and today we’re diving into a topic that’s key for every salon owner and stylist—setting boundaries while still delivering exceptional customer service. Ever felt like you’re constantly bending over backwards for your clients? Let’s talk about how to change that!

• Overview & Tease:
• In today’s episode, we’re going to explore why boundaries are essential, how they can actually improve your client relationships, and I’ll share some proven scripts you can use in real-life scenarios.

Episode 11 is also a great resource for this!

The Importance of Boundaries

• Why Boundaries Matter:
• Setting boundaries isn’t just about saying ‘no’—it’s about protecting your time and energy so that you can deliver the best service possible. When you establish clear expectations, you create an environment where both you and your clients know what to expect.
• What I see:
• I remember a time when a last-minute cancellation left me scrambling. If I’d had a clear policy in place, the stress would have been much lower.
• Key Statistic:
• Studies show that salons with well-defined boundaries see up to a 30% reduction in appointment conflicts and improved client satisfaction.

Common Boundary Challenges in Salons

• Identifying the Challenges:
• Let’s talk about some real challenges—late cancellations, no-shows, and even clients expecting discounts at the last minute. These issues can drain your energy and hurt your bottom line.
• Example Scenario:
• Imagine a client calling 15 minutes before their appointment to cancel, or to explain they are going to be late, but they walk in with a fresh Starbies.   How do you handle that without compromising your values or service?
• Reflection:
• These challenges aren’t personal; they’re just part of running a busy salon. The trick is to set fair policies and communicate them clearly.
• Strategies for Setting Clear BoundariesEstablishing Clear Policies:
• Start by creating clear policies and posting them both in your salon and online. For example, a reminder like 'Cancellations require 24-hour notice' can save you a lot of hassle.
• Communicating Boundaries Effectively:
• The way you communicate is key. You might say, 'We understand emergencies happen, but to ensure every client receives our best service, we ask for a 24-hour notice for cancellations.' This approach is firm yet empathetic.
• Actionable Tip:
• Write down your key policies and practice explaining them until it feels natural. Confidence in your communication goes a long way.  When writing this, think of your top guests!

 How Boundaries Enhance Customer Service

• Positive Impact of Boundaries:
• Here’s the surprising part—when you set boundaries, your customer service actually improves. When clients know what to expect, they feel more secure and respected. Keep a few things in mind, you don’t know what you don’t know and one person's time is not more valuable than yours.  
• Relationship Business Focus:
• Remember, we’re in a relationship business. It’s about building trust and a lasting connection with your clients. Unlike some of the negative trends we see on social media, where businesses might make guests feel guilty or shamed, our approach is about respect and support. Boundaries help both you and your client thrive without any of that negativity.
• Real-Life Example:
• For instance, a salon that clearly communicated its cancellation policy not only saw fewer no-shows but also had clients who appreciated the transparency—it set the stage for honest, positive interactions.
• Encouragement:
• Think of boundaries as a way to create a healthy, professional relationship. When clients understand and respect your policies, they’re more likely to value the service and the overall experience you provide.
• Practical Examples & ScriptsScript for Late Cancellations:
• For example, try saying: 'I understand that plans change, but we do require a 24-hour notice to secure your appointment. Let’s find a time that works for you.' Notice how this script is empathetic yet clear.
• Script for Handling Discount Requests:
• Another script could be: 'I appreciate your loyalty, and while I can’t offer a discount today because of our policy, I’d love to share some upcoming promotions that might interest you.
• Role-Playing Tip:
• Practice these scripts with your team. Role-playing can help ensure that everyone delivers the message consistently and confidently.

Interactive Q&A & Listener Scenarios

• Audience Engagement:
• I’d love to hear from you—what’s the most challenging boundary issue you’ve faced in your salon? Send me your stories on social media or email, and I might feature your scenario in a future episode.

Conclusion & Call-to-Action

• Recap Key Points:
• In summary, setting boundaries is not about being harsh—it's about fostering a respectful, transparent relationship with your clients. Clear policies and empathetic communication help everyone know what to expect, leading to better service and happier clients.

• Closing Remarks:
• Thanks for tuning in today. I hope you feel empowered to set boundaries that not only protect your time but also enhance your relationships with your clients. Until next time, take care and go make some great hair happen`

 00:00:05 ]Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast. I' m Heather

Podlesney, your salon coach dedicated to helping stylists master the business

side of beauty. Whether you' re starting your journey behind the chair or you'

re a seasoned pro looking to level up, this podcast is for you. Each week we'

ll dive into the tips and tricks you need to run a successful salon business

with topics that will change the way you work and earn. From budgeting hacks to

help you keep more of what you make, to time management tips that will keep

your schedule stress-free, and the strategies for boosting your retail sales

and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build your dream business without

burning out. Together we' ll cut through the noise and get to the root of what

makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let' s hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode six of the

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much for being here. I definitely have to

celebrate a little bit with you. So with just five episodes, I have had almost

150 downloads. And so if you are here, I really truly want to say thank you so

much. If you feel like these are helping you in your hair career, please feel

free to share with any salon owner, any stylist. I am so happy to help and I' m

so happy you' re here. Let' s dive right into it. Today we are going to go a

little bit longer because we are going to talk about the end of the year

follow-up and coming up with a tracking guide for yourself.

[ 00:01:38

] One of the biggest

things that I have learned in my sales career is when you get to the end of the

year, it' s simply looking at everything that you' ve done over the year and

reflecting. In the beginning of the next year, it' s simply about what worked

really well and what didn' t. And reflecting on those two things can really

help you to be a little bit better in your business for 2025. With that, we ve

got about 10 different things. I know that that' s a lot for me, but they' re

all very important and it' s all something that I want you guys to take away.

So take one of them. Take two of them. Take three of them. Take four of them.

Take five of them.

[ 00:02:26

] Take all 10, whatever

you have to do. I want you to make sure that you are at least 1% to 2% better

after this episode and that this is something that you can implement for 2025.

We are coming up into November, which is so crazy and I know how busy each and

every one of you get behind the chair. That is why I feel like it' s important

to talk about it right now. This way, you can take it and as soon as the hustle

and bustle and craziness of being behind the chair during the holiday season

starts to fizzle, this is something that I want you to be able to take. Okay?

And maybe you don' t have a super hustly and bustly holiday season in the books

and that' s okay too.

[ 00:03:15

] Maybe it' s something

that you wanted. Maybe it' s something that you didn' t. However, if it' s not

super busy and it' s something that you wanted to be super busy, these are all

things that you can take and you can reflect on for 20/25 or maybe you can even

take them and reflect on them in your last three months and start implementing

them today. So let' s dive right into it. We are going to go over your year-

end follow- up and your tracking. So the first thing that we' re going to do is

pretty obvious. We are going to review and analyze our sales data. Wah, wah. I

know no one likes to talk about that. Here' s three things that we' re going to

do.

[ 00:03:55

] We' re going to look at

our top selling products. So if you' re a salon owner or a commissioned salon

owner, you are literally going to look at what SKUs in retail sold the most. We

want to break it down by, did you sell the most hair care? Did you sell the

most skin care, hair care, shampoos and conditioners? If you don' t know, that'

s okay. That' s why we' re here. Styling products. So that' s like your hair

sprays. That is your styling aid, your smoothing products, things like that.

We' re going to break down what categories sold the most. Next up, we' re going

to go into our top 10 SKUs. The most important thing about your top 10 SKUs is

if you do not have at least five to six back, which means five to six in

inventory or on your shelf, that' s what needs to happen for ' 25.

[ 00:04:42

] If you don' t have the

retail budget for it, we' re going to try to figure out how to get the retail

budget for it. We typically say we need at least two to three SKUs of each

product on your shelf. Why? Because no one wants to take the last one. So if you'

re a salon owner, you' re So typically three is what' s recommended. This was

shared with me years ago, and it' s one to show, one to go, and one to grow. So

even if you can only afford one to show and one to go, that' s what we need. So

we do not want onesies. We want at least two to three products. And then of

your top selling SKUs, you need at least six to eight.

[ 00:05:19

] Does that mean that if

you only have three of your top sellers, that' s terrible? Terrible? No, but

that' s just a goal that you need to build up to for 2025 for your retail area.

Next part is to track what happened with each of your promotions. I have a

really great year-end promotional calendar that is a freebie. Please, you can

reach out to me. I will actually leave the link right here in the show notes.

Please go grab that, and that actually takes you right into January and

February. You can start a promotion today with that sheet. And the other thing

that we' re going to get started with that promotion, that promotional sheet,

is we are going to then, after all of our promotions are done, we' re going to

look at how did each promotion go.

[ 00:06:01

] So if you' ve been

doing your promotions since January, it' s now November or December, how did

your January and February promotion go? Did you have to pivot? Did you try pick

a kiss in February and it was a flop? Did you try scratch-offs in March and it

was like, yes, we are doing this again? Great. So we' re going to go through

and analyze all of that data and our promotions. Do you have to be completely

tech-savvy for all of this? Absolutely not. When it comes to tracking

promotions, I always suggest at the end of each promotion, simply run your

reports on how sales went from this year to year prior, especially if you' re

new to this, and you can take handwritten notes.

[ 00:06:46

] You can put them on

your laptop in one file, whatever it is that you need. It does not have to be.

It doesn' t have to be crazy, but those are all things that you' re going to

want to track. Also, on that promotional planner and you' re tracking that success,

it' s not just retail. You also need to be checking out your add-on services.

Did you do an add-on service in that time period and how did it go? Did you

maybe have too many things going on in that time frame that no one even focused

on the service promotion? Or was a specific service promotion a complete

success and then you look at the product line and realize, it was a super

success in March, but here we were in August and that line completely died down

in our sales.

[ 00:07:32

] Did we just stop

talking about it? Do we need to have two animations a year along with that

service? Do we need to have two animations a year with that service add-on? All

of those things, we need to sit down and we need to figure out so that we can

come up with a really great plan for 2025. The next step in your year-end

follow-up is going to be about your clients. We' re actually going to gather

our client and guest data and any insights that we need to know. There' s a

couple of things here. We do need to make sure that we' re running reports for

this one specifically. We' re going to look at all of our clients.

[ 00:08:07

] We want to look at our

top-selling guests because that' s also something we could do some type of a

campaign even now. If we looked at our top-selling guests and we did a

gratitude campaign for our top 10, top 20 guests, that' s always really fun.

They could get entered to win something. We want to make sure that they' re

getting a credit. It' s something that just makes people feel good. Is it going

to drive sales necessarily? It will drive a positive outlook around your

business and if you have the budget to do so it will drive sales in the future.

Is it going to have like that turnaround return? It' s not. So, if that

Something that you need, maybe that isn' t something]]>The Top TEN ways to kick off your 2025 was the MOST downloaded episode to date! Go give it a listen and what things did you stick to so far? What needs to change or stay the same! Tell me what has been working for you!

 00:00:05 ]Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast. I' m Heather

Podlesney, your salon coach dedicated to helping stylists master the business

side of beauty. Whether you' re starting your journey behind the chair or you'

re a seasoned pro looking to level up, this podcast is for you. Each week we'

ll dive into the tips and tricks you need to run a successful salon business

with topics that will change the way you work and earn. From budgeting hacks to

help you keep more of what you make, to time management tips that will keep

your schedule stress-free, and the strategies for boosting your retail sales

and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build your dream business without

burning out. Together we' ll cut through the noise and get to the root of what

makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let' s hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode six of the

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much for being here. I definitely have to

celebrate a little bit with you. So with just five episodes, I have had almost

150 downloads. And so if you are here, I really truly want to say thank you so

much. If you feel like these are helping you in your hair career, please feel

free to share with any salon owner, any stylist. I am so happy to help and I' m

so happy you' re here. Let' s dive right into it. Today we are going to go a

little bit longer because we are going to talk about the end of the year

follow-up and coming up with a tracking guide for yourself.

[ 00:01:38

] One of the biggest

things that I have learned in my sales career is when you get to the end of the

year, it' s simply looking at everything that you' ve done over the year and

reflecting. In the beginning of the next year, it' s simply about what worked

really well and what didn' t. And reflecting on those two things can really

help you to be a little bit better in your business for 2025. With that, we ve

got about 10 different things. I know that that' s a lot for me, but they' re

all very important and it' s all something that I want you guys to take away.

So take one of them. Take two of them. Take three of them. Take four of them.

Take five of them.

[ 00:02:26

] Take all 10, whatever

you have to do. I want you to make sure that you are at least 1% to 2% better

after this episode and that this is something that you can implement for 2025.

We are coming up into November, which is so crazy and I know how busy each and

every one of you get behind the chair. That is why I feel like it' s important

to talk about it right now. This way, you can take it and as soon as the hustle

and bustle and craziness of being behind the chair during the holiday season

starts to fizzle, this is something that I want you to be able to take. Okay?

And maybe you don' t have a super hustly and bustly holiday season in the books

and that' s okay too.

[ 00:03:15

] Maybe it' s something

that you wanted. Maybe it' s something that you didn' t. However, if it' s not

super busy and it' s something that you wanted to be super busy, these are all

things that you can take and you can reflect on for 20/25 or maybe you can even

take them and reflect on them in your last three months and start implementing

them today. So let' s dive right into it. We are going to go over your year-

end follow- up and your tracking. So the first thing that we' re going to do is

pretty obvious. We are going to review and analyze our sales data. Wah, wah. I

know no one likes to talk about that. Here' s three things that we' re going to

do.

[ 00:03:55

] We' re going to look at

our top selling products. So if you' re a salon owner or a commissioned salon

owner, you are literally going to look at what SKUs in retail sold the most. We

want to break it down by, did you sell the most hair care? Did you sell the

most skin care, hair care, shampoos and conditioners? If you don' t know, that'

s okay. That' s why we' re here. Styling products. So that' s like your hair

sprays. That is your styling aid, your smoothing products, things like that.

We' re going to break down what categories sold the most. Next up, we' re going

to go into our top 10 SKUs. The most important thing about your top 10 SKUs is

if you do not have at least five to six back, which means five to six in

inventory or on your shelf, that' s what needs to happen for ' 25.

[ 00:04:42

] If you don' t have the

retail budget for it, we' re going to try to figure out how to get the retail

budget for it. We typically say we need at least two to three SKUs of each

product on your shelf. Why? Because no one wants to take the last one. So if you'

re a salon owner, you' re So typically three is what' s recommended. This was

shared with me years ago, and it' s one to show, one to go, and one to grow. So

even if you can only afford one to show and one to go, that' s what we need. So

we do not want onesies. We want at least two to three products. And then of

your top selling SKUs, you need at least six to eight.

[ 00:05:19

] Does that mean that if

you only have three of your top sellers, that' s terrible? Terrible? No, but

that' s just a goal that you need to build up to for 2025 for your retail area.

Next part is to track what happened with each of your promotions. I have a

really great year-end promotional calendar that is a freebie. Please, you can

reach out to me. I will actually leave the link right here in the show notes.

Please go grab that, and that actually takes you right into January and

February. You can start a promotion today with that sheet. And the other thing

that we' re going to get started with that promotion, that promotional sheet,

is we are going to then, after all of our promotions are done, we' re going to

look at how did each promotion go.

[ 00:06:01

] So if you' ve been

doing your promotions since January, it' s now November or December, how did

your January and February promotion go? Did you have to pivot? Did you try pick

a kiss in February and it was a flop? Did you try scratch-offs in March and it

was like, yes, we are doing this again? Great. So we' re going to go through

and analyze all of that data and our promotions. Do you have to be completely

tech-savvy for all of this? Absolutely not. When it comes to tracking

promotions, I always suggest at the end of each promotion, simply run your

reports on how sales went from this year to year prior, especially if you' re

new to this, and you can take handwritten notes.

[ 00:06:46

] You can put them on

your laptop in one file, whatever it is that you need. It does not have to be.

It doesn' t have to be crazy, but those are all things that you' re going to

want to track. Also, on that promotional planner and you' re tracking that success,

it' s not just retail. You also need to be checking out your add-on services.

Did you do an add-on service in that time period and how did it go? Did you

maybe have too many things going on in that time frame that no one even focused

on the service promotion? Or was a specific service promotion a complete

success and then you look at the product line and realize, it was a super

success in March, but here we were in August and that line completely died down

in our sales.

[ 00:07:32

] Did we just stop

talking about it? Do we need to have two animations a year along with that

service? Do we need to have two animations a year with that service add-on? All

of those things, we need to sit down and we need to figure out so that we can

come up with a really great plan for 2025. The next step in your year-end

follow-up is going to be about your clients. We' re actually going to gather

our client and guest data and any insights that we need to know. There' s a

couple of things here. We do need to make sure that we' re running reports for

this one specifically. We' re going to look at all of our clients.

[ 00:08:07

] We want to look at our

top-selling guests because that' s also something we could do some type of a

campaign even now. If we looked at our top-selling guests and we did a

gratitude campaign for our top 10, top 20 guests, that' s always really fun.

They could get entered to win something. We want to make sure that they' re

getting a credit. It' s something that just makes people feel good. Is it going

to drive sales necessarily? It will drive a positive outlook around your

business and if you have the budget to do so it will drive sales in the future.

Is it going to have like that turnaround return? It' s not. So, if that

Something that you need, maybe that isn' t something that you do.

[ 00:08:45

] But that' s always a

really great one. So if you can find a dryer or a curling iron or something

that' s been sitting in that back room or a thing of products that' s been

sitting in that back room or a thing of products that' s been sitting in that

back room, you can put together in a basket and simply do a gratitude campaign

for your top 10 people they' re your VIPs. That' s always a great one, okay?

That' s how we' re gonna identify those repeat buyers and that' s how we' re

also going to come up with a promotion that you can start right now. Now that

you Ve gone through and gathered all of your guest data, client data, and you'

re checking things out a couple things, two things that are really important.

[ 00:09:17

] Number one is your

average service ticket; this is is key when it comes to wanting to help your

stylist or if you' re an independent stylist make more money and it also helps

you to understand your business more. What is the average service ticket? That

means is how much on average the guest is spending, simply look at your service

sales so we' re going to add up all of our service sales and we' Re going to

divide that by the number of guests that we have, you can simply set a goal to

raise your average service ticket and that will help to make your salon more

popular, profitable, so we can dive deeper into average service ticket but

that' s a number that we want to know, so then this way we know what we need to

do um how we know exactly how much our guest is spending and then what we would

need to do for 2025.

[ 00:10:05

] The other thing that I

want to keep you guys in the loop on is the average order value, which is

called AOV in the retail world, and what that simply means is how much on

average is your guest spending on retail; but something that people don' t

understand is that the average service ticket is the average order value of the

client um I think that' s what AOV is it. Actually, the average purchase value

and then if you' re thinking about the average order value that people don' t

typically track is actually your average order value, so your aov you want to

be able to look at what people are purchasing in your retail area and what the

average order value is for that.

[ 00:10:32

] It' s not just to know

how much people are spending but it' s also how you can plan your promotions

for the next year. So, for example, if you' re looking at your average order

value in retail and it' s $59, and maybe you did a promotion back in June that

was over $60, then you get something for free. Maybe that didn' t go well. If

you would have looked at your average order value at $59, you would see that

$75 may have been a better incentive because it was just a little bit closer

and it was like one product away or one item away from getting them to that

$75.

[ 00:11:15

] So you would have

increased your average order value throughout the year, but also the promotion

may have landed a little bit better and it would have sweetened the deal a

little bit more. Those are all things to look at. We' re going to look at our

clients. We are going to see who is buying, how much they are buying in

services, and we' re also going to see how much they are spending in our retail

area. Next one is we' re going to look at and evaluate our marketing channels.

This one is huge and you can go very deep into your marketing channels. We are

going to talk about two and it' s social media and email marketing. If you are

not doing any of these, it' s okay.

[ 00:11:59

] We are an open space

here. You can start wherever you are. However, if you' re not doing anything,

your goal in this category of your marketing channels is simply going to be to

start and maybe you do need to hire someone. So if you have it in your budget,

you' re going to be able to do that. If you' Re not doing anything, you could

look into hiring someone to simply have a social media presence. You don' t

necessarily have to hire an entire marketing company at $1,500 or $2,000 a

month, but possibly looking at something that is within your budget that starts

to get you a presence and just kicks you off from where you are could be what

you need.

[ 00:12:40

] And maybe that' s even

paying a team member that you have to start getting going on your social media.

Now, if you are posting on your social media, we' re going to go through all of

our insights and we are going to go through our profile and we' re going to

look up what posts and or and or reels had the most engagement. So we need to

look up to see what did have the best engagement. So what are people liking to

see? Did you, did you possibly do a campaign and people absolutely loved it?

Did your guests love it? Did you get new guests? Was there, and this is also

when we' re kind of going to start looking at, okay, so when we' re evaluating

how many, new guests we had, maybe we had a spike in June, but maybe we also

did a social media new guest campaign.

[ 00:13:25

] So we need to make sure

what worked and why. Those are all the things that we' re going to look at when

we search in our marketing channels. The other thing is email marketing. I know

some of you are like, Heather, I do not want to do email marketing. I am going

to urge you to simply even something as simple as a weekly or monthly

newsletter. It does not have to be anything crazy, but if you are at zero and

you do not have an email list, let' s start with a weekly or a monthly

newsletter. Something that is super simple, super easy. At the end of the day,

social media is rented land on your business, okay? It can, anything can

happen. They can take things down, all of that kind of stuff.

[ 00:14:08

] At the end of the day,

you are your own voice and it is owned land. When you have your own email list,

you own all of those emails. You have the permission to use them so we are

going to use them and we are going to speak directly to them. I know that you'

re like, does anyone even open emails? Guess what: you can sign up with an

email service provider for free and you can go check that click rate if that is

if that' s what you' Re- thinking because that' s literally one of the biggest

pushbacks I get, and I think to myself I did used to think that way then I had

an email list, and then I realized how many people are clicking, and how many

people I get to talk to specifically for that.

[ 00:14:47

] I am going to challenge

you for this year coming up if you do not have an email list to simply start

with a monthly or weekly newsletter that simply shares your promotion with your

guests; Number four: we are going to measure our guest' s retention and their

loyalty. We want to know how many times our guests have been coming in, on

average, so are they at four weeks, are they at six weeks, are they at seven

weeks? This is all a standard measure, so then this way we can compare it two

years past. So for example, if you had your guests coming in in 20' 23, they

were coming in on average every four and a half weeks, and then we look at '

24, we see that on average our guests are coming in every six weeks; those are

really key points in your service sales, and they could definitely take a hit.

[ 00:15:41

] So we need to make sure

We look at our demographics as well when it comes to measuring our client

retention, because why do we have younger guests now? Maybe younger stylists

that are servicing younger guests that are doing more lived- in looks. Because

then maybe we need to think about how we run our promotions as well or are our

regular guests extending out their appointment? That' s something else that we

have to look into, so those are two things that we have to look at when we' re

looking at repeat visits up until next time. We are looking at the list for

referrals okay let. S move into the regional vin category of guest retention

and loyalty, we need to actually look at our referral and our loyalty program;

how long has it been since you revamped that referral program?

[ 00:16:24

] Because I am going to

tell you all of the accounts that I' ve been in they' ve been running the same

referral program since lord knows when. And I think can I never find anyone who

did a referral when I' m holding my own way of doing referrals. So maybe it' s

more digital. Maybe we' re going to literally text our guests that are sitting

in our seats and say, ' Can you please send this to five friends? Because I

absolutely love having you as a guest.' Or are we going to give them cards?

What does all of that look like? And we need to figure all of those things out.

Also, your loyalty program: How much are you spending on your loyalty program?

Make sure you' re going over the budgets.

[ 00:17:11

] That definitely needs

to be done monthly and...]]>cac477b5-e3fb-4e4d-8bec-440176a83f0cTue, 18 Feb 2025 20:00:00 -040035:54falsefull120201Episode 19: The Retail Myths that are Holding You BackEpisode 19: Retail Myths That Are Holding You Back

FREE Retail MythBusters Guide: https://heatherpod.kit.com/ccd670337e

Contact Heather: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Link to Retail Promo Playbook: https://www.heatherpod.com/product-page/retail-promo-playbook

Welcome:

Today we’re diving into some of the biggest myths about retail that might be stopping you from reaching your full salon potential. If you’ve ever thought, ‘Retail is too distracting’ or ‘I have to be pushy to sell products,’ stick around, because we’re about to bust these myths wide open. And later, I’m giving away our free 'Retail Myth Buster Guide'—so don’t go anywhere!

• Overview:
• In this episode, we’re going to tackle five common myths that many salon owners face:

1. Retail is a distraction from your core services.
2. The only way to sell retail is by discounting heavily.
3. Your clients don’t care about retail.
4. You have to be pushy to sell retail.
5. You don’t have the right team to sell retail.

• By the end, you'll have some actionable strategies to overcome these obstacles and boost your sales!

Myth #1: "Retail is a Distraction from Your Core Services"

• Discussing the Myth:
• Let’s start with Myth Number One: 'Retail is a distraction from your core services.' I know many of you worry that focusing on product sales will take away from the time and energy you put into your services. But what if I told you that integrating retail can actually enhance your service experience?
• Debunking the Myth:
• Imagine this: every time you finish a service, you recommend a product that complements the treatment. Studies have shown that salons that do this see up to a 20% increase in overall revenue. Retail isn’t a distraction—it’s a powerful extension of your service offering.
• Key Takeaway:
• So, the next time you think that retail might steal your focus, remember: it can actually help your core services shine even brighter!

Myth #2: "The Only Way to Sell Retail is by Discounting Heavily"

• Discussing the Myth:
• Now, onto Myth Number Two: 'The only way to sell retail is by discounting heavily.' I know it’s tempting to just slash prices, but heavy discounting can hurt your margins and even devalue your brand over time.
• Debunking the Myth:
• Instead, consider alternative strategies. For example, bundling products or offering loyalty rewards can create a premium experience without cutting into your profits. Instead of offering a 30% discount, you might package products together to provide a better value. This approach maintains the product’s premium image and keeps your profit margins healthy.
• Key Takeaway:
• Remember, it’s not about how low you can go, but about how smartly you can present value to your clients.

Myth #3: "My Clients Don't Care About Retail"

• Discussing the Myth:
• Let’s move on to Myth Number Three: 'My clients don’t care about retail.' I hear this all the time—'I don’t think my clients are interested in buying products.' But, in reality, over 60% of clients are excited about personalized product recommendations when you explain the benefits.
• Debunking the Myth:
• Think about it: when you provide a solution that helps them maintain or enhance the results of their service at home, they’re more likely to invest in that product. It’s all about education and trust. You’re not just selling a product; you’re offering a way for your clients to keep that salon-fresh feeling going at home.
• Key Takeaway:
• Your clients do care—especially when you show them how a product can make a real difference in their lives.

Myth #4: "I Have to Be Pushy to Sell Retail"

• Discussing the Myth:
• Next up, Myth Number Four: 'I have to be pushy to sell retail.' I know many of you worry that if you suggest a product, you might come off as too aggressive. But here's the secret: selling retail is really about offering solutions, not about hard selling.
• Debunking the Myth:
• Imagine you’re in a consultation with a client and you say, 'I’ve noticed your hair could use some extra hydration—this product might be just what you need.' That’s not pushy; that’s caring and professional advice. It’s about helping your client achieve their best look and feel.
• Key Takeaway:
• With the right approach and some practice using gentle, informative language, you can make product recommendations that feel natural and helpful.

Myth #5: "I Don’t Have the Right Team to Sell Retail"

• Discussing the Myth:
• Finally, Myth Number Five: 'I don’t have the right team to sell retail.' It’s common to feel that your team might not be ready or capable of handling retail sales. But here’s the good news: with a little training and some regular team huddles, anyone can become a retail ambassador.
• Debunking the Myth:
• Even a short weekly training session can boost your team’s confidence and product knowledge dramatically. When your team feels informed and enthusiastic, your retail sales naturally improve, and so does the overall client experience.
• Key Takeaway:
• It’s not about having the 'perfect' team from day one—it’s about investing in your team and watching them grow into confident, capable sellers.

Overcoming the Myths: Actionable Strategies

• Recap and Action Steps:
• So, how do we overcome these myths? Here are some actionable strategies you can start using today:
• For Myth #1: Integrate product recommendations into every service consultation.
• For Myth #2: Experiment with bundling and loyalty programs instead of just cutting prices.
• For Myth #3: Educate your clients about the benefits of each product so they feel confident in their purchase.
• For Myth #4: Use conversation starters that focus on problem-solving rather than pushing for a sale.
• For Myth #5: Hold regular, short training sessions to empower your team.
• These steps are simple but incredibly effective in boosting your retail success.

The Freebie:

And remember, I’ve put together a comprehensive 'Retail Myth Buster Guide' that breaks down all these strategies even further—with templates, scripts, and more. I’ll share the download link in the show notes, so make sure you grab it!

Audience Interaction & Q&A

• Engagement with Listeners:
• Before we wrap up, I’d love to hear from you. Which myth did you find most surprising? Have you encountered any of these challenges in your salon? Shoot me your questions or share your experiences on social media, and I might feature some of your stories in our next episode!

Conclusion & Call to Action

• Summary & Final Thoughts:
• To sum it up, don’t let these common retail myths hold you back. Retail can truly complement your services and drive revenue when approached correctly. Embrace these strategies, and you’ll see a positive change in your salon’s bottom line.
• Call to Action:
• Be sure to download the 'Retail Myth Buster Guide' right now—just click the link in the show notes. And if you’re ready to dive even deeper into creating a robust retail strategy, check out our Retail Promo Playbook. Thanks so much for joining me today. I can’t wait to hear about your successes. Until next time, keep busting those myths and thriving in your business!

Introduction

• Welcome listeners to the episode.
• Quick overview of why salon retail is often overlooked and how a systemized approach can increase revenue.

The Mindset Shift: Retail as a Service, Not a Sell

• Why many stylists avoid selling retail.
• Changing the perspective: retail is a continuation of service, not an upsell.
• Example: A stylist wouldn't send a client home with wet hair; why send them home without the right products?

The 3-Step Retail System

1. Selection & Curation – Picking the right brands that align with your salon’s identity.

• Should you carry one brand or multiple?
• Importance of knowing your product ingredients and benefits.
• Online Presence 

1. Promotions, Pricing & Placement – Display matters!

• How pricing affects sales psychology.
• Strategic product placement for easy sales 

Sales Psychology: 1. Charm Pricing and Perceived Value

• Charm Pricing Effect:
• Many studies have shown that prices ending in “.99” (e.g., $9.99 instead of $10.00) can make a product appear significantly less expensive. Research indicates that charm pricing can increase sales by anywhere from 15% to 30% in some retail environments.
• Statistic: A study by Schindler and Kibarian found that charm pricing can lead to a 24% boost in sales compared to rounded prices.
• Psychology Behind It: Consumers tend to focus on the left-most digit, so $9.99 is processed as “under $10” rather than “almost $10,” subtly influencing the perceived value.

2. Anchoring and Comparison

• Anchoring Effect:
• The first price a customer sees (the “anchor”) sets a reference point for all subsequent judgments. If you display a “regular” price next to a discounted price, consumers compare the two.
• Statistic: Studies in behavioral economics suggest that when a product’s price is anchored by a higher “list price,” customers are up to 40% more likely to perceive the sale price as a good deal.
• Psychology Behind It: The anchoring effect causes consumers to rely heavily on the first piece of information (the high anchor), making the discounted price seem like a bargain—even if the discount is relatively small.

3. The Impact of Discounts and Perceived Savings

• Discount Perception:
• Offering discounts can significantly boost purchase behavior, but the percentage matters.
• Statistic: Research has shown that a discount of 10% to 20% can increase conversion rates by as much as 30%, as customers feel they are getting a favorable deal.
• Psychology Behind It: Discounts create a sense of urgency and trigger a fear of missing out (FOMO). Consumers often associate a discount with saving money, which can accelerate the decision-making process.

4. Price-Quality Guideline

• Quality Perception:
• In many cases, consumers equate price with quality—a phenomenon known as the price-quality heuristic.
• Statistic: According to various market research surveys, about 60% to 70% of consumers believe that higher-priced items are of better quality.
• Psychology Behind It: While lower prices can be appealing, if a product is priced too low, it might signal inferior quality. Conversely, a higher price can justify a premium product image, leading customers to trust in its quality and effectiveness.

1.   Incorporating Retail Into the Consultation

• How to naturally introduce retail in conversations without sounding pushy.
• Example scripts and key phrases stylists can use.

The Follow-Through: Tracking & Goal Setting

• How to track retail sales without overcomplicating it.
• Setting realistic sales goals based on service revenue.
• Incentives for stylists: Should you offer commissions or bonuses?

Action Steps

• Recap the Salon Retail System and encourage listeners to implement it.
• Guide through how to use 
• ✅ Choose 3-5 core retail items to focus on.
• ✅ Update product displays for better visibility.
• ✅ Practice product conversations during consultations.

Closing & CTA

• Tease the next episode: "Retail Myths That Are Holding You Back."
• Watch out the the Promo Playbook coming this week!!

GRAB THE Promo PLAYBOOK HERE and set yourself FREE for 2025

https://www.heatherpod.com/product-page/retail-promo-playbook

Personal Expense Tracker: https://heatherpod.kit.com/8650607451 

Independent Stylist Expense Tracker: https://heatherpod.kit.com/705f2f912f

Independent Stylist Budget Guide: https://heatherpod.kit.com/c9f316e834

Questions/Concerns OR Would you like to know the advanced tracker I use? Contact me via email at helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Introduction

• Acknowledging the January budgeting series and how the bonus episode is for anyone looking to manage their personal finances.
• Whether you’re a busy parent, a side hustler, or just looking to make sense of your money, today’s episode will give you practical steps to take control of your finances without feeling overwhelmed.

Segment 1: Why Personal Budgeting Matters

• The importance of a personal budget:
• Helps you reduce financial stress.
• Builds confidence in managing money.
• Allows you to align spending with your values and goals.
• Addressing common fears: "Budgeting doesn’t mean you can’t have fun—it’s about making your money work for you."
• Quick example: A budget is like a GPS for your finances—it guides you to where you want to go.

Segment 2: The Basics of Personal Budgeting

• Step 1: Understand Your Income
• Identify all sources of income: salary, side hustles, investments.
• Know your monthly take-home pay
• Step 2: List Your Expenses
• Fixed expenses (rent/mortgage, insurance, subscriptions).
• Variable expenses (groceries, gas, entertainment).
• Irregular expenses (birthdays, car repairs).
• FREE budgeting BASIC tracker has Monthly and Variable
• Step 3: Categorize Your Spending
• Essentials (needs): housing, utilities, food.
• Wants: dining out, hobbies, travel.
• Savings/Debt repayment.

Segment 3: Building Your Personal Budget

• Use the 50/30/20 Rule as a starting point:
• 50% for needs
• 30% for wants
• 20% for savings or paying off debt
• Customize it to fit your situation. Example: "If you’re paying off debt, increase the savings category and reduce spending on wants temporarily."
• Tools to create a budget:
• Pen and paper.
• Apps: Every Dollar
• Google Sheets (link to a simple personal budget template as a freebie).

Segment 4: Staying on Track Without Burnout

• Weekly check-ins: Spend 10 minutes reviewing transaction
• Automate savings and bill payments: Treat savings like a non-negotiable bill.
• Plan for fun: Budgeting isn’t about deprivation. Set aside money for the things you enjoy.
• Address budget fails:
• "Unexpected expense? Adjust your plan for the rest of the month."
• "Overspent? Learn from it and move forward without guilt."

Segment 5: Setting Personal Financial Goals

• Why goals make budgeting meaningful: When you have a purpose, it’s easier to stick to the plan.
• Examples of personal goals:
• Build a $5,000 emergency fund or 3-6 month emergency fund
• Save for a family vacation.
• Pay off credit card debt.
• Break big goals into smaller milestones: If you want to save $1,200 for the year, that’s $100 a month.

Conclusion

• Recap actionable steps:

1. Understand your income.
2. List and categorize your expenses.
3. Build your budget using a rule like 50/30/20.
4. Stay on track with weekly check-ins and automation.
5. Align your budget with your personal goals.

• Encouragement: Budgeting isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Start small, stay consistent, and watch your finances transform.
• Freebie reminder: Download the personal expense template linked in the show notes to get started today.
• Did you love this episode? Let me know!!!  

Budgeting for Big Dreams, Not Big Stress

Introduction

• [Music fades in]
• Recap the journey through the January budgeting series: steps to take control, tools for tracking, and now, how to save for your biggest dreams.
• Teaser: Whether it’s launching your dream salon suite, upgrading your tools, or taking that once-in-a-lifetime trip, today we’re diving deep into how to turn big financial goals into reality—without the stress.

Segment 1: Dream Big with a Plan

• The importance of dreaming big: Your dreams fuel your motivation. They’re what make budgeting exciting instead of just another chore.
• Define your dream:
• Is it business-focused? (e.g., expanding services, buying equipment)
• Is it personal? (e.g., a family vacation, building a safety net)
• How much will it cost?
• Action Step: Break your dream into a tangible financial goal.
• Example: A $5,000 salon renovation might feel overwhelming, but over a year, it’s $417 a month.

Segment 2: Reverse-Engineer Your Savings Goal

• Set a timeline:
• How soon do you want to achieve your goal?
• Consider realistic milestones.
• Calculate your monthly savings target:
• Divide the total cost by the number of months in your timeline.
• Include this amount as a non-negotiable in your budget.
• Example: Example: A $5,000 salon renovation might feel overwhelming, but over a year, it’s $417 a month.

PERSONAL Example - Saving for a $3,000 vacation over 18 months? That’s just $167 per month.

Segment 3: Cut Costs & add Income Without Sacrificing Joy

• Identify areas to trim:
• Fixed expenses: renegotiate contracts or cut unused subscriptions.
• Variable expenses: make small sacrifices, like fewer takeout meals.
• Be mindful of cost cutting efforts - weigh your time to cost ratio
• Creative cost-saving ideas:
• DIY projects: Instead of buying decor for your salon, make it a fun craft day.
• Reminder on loyalty/rewards programs.
• Add in income streams like treatment days BTC. 
• Do not discount your service but try talking about a new experience or a Treat Yo-self campaign in the salon.  Do you have treatments laying around? Or add on service options?
• Action Step: Redirect savings into a dedicated fund.
• Open a separate account or use an envelope system with a fireproof safe

Segment 4: Make Your Money Work for YouAutomate your savings:

• Set up recurring transfers to your goal account.
• Look for additional income streams:
• Take extra clients, sell unused equipment, or monetize a skill.
• Invest wisely:
• If your timeline is over a year, consider a high-yield savings account to grow your money faster. (please speak to your trusted advisor on this!!)
• 
  
• 
  

Segment 5: Stay Inspired and Accountable

• Visualize your progress:
• Use a dream board or savings tracker.
• Celebrate small wins along the way.
• Share your goal:
• Tell a trusted friend or accountability partner or find a stylist that has similar goals and set a day/time to text each other your weekly goals.
• Stay flexible:
• Life happens. If you need to adjust your timeline, that’s okay—just don’t give up.

Conclusion

• Recap actionable steps:

1. Define your dream.
2. Break it into a savings goal.
3. Trim costs, add income and redirect savings.
4. Automate your savings.
5. Stay inspired and accountable.

• Actionable takeaway: Dream big, start small, and stay consistent. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you can turn your vision into reality.
• Reminder to download the budgeting series freebies!!

1. Expense Tracker for Independent Stylists https://heatherpod.kit.com/705f2f912f 
2. Budget Guidelines https://heatherpod.kit.com/c9f316e834 
3. Personal Expense Tracker https://heatherpod.kit.com/8650607451February we will get into everything from gaining more clients - boundaries - increasing income and setting goals! PLUS keep your eyes open for Thursdays BONUS episode on personal budgeting basics!

• [Music fades out]

Budget Guide: https://heatherpod.kit.com/c9f316e834

Expense Tracker: https://heatherpod.kit.com/705f2f912f

Episode 15 Podcast Outline: My Monthly Budget Routine

Introduction

• Brief recap of the January budgeting series so far and a reminder about the free resources available (budgeting checklist and expense tracker).
• Teaser: Today, I’m walking you through my exact monthly budget routine. This is the system I use to stay on track, reduce stress, and make progress toward my financial goals. Ready to take control of your month? Let’s dive in!

Segment 1: Setting the Stage

• Importance of having a consistent monthly budgeting routine:
• Keeps you proactive instead of reactive.
• Builds financial confidence.
• Helps you stay aligned with your goals.
• Ideal timing: I do my budget routine on the first of the month or the last day of the previous month and do tracking 1x per week.  Personal is 1-2x per week. Find a time that works best for you.
• Tools needed: digital tracker (e.g., Google Sheets), a notebook, or an app.

Segment 2: Step 1 - Review the Previous Month(s)

• Start by assessing the prior month’s income and expenses:
• Compare actual spending to your budgeted amounts.
• Identify areas where you overspent or underspent.
• Reflect on any unexpected expenses and how they impacted your budget.
• Example: Last month, I spent $50 more on supplies than planned, but I also saved $75 on marketing costs.
• Pro tip: Use color-coding in your tracker to highlight trends.

Segment 3: Step 2 - Plan for the New Month

• Set your income expectations:
• Account for services, retail, and tips.
• Consider any planned promotions or special events that might affect revenue.
• Do not forget to count for no shows or appointments moving.
• List all expected expenses:
• Fixed: rent
• Variable: supplies, education, marketing,
• Irregular: annual fees (amazon, insurance) , one-time purchases.
• Include a buffer for unexpected costs (5-10% of your monthly expenses).

Segment 4: Step 3 - Set Your Monthly Goals

• Tie your financial goals to your budget:
• Example: Save $200 for new tools or pay off a $500 debt.
• Use the SMART framework:
• Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound.
• Pro tip: Break larger goals into monthly chunks to stay motivated.

Segment 5: Step 4 - Track Weekly Progress

• Importance of checking in weekly:
• Prevents overspending.
• Helps you course-correct mid-month.
• Quick tasks for weekly reviews:
• Log all income and expenses onto a sheet 
• Update your tracker or app.
• Adjust your budget if necessary.
• Example: If you earn $200 extra in tips, decide how to allocate it immediately—savings, debt, or a fun purchase. - I save all my tips for something for myself.

Segment 6: Step 5 - Celebrate and Reflect

• Celebrate small wins: Did you stick to your budget? Save more than expected? Pay off debt? Acknowledge your progress.
• Reflect on challenges:
• What worked well?
• What could you improve next month?
• Reminder: Budgeting is a journey, not a sprint. Give yourself grace while staying consistent.

Conclusion

• Recap the steps of the monthly budget routine:
• Review the previous month.
• Plan for the new month.
• Set your monthly goals.
• Track weekly progress.
• Celebrate and reflect.
• Actionable takeaway: Block out time for your own budget routine this month and commit to doing it every month moving forward.
• Reminder about the free resources available:
• Budgeting checklist and expense tracker (link in the show notes).
• Teaser for next week’s bonus episode: We’ll be diving into personal budgeting tips for independent stylists. Don’t miss it!

Podcast Episode Outline: 3 Tools to Simplify Expense Tracking

Introduction

• [Music fades in]
• Quick recap of Episode 1 and reminder to download the budgeting checklist.
• In today’s episode, we’re simplifying expense tracking with three amazing tools that will save you time and headaches. Plus, I’ve got a free Google Sheets expense tracker for you at the end of the episode!

Segment 1: Why Expense Tracking Matters

• Explanation of why tracking expenses is essential for business success:
• Keeps finances organized.
• Helps identify spending patterns.
• Prevents overspending and ensures profitability.
• Story about how expense tracking helps

Segment 2: Tool #1 - Digital Expense Tracking Apps

• Introduction to apps like QuickBooks, Wave, and Expensify.
• Features: automated tracking, receipt uploads, tax preparation.
• Benefits: Saves time and reduces manual errors.
• Example use case: "Imagine uploading your supply receipts and having the app categorize them for you in seconds."
• Tips for choosing the right app:
• Look for user-friendly interfaces.
• Check for features like bank account syncing.
• Consider cost-effectiveness (free vs. paid versions).

Segment 3: Tool #2 - Spreadsheets (Google Sheets)

• Advantages of using spreadsheets:
• Customizable to fit your needs.
• Free and accessible.
• Easily shared with accountants or business partners.
• Walkthrough of the free Google Sheets tracker:
• Date, Amount, Categories (Rent, Product, Education, Taxes, Insurance, Subscriptions/Fee, Time Off/Vacation), Fixed (pink with red letters) or Variable (red with pink letters) Expenses, and over or under budget
• How to input expenses
• You’ll find the link to download this customizable sheet in the show notes.

Segment 4: Tool #3 - Receipt Management 

• Importance of organizing receipts:
• Helps with tax deductions.
• Avoids scrambling during tax season.
• Digital tools for receipt storage:
• CamScanner for scanning paper receipts.
• Dropbox or Google Drive for digital storage.
• Apps like Hubdoc for integration with expense trackers.
• Tips for creating a receipt filing routine:
• Weekly or monthly organization sessions.

Conclusion

• Recap of the three tools: digital apps, Google Sheets, and receipt management systems.
• Actionable advice: "Pick one tool to start with and commit to using it consistently for the next month."
• Reminder to download the free Google Sheets tracker from the show notes.
• Teaser for next week’s episode: "My Monthly Budgeting Routine."
• [Music fades out]

Freebie: HP Consulting Expense Tracker

https://heatherpod.kit.com/705f2f912f

If you missed last weeks free budgeting guide!  Grab it here! 

The Budgeting Guide: https://heatherpod.kit.com/c9f316e834

Introduction

Host Intro:

I’m thrilled to kick off our January budgeting series. This month, we’re diving into all things money management for stylists and salon owners. Today’s episode is all about the five steps to take control of your budget. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed or just looking for a reset, this episode will give you actionable steps to get started. So grab a notebook or just sit back and listen—I’ve got you covered. Let’s dive in!

Step 1: Separate Personal and Business Finances

This first step is critical: separating your personal and business finances. If you’re still mixing these together, it’s time to stop. Open a business bank account if you don’t already have one, and make sure you’re using separate credit cards for personal and business expenses. Why is this so important? Because when everything is mixed, it’s almost impossible to know how your business is really performing. Plus, come tax season, you’ll save yourself a ton of stress by having everything organized.

This doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small. Transfer a set amount from your business account to your personal account each month as your salary. This keeps things clean and helps you budget personally as well.

Step 2: Understand Your Starting Point

The next step to taking control of your budget is understanding where you’re starting from. Before you can set goals or make changes, you need to have a clear picture of your current financial situation. This means gathering all your financial data. Take a look at your income sources—service revenue, retail sales, tips, maybe even side gigs like teaching classes or consulting. Write these down so you know exactly how much money is coming in each month.

Next, list out all your expenses. Start with the big ones like rent or booth fees, supplies, and insurance. Don’t forget smaller costs like subscriptions for software or marketing expenses. Be honest with yourself. The goal here is to know exactly what you’re working with, so don’t leave anything out.

Finally, break these expenses into two categories: recurring and one-time. This will help you see patterns and prepare for big-ticket items that don’t come up every month. Once you have this information, you’ll have a much clearer idea of where your money is going.

Step 3: Prioritize Essential Expenses

Step three is all about prioritizing your expenses. Take a hard look at your list from step one and categorize everything into three groups: ‘must-haves,’ ‘nice-to-haves,’ and ‘cuttable.’ For example, rent and supplies are must-haves. A subscription to a fancy magazine? That might be cuttable.

The goal here is to ensure that your essential expenses are always covered and to identify areas where you might be overspending. Maybe you’ve been paying for a tool or software you’re not even using. Or perhaps there’s a way to negotiate lower costs on certain items. These little adjustments can add up to big savings.

Step 4: Set Achievable Financial Goals

Now that you’ve cleaned up your finances, it’s time to set some goals. And not just any goals—SMART goals. That stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Let’s say you want to save $1,000 for a new piece of equipment. Break that down. If you give yourself six months, that’s about $167 a month. Suddenly, it feels much more doable, right?

You can apply this to all kinds of goals: paying off debt, building an emergency fund, or even saving for a dream vacation. The key is to assign timelines and make these goals part of your budget.

Step 5: Build a Tracking System

Finally, step five is building a system to track your progress. This can be as simple or as fancy as you want. Maybe it’s a bookkeeping app like QuickBooks or Wave. Maybe it’s a spreadsheet or even a notebook. Whatever you choose, the important thing is consistency.

Set reminders to review your finances weekly and monthly. Use these check-ins to track your income, see if you’re staying within your budget, and make adjustments as needed. Consistency is what turns budgeting into a habit.

Wrap-Up

So there you have it: the five steps to take control of your budget. Let’s recap. First, separate your personal and business finances.  Second, understand your starting point. Third, prioritize your expenses. Fourth, set achievable goals. And fifth, build a tracking system. These steps might feel overwhelming at first, but remember: progress, not perfection.

Before we go, I have a free basic tracking guide for you to download. It’ll guide you through these steps and help you take action right away. Check the link in the show notes to grab your copy. And if you found this episode helpful, share it with a fellow stylist who might need it.

Thanks for tuning in to the Hair Hustle Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s episode, where we’ll talk about three tools to simplify expense tracking. Until then, take care and keep hustling!

Link to Take Control of your Money Guidelines HERE

OR Below

https://www.canva.com/design/DAGbeOELoXk/JrZ1zr4iSm_gSQZTxWgrng/view?utm_content=DAGbeOELoXk&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink&mode=preview

5 Budgeting Tips 

1. Pay Yourself First

• What It Means: Set aside a percentage of your income for personal use before allocating money to business expenses.
• Why It’s Important: It ensures you’re not just working to pay bills but also reaping the rewards of your hard work.
• How to Do It:
• 50% to pay yourself, 30% to expenses, and 20% for savings or debt repayment.
• Automate your savings so it’s non-negotiable.

2. Track Every Dollar

• What It Means: Know where your money is going by keeping detailed records of your income and expenses.
• Why It’s Important: Helps you spot unnecessary spending and ensures your pricing covers your costs.
• How to Do It:
• Use apps like QuickBooks, Mint, Every Dollar or even a simple Excel sheet.
• Categorize expenses: rent, supplies, education, marketing, etc.
• Regularly review and adjust your budget.

3. Create a Seasonal Budget OR Sinking Funds

•  What It Means: Plan your budget around the natural ebbs and flows of the salon industry (e.g., busy holidays vs. slow summer months).
• Why It’s Important: Helps you stay afloat during slower periods and make the most of your busy season profits.
• How to Do It:
• Save a percentage of your income during peak months to cover slower periods.
• Invest in marketing and promotions during slower times to boost business.

4. Budget for Education and Growth

• What It Means: Set aside money for continuing education, tools, or marketing that will grow your business.
• Why It’s Important: Staying ahead in your skills and marketing game keeps you competitive.
• How to Do It:
• Allocate a fixed percentage of your income (e.g., 5%) for education or business growth.
• Plan ahead for big-ticket items like conferences or certifications.

5. Build an Emergency Fund

• What It Means: Have savings to cover unexpected expenses like equipment repairs or personal emergencies.
• Why It’s Important: Protects your business from being derailed by unforeseen costs.
• How to Do It:
• Start small: Aim for 1-2 months of expenses saved.
• Add to it consistently until you reach 6 months of expenses.

Dos and Don’ts of Stylist Budgeting (5 minutes)

Dos:

• Do Review Regularly: Check your budget monthly to ensure you’re on track.
• Do Set Goals: Have short-term and long-term financial goals to keep you motivated.
• Do Separate Personal and Business Finances: Open a dedicated business account to make tracking easier.
• Do Invest in Yourself: Spend wisely on tools, training, and marketing that will grow your income.

Don’ts:

• Don’t Ignore Small Expenses: Little costs like coffee runs or subscriptions can add up fast.
• Don’t Underprice Your Services: Budgeting starts with proper pricing—know your worth!
• Don’t Forget Taxes: Set aside 20-30% of your income for taxes to avoid surprises later.

Don’t Skip Emergency Savings: A financial cushion is non-negotiable.

Email Contact: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

Podcast Episode: “Navigating Cancellation Policies with Empathy and Strategy”

Introduction (2 minutes)

"Welcome to The Hair Hustle Podcast! I’m Heather Pod, and today we’re diving into one of the hottest and sometimes most controversial topics in the salon industry—cancellation policies.

We’ve all been there: a last-minute cancellation or no-show can throw off your day, cost you money, and feel incredibly frustrating. But are we handling cancellations in a way that benefits both our business and our clients?

In this episode, we’re breaking it down:

• How to create an effective cancellation policy.
• Why posting harsh policies might hurt your business.
• How to handle repeat offenders without alienating your guests.

Let’s find a balance between protecting your time and maintaining strong client relationships."

Guidelines for a Stylist Cancellation Policy (8 minutes)

1. Be Clear and Specific

• What to Include:
• Required notice period (e.g., 24-48 hours).
• Consequences of canceling late or not showing up (e.g., fee, deposit forfeiture).
• How clients can reschedule (e.g., phone, app, text).
• Example Policy:
• “Cancellations or rescheduling require a 24-hour notice. No-shows or late cancellations will result in a $25 fee, charged at the next appointment.”

2. Communicate Privately

• Instead of plastering your policy on social media or booking pages, share it directly with clients when they book.
• Use email confirmations, appointment reminders, and a simple, friendly tone to explain the policy.
• Why: Publicly posting can come off as harsh or impersonal. Direct communication feels more professional and considerate.

3. Build in Flexibility

• Allow for a one-time grace period for first-time offenders.
• Communicate empathy for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.
• Why: Life happens. Being too rigid can damage client relationships.

4. Collect Deposits for High-Demand Services

• For longer services or first-time clients, require a deposit to secure the appointment.
• Clearly state that the deposit will be forfeited for late cancellations.
• Why: It protects your time while giving clients a stake in keeping their commitment.

Why the Industry Might Be Too Harsh on Guests (5 minutes)

The salon industry has seen a shift towards strict, punitive policies, often posted in bold fonts on social media. While boundaries are necessary, consider this:

• Clients Are Human: Emergencies, illnesses, and childcare issues happen. Not every cancellation is a reflection of disrespect.
• Your Tone Matters: Publicly shaming or using aggressive language (e.g., “If you can’t respect my time, don’t book”) might turn off not just offenders but also other clients.
• Reputation Counts: You want to be seen as approachable and professional, not intimidating.

How to Handle Repeat Offenders (5 minutes)

1. Track and Identify Patterns

• Keep notes on client history in your booking system.
• Look for repeat no-shows or last-minute cancellations.

2. Address the Issue Directly

• Reach out privately to discuss the issue:
• Example: “Hi [Name], I noticed you’ve had a few last-minute cancellations recently. I understand life gets busy, but it does impact my schedule. I’d love to work with you to find times that are easier to commit to.”

3. Set Firm Boundaries for Repeat Offenders

• Require a deposit or prepayment for their appointments moving forward.
• Politely but firmly enforce your policy:
• Example: “To continue booking with me, I’ll need a 50% deposit for future appointments. I hope you understand, and I appreciate your support!”

4. Know When to Let Go

• If a client continues to disregard your policy, it may be time to part ways. Politely recommend another stylist or let them know you can no longer accommodate their scheduling habits.

Dos and Don’ts of Cancellation Policies (5 minutes)

Dos:

• Do Communicate Policies Clearly: Use friendly, non-threatening language in reminders and confirmations.
• Do Empathize: Consider giving grace for first-time offenses or genuine emergencies.
• Do Collect Deposits: Protect your time without alienating clients.

Don’ts:

• Don’t Post Aggressive Policies: Avoid public ultimatums or shaming language.
• Don’t Make It Personal: Approach the issue professionally and privately.
• Don’t Ignore Repeat Offenders: Address patterns directly and enforce boundaries.

Conclusion (2 minutes)

"At the end of the day, cancellation policies are about balance—respecting your time while maintaining trust and rapport with your clients. By being clear, consistent, and empathetic, you can protect your business without damaging relationships.

Thanks for tuning in to The Hair Hustle Podcast! I’d love to hear how you handle cancellations—send me a message on Instagram @HeatherPod or leave a review. See you next week!"

Examples of Clear, Non-Threatening Policy Verbiage

Booking Confirmation or Policy Reminder:

"Hi [Client Name], I’m so excited to see you for your upcoming appointment on [Date/Time]. Just a quick reminder of my cancellation policy: I kindly ask for at least 24 hours' notice if you need to reschedule or cancel. Late cancellations or no-shows may result in a $25 fee added to your next service.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out. Looking forward to making your hair goals a reality!"

Appointment Reminder with Graceful Policy Mention:

"Your appointment is coming up on [Date/Time]! If you need to make any changes, please let me know at least 24 hours in advance so I can adjust my schedule. A $25 fee may apply for late cancellations or no-shows.

Thanks for your understanding—I can’t wait to see you!"

Private Message to a Repeat Offender:

"Hi [Client Name], I hope you’re doing well! I wanted to touch base about your recent appointments. I noticed there have been a couple of last-minute cancellations, and I completely understand that life happens.

To help manage my schedule, I’ll need to take a 50% deposit for future appointments. This helps me hold your spot while ensuring I can provide the best service to all my clients. Thanks so much for your understanding, and I’m happy to chat if you have any questions!"

Examples of Aggressive Policy Verbiage (What to Avoid)

Publicly Posted Harsh Policies:

"If you can’t respect my time, don’t bother booking with me. No-shows and late cancellations will be charged 100% of the service cost. This is your warning!"

Shaming or Ultimatums in Reminders:

"Any client who cancels within 24 hours will be required to prepay for all future appointments. No exceptions."

Harsh Private Communication:

"Hi [Client Name], your last-minute cancellations are unacceptable. Moving forward, I’ll require full payment upfront or I won’t book you anymore."

Why Non-Threatening Verbiage Works

• Professional Tone: Maintains your reputation as approachable and client-focused.
• Builds Trust: Clients are more likely to respect policies when they feel valued and understood.

Avoids Backlash: Harsh language can discourage not just offenders but also well-meaning clients who might feel intimidated.

Email: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

IG & TT: @heatherpodsaloncoach

FB: Heather Pod

[ 00:00:05

]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I'm Heather Podlesny, your salon coach dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you're starting your

journey behind the chair or you're a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we'll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress-free and the strategies for

boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build

your dream business without burning out. Together we'll cut through the noise

and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let's hustle. Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast. This

is episode 10. And I am so excited to be here with you today as we kick off

this December. If you can believe it. As we begin to round out the year, I want

to say thank you so much for being here with me on this last few months of the

year. I appreciate you coming to listen. Also, we are going to talk today about

creating seasonal promotions that attract and that get you sales. Now, I know

that you're all excited to be here with me today. I'm so excited to be here

with you today. I know that you are like Heather. I already have all of my

retail promotions lined up.

[ 00:01:31

] It's the beginning of

December. And if you do high five, I am so proud of you. You can keep

listening. It's a short, fun episode. And maybe you can even get some tweaks to

really move through some product or even increase your add-on services for your

team or for yourself. This episode could be very beneficial for you. And then

if you are like, 'sister', I am so far behind. This is for me. I am so happy

you're here as well. Let's dive right into it. In this episode, I want to share

five tips that are creative that can either elevate the promotions that you are

already running or there's something that you can simply start right away. You

can start them today because you don't have a ton of time.

[ 00:02:16

] We're going to get you

going because let's be honest, December is one of the busiest months for

salons. Why are we not making it the most busy month for salons? Why are we not

making it the most profitable? Let's get started with tip number one. We are going

to do a countdown to Christmas. So if you have not started this, this is

similar to my 12 deals of Christmas. If you're like, I can't do 12 deals of

Christmas because I don't have that kind of time. That's a-okay. You could do

the 12 days of Christmas and like list them off and then someone could pick and

like take advantage of what those would look like. But also you could do a

countdown to Christmas. How fun would that be to have it be seven days in

December?

[ 00:02:55

] Where you simply build

excitement. A couple of examples for days and things that you could do would

simply be, purchase a gift card of $100 or more. You get $20 in salon bucks. We

don't always recommend 20%, but it's one day and it's one day only. And it's

not like an annual commitment because it's simply the seven days that you're

counting down to Christmas. Also, maybe a free conditioning treatment with any

color service. We can post this on our social media, hoping to engage with some

guests that maybe need to get in last minute. And we can put them with some of

our newer, less seasoned stylists. Also buy two retail products. You get one

free.

[ 00:03:37

] Those would all be

something that creates a sense of urgency because it's one day we're counting

down to Christmas and you can follow along. It'll also help your social media

engagement and it will create urgency. The first year, I will say I've had salons

do this for years. The first year, I've had salons do this for years. The first

year, I've had salons do this for years. I do feel like it's a little bit

lighter because it's getting used to it. But at the same time, the more that we

do it, the more guests start to love it. And so the first time that you do it,

don't ever feel like it's a flop. Tweak it and go from there. Next tip, holiday

glow up package. Let's get a holiday glow up.

[ 00:04:13

] Everyone who comes and

sits in your chair wants to be glowed up. Let's be honest. A couple different

things that you can do is you can create a bundle package. So that would be

like a service and a service. And then you can create a bundle package. So that

would be like a service and a service. And then you can create a bundle

package. So that would be a retail product wrapped up into one. And I really

love to focus on blowouts this time of year because I feel like it can actually

capture people's attention to want blowouts all year long. Of course, they're

going to want to get blowouts this year. They have family pictures. They're

seeing all of these people that they haven't seen in years.

[ 00:04:40

] And maybe they're

seeing, you know, family members that they don't even really like that much.

They want to look their best. So this is the time where we could do like a

blowout, a gloss and a retail product, maybe for one set price. It doesn't

necessarily have to be a blowout. It doesn't necessarily have to be a blowout.

It doesn't a discount but it can be featured in that bundle and especially for

your newer stylists who have lighter books this could be a really great

opportunity for them to also grow. Another example in the holiday glow up

packages is simply an express menu. If you are a seasoned stylist, and you're

like, 'I do not have any room in December coming up with a holiday express

menu.' It's very simple, quick add-on services that you can offer anywhere from

$15 to $25, and it can be conditioning treatments, it can be a gloss, it can be

little things that do not take a ton of time but they have very high impact.

[ 00:05:38

] I want you to think

about doing those things because then this way number one it builds confidence

in your guest, but then also it puts some more money in your pocket which we

absolutely love. Third tip is going to be gift cards. Did we offer gift cards?

What does that look like? I know that some of you have already offered gift

cards and you probably want to be like, 'Heather, stop talking about gift

cards.' But I'm not stopping talking about gift cards. If you have one great.

If you do not have one, something that you can offer is bonus bucks. Very

simple, clean, easy. It can be if you purchase a $100 gift card you get $10 in

salon bucks back and that $10 in salon bucks could be used January 1st to

February 28th, something along those lines.

[ 00:06:22

] They can use it on

retail anything like that. That's always a fun one. You can also offer 10% off

gift cards to create a sense of urgency. Only offer them for one week or

something like along those lines and here's a little bonus for you. Make sure

that you are contacting every single one of your top clients, partners,

spouses, moms, aunts, whoever it is-whoever would want to purchase for your

guests. Think about contacting those people to make sure that they are aware.

We all experience gift buying burnout when you're like I have no idea what I'm

going to get this person or I have no idea what I should buy whoever it is.

Make sure that you are contacting like spouses and things like that to make

sure that they could look like the hero at their Christmas because they stuffed

their wife's stocking with a gift card to their favorite hair salon.

[ 00:07:21

] Who wouldn't love that?

Do not forget about those people. We want to make sure that we're talking to

them and that they know the deals and discounts. Next tip: self-care sale.

Everybody's very into self-care right now. This one's a little fun tagline to

help you with your retail sales, so it could be Self-Care Saturday. If your

salon's open on Sunday, great. It could be Self-Care Sunday. It could be

Self-Care Wednesday. It really doesn't have to even start with an S. However,

for the entire month you could have a self-care promotion. You could offer

discounts on retail for services booked on a lighter day. So maybe Fridays just

don't seem to be the day that we are busting it out in December this year.

[ 00:08:03

] So we could have

self-care Friday and book a Friday blowout and you get 15% off a retail product

of your choice. That's for a lighter day on the books and in your salon. So if

you have newer stylists that are not booked on certain days or certain times or

certain days are lighter, this is the perfect way to get people in and

especially with that blowout. A blowout is a great way like we had just talked

about. People want to look their best especially for the]]>Contact Heather:

Email: helloheatherpod@gmail.com

IG & TT: @heatherpodsaloncoach

FB: Heather Pod

[ 00:00:05

]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I'm Heather Podlesny, your salon coach dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you're starting your

journey behind the chair or you're a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we'll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress-free and the strategies for

boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build

your dream business without burning out. Together we'll cut through the noise

and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let's hustle. Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast. This

is episode 10. And I am so excited to be here with you today as we kick off

this December. If you can believe it. As we begin to round out the year, I want

to say thank you so much for being here with me on this last few months of the

year. I appreciate you coming to listen. Also, we are going to talk today about

creating seasonal promotions that attract and that get you sales. Now, I know

that you're all excited to be here with me today. I'm so excited to be here

with you today. I know that you are like Heather. I already have all of my

retail promotions lined up.

[ 00:01:31

] It's the beginning of

December. And if you do high five, I am so proud of you. You can keep

listening. It's a short, fun episode. And maybe you can even get some tweaks to

really move through some product or even increase your add-on services for your

team or for yourself. This episode could be very beneficial for you. And then

if you are like, 'sister', I am so far behind. This is for me. I am so happy

you're here as well. Let's dive right into it. In this episode, I want to share

five tips that are creative that can either elevate the promotions that you are

already running or there's something that you can simply start right away. You

can start them today because you don't have a ton of time.

[ 00:02:16

] We're going to get you

going because let's be honest, December is one of the busiest months for

salons. Why are we not making it the most busy month for salons? Why are we not

making it the most profitable? Let's get started with tip number one. We are going

to do a countdown to Christmas. So if you have not started this, this is

similar to my 12 deals of Christmas. If you're like, I can't do 12 deals of

Christmas because I don't have that kind of time. That's a-okay. You could do

the 12 days of Christmas and like list them off and then someone could pick and

like take advantage of what those would look like. But also you could do a

countdown to Christmas. How fun would that be to have it be seven days in

December?

[ 00:02:55

] Where you simply build

excitement. A couple of examples for days and things that you could do would

simply be, purchase a gift card of $100 or more. You get $20 in salon bucks. We

don't always recommend 20%, but it's one day and it's one day only. And it's

not like an annual commitment because it's simply the seven days that you're

counting down to Christmas. Also, maybe a free conditioning treatment with any

color service. We can post this on our social media, hoping to engage with some

guests that maybe need to get in last minute. And we can put them with some of

our newer, less seasoned stylists. Also buy two retail products. You get one

free.

[ 00:03:37

] Those would all be

something that creates a sense of urgency because it's one day we're counting

down to Christmas and you can follow along. It'll also help your social media

engagement and it will create urgency. The first year, I will say I've had salons

do this for years. The first year, I've had salons do this for years. The first

year, I've had salons do this for years. I do feel like it's a little bit

lighter because it's getting used to it. But at the same time, the more that we

do it, the more guests start to love it. And so the first time that you do it,

don't ever feel like it's a flop. Tweak it and go from there. Next tip, holiday

glow up package. Let's get a holiday glow up.

[ 00:04:13

] Everyone who comes and

sits in your chair wants to be glowed up. Let's be honest. A couple different

things that you can do is you can create a bundle package. So that would be

like a service and a service. And then you can create a bundle package. So that

would be like a service and a service. And then you can create a bundle

package. So that would be a retail product wrapped up into one. And I really

love to focus on blowouts this time of year because I feel like it can actually

capture people's attention to want blowouts all year long. Of course, they're

going to want to get blowouts this year. They have family pictures. They're

seeing all of these people that they haven't seen in years.

[ 00:04:40

] And maybe they're

seeing, you know, family members that they don't even really like that much.

They want to look their best. So this is the time where we could do like a

blowout, a gloss and a retail product, maybe for one set price. It doesn't

necessarily have to be a blowout. It doesn't necessarily have to be a blowout.

It doesn't a discount but it can be featured in that bundle and especially for

your newer stylists who have lighter books this could be a really great

opportunity for them to also grow. Another example in the holiday glow up

packages is simply an express menu. If you are a seasoned stylist, and you're

like, 'I do not have any room in December coming up with a holiday express

menu.' It's very simple, quick add-on services that you can offer anywhere from

$15 to $25, and it can be conditioning treatments, it can be a gloss, it can be

little things that do not take a ton of time but they have very high impact.

[ 00:05:38

] I want you to think

about doing those things because then this way number one it builds confidence

in your guest, but then also it puts some more money in your pocket which we

absolutely love. Third tip is going to be gift cards. Did we offer gift cards?

What does that look like? I know that some of you have already offered gift

cards and you probably want to be like, 'Heather, stop talking about gift

cards.' But I'm not stopping talking about gift cards. If you have one great.

If you do not have one, something that you can offer is bonus bucks. Very

simple, clean, easy. It can be if you purchase a $100 gift card you get $10 in

salon bucks back and that $10 in salon bucks could be used January 1st to

February 28th, something along those lines.

[ 00:06:22

] They can use it on

retail anything like that. That's always a fun one. You can also offer 10% off

gift cards to create a sense of urgency. Only offer them for one week or

something like along those lines and here's a little bonus for you. Make sure

that you are contacting every single one of your top clients, partners,

spouses, moms, aunts, whoever it is-whoever would want to purchase for your

guests. Think about contacting those people to make sure that they are aware.

We all experience gift buying burnout when you're like I have no idea what I'm

going to get this person or I have no idea what I should buy whoever it is.

Make sure that you are contacting like spouses and things like that to make

sure that they could look like the hero at their Christmas because they stuffed

their wife's stocking with a gift card to their favorite hair salon.

[ 00:07:21

] Who wouldn't love that?

Do not forget about those people. We want to make sure that we're talking to

them and that they know the deals and discounts. Next tip: self-care sale.

Everybody's very into self-care right now. This one's a little fun tagline to

help you with your retail sales, so it could be Self-Care Saturday. If your

salon's open on Sunday, great. It could be Self-Care Sunday. It could be

Self-Care Wednesday. It really doesn't have to even start with an S. However,

for the entire month you could have a self-care promotion. You could offer

discounts on retail for services booked on a lighter day. So maybe Fridays just

don't seem to be the day that we are busting it out in December this year.

[ 00:08:03

] So we could have

self-care Friday and book a Friday blowout and you get 15% off a retail product

of your choice. That's for a lighter day on the books and in your salon. So if

you have newer stylists that are not booked on certain days or certain times or

certain days are lighter, this is the perfect way to get people in and

especially with that blowout. A blowout is a great way like we had just talked

about. People want to look their best especially for the holiday season and

it's a great way just to get your team booked as well. Next and last, number

five, is something that I call the Nutcracker Hop. So everybody can benefit

from this. I don't care if you have a promotion, whatever it is.

[ 00:08:49

] This is a really fun

promotion that's for your team and for your guest. You simply need to go to

some type of store, so you can go to a Christmas store, you can go to a dollar

store, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, all the things, and grab a nutcracker. So we're

going to grab a Christmas holiday-themed nutcracker. We're going to pick it up.

You probably pick one up for 10 or $12. We are then going to take that to the

salon and we are going to designate days, or we may do from December 2nd all

the way until you know Christmas Eve. And we are going to designate days for

that. So we are going to designate days for that. And we have a nutcracker hop.

[ 00:09:22

] What this means is that

every single time a stylist sells a product, the Nutcracker hops to their

station. This promotion was so fun and super successful. And you can even do a

bunny hop. And I've done a bunny hop during like spring, and it's very successful

then as well. With the Nutcracker hop, you have to make sure that you have

someone behind the scenes. So if you've got a buddy, a friend, a mom, a sister,

a son, something that has someone that helps you behind the scenes that can

call the salon during certain times, even if they have to put calendar

reminders and every time they call whoever has the Nutcracker on their station,

the stylist gets a gift card and the guest gets a gift card and it can be a

five-dollar coffee card, simple things, nothing crazy.

[ 00:10:14

] It can be a lottery

ticket, a scratch-off, something like that to keep it light and fun. And then

even for the guest, it can be $10 towards the salon. Or it can be a voucher

that's like $10 to use in January, or maybe even a free treatment for their next

visit. Something fun and exciting for the guests that also gets the guests who

are sitting there that one engaged to possibly buy retail to keep the

Nutcracker on their station. So that one is a super fun one that helps to

generate retail sales. It keeps the mood up in the salon and the culture up as

well, which is something that we also have to keep in mind, especially during

this holiday season and the busiest time when everybody is really just

crunching the clock trying to get through.

[ 00:11:01

] A couple bonus tips of

do's and don'ts. Now that we have gone through the five seasonal promotions

that will attract and get your sales going, I want to give you a couple of do's

and don'ts for this process. First, we're going to make sure that we plan ahead.

I know that it's December and the planners who are listening to this are like,

'You're too late.' I'm already into February. And I love you because I love to

be that way. However, there's several of us that are not and that is okay too.

So please make sure that you're scheduling the social media posts that we talk

about. Make sure you have a calendar that says this is going to be the gift

card promotion.

[ 00:11:43

] If you have an email

list, make sure that those emails are scheduled to go out. Make sure that you

have it on your list. Make sure that you have it on your list. Make sure that

you have when you're out shopping with your family to pick up a nutcracker if

you decide to do the Nutcracker Hop. Another do is to make sure that you're

adding value to everything that you do, not just a discount. And I talk about

this a lot when it comes to offering certain packages that they don't always

have to be discounted, but they can be a feature. And some of these things,

instead of offering money off right there, they can also be redeemed next year

and we can create a voucher as opposed to a gift card.

[ 00:12:19

] So I want you to keep

that in mind. Also, you've already heard me talk about it. The silent

salesperson is your signage. We're promoting it everywhere. It's on our social

media. It's on our website banners. It's on everything. It's on every mirror.

It's on every single place in our salon. When you look, we should be able to

see some type of a sign that's talking about one of the promotions that are

going on. And also, lastly, don't forget to make it exclusive to create a sense

of urgency around some of these deals. So when you do a gift card promotion

that's 10% off gift cards, make sure people know it is for this week only. It

creates that, oh my word, well, I guess I need to buy it right now.

[ 00:12:58

] An urgency buyer is

someone who buys right then and there because they do not want to miss the

deal. There are a couple of don'ts, to be honest, but I want to talk about one.

You have, if you've been listening to this podcast, you probably have so many ideas

because I do spew out so many things that you can offer. The biggest don't that

I have when it comes to creating seasonal promotions, but also just creating

promotions all year long. So this is a something that you can take into 2025 is

to not overcomplicate it. And if something seems too hard or too much, we're

going to take it off the plate. We need to focus on if it's gift cards, we're

focusing on gift cards.

[ 00:13:40

] If we need to focus on

moving our box sets, then we need to focus on moving our box sets. Don’t

just keep layering on top of your team because there’s going to be

so many things going on that they just give up and they don’t

do anything. I want you to keep that in mind when you are planning these

promotions. So if you’re looking at your numbers and it’s

like, I have so many things, why are the box sets not selling? Why is this not

happening? It could simply be that your team actually has too much to talk

about that they don’t even know what to talk about. The

biggest don't when creating promotions is don't overcomplicate or overwhelm.

[ 00:14:15

] I sure hope that you

got something great out of this podcast. Way to kick off December with me.

Thank you so much for being here. Please do not forget, you can always reach

out to me via email, hellohetherpod at gmail . com with questions, any of my

social media platforms. And I am so happy to help you with any questions. And

please feel free to tag me in any of your successes or if you created a

promotion that I inspired you, please send it over. I would be so happy to see

it. Thank you so much for being here today and we'll see you next time. Go make

some great hair happen.

]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I'm Heather Podlesney, your salon coach, dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you're starting your

journey behind the chair or you're a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we'll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make, to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress-free, and the strategies

for boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to

build your dream business without burning out. Together, we'll cut through the

noise and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So, grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let's hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to The Hair Hustle

Podcast. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Heather Podlesny, your

salon coach dedicated to helping stylists master the business side of beauty.

Whether you're starting your journey behind the chair, I know that it is the

week of Thanksgiving and we are doing a quickie episode today. Today's episode

is all about your Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and I am going to give

you a little checklist to make sure that if you didn't get everything in order

and you're like, 'how is it Thanksgiving even though it's a little late?' We're

going to get it done today. Let's go.

[ 00:01:17

] The first thing on our

checklist is we are going to make sure all of our promotions are planned and

ready to go for Friday, Saturday, or Friday night. If you're not even open,

that's okay. We are going to make sure that they are locked and loaded for December

2nd when we kick off. Do you have a gift card promotion? Did that get pushed to

the wayside, but yet it's going to launch December 2nd? Make sure that you have

that signage ready. Make sure your team knows what that looks like. Get the signage

ready. Go on Canva, go on Adobe, whatever platform that you would like to use,

or if you have a team member that you need to pay to get it done, make sure

that's ready for Black Friday because we all know how this week is going to go

and you guys got this.

[ 00:01:55

] So let's get started.

Let's get started. Next is going to be, are you offering any type of service

discount or promotion? You know that I'm not a lover of service discounts, but

maybe you're doing like a blowout to go out for the holiday weekend or something

like that for some of your newer, younger stylists. So if that's a feature or a

promotion, make sure that all of those are lined up and ready and that we have

signage, that we've texted, called the correct customers, emailed the correct

customers, all of that so that we know. Next is going to be, count your sets

because we need to figure out what kind of retail bundle that we are doing for

Black Friday.

[ 00:02:30

] So if you do not have a

set in stone retail promotion, I am going to challenge you to count every

single set that you have and make sure that you're on track. If you're on

track, great. Maybe you can still do a Black Friday deal. Maybe you took

advantage of some of the other sales that were going on, and you got 20% off a

box set, and maybe you could do an extra 20% off flash sale on Black Friday.

Get that lined up and make sure that it makes sense to you. If it's like, hey,

I'm not even sure what is happening with these box sets. Has anyone sold any?

Then maybe looking at breaking them up and doing something like a 'buy two, get

one free' off of this specific table.

[ 00:03:07

] Whatever is going to

make the most sense for your salon, we're going to do that. Now that we've

decided, and I've given you a couple of examples on what you can do for your

promotions on Black Friday, we are going to look at an express menu because you

also need some type of a service promotion as well. So December 2nd, if you

don't have a holiday express menu out, get one out and get it ready. It doesn't

take super long. I just want to have super simple things on there and it could

be like a glitz and glam where you offer hair tinsel. It can be like a Mary

treatment where you have some type of a bonded treatment,

[ 00:03:44

] some type of a scalp

facial treatment, something that is holiday themed and exciting for your guests

who are coming in because we all know that we're going to have several moms and

several women in our chair who have been busting it out for everybody else this

holiday season and this is the time that they get to treat themselves. If we

can capture them with an extra five minutes on helping them to feel better

about themselves and get them through the season, we're going to have that

express menu ready to offer to them because they want to treat themselves. Even

if it is a treat yourself menu, we are going with it and we want to make sure

that we capture every single opportunity that we can when we're behind the

chair, especially in the season.

[ 00:04:29

] The second item on our

list here is going to be to prep your retail space. Now that you have

determined what the retail and service promotions are, you know what day they

have to be ready. If it's Black Friday, if it's Small Business Saturday, or

even if it is Monday the 2nd, we are now going to make sure that our retail

space is prepped and ready. What does that mean? That means we're going to have

all of our signage printed out. If you have any questions, feel free to reach

out to me. I'm going to be happy to answer any of your questions. We're going

to have the gift card promotion. We're going to make sure we have a sign for

that up at our front desk.

[ 00:04:57

] We are also going to

make sure we have some type of a cling on each of the mirrors. Whatever bundle

that you're offering for retail or if it's off of box sets, we want to make

sure that signage is ready. Next is going to be to create some type of an eye-catching

display. So once we have the signage ready, we want to make sure that we've

changed it up. Are you doing a stocking stuffer bar? Do you need items that

need to ship as soon as possible? Or do you maybe need to go to a store to

purchase some fun things? Some boxes, some fun stockings, something like that.

I'm talking inexpensive things. I'm not saying to go out and buy these crazy

things.

[ 00:05:30

] But if you have not

done any of that, and you're like, 'Wow, I wish', go find a local dollar store

and see what you can find to help your guests create a really fun gift for

their friends and family. And then just make sure, like I said, we have all those

shelf talkers. Signage is your silent salesperson. While all of your team,

possibly you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to

get everybody beautiful for Thanksgiving. We want to make sure that we're

utilizing those silent salespeople, which is our signage. So we're going to

prep that retail space. Last thing on our list because we're keeping this super

short and sweet is to make sure that you prep your team. This could be the most

important thing.

[ 00:06:09

] First thing we're going

to do when it comes to prep our team is: we are going to count all of our sets,

and we're going to do our homework. The second thing we're going to figure out

how many sets we have left to sell before December 16th, because if you've been

following me, you know that we like to have all the sets sold Before Christmas.

Next is: we are also going to start a pre-book and win contest. If you are

looking at your January books and you're looking at your February books, March,

and you're like, 'What has happened here?' We are going to start a pre-book and

win contest that we're going to talk to our team about.

[ 00:06:42

] And what that is, is

every time a guest comes in when they pre-book their next three appointments,

which then puts you January, February, March, some of the lighter months in our

industry. March is typically not, sometimes January is, sometimes it's not.

February does typically tend to be pretty light across the board. This contest

will lock in your guests for February as well. What this contest looks like is

every time a guest books the next three appointments, they get entered to win

something great. If that is a local restaurant gift card from you guys, that

maybe if you had to barter, totally fine, because it wasn't in your budget. If

you found an iron in the back room or on sale at a distributor, we're going to

put that in the description.

[ 00:07:23

] Great. If you want to

do free hairspray for a year and you can get a deal on 12 hairsprays, the guest

simply comes in and pulls one hairspray off the shelf for every appointment and

they get to take advantage of that. That one's a little bit easier also on your

budget because they're coming in every six weeks and they're...]]>[ 00:00:05

]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I'm Heather Podlesney, your salon coach, dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you're starting your

journey behind the chair or you're a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we'll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make, to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress-free, and the strategies

for boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to

build your dream business without burning out. Together, we'll cut through the

noise and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So, grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let's hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to The Hair Hustle

Podcast. Thank you so much for joining me today. I'm Heather Podlesny, your

salon coach dedicated to helping stylists master the business side of beauty.

Whether you're starting your journey behind the chair, I know that it is the

week of Thanksgiving and we are doing a quickie episode today. Today's episode

is all about your Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and I am going to give

you a little checklist to make sure that if you didn't get everything in order

and you're like, 'how is it Thanksgiving even though it's a little late?' We're

going to get it done today. Let's go.

[ 00:01:17

] The first thing on our

checklist is we are going to make sure all of our promotions are planned and

ready to go for Friday, Saturday, or Friday night. If you're not even open,

that's okay. We are going to make sure that they are locked and loaded for December

2nd when we kick off. Do you have a gift card promotion? Did that get pushed to

the wayside, but yet it's going to launch December 2nd? Make sure that you have

that signage ready. Make sure your team knows what that looks like. Get the signage

ready. Go on Canva, go on Adobe, whatever platform that you would like to use,

or if you have a team member that you need to pay to get it done, make sure

that's ready for Black Friday because we all know how this week is going to go

and you guys got this.

[ 00:01:55

] So let's get started.

Let's get started. Next is going to be, are you offering any type of service

discount or promotion? You know that I'm not a lover of service discounts, but

maybe you're doing like a blowout to go out for the holiday weekend or something

like that for some of your newer, younger stylists. So if that's a feature or a

promotion, make sure that all of those are lined up and ready and that we have

signage, that we've texted, called the correct customers, emailed the correct

customers, all of that so that we know. Next is going to be, count your sets

because we need to figure out what kind of retail bundle that we are doing for

Black Friday.

[ 00:02:30

] So if you do not have a

set in stone retail promotion, I am going to challenge you to count every

single set that you have and make sure that you're on track. If you're on

track, great. Maybe you can still do a Black Friday deal. Maybe you took

advantage of some of the other sales that were going on, and you got 20% off a

box set, and maybe you could do an extra 20% off flash sale on Black Friday.

Get that lined up and make sure that it makes sense to you. If it's like, hey,

I'm not even sure what is happening with these box sets. Has anyone sold any?

Then maybe looking at breaking them up and doing something like a 'buy two, get

one free' off of this specific table.

[ 00:03:07

] Whatever is going to

make the most sense for your salon, we're going to do that. Now that we've

decided, and I've given you a couple of examples on what you can do for your

promotions on Black Friday, we are going to look at an express menu because you

also need some type of a service promotion as well. So December 2nd, if you

don't have a holiday express menu out, get one out and get it ready. It doesn't

take super long. I just want to have super simple things on there and it could

be like a glitz and glam where you offer hair tinsel. It can be like a Mary

treatment where you have some type of a bonded treatment,

[ 00:03:44

] some type of a scalp

facial treatment, something that is holiday themed and exciting for your guests

who are coming in because we all know that we're going to have several moms and

several women in our chair who have been busting it out for everybody else this

holiday season and this is the time that they get to treat themselves. If we

can capture them with an extra five minutes on helping them to feel better

about themselves and get them through the season, we're going to have that

express menu ready to offer to them because they want to treat themselves. Even

if it is a treat yourself menu, we are going with it and we want to make sure

that we capture every single opportunity that we can when we're behind the

chair, especially in the season.

[ 00:04:29

] The second item on our

list here is going to be to prep your retail space. Now that you have

determined what the retail and service promotions are, you know what day they

have to be ready. If it's Black Friday, if it's Small Business Saturday, or

even if it is Monday the 2nd, we are now going to make sure that our retail

space is prepped and ready. What does that mean? That means we're going to have

all of our signage printed out. If you have any questions, feel free to reach

out to me. I'm going to be happy to answer any of your questions. We're going

to have the gift card promotion. We're going to make sure we have a sign for

that up at our front desk.

[ 00:04:57

] We are also going to

make sure we have some type of a cling on each of the mirrors. Whatever bundle

that you're offering for retail or if it's off of box sets, we want to make

sure that signage is ready. Next is going to be to create some type of an eye-catching

display. So once we have the signage ready, we want to make sure that we've

changed it up. Are you doing a stocking stuffer bar? Do you need items that

need to ship as soon as possible? Or do you maybe need to go to a store to

purchase some fun things? Some boxes, some fun stockings, something like that.

I'm talking inexpensive things. I'm not saying to go out and buy these crazy

things.

[ 00:05:30

] But if you have not

done any of that, and you're like, 'Wow, I wish', go find a local dollar store

and see what you can find to help your guests create a really fun gift for

their friends and family. And then just make sure, like I said, we have all those

shelf talkers. Signage is your silent salesperson. While all of your team,

possibly you are running around like a chicken with your head cut off trying to

get everybody beautiful for Thanksgiving. We want to make sure that we're

utilizing those silent salespeople, which is our signage. So we're going to

prep that retail space. Last thing on our list because we're keeping this super

short and sweet is to make sure that you prep your team. This could be the most

important thing.

[ 00:06:09

] First thing we're going

to do when it comes to prep our team is: we are going to count all of our sets,

and we're going to do our homework. The second thing we're going to figure out

how many sets we have left to sell before December 16th, because if you've been

following me, you know that we like to have all the sets sold Before Christmas.

Next is: we are also going to start a pre-book and win contest. If you are

looking at your January books and you're looking at your February books, March,

and you're like, 'What has happened here?' We are going to start a pre-book and

win contest that we're going to talk to our team about.

[ 00:06:42

] And what that is, is

every time a guest comes in when they pre-book their next three appointments,

which then puts you January, February, March, some of the lighter months in our

industry. March is typically not, sometimes January is, sometimes it's not.

February does typically tend to be pretty light across the board. This contest

will lock in your guests for February as well. What this contest looks like is

every time a guest books the next three appointments, they get entered to win

something great. If that is a local restaurant gift card from you guys, that

maybe if you had to barter, totally fine, because it wasn't in your budget. If

you found an iron in the back room or on sale at a distributor, we're going to

put that in the description.

[ 00:07:23

] Great. If you want to

do free hairspray for a year and you can get a deal on 12 hairsprays, the guest

simply comes in and pulls one hairspray off the shelf for every appointment and

they get to take advantage of that. That one's a little bit easier also on your

budget because they're coming in every six weeks and they're taking one

product. So then this way it's also not an upfront cost. So that could be a

great one. And you can draw the winner on Christmas Eve to make it super fun or

even the 23rd. Another thing that we're going to do to prep for the next three

weeks is, we're going to prep our team: if you have someone that's doing your

social media, what are the 12 Deals of Christmas going to look like?

[ 00:07:58

] Because if you are

promoting the 12 deals of Christmas or the 12 Days of Christmas, that really

needs to start right after Thanksgiving. Why? Because you're only open probably

five to six days a week. And if you want 12 deals in there, it's going to take

you possibly three weeks to get those 12 deals in. I also have had people who

didn't run deals on Saturdays. Maybe they just did the 12 Days of Deals Tuesday

through Friday. So make sure that's ready to go and that anyone who's doing

your social media for you, or if you're doing it yourself, you're the social

media manager. So we need to make sure that we have that down and locked in.

Next is obviously if you're doing any type of holiday, VIP, we're going to make

sure that we have those people contacted.

[ 00:08:45

] Any type of event, we

want to make sure that we have all of those people locked in and ready to go. I

feel like Thanksgiving is a little bit later this year, so I do almost feel

like we're kind of missing out on a couple of extra days, which is critical.

So, that's why number three of prepping your team and making sure that we have

all of these things ready to go. We know how many sets that each one of them

has to sell, and we talk to them about it. You have to make your team a

checklist, just like I made you a checklist right here, get after it, and you

can do this. And we're going to make sure that everybody is ready to go, ready,

and set to go. I'm sure hope that this episode was helpful for you, and that

you were able to take just a couple of things in this probably eight minutes to

move forward with your holiday sales and make sure that you are prepped and

ready for December 2nd to kick off and for your Black Friday sales and your

Small Business Saturday. Thank you so much for hanging out with me today, and I

will talk to you guys next week on the Hair Hustle Podcast. Go make some good.

LINK to Promo Planner to close 2024:

https://heatherpod.kit.com/c33c065299

LINK to Creating a Retail Experience:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/five-easy-steps-to-holiday-success/id1767511345?i=1000674013282

[ 00:00:05]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I'm Heather Podlesney, your salon coach dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you're starting your

journey behind the chair or you're a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we'll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress-free and the strategies for

boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build

your dream business without burning out. Together, we'll cut through the noise

and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let's hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode eight of The

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much, thank you so much for joining me today.

I am so excited to have you to talk about one of my favorite subjects. And

today we are going to talk about the retail hustle and how to make you sell

without feeling salesy, pushy-and we're going to get rid of that ick for you

today. I've got three ways. We all know retail is such an important part of our

business. However, I know many of you are going to say, well, I don't know how

to sell in retail. I know so many of you hesitate to promote products because

you don't want to come off feeling salesy or pushy.

[ 00:01:31

] I hear this so many

times, especially in my one-on-ones, even with owners. And I totally get it. We

are people who work from our heart, and sometimes it's really hard to number

one, charge people what we're supposed to be charging. Last week's episode was

about that. 1. 5% of our sales per week. And then we're going to top it off

with a number of times; off and put the cherry on top with some retail. So a

couple of things that I'm going to share with you right now to start this

episode. Number one, we are not in charge of anyone else's money and it is not

our job to spend someone else's money. We're going to take ourselves out of

their wallet to start this episode.

[ 00:02:16

] The next thing that

we're going to talk about to start this episode is you guys, it is 20**24**, if

you are not making the correct product recommendations for your guest, your

guest is being influenced or being sold to by a 20-year-old on TikTok. Now there's

nothing wrong with the 20-year-olds on TikTok, but at the end of the day they

could be recommending, number one, they might not even be a professional.

Number two, they could be recommending a product but the guest really isn't

understanding exactly why they would use that product. It works for their hair

so it must work for them. Number three, they could be recommending a product

but the I want you to all think about that and we're going to get those

thoughts working through our head and we're going to take a deep breath and we

are going to talk about the three ways to help boost your retail sales in the

salon without feeling pushy or salesy.

[ 00:03:06

] Let's get into it. The

first way we're going to talk about is we're not going to be a product

salesperson. We are going to be a product matchmaker. I want you to get

everything in your head that you ever thought that you were about being a

salesperson in retail and I want you to think of it in a little lighter fashion

like a matchmaker. You are no longer this person that just has to push retail.

We are now connecting our client with a product that solves their problems. We

want to make sure that we are connecting the guest with the correct product to

solve what problems that they have. How do we do that? In three ways. We're

going to pay attention to what the client's hair needs truly are and we're

going to start that right in the consultation.

[ 00:03:57

] How we start that in

the consultation is we can simply ask, 'How are you feeling about your hair or

'Is there a look that you have been trying to achieve that you simply haven't

been able to get?' There are so many different questions. There's two. Number

one, how are you feeling? That's so simple and that's something I want you to

think about. I want to make sure everybody has something. If you've been doing

guests for a really long time, I totally understand this and now we're just

going to like jump into this retail game. So those are very simple easy

questions, and light that it's not like oh, and now I'm starting to sell retail

right now.

[ 00:04:36

] When we ask them that,

it could be something like yes, actually after I do my hair, I notice at work,

right before I'm about to leave, and I have to go to my son's football game,

and my hair is a little messy, and I'm not really sure what to do about that.

There was one in on what product that we are going to match this guest with, in

order to help solve her problem, because at the end of the day she would much

rather buy a 30 or 40 dollar product than look like a hot mess at her son's

football game. We have to think about those things and how that would make

someone feel and the confidence that it would give them if we match them with

the right product.

[ 00:05:17

] So, now using that,

we're performing the service; we can simply say, 'I have this amazing spray oil

that you can actually put on and blow out your hair, and it lasts 72 hours

because you had explained to me that whatever frizz product that you're using currently

is not lasting throughout the entire day. So, this one would actually last 72

hours, which is three days for you. Would you like me to give it a try on you?

Absolutely! So, do you see how we talked about? Her problem was at the very beginning

of the service and now we are solving that problem. Then at the end of the

service, we are going to pull that product from the shelf with her shampoo and

conditioner that we used on her and we are going to say, 'Here are three

products that I used on you today.' If I had to take one home, I would highly

recommend that you take home the frizz oil spray that we talked about because I

know

[ 00:06:19

] that you really want to

be able to maintain that frizz-free look all day long. Do you see how easy that

was? It was exactly what she said, 'we are going to mirror that.' That's a

trick in selling. We are going to mirror that to help her feel more comfortable

with her purchase and help her understand. Bonus tip! We're not going to say,

'Would you like to take this home today?' We're not going to say that. We are

simply going to say what you recommend. We are going to recommend frizz-free

look based on stuff that you have. You may want to consider the feelings and

the problems that they had at the beginning of their service, and we're going

to match them.

[ 00:06:56

] We're going to make a

whole new little love out of this client and this product. They are going to

live happily ever after together with great hair, and that's what we want to

see. We're going to become product matchmakers, get rid of the salesperson, get

rid of all that. We are matchmakers. Next up for the second way that we are

going to boost our sales without feeling pushy or salesy, we are going to make

sure that all of our retail is visible and accessible. There's a couple

different things that we can talk about here. First of all, when we say visible

and accessible, if you have things behind glass or under glass or in glass, oh

my word, let's get that out, and we want to make sure that we can touch it.

[ 00:07:36

] I want you to think

about like an Ulta and a Sephora experience or just a shopping experience that

you're used to, that we can actually go in, touch, see, feel. I did a holiday

episode about like a sensorial experience, which was like using all of your senses,

and I want you to go back and listen to that. I will put the episode in the

show notes so that you can kind of check that out as well, because when we

create a retail experience, we want to make sure that the guest has the entire

experience, and we do not want it to be blocked by some glass, okay? We want

them to be able to open up that shampoo and give it a smell, because some

people purchase based on sense, which is really important.

[ 00:08:16

] We are going to make

our retail area visible and accessible. We are going to make our retail area

accessible. A couple more tips that we have on this subject is...]]>

LINK to Promo Planner to close 2024:

https://heatherpod.kit.com/c33c065299

LINK to Creating a Retail Experience:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/five-easy-steps-to-holiday-success/id1767511345?i=1000674013282

[ 00:00:05]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I'm Heather Podlesney, your salon coach dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you're starting your

journey behind the chair or you're a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we'll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress-free and the strategies for

boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build

your dream business without burning out. Together, we'll cut through the noise

and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let's hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode eight of The

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much, thank you so much for joining me today.

I am so excited to have you to talk about one of my favorite subjects. And

today we are going to talk about the retail hustle and how to make you sell

without feeling salesy, pushy-and we're going to get rid of that ick for you

today. I've got three ways. We all know retail is such an important part of our

business. However, I know many of you are going to say, well, I don't know how

to sell in retail. I know so many of you hesitate to promote products because

you don't want to come off feeling salesy or pushy.

[ 00:01:31

] I hear this so many

times, especially in my one-on-ones, even with owners. And I totally get it. We

are people who work from our heart, and sometimes it's really hard to number

one, charge people what we're supposed to be charging. Last week's episode was

about that. 1. 5% of our sales per week. And then we're going to top it off

with a number of times; off and put the cherry on top with some retail. So a

couple of things that I'm going to share with you right now to start this

episode. Number one, we are not in charge of anyone else's money and it is not

our job to spend someone else's money. We're going to take ourselves out of

their wallet to start this episode.

[ 00:02:16

] The next thing that

we're going to talk about to start this episode is you guys, it is 20**24**, if

you are not making the correct product recommendations for your guest, your

guest is being influenced or being sold to by a 20-year-old on TikTok. Now there's

nothing wrong with the 20-year-olds on TikTok, but at the end of the day they

could be recommending, number one, they might not even be a professional.

Number two, they could be recommending a product but the guest really isn't

understanding exactly why they would use that product. It works for their hair

so it must work for them. Number three, they could be recommending a product

but the I want you to all think about that and we're going to get those

thoughts working through our head and we're going to take a deep breath and we

are going to talk about the three ways to help boost your retail sales in the

salon without feeling pushy or salesy.

[ 00:03:06

] Let's get into it. The

first way we're going to talk about is we're not going to be a product

salesperson. We are going to be a product matchmaker. I want you to get

everything in your head that you ever thought that you were about being a

salesperson in retail and I want you to think of it in a little lighter fashion

like a matchmaker. You are no longer this person that just has to push retail.

We are now connecting our client with a product that solves their problems. We

want to make sure that we are connecting the guest with the correct product to

solve what problems that they have. How do we do that? In three ways. We're

going to pay attention to what the client's hair needs truly are and we're

going to start that right in the consultation.

[ 00:03:57

] How we start that in

the consultation is we can simply ask, 'How are you feeling about your hair or

'Is there a look that you have been trying to achieve that you simply haven't

been able to get?' There are so many different questions. There's two. Number

one, how are you feeling? That's so simple and that's something I want you to

think about. I want to make sure everybody has something. If you've been doing

guests for a really long time, I totally understand this and now we're just

going to like jump into this retail game. So those are very simple easy

questions, and light that it's not like oh, and now I'm starting to sell retail

right now.

[ 00:04:36

] When we ask them that,

it could be something like yes, actually after I do my hair, I notice at work,

right before I'm about to leave, and I have to go to my son's football game,

and my hair is a little messy, and I'm not really sure what to do about that.

There was one in on what product that we are going to match this guest with, in

order to help solve her problem, because at the end of the day she would much

rather buy a 30 or 40 dollar product than look like a hot mess at her son's

football game. We have to think about those things and how that would make

someone feel and the confidence that it would give them if we match them with

the right product.

[ 00:05:17

] So, now using that,

we're performing the service; we can simply say, 'I have this amazing spray oil

that you can actually put on and blow out your hair, and it lasts 72 hours

because you had explained to me that whatever frizz product that you're using currently

is not lasting throughout the entire day. So, this one would actually last 72

hours, which is three days for you. Would you like me to give it a try on you?

Absolutely! So, do you see how we talked about? Her problem was at the very beginning

of the service and now we are solving that problem. Then at the end of the

service, we are going to pull that product from the shelf with her shampoo and

conditioner that we used on her and we are going to say, 'Here are three

products that I used on you today.' If I had to take one home, I would highly

recommend that you take home the frizz oil spray that we talked about because I

know

[ 00:06:19

] that you really want to

be able to maintain that frizz-free look all day long. Do you see how easy that

was? It was exactly what she said, 'we are going to mirror that.' That's a

trick in selling. We are going to mirror that to help her feel more comfortable

with her purchase and help her understand. Bonus tip! We're not going to say,

'Would you like to take this home today?' We're not going to say that. We are

simply going to say what you recommend. We are going to recommend frizz-free

look based on stuff that you have. You may want to consider the feelings and

the problems that they had at the beginning of their service, and we're going

to match them.

[ 00:06:56

] We're going to make a

whole new little love out of this client and this product. They are going to

live happily ever after together with great hair, and that's what we want to

see. We're going to become product matchmakers, get rid of the salesperson, get

rid of all that. We are matchmakers. Next up for the second way that we are

going to boost our sales without feeling pushy or salesy, we are going to make

sure that all of our retail is visible and accessible. There's a couple

different things that we can talk about here. First of all, when we say visible

and accessible, if you have things behind glass or under glass or in glass, oh

my word, let's get that out, and we want to make sure that we can touch it.

[ 00:07:36

] I want you to think

about like an Ulta and a Sephora experience or just a shopping experience that

you're used to, that we can actually go in, touch, see, feel. I did a holiday

episode about like a sensorial experience, which was like using all of your senses,

and I want you to go back and listen to that. I will put the episode in the

show notes so that you can kind of check that out as well, because when we

create a retail experience, we want to make sure that the guest has the entire

experience, and we do not want it to be blocked by some glass, okay? We want

them to be able to open up that shampoo and give it a smell, because some

people purchase based on sense, which is really important.

[ 00:08:16

] We are going to make

our retail area visible and accessible. We are going to make our retail area

accessible. A couple more tips that we have on this subject is to create a

retail station for your guests. Almost think of it like a PlayStation. I had a

salon that did this when I was in sales, and it was almost, it was a spare

station, so if you have an open station, this could be a great way to utilize

it. If you don't have an open station, you can simply do a chair and a mirror

and like some type of a, it doesn't have to be like a formal station, but some

type of like a table. You can put a mirror in front, make it look cute, and

make it look like an experience, but it had like their top-selling iron on it.

[ 00:08:55

] It had their

top-selling products. It had their, some of their stylist faves and their salon

faves, and a guest was literally able to go see, touch, feel, use, use the

iron. It was plugged in all the time, use the blow dryer, things like that, so

then this way a guest could really get a feel for how that iron worked, how

that product worked, what the product smelled like, anything like that, and

that was actually really, really important. So, if you have an open station,

it's going to be great to have like in their waiting area because then this way

it gave like the whole shop around a whole new level because then they were

able to use it, which I think is super amazing, and it even starts the

conversation, I feel like, with the guest before they even get into your chair.

[ 00:09:35

] Another thing is going

to be to make sure, this one seems so simple, but make sure that your styling

stations have some type of a product. I know some of us have like community

stations for all of our styles. I'm totally on board with that, but if you're a

stylist using the product, make sure to either, you're using the product,

you're either going to hand it to your guests so that they can check it out, or

you are going to set it on the station right in front of them so that they're

actually able to see it, and they can start to make that connection with it.

Remember, you're a matchmaker. And then the other thing, this is a really great

hot tip, and it's simply to make sure that you have a product of the week.

[ 00:10:14

] So, are you

highlighting any type of product? Are you highlighting like your stylist's

favorites? Are you highlighting a salon favorite? So, that's something that can

go right up at your front desk or your cash register. Then, your guests can

always know which one is the salon pick of the week. That's also a great social

media campaign, helps to fill some of that social media, because I know

sometimes we dread that too. And I want you to keep this in mind, and it's that

visibility builds curiosity, which also builds sales. People want to see,

touch, feel, and they are coming to the salon for that experience. So, if

you're a matchmaker, you're going to want to make sure that we give that to

them, even on behalf of retail.

[ 00:10:52

] All right, way number

three that we are going to boost retail sales without feeling salesy. Are you

guys ready? Is we are going to use promotions, bundles, and incentives. Now,

when I say promotions, bundles, features, incentives, we're not going to give

away the farm here, you guys. I understand that sometimes you're like, Heather,

I don't want to give away this deep discount or do this crazy thing. And you

don't have to. I don't want you to feel like if you're an owner or manager,

we're just going to give away the farm all the time. You're not going to. When

I say features, sometimes it's just about talking about a product. That's it.

Maybe we all know that some products are also seasonal, just like I was talking

about that frizz product.

[ 00:11:36

] This is the time of

year where your hair gets really dry and frizzy. That's what we're going to

talk about. January and February, we typically talk about scalp health. Why?

Because we want to make sure that we're featuring products seasonally, but then

also we're looking at all of our products and how we can sell them together. So

we may be looking at creating some product bundles. For example, if you have

some box sets that are not moving, maybe we need to change up the real estate,

take them out of the box set, put a cute little bow on them, put them in a

different little like organza bag or something like that, and do something cute

and fun and create it the X, Y, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z,

Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, Z, experience bundle.

[ 00:12:20

] And so it could have

your top selling shampoo and conditioner, something like that. So do you see

how you changed the way that looked than just a box set? Also, something, and

this one I do love, so that's why I'm saying it. However, I also came from that

side of things. So I totally understand if this is not, you're not able to do

this and it's to offer free samples. So for example, if we take the guest up,

we show them three products and they don't purchase, we typically go with, like

a free sample. So like, great. You didn't want to take this oil home today. I

do have a small sample that I'd love to send you with. Also on that, we want to

make sure that we put a sticker or something on there.

[ 00:12:58

] Our cart, we need

something on there that says, bring it back for 20% off the full-size friend.

Just so then this way, it's like a bounce back. So they go home, try it. They

love it. They're going to bring it back and they're automatically going to get 20%

off. I also understand that there are not always samples. So if you have a

brand partner that you can reach out to, to maybe get some sample sizes, some

brand partners, brands don't even offer certain things in sample sizes that you

want. You have to be a little bit more strategic there, but if you can, please

try. The last thing under bundles, incentives, features, promotions is to make

sure that you're running a promotion. Honestly, you only need six promotions a

year.

[ 00:13:35

] Everyone thinks you

need once a month. You don't, you don't need one once a month. You don't need

to be changing it every four weeks. Honestly, I feel like when you kind of get

into this whole idea that you need to change it every month, you just get into

the promotion and then it's changed. And typically on average, guests aren't

coming every month. They're coming every four, six, eight weeks. So I want you

to keep that in mind that as you want to keep your promotions to simply six a

year. And that, like I said, doesn't have to be giving away the farm. It can be

new to you for January and February. And that's any product that's new to you.

You get 20% off something super, something simple.

[ 00:14:17

] Maybe your client has

never tried this specific hairspray that you think would be great for her hair.

And you can simply say, oh my word, you've always wanted to try this hairspray,

or we've talked about this hairspray so many times. We have this really great

promotion called new to you. You can get 20% off today because you've never

purchased it from here. Oh, done. Do you see how you close that sale? And it

felt like a friend conversation. I also want you guys to keep in mind that when

we run these types of promotions, guests want to purchase from you. So if

you're a new to this promotion, you need to make sure that you have a product

that's new to you. It's something that we hold back on and we don't make it

part of our appointment.

[ 00:14:53

] That's why we want to

make sure that we have promotions or features. That's like we talked about

earlier, stylist favorites, product bundles, that's promotions, that's samples,

that's features, that's even stylist picks. Like we had talked about before,

what a great way to feature each product. And we can actually have a retail

area all out and imagine putting just cute, fun little stars. You can make them

in Canva, get yourself a template with your stylist headshot and making it say

Heather's fave. Every stylist has a fave and it goes on there. Then once the

guest goes to sit down in their chair, they can say, well, why do you love that

multi-benefit spray so much? And then we can tell them exactly why we love it.

[ 00:15:43

] So there's so many

different ways and that doesn't even necessarily have to be on sale. That's

being able to talk about it. And it's bringing the retail conversation up in a

way that does not feel salesy. It's a conversation. Think about when you're going

on a girl's trip and you have all of these women around you and they're like,

well, what would you use on my hair? What would you do? We all in this industry

have had that experience. I want you to think about that. And I want you to

take that right to behind your chair and helping your guests find the products

that they need. To give them the confidence in their real life every single

day. Stop thinking that we are being salesy, that we're being pitchy.

[ 00:16:26

] You guys got this. I

know you can do it. And I know your guest wants to...]]>8e76d584-da25-45d8-b91a-2861ecc37b1eTue, 19 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -040018:19falsefull1881STOP Guessing your Way to Profitability!Episode 7 - Take CONTROL of your PRICING.mp3

[ 00:00:05

]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I' m Heather Podlesny, your salon coach dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you' re starting your

journey behind the chair or you' re a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we' ll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress- free and the strategies

for boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to

build your dream business without burning out. Together we' ll cut through the

noise and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume and let' s hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode seven of the

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much for joining me. Today we are going to

take control of our prices. This is a request from the request line. Just kidding.

This was actually dropped into my DMs though and I want to say thank you so

much for requesting a subject for me to talk about because this one

specifically is near and dear to my heart. I started independent stylist

coaching specifically when I found out how my stylists were charging and

honestly just the lack of confidence behind their pricing and the services that

they were offering, and I understand that it is an issue amongst several of our

salons and stylists.

[ 00:01:42

] This one is for our

independent stylists. Let' s give them a shout out and we are going to help

them take control of their money and their prices and I' m going to give them a

great formula on how to revamp their prices. So if you want to start a new salon,

revamping your prices, I highly recommend now right before the holiday season

kicks off. Do not wait until January. If you are here, sister, you are doing it

or brother, please. You are starting now and we are getting this done. The best

time to raise your prices is actually right now, not January 1st. Please do not

put a sign up. Prices going up in January.

[ 00:02:21

] We will have a whole

other episode on that because I like to keep these episodes short, and if I get

down that road, it' s not going to be great. For today, we all know that I have

five bullet points on how you can take control of your money and how to charge

appropriately in this episode today. So, we' re going to kick this episode off.

I am also going to say that we are located in the Midwest of the United States.

We have lots of small town USA stylists and salons. I am happy to represent them.

My biggest reason for leaving corporate was because I wanted to make sure to

represent the stylists and salons that were small and I just want you guys to

keep in mind that if you are from the west side of the United States, if you'

re from the east side, if you' re from an urban city, I' m going to start

talking about some prices and you may be like, ' That is ridiculous.'

[ 00:03:21

] If that' s how you

feel, that is okay. This episode may not be for you. However, if you are

sitting there thinking, ' Yeah, I don' I really know why I charge what I charge

or I have no idea about the value of myself behind the chair, all of these

things, this episode is for you and if you' re someone that thinks that this

pricing is too low, simply increase it, okay? But at the end of the day, when

we look up on average how much our stylists are making across the United

States, it' s about $23 to $27 an hour. At the end of the day, I think that we

are hitting so many more people by being able to talk about that and not having

to talk about these big numbers that make someone, especially from the Midwest,

feel like, oh, I' m not charging enough and I can' t relate to them.

[ 00:04:10

] So this is meant to be

a relatable episode for everyone and it' s meant to be an open platform. If you

are ready and you feel like you want to keep moving on, let' s jump into it.

The first thing that I' m going to have you do seems so simple and it is to

calculate. What are your household needs? If you' ve been an independent

stylist for a minute or even if you' re going to be a new independent stylist,

this can be a goal for you on what you need because sometimes I totally

understand if you' re just getting started, you may need to do something else.

When I first started as an independent stylist, I waited tables, I bartended, I

did all the things just until I got my income up there.

[ 00:04:48

] But at the end of the

day, you need to calculate what your household needs from you in order to

figure out exactly where you' re going to be. Also, I have to say, you guys,

this is one of the most beautiful things about this industry. You have the

control to do this. So if you feel like you' re not making enough money or if

you feel like you' re booked and busy, but you' re not making any money, this

is the time to sit down and to revamp this. And this is one of the most

beautiful things that you get to do for you and for your own business and for

your own family. You don' t have to worry about it. You don' t have to worry

about it.

[ 00:05:25

] You don' To have to sit

there and negotiate a price for your salary and go on Indeed and look for all

of these crazy jobs. So I want you to keep that in mind, this is a blessing

that you get to say, this is how much I need. And now we' re going to figure

out how to get you there. Our example today is going to be that your household

needs $5,000 a month. So that is the money that we actually take home. The

money that we take home is different than the money that we bring in. Okay. So

the money that you bring in, behind the chair, is going to be different than

the actual money that is going to hit your personal bank account. Okay.

[ 00:06:02

] We' re going to sit

down. You' re going to do all of your expenses and you' re going to calculate

your household needs. If you have a partner, great. Maybe sit down with them

and figure out exactly what your plan is. If you have to get some debt paid off,

if honestly, if the number is way too high or way too low, whatever that' s

going to look like, I want you to set a goal for yourself on how much you' re

going to make. So if you' re going to make $5,000 a month, you' re going to set

a goal for yourself on how much that you may need to make behind the chair.

Because after you do this exercise, we' ll be able to adjust it from there and

I can get it into another episode.

[ 00:06:33

] Okay. Step one, we' re

going to calculate what our household needs. For our example today, we need

$5,000. Step number two, for the sake of this exercise, and this is a 10,000

foot view. This is not me sitting down specifically with your numbers and going

over that. I do that as well. And you will see some fun things come out of

this. So if you' re going to make $5,000 a month, in the future for you, if you

need more one-on-one help, please let me know because I also do one-on-one

coaching. So this 10,000 foot view, because we' re speaking to several people,

is step two. We' re just going to double that number. Okay. We need $5,000 in

our personal household income.

[ 00:07:16

] So I am simply going to

double that number and it' s $10,000. So 5,000 times two, $10,000. That' s step

two. That tells us the actual number goal that we need to be bringing in when

we are working behind the chair. Our goal behind the chair is to be bringing in

$10,000 every single month. Step three, we need to look at what our billable

hours are. What are billable hours? Billable hours are the hours that we are

technically working behind the chair and getting paid. That may not be the

needle moving things like working on our social media, like writing down our

finances, like doing this exercise. Those are things that we have to do and

they definitely help move the needle to get us new guests, to help bring up our

service ticket, to come up with new fun things, to make more money.

[ 00:08:15

] However, they are not

necessarily billable hours. For the sake of this example, we are going to say

that you work 35 hours. Five hours are spent on your things like your social

media, your cleaning, your ordering, your finance, your paying yourself, all of

that kind of stuff, keeping our money organized as well. And 30 hours are spent

specifically behind the chair, working, charging, making the money. That means

that we have 30 billable hours. So now that we understand what our billable

hours are, so we understand that we need to bring in $10,000 every single

month, and we understand that that is going to happen by working 30 hours a

week. Because I don' t want you to go and be like, ' I need this much money,

but yet I need to work 80 hours now behind the chair.' That' s not what this...]]>Episode 7 - Take CONTROL of your PRICING.mp3

[ 00:00:05

]Welcome to the Hair

Hustle Podcast. I' m Heather Podlesny, your salon coach dedicated to helping

stylists master the business side of beauty. Whether you' re starting your

journey behind the chair or you' re a seasoned pro looking to level up, this

podcast is for you. Each week we' ll dive into the tips and tricks you need to

run a successful salon business with topics that will change the way you work

and earn. From budgeting hacks to help you keep more of what you make to time

management tips that will keep your schedule stress- free and the strategies

for boosting your retail sales and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to

build your dream business without burning out. Together we' ll cut through the

noise and get to the root of what makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume and let' s hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode seven of the

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much for joining me. Today we are going to

take control of our prices. This is a request from the request line. Just kidding.

This was actually dropped into my DMs though and I want to say thank you so

much for requesting a subject for me to talk about because this one

specifically is near and dear to my heart. I started independent stylist

coaching specifically when I found out how my stylists were charging and

honestly just the lack of confidence behind their pricing and the services that

they were offering, and I understand that it is an issue amongst several of our

salons and stylists.

[ 00:01:42

] This one is for our

independent stylists. Let' s give them a shout out and we are going to help

them take control of their money and their prices and I' m going to give them a

great formula on how to revamp their prices. So if you want to start a new salon,

revamping your prices, I highly recommend now right before the holiday season

kicks off. Do not wait until January. If you are here, sister, you are doing it

or brother, please. You are starting now and we are getting this done. The best

time to raise your prices is actually right now, not January 1st. Please do not

put a sign up. Prices going up in January.

[ 00:02:21

] We will have a whole

other episode on that because I like to keep these episodes short, and if I get

down that road, it' s not going to be great. For today, we all know that I have

five bullet points on how you can take control of your money and how to charge

appropriately in this episode today. So, we' re going to kick this episode off.

I am also going to say that we are located in the Midwest of the United States.

We have lots of small town USA stylists and salons. I am happy to represent them.

My biggest reason for leaving corporate was because I wanted to make sure to

represent the stylists and salons that were small and I just want you guys to

keep in mind that if you are from the west side of the United States, if you'

re from the east side, if you' re from an urban city, I' m going to start

talking about some prices and you may be like, ' That is ridiculous.'

[ 00:03:21

] If that' s how you

feel, that is okay. This episode may not be for you. However, if you are

sitting there thinking, ' Yeah, I don' I really know why I charge what I charge

or I have no idea about the value of myself behind the chair, all of these

things, this episode is for you and if you' re someone that thinks that this

pricing is too low, simply increase it, okay? But at the end of the day, when

we look up on average how much our stylists are making across the United

States, it' s about $23 to $27 an hour. At the end of the day, I think that we

are hitting so many more people by being able to talk about that and not having

to talk about these big numbers that make someone, especially from the Midwest,

feel like, oh, I' m not charging enough and I can' t relate to them.

[ 00:04:10

] So this is meant to be

a relatable episode for everyone and it' s meant to be an open platform. If you

are ready and you feel like you want to keep moving on, let' s jump into it.

The first thing that I' m going to have you do seems so simple and it is to

calculate. What are your household needs? If you' ve been an independent

stylist for a minute or even if you' re going to be a new independent stylist,

this can be a goal for you on what you need because sometimes I totally

understand if you' re just getting started, you may need to do something else.

When I first started as an independent stylist, I waited tables, I bartended, I

did all the things just until I got my income up there.

[ 00:04:48

] But at the end of the

day, you need to calculate what your household needs from you in order to

figure out exactly where you' re going to be. Also, I have to say, you guys,

this is one of the most beautiful things about this industry. You have the

control to do this. So if you feel like you' re not making enough money or if

you feel like you' re booked and busy, but you' re not making any money, this

is the time to sit down and to revamp this. And this is one of the most

beautiful things that you get to do for you and for your own business and for

your own family. You don' t have to worry about it. You don' t have to worry

about it.

[ 00:05:25

] You don' To have to sit

there and negotiate a price for your salary and go on Indeed and look for all

of these crazy jobs. So I want you to keep that in mind, this is a blessing

that you get to say, this is how much I need. And now we' re going to figure

out how to get you there. Our example today is going to be that your household

needs $5,000 a month. So that is the money that we actually take home. The

money that we take home is different than the money that we bring in. Okay. So

the money that you bring in, behind the chair, is going to be different than

the actual money that is going to hit your personal bank account. Okay.

[ 00:06:02

] We' re going to sit

down. You' re going to do all of your expenses and you' re going to calculate

your household needs. If you have a partner, great. Maybe sit down with them

and figure out exactly what your plan is. If you have to get some debt paid off,

if honestly, if the number is way too high or way too low, whatever that' s

going to look like, I want you to set a goal for yourself on how much you' re

going to make. So if you' re going to make $5,000 a month, you' re going to set

a goal for yourself on how much that you may need to make behind the chair.

Because after you do this exercise, we' ll be able to adjust it from there and

I can get it into another episode.

[ 00:06:33

] Okay. Step one, we' re

going to calculate what our household needs. For our example today, we need

$5,000. Step number two, for the sake of this exercise, and this is a 10,000

foot view. This is not me sitting down specifically with your numbers and going

over that. I do that as well. And you will see some fun things come out of

this. So if you' re going to make $5,000 a month, in the future for you, if you

need more one-on-one help, please let me know because I also do one-on-one

coaching. So this 10,000 foot view, because we' re speaking to several people,

is step two. We' re just going to double that number. Okay. We need $5,000 in

our personal household income.

[ 00:07:16

] So I am simply going to

double that number and it' s $10,000. So 5,000 times two, $10,000. That' s step

two. That tells us the actual number goal that we need to be bringing in when

we are working behind the chair. Our goal behind the chair is to be bringing in

$10,000 every single month. Step three, we need to look at what our billable

hours are. What are billable hours? Billable hours are the hours that we are

technically working behind the chair and getting paid. That may not be the

needle moving things like working on our social media, like writing down our

finances, like doing this exercise. Those are things that we have to do and

they definitely help move the needle to get us new guests, to help bring up our

service ticket, to come up with new fun things, to make more money.

[ 00:08:15

] However, they are not

necessarily billable hours. For the sake of this example, we are going to say

that you work 35 hours. Five hours are spent on your things like your social

media, your cleaning, your ordering, your finance, your paying yourself, all of

that kind of stuff, keeping our money organized as well. And 30 hours are spent

specifically behind the chair, working, charging, making the money. That means

that we have 30 billable hours. So now that we understand what our billable

hours are, so we understand that we need to bring in $10,000 every single

month, and we understand that that is going to happen by working 30 hours a

week. Because I don' t want you to go and be like, ' I need this much money,

but yet I need to work 80 hours now behind the chair.' That' s not what this is

about.

[ 00:09:09

] This is simply about

giving you a guide, okay? No one has a meltdown on me. And if you feel like

you' re in a turmoil, good gravy, please reach out to me on social media or

some kind of a platform. I will help talk you off the ledge, okay? We.' re

going to keep it going here. So now we know we' ve got 30 billable hours and we

need to make $10,000 per month. We' re going to divide $10,000 by four because

there' s four weeks in a month. That means that we need to be bringing in on

average around $2,500 every single week. When I work 30 hours a week and I need

to make $2,500 every single week, I' m going to take $2,500 and I' m going to

divide that by my billable hours, which is 30 hours.

[ 00:09:55

] So the hours I' m

working behind the chair and that number is $83. 33. $83 an hour is what I need

to be making behind the chair. Now we' re going to figure out what you need to

make per minute. And the reason that we figure out what you need to make per

minute is because on average for profitability, you need to be around $1 to $1.

50 a minute. For this example, we' re going to take that $83. 33. We' re going

to divide it by the amount of minutes in an hour, which is 60. And now you know

that you need to be making $1. 39 per minute. Why is this important?

[ 00:10:37

] The reason that you

want to come up with your per- minute price is not just because you want to

make sure that you' re making that dollar amount, but it' s also going to be a

gauge for you to look at your menu right now and make sure that you' re even charging

properly. So now you know that you need to be making $1. 39 per minute. $1. 39

a minute to be bringing in that $5,000 a month to your household. We' ve got

your billable hours and your billable minutes down. You guys figured out that

formula. Great job. And now we' re at $1. 39 a minute. We know that we have to

bring in. Now for step four, we are going to set and test our service prices.

[ 00:11:15

] We need to figure out

exactly how much we' re charging and if we' re even charging properly. Let' s

look at our rates right now. We need it to be charging $1. 39 a minute like we

used in our example. I now need to look at my 90- minute service. So let' Say

that is a basic color retouch and haircut that takes 90 minutes. So I know some

of you; it only takes 75. Some of you, it' s 90 minutes. I want to look at that

number. A 90- minute service times $1. 39 because we need $1. 39 a minute, and

we' ve got 90 minutes. That should be about $125. Now you' re going to go to

your menu and I want you to look at how much is a base color application plus a

haircut because that' s about 90 minutes.

[ 00:12:04

] If I look at that and

I' m charging, maybe I' m charging $75 for a color retouch and I' m just

throwing in the haircut, and your haircut price is typically $45. If you are

throwing in that haircut and bundling, you are literally shorting yourself on a

service that you' I' m not charging. So I' m going to go to my menu and I' m

going to open that Bug Classic and let' s go check at our bundle. I' m going to

go to my tool list. In my bundle, you can see as far as individual products,

everything else is here but you can see on here that you can only buy a color.

[ 00:12:38

] So if I go to a call

and I click one of the aspects is for the physical person and then I prefer to

go to this message menu which comes to When it' s Schrita. So you can see just

a little bit in here by cutting out the bundling and doing à

la carte pricing. So same thing, I want you to look at a two-hour service. If

you need $1. 39 a minute, a two-hour service needs to be at least about $167.

So somewhere between $165 to $170, that total should be. If it' s nowhere near

there, let' s get you on a plan to get you there. If you are there, but maybe

you are bundling a little bit too much and it' s like your cousin came in and

your sister-in-law came in and your mom and everybody wants a discount,

[ 00:13:35

] I want you to go

through all of your customers and all of your guests and I want you to see

where your money is going and what it is that you' re charging. Now that you

know what you need per minute, we' re going to talk a little bit more about à

la carte pricing versus hourly pricing. When I talk about à

la carte pricing, I just gave you an example on how you' re shorting yourself

where you need $1. 39 a minute, but you' re throwing in $45 haircuts. That' s

number one reason why I love à la carte pricing. It' s clear and

concise. It' s easy to say like these are the things that you had done and this

is how much it' s going to be and you can see based on my menu.

[ 00:14:18

] As a coach, for quite a

long time now and a business partner to salons, you would not believe how many

consumers, so people who frequent salons, your guests, things like that, talk

about the fact that they don' t even know how much they' re charged from salons

or stylists. They don' t understand why their hair costs what it does and it

creates this really big gap between the stylist and the guest that doesn' t

even need to be there, and it' s simply because we don' t have the confidence.

We don' t have the confidence as stylists behind the chair to share these are

all the services that you had done today and this is how much it' s going to be

and it should be simply laid out.

[ 00:14:58

] And the other thing too

about why I love a la carte versus hourly, I have helped coach many stylists do

both. I want to make that clear. The reason that I' m recommending à

la carte right now today for this example is because you are, and if you' ve

listened this long, you' re probably a stylist that' s not charging enough and

you' re probably a stylist that' s not charging enough. And you' re probably a

stylist that doesn' t really know what' s happening with their money. The

reason that I say to charge à la carte pricing is because you can

say to your guest, ' so you may not even need to raise your prices.' In my

coaching business, there are so many stylists who didn' t even need to raise

their prices.

[ 00:15:39

] They gave themselves a

raise by charging what a guest received. It is insane how much you can give

yourself a raise simply by saying, ' Okay, Susie, thank you so much for coming

to me.' I wanted to let you know that I' ve done a pricing upgrade and I have

started charging à la carte. So what that means is you

have the ability to customize every single appointment with me. Today, you had

a color touch-up and a haircut. So you can see here, these two numbers added

up. It' s going to be $120 today. See where that went? It was super simple,

super easy, and it' s going to be $120 today. It' s something that you can

share with your guests and you can use that verbiage.

[ 00:16:25

] If you don' t know what

to say, totally steal mine. Also, something that I would highly recommend if

you are going to start doing this, but you have been mumbling a lot of prices,

something that I' m going to recommend is that you print out the menus. I know

we' re all trying to save the environment and do all of these crazy things.

There' s actually a trick in sales and it' s that when you' re nervous, that

you hold something. Okay? And when you hold on to that, it takes your energy. I

know that all of you have someone in your mind right now that you' re like, ' I

can' t tell that person.' I want you to tell them, get yourself a menu that' s

printed and you simply sit there or stand there with them and you say, ' Here'

s all the things that we typically do on you today.' The price is going to be,

and say it, no question mark.

[ 00:17:15

] I don' t want you

feeling not confident. I want you to spit those words out with a period at the

end. Okay? You got this. I know you do. That helps to create a clear, no

questions asked pricing guide, not just for you, but for your guests to

understand what they' re being charged. And it also helps to build the trust

because the guest is now going to feel confident in the fact that, yep, today

is my work' s appointment. I' m going to be here for three hours and I get it

done twice a year and it' s $250. Done. See how that easy? That is, or there' s

also a second option. Guess what? Today is simply a gloss and a haircut, and I'

m so excited to see my hairstylist.

[ 00:17:58

] This is simply my

maintenance appointment, and I know that it' s going to cost me $99. I want you

to get rid of the stigma of talking about prices with your guests and I want

you to feel confident in what you' re charging. Those are the reasons why I prefer

à

la carte when you' re in this state over hourly. Okay? I have helped coach

people into an hourly and a bundle rate to add in different treatments, and

things like that. And I' m okay with that. I don' t hate it, but if you']]>5729c716-3391-4a92-afe5-fd6f77eb9314Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:00:00 -040020:27falsefull1771TEN Ways to make your 2025 a Success Before the Year Begins!Link to close out 2024 Promo Guide https://heatherpod.ck/page/c33c065299

Episode 6 - TEN Steps to kick off 2025

 00:00:05 ]Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast. I' m Heather

Podlesney, your salon coach dedicated to helping stylists master the business

side of beauty. Whether you' re starting your journey behind the chair or you'

re a seasoned pro looking to level up, this podcast is for you. Each week we'

ll dive into the tips and tricks you need to run a successful salon business

with topics that will change the way you work and earn. From budgeting hacks to

help you keep more of what you make, to time management tips that will keep

your schedule stress-free, and the strategies for boosting your retail sales

and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build your dream business without

burning out. Together we' ll cut through the noise and get to the root of what

makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let' s hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode six of the

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much for being here. I definitely have to

celebrate a little bit with you. So with just five episodes, I have had almost

150 downloads. And so if you are here, I really truly want to say thank you so

much. If you feel like these are helping you in your hair career, please feel

free to share with any salon owner, any stylist. I am so happy to help and I' m

so happy you' re here. Let' s dive right into it. Today we are going to go a

little bit longer because we are going to talk about the end of the year

follow-up and coming up with a tracking guide for yourself.

[ 00:01:38

] One of the biggest

things that I have learned in my sales career is when you get to the end of the

year, it' s simply looking at everything that you' ve done over the year and

reflecting. In the beginning of the next year, it' s simply about what worked

really well and what didn' t. And reflecting on those two things can really

help you to be a little bit better in your business for 2025. With that, we ve

got about 10 different things. I know that that' s a lot for me, but they' re

all very important and it' s all something that I want you guys to take away.

So take one of them. Take two of them. Take three of them. Take four of them.

Take five of them.

[ 00:02:26

] Take all 10, whatever

you have to do. I want you to make sure that you are at least 1% to 2% better

after this episode and that this is something that you can implement for 2025.

We are coming up into November, which is so crazy and I know how busy each and

every one of you get behind the chair. That is why I feel like it' s important

to talk about it right now. This way, you can take it and as soon as the hustle

and bustle and craziness of being behind the chair during the holiday season

starts to fizzle, this is something that I want you to be able to take. Okay?

And maybe you don' t have a super hustly and bustly holiday season in the books

and that' s okay too.

[ 00:03:15

] Maybe it' s something

that you wanted. Maybe it' s something that you didn' t. However, if it' s not

super busy and it' s something that you wanted to be super busy, these are all

things that you can take and you can reflect on for 20/25 or maybe you can even

take them and reflect on them in your last three months and start implementing

them today. So let' s dive right into it. We are going to go over your year-

end follow- up and your tracking. So the first thing that we' re going to do is

pretty obvious. We are going to review and analyze our sales data. Wah, wah. I

know no one likes to talk about that. Here' s three things that we' re going to

do.

[ 00:03:55

] We' re going to look at

our top selling products. So if you' re a salon owner or a commissioned salon

owner, you are literally going to look at what SKUs in retail sold the most. We

want to break it down by, did you sell the most hair care? Did you sell the

most skin care, hair care, shampoos and conditioners? If you don' t know, that'

s okay. That' s why we' re here. Styling products. So that' s like your hair

sprays. That is your styling aid, your smoothing products, things like that.

We' re going to break down what categories sold the most. Next up, we' re going

to go into our top 10 SKUs. The most important thing about your top 10 SKUs is

if you do not have at least five to six back, which means five to six in

inventory or on your shelf, that' s what needs to happen for ' 25.

[ 00:04:42

] If you don' t have the

retail budget for it, we' re going to try to figure out how to get the retail

budget for it. We typically say we need at least two to three SKUs of each

product on your shelf. Why? Because no one wants to take the last one. So if you'

re a salon owner, you' re So typically three is what' s recommended. This was

shared with me years ago, and it' s one to show, one to go, and one to grow. So

even if you can only afford one to show and one to go, that' s what we need. So

we do not want onesies. We want at least two to three products. And then of

your top selling SKUs, you need at least six to eight.

[ 00:05:19

] Does that mean that if

you only have three of your top sellers, that' s terrible? Terrible? No, but

that' s just a goal that you need to build up to for 2025 for your retail area.

Next part is to track what happened with each of your promotions. I have a

really great year-end promotional calendar that is a freebie. Please, you can

reach out to me. I will actually leave the link right here in the show notes.

Please go grab that, and that actually takes you right into January and

February. You can start a promotion today with that sheet. And the other thing

that we' re going to get started with that promotion, that promotional sheet,

is we are going to then, after all of our promotions are done, we' re going to

look at how did each promotion go.

[ 00:06:01

] So if you' ve been

doing your promotions since January, it' s now November or December, how did

your January and February promotion go? Did you have to pivot? Did you try pick

a kiss in February and it was a flop? Did you try scratch-offs in March and it

was like, yes, we are doing this again? Great. So we' re going to go through

and analyze all of that data and our promotions. Do you have to be completely

tech-savvy for all of this? Absolutely not. When it comes to tracking

promotions, I always suggest at the end of each promotion, simply run your

reports on how sales went from this year to year prior, especially if you' re

new to this, and you can take handwritten notes.

[ 00:06:46

] You can put them on

your laptop in one file, whatever it is that you need. It does not have to be.

It doesn' t have to be crazy, but those are all things that you' re going to

want to track. Also, on that promotional planner and you' re tracking that success,

it' s not just retail. You also need to be checking out your add-on services.

Did you do an add-on service in that time period and how did it go? Did you

maybe have too many things going on in that time frame that no one even focused

on the service promotion? Or was a specific service promotion a complete

success and then you look at the product line and realize, it was a super

success in March, but here we were in August and that line completely died down

in our sales.

[ 00:07:32

] Did we just stop

talking about it? Do we need to have two animations a year along with that

service? Do we need to have two animations a year with that service add-on? All

of those things, we need to sit down and we need to figure out so that we can

come up with a really great plan for 2025. The next step in your year-end

follow-up is going to be about your clients. We' re actually going to gather

our client and guest data and any insights that we need to know. There' s a

couple of things here. We do need to make sure that we' re running reports for

this one specifically. We' re going to look at all of our clients.

[ 00:08:07

] We want to look at our

top-selling guests because that' s also something we could do some type of a

campaign even now. If we looked at our top-selling guests and we did a

gratitude campaign for our top 10, top 20 guests, that' s always really fun.

They could get entered to win something. We want to make sure that they' re

getting a credit. It' s something that just makes people feel good. Is it going

to drive sales necessarily? It will drive a positive outlook around your

business and if you have the budget to do so it will drive sales in the future.

Is it going to have like that turnaround return? It' s not. So,...]]>Link to close out 2024 Promo Guide https://heatherpod.ck/page/c33c065299

Episode 6 - TEN Steps to kick off 2025

 00:00:05 ]Welcome to the Hair Hustle Podcast. I' m Heather

Podlesney, your salon coach dedicated to helping stylists master the business

side of beauty. Whether you' re starting your journey behind the chair or you'

re a seasoned pro looking to level up, this podcast is for you. Each week we'

ll dive into the tips and tricks you need to run a successful salon business

with topics that will change the way you work and earn. From budgeting hacks to

help you keep more of what you make, to time management tips that will keep

your schedule stress-free, and the strategies for boosting your retail sales

and nailing that next promotion. Get ready to build your dream business without

burning out. Together we' ll cut through the noise and get to the root of what

makes your salon thrive.

[ 00:00:47

] So grab your shears,

turn up the volume, and let' s hustle. Hey, hey, welcome to episode six of the

Hair Hustle Podcast. Thank you so much for being here. I definitely have to

celebrate a little bit with you. So with just five episodes, I have had almost

150 downloads. And so if you are here, I really truly want to say thank you so

much. If you feel like these are helping you in your hair career, please feel

free to share with any salon owner, any stylist. I am so happy to help and I' m

so happy you' re here. Let' s dive right into it. Today we are going to go a

little bit longer because we are going to talk about the end of the year

follow-up and coming up with a tracking guide for yourself.

[ 00:01:38

] One of the biggest

things that I have learned in my sales career is when you get to the end of the

year, it' s simply looking at everything that you' ve done over the year and

reflecting. In the beginning of the next year, it' s simply about what worked

really well and what didn' t. And reflecting on those two things can really

help you to be a little bit better in your business for 2025. With that, we ve

got about 10 different things. I know that that' s a lot for me, but they' re

all very important and it' s all something that I want you guys to take away.

So take one of them. Take two of them. Take three of them. Take four of them.

Take five of them.

[ 00:02:26

] Take all 10, whatever

you have to do. I want you to make sure that you are at least 1% to 2% better

after this episode and that this is something that you can implement for 2025.

We are coming up into November, which is so crazy and I know how busy each and

every one of you get behind the chair. That is why I feel like it' s important

to talk about it right now. This way, you can take it and as soon as the hustle

and bustle and craziness of being behind the chair during the holiday season

starts to fizzle, this is something that I want you to be able to take. Okay?

And maybe you don' t have a super hustly and bustly holiday season in the books

and that' s okay too.

[ 00:03:15

] Maybe it' s something

that you wanted. Maybe it' s something that you didn' t. However, if it' s not

super busy and it' s something that you wanted to be super busy, these are all

things that you can take and you can reflect on for 20/25 or maybe you can even

take them and reflect on them in your last three months and start implementing

them today. So let' s dive right into it. We are going to go over your year-

end follow- up and your tracking. So the first thing that we' re going to do is

pretty obvious. We are going to review and analyze our sales data. Wah, wah. I

know no one likes to talk about that. Here' s three things that we' re going to

do.

[ 00:03:55

] We' re going to look at

our top selling products. So if you' re a salon owner or a commissioned salon

owner, you are literally going to look at what SKUs in retail sold the most. We

want to break it down by, did you sell the most hair care? Did you sell the

most skin care, hair care, shampoos and conditioners? If you don' t know, that'

s okay. That' s why we' re here. Styling products. So that' s like your hair

sprays. That is your styling aid, your smoothing products, things like that.

We' re going to break down what categories sold the most. Next up, we' re going

to go into our top 10 SKUs. The most important thing about your top 10 SKUs is

if you do not have at least five to six back, which means five to six in

inventory or on your shelf, that' s what needs to happen for ' 25.

[ 00:04:42

] If you don' t have the

retail budget for it, we' re going to try to figure out how to get the retail

budget for it. We typically say we need at least two to three SKUs of each

product on your shelf. Why? Because no one wants to take the last one. So if you'

re a salon owner, you' re So typically three is what' s recommended. This was

shared with me years ago, and it' s one to show, one to go, and one to grow. So

even if you can only afford one to show and one to go, that' s what we need. So

we do not want onesies. We want at least two to three products. And then of

your top selling SKUs, you need at least six to eight.

[ 00:05:19

] Does that mean that if

you only have three of your top sellers, that' s terrible? Terrible? No, but

that' s just a goal that you need to build up to for 2025 for your retail area.

Next part is to track what happened with each of your promotions. I have a

really great year-end promotional calendar that is a freebie. Please, you can

reach out to me. I will actually leave the link right here in the show notes.

Please go grab that, and that actually takes you right into January and

February. You can start a promotion today with that sheet. And the other thing

that we' re going to get started with that promotion, that promotional sheet,

is we are going to then, after all of our promotions are done, we' re going to

look at how did each promotion go.

[ 00:06:01

] So if you' ve been

doing your promotions since January, it' s now November or December, how did

your January and February promotion go? Did you have to pivot? Did you try pick

a kiss in February and it was a flop? Did you try scratch-offs in March and it

was like, yes, we are doing this again? Great. So we' re going to go through

and analyze all of that data and our promotions. Do you have to be completely

tech-savvy for all of this? Absolutely not. When it comes to tracking

promotions, I always suggest at the end of each promotion, simply run your

reports on how sales went from this year to year prior, especially if you' re

new to this, and you can take handwritten notes.

[ 00:06:46

] You can put them on

your laptop in one file, whatever it is that you need. It does not have to be.

It doesn' t have to be crazy, but those are all things that you' re going to

want to track. Also, on that promotional planner and you' re tracking that success,

it' s not just retail. You also need to be checking out your add-on services.

Did you do an add-on service in that time period and how did it go? Did you

maybe have too many things going on in that time frame that no one even focused

on the service promotion? Or was a specific service promotion a complete

success and then you look at the product line and realize, it was a super

success in March, but here we were in August and that line completely died down

in our sales.

[ 00:07:32

] Did we just stop

talking about it? Do we need to have two animations a year along with that

service? Do we need to have two animations a year with that service add-on? All

of those things, we need to sit down and we need to figure out so that we can

come up with a really great plan for 2025. The next step in your year-end

follow-up is going to be about your clients. We' re actually going to gather

our client and guest data and any insights that we need to know. There' s a

couple of things here. We do need to make sure that we' re running reports for

this one specifically. We' re going to look at all of our clients.

[ 00:08:07

] We want to look at our

top-selling guests because that' s also something we could do some type of a

campaign even now. If we looked at our top-selling guests and we did a

gratitude campaign for our top 10, top 20 guests, that' s always really fun.

They could get entered to win something. We want to make sure that they' re

getting a credit. It' s something that just makes people feel good. Is it going

to drive sales necessarily? It will drive a positive outlook around your

business and if you have the budget to do so it will drive sales in the future.

Is it going to have like that turnaround return? It' s not. So, if that

Something that you need, maybe that isn' t something that you do.

[ 00:08:45

] But that' s always a

really great one. So if you can find a dryer or a curling iron or something

that' s been sitting in that back room or a thing of products that' s been

sitting in that back room or a thing of products that' s been sitting in that

back room, you can put together in a basket and simply do a gratitude campaign

for your top 10 people they' re your VIPs. That' s always a great one, okay?

That' s how we' re gonna identify those repeat buyers and that' s how we' re

also going to come up with a promotion that you can start right now. Now that

you Ve gone through and gathered all of your guest data, client data, and you'

re checking things out a couple things, two things that are really important.

[ 00:09:17

] Number one is your

average service ticket; this is is key when it comes to wanting to help your

stylist or if you' re an independent stylist make more money and it also helps

you to understand your business more. What is the average service ticket? That

means is how much on average the guest is spending, simply look at your service

sales so we' re going to add up all of our service sales and we' Re going to

divide that by the number of guests that we have, you can simply set a goal to

raise your average service ticket and that will help to make your salon more

popular, profitable, so we can dive deeper into average service ticket but

that' s a number that we want to know, so then this way we know what we need to

do um how we know exactly how much our guest is spending and then what we would

need to do for 2025.

[ 00:10:05

] The other thing that I

want to keep you guys in the loop on is the average order value, which is

called AOV in the retail world, and what that simply means is how much on

average is your guest spending on retail; but something that people don' t

understand is that the average service ticket is the average order value of the

client um I think that' s what AOV is it. Actually, the average purchase value

and then if you' re thinking about the average order value that people don' t

typically track is actually your average order value, so your aov you want to

be able to look at what people are purchasing in your retail area and what the

average order value is for that.

[ 00:10:32

] It' s not just to know

how much people are spending but it' s also how you can plan your promotions

for the next year. So, for example, if you' re looking at your average order

value in retail and it' s $59, and maybe you did a promotion back in June that

was over $60, then you get something for free. Maybe that didn' t go well. If

you would have looked at your average order value at $59, you would see that

$75 may have been a better incentive because it was just a little bit closer

and it was like one product away or one item away from getting them to that

$75.

[ 00:11:15

] So you would have

increased your average order value throughout the year, but also the promotion

may have landed a little bit better and it would have sweetened the deal a

little bit more. Those are all things to look at. We' re going to look at our

clients. We are going to see who is buying, how much they are buying in

services, and we' re also going to see how much they are spending in our retail

area. Next one is we' re going to look at and evaluate our marketing channels.

This one is huge and you can go very deep into your marketing channels. We are

going to talk about two and it' s social media and email marketing. If you are

not doing any of these, it' s okay.

[ 00:11:59

] We are an open space

here. You can start wherever you are. However, if you' re not doing anything,

your goal in this category of your marketing channels is simply going to be to

start and maybe you do need to hire someone. So if you have it in your budget,

you' re going to be able to do that. If you' Re not doing anything, you could

look into hiring someone to simply have a social media presence. You don' t

necessarily have to hire an entire marketing company at $1,500 or $2,000 a

month, but possibly looking at something that is within your budget that starts

to get you a presence and just kicks you off from where you are could be what

you need.

[ 00:12:40

] And maybe that' s even

paying a team member that you have to start getting going on your social media.

Now, if you are posting on your social media, we' re going to go through all of

our insights and we are going to go through our profile and we' re going to

look up what posts and or and or reels had the most engagement. So we need to

look up to see what did have the best engagement. So what are people liking to

see? Did you, did you possibly do a campaign and people absolutely loved it?

Did your guests love it? Did you get new guests? Was there, and this is also

when we' re kind of going to start looking at, okay, so when we' re evaluating

how many, new guests we had, maybe we had a spike in June, but maybe we also

did a social media new guest campaign.

[ 00:13:25

] So we need to make sure

what worked and why. Those are all the things that we' re going to look at when

we search in our marketing channels. The other thing is email marketing. I know

some of you are like, Heather, I do not want to do email marketing. I am going

to urge you to simply even something as simple as a weekly or monthly

newsletter. It does not have to be anything crazy, but if you are at zero and

you do not have an email list, let' s start with a weekly or a monthly

newsletter. Something that is super simple, super easy. At the end of the day,

social media is rented land on your business, okay? It can, anything can

happen. They can take things down, all of that kind of stuff.

[ 00:14:08

] At the end of the day,

you are your own voice and it is owned land. When you have your own email list,

you own all of those emails. You have the permission to use them so we are

going to use them and we are going to speak directly to them. I know that you'

re like, does anyone even open emails? Guess what: you can sign up with an

email service provider for free and you can go check that click rate if that is

if that' s what you' Re- thinking because that' s literally one of the biggest

pushbacks I get, and I think to myself I did used to think that way then I had

an email list, and then I realized how many people are clicking, and how many

people I get to talk to specifically for that.

[ 00:14:47

] I am going to challenge

you for this year coming up if you do not have an email list to simply start

with a monthly or weekly newsletter that simply shares your promotion with your

guests; Number four: we are going to measure our guest' s retention and their

loyalty. We want to know how many times our guests have been coming in, on

average, so are they at four weeks, are they at six weeks, are they at seven

weeks? This is all a standard measure, so then this way we can compare it two

years past. So for example, if you had your guests coming in in 20' 23, they

were coming in on average every four and a half weeks, and then we look at '

24, we see that on average our guests are coming in every six weeks; those are

really key points in your service sales, and they could definitely take a hit.

[ 00:15:41

] So we need to make sure

We look at our demographics as well when it comes to measuring our client

retention, because why do we have younger guests now? Maybe younger stylists

that are servicing younger guests that are doing more lived- in looks. Because

then maybe we need to think about how we run our promotions as well or are our