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Salon client retention is one of the most overlooked numbers in your business, and most salon owners have no idea how many first-time clients they’re losing. You spend money on promotions and social media to get new people through the door, then never see them again. In this episode, I talk about how to measure retention properly, why the numbers can vary so much between stylists, and what’s really behind a client deciding not to come back. And I ask the question every salon owner should be asking: how many of the new clients I’m paying to attract am I actually keeping? I finish with a simple seven-step process for finding out who on your team is struggling, working out why, and getting more first-time clients back for a second visit. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How to measure new client retention properly, and the right time period for your type of salonWhy each stylist’s individual numbers tell you far more than your salon’s overall figureA seven-step process to lift retention across your whole teamWhy stylists improve faster when they can see their own data, and how to use it constructively EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: Is your real problem new clients or keeping them?[01:56] What happens when only four in ten new clients come back[02:35] Why chasing new clients is an expensive way to grow[03:00] Defining client retention and choosing the right measurement period[03:57] New client retention vs existing client retention, and what to aim for[05:35] Why individual stylist numbers matter more than the salon average[06:56] Why some first-time clients never come back[11:21] The rebooking conversation many stylists never have[12:23] The seven-step process for improving new client retention[17:42] What lifting retention from 40% to 60% could mean for your salon[18:58] How to get help improving your team’s client retention RESOURCES MENTIONED Super Stylist Online Course – Build the consultation, communication and rebooking skills that keep clients coming back – Find out more Marketing Online Course – Build a marketing system that attracts the right clients and keeps them – Find out more Management Online Course – Put the systems and structure in place for a salon that runs properly – Find out more Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 🆘 Management overwhelm? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you’re at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ 👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS & REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here’s what you do: On your phone, Click here (read the steps below first)Scroll down to ‘Ratings & Reviews’Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 starsClick on ‘Write a Review’I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

The festive season is one of the biggest spending periods of the year, yet most salon owners go into it without a real marketing plan. Meanwhile, every retailer, restaurant and online business is chasing the same share of your clients’ festive spending, and they planned their campaigns months ago.  So the question every salon owner should be asking is: what’s my plan for the rest of this year, and will it make my salon more profitable? I share five practical things you can put in place in the buildup to the Christmas money-making season. You’ll come away knowing how to generate extra revenue through gifting, retail and events without giving your profit away, and how to use December’s busy appointment book to fill the quieter months of January and February. IN THIS EPISODE: How to build a simple festive marketing plan your team can deliverThe discount maths that shows how a 20% Black Friday offer can wipe out your profitHow to make gifting easy for clients who know nothing about hair productsHow a $50 haircut turned into $3,600 in gift card sales, and what made it workEPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction[00:27] Why marketing never stops, even when you think you’re not doing any[01:17] The festive spending season and who you’re really competing against[03:12] Too many ideas and no plan: why festive promotions fall over[05:32] The Black Friday discount maths every salon owner needs to see[07:24] Why the person buying the gift matters more than the receiver[08:10] The fifty dollar haircut that turned into $3,600 in gift cards[11:41] Turning a gift card into something that feels like a proper present[13:47] Giving back at Christmas and why it matters to your community[16:36] Retail bingo: a fun way to get your team recommending products[21:11] Recap of the five ways to make the most of the festive season[22:19] How to get more organised with your marketing all year round RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🎓 Marketing Course and Coaching Program – A complete system to attract, convert and retain the right clients all year round – Find out more  Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 🆘 Management overwhelm? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you’re at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do:- On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast!  Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

When one salon already feels like it's running you, scaling a salon business to 230 locations sounds impossible. I'm joined by returning guest Denis McFadden, founder of Just Cuts. Denis has just released his book, The Power of Showing Up, and we talk about the personal story behind it and the thinking that built the brand. And I ask the question every salon owner asks: how do I build a business that keeps growing without everything going through me? You'll hear why Denis puts systems at the heart of everything, the simple numbers he uses to judge whether a salon can be profitable, and why he's still building at 80. Whatever your size, you'll walk away knowing what to write down, what to measure and where you're overcomplicating things. IN THIS EPISODE: ✅ Why systems let a business run 10 salons or 200 the same way ✅ Why time and price always belong in the same conversation ✅ How focusing on one thing built a brand, and why Denis keeps saying no to other opportunities ✅ What showing up really means, and how that one habit shaped an entire career EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: Denis McFadden returns to talk about his new book [06:01] The Power of Showing Up: what the title of the book really means [11:30] Dyslexia, self-belief and why Denis now calls it his superpower [18:46] Still building at 80: what keeps Denis motivated in business [21:27] Why systems are the foundation of growing from one salon to many [24:55] Is the Just Cuts model still relevant to today’s clients and stylists? [31:41] Are tougher economic times pushing clients to trade down on haircuts? [35:30] The percentages that decide whether a salon will be profitable [37:49] Why time and price can never be separated in your salon [39:54] The future of Just Cuts and why Denis is bringing in experts [45:36] Would Denis do anything differently? Plus how to get the book RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 📚 The Power of Showing Up by Denis McFadden – Denis's personal story and the story behind the Just Cuts brand – Find out more Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books  🆘 Management overwhelm? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at  RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE: Episode 24: The story behind building ‘Just Cuts' a successful salon franchise with Denis McFadden Listen here → https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/024/   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW JUST CUTS! Instagram | Website  RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do:- On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast!  Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

Spend any time in hairdressing groups on social media, and you could believe a successful salon business is almost impossible today. Rising costs, staffing problems and shrinking margins are real. But some of the salons I work with tell a very different story. These are profitable businesses with great teams, run by owners who have a life outside the salon. We just don't hear enough about them, and I think it's time we did. Today's episode will give you a fresh perspective on your own business, a clearer idea of what success means to you, and the foundations that help a salon hold firm when the economy slows. IN THIS EPISODE: Why the doom and gloom on social media only tells half the storyThe simple swap from "I have to" to "I get to" and how it changes the way you see your businessWhy your definition of success can look completely different from the salon down the road EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: is the salon industry really all doom and gloom? [01:23] A coaching client who is tired of the negativity in hairdressing [02:49] Acknowledging the challenges without letting them dominate your thinking [06:59] The successful salons you rarely hear about in our industry [08:35] The low-profile salon on the fourth floor of an industrial building [09:42] What does success actually mean for you and your salon? [11:27] Why Antony wants to share more salon success stories on the podcast [13:00] Warren Buffett, the tide going out, and building a business that lasts [14:32] The foundations that help a salon cope when times get tough [17:04] One simple question to ask about your business right now [19:17] Why success leaves clues, and where to get help RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: ➡️ Zenoti – all-in-one salon management platform with AI-powered client communications and automation. GMSB listeners get 50% off their first three months – Find out more Grow My Salon Business – free and paid resources to help you build a more profitable, sustainable salon – Find out more   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do:- On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast!  Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

A salon business partnership usually starts with two hairdressers, a strong friendship and a handshake. It feels like a great way to share the load. Yet most of these partnerships fall apart within a few years, often with money lost and friendships damaged.  The key to a successful partnership is all about how you set it up at the beginning. So here's a question worth asking: if you're thinking about a partner, or already have one, how protected is the business when circumstances change? What are the conversations to have before you sign anything, and why giving away ownership is so hard to undo.  IN THIS EPISODE: • Why needing business expertise is a poor reason on its own to give away equity in your salon • The questions to answer before you sign anything: ownership, workload, salary, profits and decision-making • What 50/50 really means when you and your partner disagree • Why talking about the end at the start is one of the smartest moves you can make EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: why so many salon partnerships start with just a handshake [04:37] The first question to ask yourself: why do you actually want a partner? [06:17] Why needing expertise doesn't mean you should give away ownership [08:00] Why shared vision matters as much as complementary skills in a partnership [11:12] Every partnership ends eventually, so why you should plan for it early [12:14] The seven Ds that can derail a salon business partnership [14:20] The conversations to have before you sign a partnership agreement [16:19] What a 50/50 partnership really means when the two of you disagree [17:17] Why you can't outsource understanding your own business as an owner [20:00] The biggest lessons from three very different partnerships [21:23] How Grow My Salon Business can help you build a better business RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The GROW Book Series – four bestselling books on building a successful salon business – Find out more Grow My Salon Business Online Courses – step-by-step courses on money, management, marketing and your team – Find out more  Coaching – one-to-one support to work through the specific challenges in your business – Find out more    👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do:- On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast!  Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

Why do some salon and beauty businesses grow beyond a single location while others struggle to scale? In this episode, I’m joined once again by Sudheer Koneru, co-founder of Zenoti, to discuss his new book, Growth Diaries: How the Best Beauty and Wellness Brands Scale from One Store to One Hundred Plus. Drawing on conversations with 42 successful founders across the salon, spa, med spa and wellness industries, Sudheer shares the common traits he discovered behind businesses that successfully scale. We talk about why passion and purpose matter, the importance of building systems that work without the owner, why successful entrepreneurs are great listeners, and how people, culture, location and data all play a role in sustainable growth. Whether your ambition is to build one exceptional salon or one hundred locations, there are plenty of lessons here about what it really takes to build a business that can grow beyond you. IN THIS EPISODE: The real reason most salons plateau at a single location and never expandWhich phase of growth trips up almost every founder, and what gets them through itThe three traits the world's fastest growing beauty and wellness brands all shareWhy retention and rebooking matter more than chasing new client numbers EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: why so few salons ever scale past one location  [00:39] Meet Sudheer Koneru, founder of Zenoti and author of Growth Diaries  [03:19] Sudheer's own path from Microsoft into building wellness businesses  [04:58] Why timing changes which sectors are easiest to scale today  [07:00] What surfaces when founders talk beyond their usual PR story  [09:00] Two stories of founders who built huge brands from nothing [13:00] The phases of growth most likely to trip up an owner  [16:26] Why owners underestimate how much they personally are the system  [19:00] Founder or business partner: what separates the two growth paths  [22:22] Why going from one location to two is the hardest step  [26:12] Three things the most successful beauty and wellness brands share  [35:39] Sudheer's advice for a young stylist wanting to build something bigger RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Growth Diaries by Sudheer Koneru – a new book drawn from 42 conversations with beauty and wellness founders who scaled from one location to over a hundred → You can get the book here Zenoti – salon, spa and wellness management software, founded by today's guest – head here for 50% off for the first 3 months   RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE: If you enjoyed this episode, you'll also like: Episode 268: Can One Salon Management Software System Fill All Your Needs? Listen here → https://growmysalonbusiness.com/podcast/268   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW Zenoti! Instagram | Website  RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do:- On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast!  Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

Growth sounds like the obvious goal for any salon owner, but chasing a bigger business without a plan can break the one you've already built. I've seen owners open a second location only to end up with two salons that struggle instead of one that thrives. So what would your business actually need to look like if it grew the way you truly want? In this episode, I share the five things I believe every salon owner needs before they scale: a clear vision, real systems, people who can lead, a handle on the numbers, and the willingness to grow as a leader. You'll get a practical insight to decide if growth is the right goal, and how to build a business that gives you the life you want. IN THIS EPISODE • The five things you need in place before you scale a salon business • Why expansion doesn't just duplicate what was already working; it duplicates the problems as well. • How to build systems that let your business run without you • Why business growth is really people growth, and how to develop leaders under you EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction [01:33] Why there is no single definition of salon business success [03:15] The assumption that bigger automatically means better, and why it isn't [04:02] The five things you need in place for growth to be sustainable [06:16] The mistake most salon owners make when they open salon number two [07:47] How growth reveals whether you built a business or just a job [10:00] Why business growth is really about growing people, not just adding them [12:24] Why you need to know the numbers before you think about expanding [14:22] Why evolving as a leader is the hardest part of growing a business [16:09] The owner who believes nobody can do it as well as they can [17:00] A recap of the five things sustainable salon growth actually requires [18:11] Where to find the free video series on salon management skills RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Management Video Series – Four Essential Lessons in Salon Management to Set You Up For Success, a free four-part video series (each video around 15 minutes) that also explains how the management course and coaching program work.👉 Register here https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-video-series and get them sent straight to your inbox Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 🆘 Management overwhelm? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at: https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ 👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS & REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, click here (read the steps below first): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/grow-my-salon-business-podcast/id1456014220 - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on 'Write a Review' I love to hear what's been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time! Antony

Every salon owner learns eventually that to manage a salon business, you first have to manage yourself. It's easy to focus on the team, the standards and the accountability conversations you'd rather avoid. But before any of that works, you need to look honestly at your own time, habits and follow-through. This week I look at why being busy and managing well are two different things, why giving someone a task without also giving them the authority to make decisions isn't really delegating, and why so much of good management is invisible to your clients even though they feel the result of it. Manage yourself properly, and the rest of the business gets easier to run. IN THIS EPISODE: Why being busy and managing well are two completely different thingsThe diary test that shows what you're actually prioritising, not just what you say mattersWhy delegation fails when you hand over the task but not the authorityThe difference between managing things and leading people, and why both matter EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: Why the hardest person to manage is the one running the salon [01:28] The uncomfortable realisation that your own standards set the tone for everyone [03:37] Why being busy and managing well are two completely different things [06:00] The two very different jobs of a stylist and a salon manager [07:21] What your diary actually reveals about your real priorities each week [10:57] Why you manage things and systems, but you have to lead people [12:32] Why clear expectations do more for standards than being hard or controlling [13:00] Why "obvious" means something different to every single person on your team [16:00] What clients actually feel when a salon business is genuinely well managed [20:11] Why knowledge alone never changes a business, only implementation actually does [23:02] The one question every owner needs to ask about their own business RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🎥 4 Essential Lessons in Salon Management (free video series) – sign up and get one short video a day for four days, straight to your inbox, starting the 14th September – Join the free video series Want MORE to help you GROW? 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at  RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE  If you enjoyed this episode, you'll also like: Episode 363: Why the Most Successful Salons Keep it Simple. Listen here   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

Most salon owners assume their business feels complicated because it needs to be. But after years inside salons at every level of the market, I've noticed the opposite.  The businesses that thrive are simple, while the ones that struggle are usually a collection of good ideas picked up along the way that were never designed to work together. So ask yourself: does your business actually function as one connected whole, or does it just feel like separate parts that don’t quite work together as they should? I'll share why keeping things simple takes real work, why most owners build their business one decision at a time, and why the real job of management is making sure every part connects to everything else. If your business feels harder than it should, this episode will help you see why. IN THIS EPISODE: Why the most successful salons are simple, not complicatedHow joined up thinking turns one small decision, like pricing, into a ripple across the whole businessWhy removing something from your business can matter as much as adding something newThe real difference between a simple business and one that depends on youEPISODE TRANSCRIPT: [00:00] Introduction [00:43] The one question people most often ask about salon success [01:54] The jigsaw puzzle metaphor for building a business that works [03:56] Why so many salon owners end up building the plane while flying [06:46] Why you need the picture on the box before you build [08:35] How one pricing decision ripples through every part of your business [10:00] The two sides of management: systems and processes versus people [13:16] Why removing something from the business can matter as much as adding [14:02] The real difference between a simple business and a dependent one [18:08] Why the goal is making the pieces you have work together [19:00] The free management checklist and course mentioned in this episode RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

When it comes to marketing, many salon owners pour their time into Instagram, hoping it brings new clients through the door. My returning guest Phil Evans, founder of Salon Guru, has analysed over four and a half million visits to salon websites, and the results show that social media is not driving potential clients to your website in the numbers that you might expect. So here's a question worth reflecting on: if your marketing time is going to the wrong place, what is that actually costing your salon? In this conversation, Phil breaks down exactly where new clients are really coming from, what Google's EEAT framework means for your website, and why most reviews fall short of what Google and AI are looking for. By the end of this episode, you'll know where to put your marketing time so it actually brings in bookings, not just likes. IN THIS EPISODE: Why only 1.5% of website visits come directly from social media, and where the rest actually come fromThe four-part framework Google and AI use to decide which salon to recommendHow to structure your Google reviews so they build real trust and authority, not just star ratingsWhat to search on your own phone to check whether your salon is visible on Google and AI TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Introduction [00:51] Introducing returning guest Phil Evans from Salon Guru [01:44] Inside the new Salon Guru trends report and why it exists [03:42] Google versus social media, the surprising split in the data [05:26] Why social media rarely closes the booking on its own [09:16] How AI is reshaping the way clients search for salons [11:39] Is AI about to replace Google search entirely [18:14] The EEAT framework Google and AI use to pick a salon [22:00] Why detailed Google reviews matter more than five-star ratings [27:17] Where to focus five hours a week of marketing time [32:34] What clients actually want to see on a salon website [38:00] Inside Showcase and the early results from beta salons RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Salon Guru Trends Report – New data on where salon clients really come from and how to be found on Google and AI 👉Download the report Showcase Webinar – Phil's live walkthrough of the new website tool built from the trends report data, going live 31st August 👉Send it to me Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ 👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW SALON GURU! Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

Treating your team like family feels warm and caring, but it might be working against your leadership and having a negative impact on the business. A family relationship and a business relationship serve two very different purposes, and in a business, when the boundaries are blurred, accountability gets harder, standards slip, and you start making exceptions you'd never normally allow.  In today's episode, I walk through five practical shifts that replace the family myth with something stronger, a team built on genuine care and clear standards. You'll come away with a better way to handle the conversations you've been avoiding, and a level of clarity that serves everyone in the business. IN THIS EPISODE: Why family belonging is unconditional, while team membership comes with real expectationsHow holding people accountable is one of the most caring things you can doThe difference between supporting your team and carrying every problem in their livesWhy blurred boundaries between friend and employer make hard conversations even harderA better metaphor than family for building loyalty, trust and belonging EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction [01:15] Why calling your team family can create serious problems [02:31] Families and businesses exist for completely different reasons [02:42] Word from our sponsor: Zenoti [04:46] The unconditional nature of family versus the realities of a team [06:34] Why caring about people does not mean avoiding accountability [07:57] The hidden cost of protecting one person from feedback [08:53] You are not responsible for fixing everyone's problems [10:03] How the family mindset creates a one-sided psychological contract [11:26] Why blurred boundaries make leadership so much harder [17:33] Recap: five things to remember about your team [18:58] Where to find the free salon management checklist Want MORE to help you GROW? ➡️ Zenoti – all-in-one salon management platform with AI-powered client communications and automation. GMSB listeners get 50% off their first three months – Find out more 🆘 Salon Management Checklist – a free download to help you assess where your salon's management currently stands – https://growmysalonbusiness.com/free-resources RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website

One of the bigger challenges the salon industry has always faced is getting reliable data. Fortunately, that is changing for the better, and today I break down a new industry benchmark report that has been put together by leading salon management software brand Zenoti. You'll hear why client retention, not marketing, is driving industry growth, what's really behind falling new client numbers, and why one number, utilisation, might be the biggest opportunity sitting inside your business right now.  In this episode, I pull out the numbers that actually matter, the ones that tell you something real about salon industry benchmarks and business trends so that you can stop guessing and start knowing how your salon is performing.  IN THIS EPISODE: Why new client numbers are falling across every part of the industry, and why that's not automatically your faultThe client retention approach that's driving almost all industry growth right nowWhy salons with membership programs are growing four times faster than salons without oneWhat calendar inflation really means, and why 72% of first rebooked appointments never happen as planned EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction  [00:25] Why "is that good?" is the wrong question to start with  [01:47] The moment benchmarking changed how I ran my own salon  [04:07] Numbers are facts, not feelings  [06:59] Same salon revenue is still growing despite the uncertainty  [07:56] New client numbers are falling across every sector measured  [09:16] Why retention, not marketing, is driving industry growth  [11:39] Membership programs and the eight percent growth gap  [13:13] Calendar inflation and the 72 percent rebooking problem  [15:40] Where AI actually helps, and where it doesn't  [17:15] The 30-point utilisation gap between average and top salons  [20:00] This week's challenge: 30 minutes with your own numbers RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: The 2026 Beauty and Wellness Benchmark Report by Zenoti: Download the free benchmark report here Want to see how your business compares? Head to the Zenoti benchmark scorecard Enter your numbers to see where you stand against industry benchmarks. Interested in a personalised consultation with Zenoti and 50% off for the first 3 months. 👉Head here to arrange a personalised consultation   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW ZENOTI! Instagram | Website THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY ZENOTI RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated! They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast.👉 Here's what you do:- On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first)- Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews'- Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars- Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast!Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

Billy Ryan and Elle Foreman own the Tribe Salons group in London and Kent. In this episode, we discuss what it takes to build a successful family salon business and how they've evolved their employee-based salon culture to meet the expectations of today's workforce. You'll hear how they've built communication and shared values into the way they lead their team, why they moved away from a traditional commission-only pay structure, and how learning to manage cash flow gave them the confidence to invest, expand and finally feel in control of the financial side of the business. IN THIS EPISODE: Why clear communication and shared core values matter How different learning styles shape the way you train your team, and why one teaching style never works for everyoneWhy a pay structure based only on commission can work against the business you're trying to buildHow a cash flow forecast turns "we just need to make more money" into an actual planWhy entering awards and competitions can have a bigger impact on your business than chasing a larger social media following EPISODE TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Introduction  [00:47] Meet Billy Ryan and Elle Foreman from Tribe Salons  [01:41] How Tribe Salons grew to two locations and 25 team members  [03:23] The pros and cons of running a business with a sibling  [07:39] Bringing in new ideas while an older generation resists change  [12:55] The top things that make a family business work  [17:29] Why Tribe is built as a fully employed salon, not chair rental  [21:31] How a ten-year age gap changed the way they train their team  [30:00] How the GMSB courses shaped their business decisions  [32:48] The cash flow forecast that changed everything financially  [40:16] Why they rebuilt their pay structure around more than commission  [45:33] What hairdressing awards have done for their business and their team RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: GROW Business School - The complete blueprint for building a successful salon business - Courses, Coaching and Community Money Course – A step-by-step course covering cash flow forecasting, pricing and financial control for salon owners – Find out more  👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW TRIBE SALONS! Instagram | Website 👉 FOLLOW ELLE Instagram 👉 FOLLOW BILLY Instagram RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏 Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony

The way hairdressing education is delivered has changed dramatically since I started in this industry, and it will continue to evolve as new technology emerges.  In this episode, I talk about those changes and the impact it has on salons, trainees, standards and productivity. And I ask the question I think salon owners are wondering: “What does the future of education look like and how will it impact the way I run my business? I explain why information has become cheap while experience has become more valuable than ever, and why that changes what you should actually be looking for in education. I also share seven practical lessons on building a culture of learning, why you need to be training apprentices who contribute quickly, and staying ahead as the industry keeps moving. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why information has become cheap while real experience has never been more valuableThe real reason AI won't replace great educators, and how it exposes the poor onesWhy your apprentices should be productive within six months, not left to find their feet for yearsThe difference between being a great hairdresser and being a great teacherWhy you can't rely on colleges or government training programs to finish the job for youSeven practical lessons on education every salon owner needs to hear IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Introduction  [02:19] Antony asks the big question: where is salon education heading next  [03:15] How live seminars and academies defined the early years of education  [04:00] The internet and social media put educators in everyone's pocket  [05:07] The moment Antony realised business education mattered more than technical skill  [06:23] Why salon owners started asking about branding and leadership, not just hair [07:41] How COVID forced the whole industry to learn online almost overnight  [09:00] What actually separates a genuinely good coach from a mediocre one  [10:36] Why online retail during COVID changed manufacturers for good  [13:05] How artificial intelligence is reshaping salon education right now  [14:04] Why information is cheap but real experience is priceless  [17:29] Antony's seven practical lessons every salon owner needs on education  [21:12] The one thing that never changes no matter how the industry evolves Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week.  If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website

Most salon owners already know what they should be doing to build salon success. They know they should raise their prices, have the tough conversation with an underperforming team member, or get on top of their numbers, and they still don't do it.  After more than 30 years working with salon owners in dozens of countries, I've watched the same four disciplines show up in every real success story, and none of them are a shortcut. I break down the four words I believe underpin real success in this industry, whether you're behind the chair or running the business. You'll learn why mastering them matters more than chasing the next new idea, and what separates people who talk about change from people who actually make it happen. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN Why information on its own has almost no value anymore, and why most people still don't changeThe first discipline every master of any craft, hairdressing or business, never outgrowsWhy mastering the fundamentals of your salon's finances matters more than any new marketing hackThe difference between doing something once and true implementation, and why real mastery looks effortlessWhy innovation only works once you've earned the right to it through masteryWhy endurance is the discipline that separates the real success stories from everyone else IN THIS EPISODE: [00:00] Introduction[00:51] Why knowing what to do isn't the real problem[02:21] The four words that underpin every success story[03:34] The first discipline: mastering the fundamentals[05:08] The Guido Palau lesson on practising at the very top[06:38] Why salons fail without understanding the financial fundamentals[07:00] The second discipline: implementation[09:00] The third discipline: innovation[10:36] The fourth discipline: endurance[11:30] The mentor who embodied endurance more than anyone[13:00] Recap: the four disciplines that build lasting success Want MORE to help you GROW? 📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/ 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Episode 40 with Guido Palau – Find out moreEpisode 41 with Guido Palau – Find out more Episode 229 with Annie Humphries – Find out more 👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website RATINGS + REVIEWS 🙏Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review. Ratings and reviews are extremely helpful and greatly appreciated!  They do matter in the rankings of the show and help other people find my podcast. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, Click here  (Read steps below first) - Scroll down to 'Ratings & Reviews' - Tap on the empty purple stars and rate 5 stars - Click on ‘Write a Review’ I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏 Until next time!Antony