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It all began with Viola, who's salon did so well that she made more money than the doctor who delivered her son -- in the Great Depression, no less. That son went to hair school and joined the family business too. Fast forward to today, and a small family business has become large and legendary: Viola's great grandchildren own and operate a four-location salon company and a Summit Salon Academy.  Our guest this episode is Chris Huffstutter, owner of Summit Salon Academy Portland, shareholder at Anastasia Salon, and a Summit School Coach. Listen for a fun and frank conversation on the joys and pitfalls of working with your siblings, and learn how the Huffstutter brothers draw on their dad's wisdom and the latest tech to bring more happiness to their family and employees.  Reach out to Chris about cosmetology school coaching here. Follow Summit Salon Academy Portland on Instagram @summitsalonacademy_pdx. You can catch Chris's brother Luke on a previous SUMM IT UP episode,  Stop losing money on color ft. Vish's Tim Howard with Les McFadden and Luke Huffstutter. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

An entrepreneur, military spouse, mom and life-long high achiever, Laura Watkins thought mental illness was for the weak -- until it happened to her. Laura is the owner of Pure Salon Spa in Louisville, KY, and the author of Something Feels Off: Thriving in Life & Business Beyond a Mental Health Crisis. After coming out of the other end of her own crisis, Laura is working to end the stigma around mental health, and bring the same care and compassion to mental illness as any other illness.  In this frank conversation, Laura and Blake discuss the nuances of working with employees through mental health issues, and strategies for cultivating a culture that supports mental health in a salon company. Also, why owners should never tell their employees "we're a family here." Follow Laura Watkins on Instagram @Mentalgirl_502, and learn more about Laura and her book at mentalgirl502.com.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

How do you go from seven employees to seven figures 11 years? Heather Piselli, Aliscia Martinelli and Monica Rivera did it together. They're co-owners of Privé Salon Co., with three comission salon locations and a suite rental facility in the Phildelphia metro area. The also co-host the GoHam podcast, featuring unfiltered conversations on business, leadership, and the beauty industry. On this episode, Blake is joined by Healther, Alisica, and Monica; and their Summit salon coach, Kierstin Nemer, who's been at their side throughout the journey. Yes this is the most guests we've ever had on a single episode -- but the conversation really demonstrates how each team member plays to her strenghts! You'll hear about their strategies for hiring, taking risks, growing service providers, and why the phrase "Go Ham" describes their business ethos.      Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

At Summit, we believe salon professionals should be able to retire on their own terms. In this last episode in our Financials 101 series with CPA Chris Wittich from Boyum Associates, Chris explains why you should be saving for retirement now, even if you're working your very first job. Chris and Blake discuss retirment investment accounts for individuals like IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401Ks. Also, did you know you can create an online account with the Social Security Administration and see how much you've been contributing in your working life so far? (We didn't!) From the salon owner perspective, we have advice on providing retirement plans for employees, and how to encourage your staff members to contribute.  Find Chris Wittich and his team of salon accounting pros at salon.cpa.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

Sometimes in the salon business we get so "busy being busy" in November in December that our relationships with clients suffer, and that can  lead to a January and February that are slower than they have to be. Summit salon Coach Chad Faass is back to help you navigate the next few months.  For salon owners, Chad talks about the importance of showing up for your team consistently, without doing team members' work for them or micromanaging. (Don't go from hero to villian!) Boost morale and save money with an early holiday party, and boost sales by gamifying retail knowledge and other team engagement activities.  For stylists, Chad and Blake have advice on how to keep conversations with guests positive in difficult political times, and to offer packages, discounts and simpler services to incentivize them to rebook in January and February.  Plus, advice on how to bring in referrals, and make the best out of the slow times.  Chad Fass on Instagram -- DM him for team engagement exercises Learn more about Chad Faass and schedule a discovery call.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

Summit Unplugged is SSBC's signature salon leadership retreat in beautiful Cancun, Mexico, and it's back for a second time in January 2026. We're joined by Derek Reynolds, Summit's Associate Director of Training and an organizer of Summit Unplugged.  Derek and Blake get into the disctinctions between self-soothing and self-care and the importance of true self-care for leaders. Also: the gap between the values of many salon owners (Gen X) who often ignore self-care, and younger employees (Gen Z) who tend to prioritize it more.  Then it's on to what you can expect at Unplugged, including sessions with top Summit leaders like Heather Bagby, Dave Kirby and Peter Mahoney, all focused around the theme of joy. Derek reports back from his scouting trip to the gorgeous Breathless Riveria Cancun resort -- and you'll hear about some adjustments to the program incorporating feedback from the innaugural event. Plus the keynote speaker -- legendary stylist, educator and entrepreneur Sam Villa. Oh, and btw our host Blake Reed Evans will be bringing his energy and savoir-faire to the role of Master of Ceremonies once again.  Summit Unplugged takes place January 12-14, 2026. We still have spots available (as of Nov 5, 2025). For questions about registration check our FAQ, or reach out to Derek directly at [email protected].  Watch Derek's Instagram reel from Breathless Riveria Cancun and follow him on IG.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

As a small business, your salon company has options when it comes to paying taxes. But are you chosing the right one? Whether you're in a parternship, an S corp or a C corp, the best entity for your business might not be the same as the salon across town, or even the same as it was a few years ago when you had four chairs instead of eight. For the second in our Financials 101 series, Boyum Associates accounting wiz Chris Wittich breaks down everything you need to know to make an informed decision.  You’ll hear: The differences between Schedule C, partnerships, S Corps, and C CorpsWhy S Corps are often the go-to for salons—and when it’s time to make the switchHow state laws and the new FICA tip credit can impact your decisionThe importance of paying yourself a “reasonable salary” as a salon owner (and what that really means)Why setting up an LLC is a smart move, even if you’re just starting outCommon mistakes salon owners make with their taxesGet more tips and reach out to Chris Wittich at salon.cpa Learn more about the FICA tax tip credit and tax-free tips!   Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

Whether you expect to sell your salon in 6 months or in 20 years, the time to start preparing is now, says Chris Wittich, a CPA who works with Summit and specializes in salons.  Early planning leads to better outcomes, smoother transitions, and higher valuations. And unfotunately, many salon owners miss the mark then it comes to the true value of their salons.  In this episode you'll learn exactly what factors into a salon's value, and how to make your salon company attractive to buyers. Also: Where to look for a buyer, and tips for selling in "bite-sized pieces" to you own team members. And:  Red and green flags to look out for if you're looking to purchase a salon,  This is the first in our three part Financials 101 series with Chris Wittich. Learn more about Chris' firm, Boyum Business Advisors.  ICYMI: Learn more about the changes to the FICA tax tip credit and new tax-free tips rules that benefit salon owners and stylists.  Stay tuned for the next episode in our series, where Blake and Chris will dive into tax structures and how to set up your business for financial success. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

 Stylists are increasingly seeing renting their own suite or booth as an appealing alternative to working in a commission salon.  Guest Anne Chesbro is co-owner of a commission salon company, Platinum Salon, as well as a suite rental business in Rochester, NY. She and her husband Joe Chesbro founded Platinum Salon Suites to meet the needs of stylists who wanted to strike out on their own. Unlike most suite rental setups, Anne provides renters with  benefits like laundry, business coaching, free access to stylist education, and more. She says the new business has been a great way to provide stylists the opportunity to be their own bosses, while retaining them within the greater salon family and culture. Tune in for a smart and savvy conversation about navigating changes in our industry. Follow Anne on Instagram @anne_chesbro. Follow Anne on TikTok at anne_chesbro. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

This episode we're amped to talk about taxes. That's because new U.S. laws benefit both salon owners and stylists. Blake brings in Chris Wittitch, a CPA and partner at Boyum Acounting, to break it all down. They chat about the exciting new FICA tax tip credit now available to the beauty industry and what salon owners need to know to take full advantage of it. They also touch on the new tax-free tips for service providers and discuss the impact of digital tipping platforms like Venmo and PayPal. Tune in to get all the insights straight from an expert and make sure you're maximizing these new tax benefits! MORE RESOURCES Complete guide to tax reporting for salons No Tax on Tips guide for salon employees Find more guides and learn how your salon company can work with Chris Wittitch at salon.cpa 00:00 Introduction 00:33 Meet the expert: Chris Whittich, Summit's right-hand accountant 01:10 Understanding the FICA tip credit 04:41 Salon owners: Maximizing the FICA tip Credit 13:58 Tax-Free Tips: What service-providers need to know 24:22 Impact of digital tipping and 1099-K reporting 28:38 Conclusion and what happiness means to Chris Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

Is your salon company maximizing its potential? As a salon owner in the thick of things it can be challenging to step back and take a holisitc look at the business, including growth areas. In this episode, Summit Business Intelligence Developer Chris Mahoney introduces Salon IQ, a comprehensive business assessment tool. Chris built this assesment based on decades of Summit Salon Business Center's research and best practices. And it's free, whether your salon works with Summit or not. As Blake and Chris discuss, Salon IQ goes beyond dollars and cents to assess salon company culture, branding, and client relations.  Learn more and take the assessment at saloniq.summitsalon.com.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

When guest Doug Smith and his wife, stylist Tara Summersett Smith opened The Studio + Co. in Florence SC in 2011, Doug was a corporate guy who was completely new to the salon world. Now he's a certified Summit Salon Coach who helps other salon owners figure out financials, marketing and management. In this episode, Doug and Blake discuss the joys and complexities of running a salon company when your life partner is your business partner. (We need to get Tara on the show to hear her side of the story!) Doug also opens up about the process of selling The Studio + Co. to a former employee -- at topic he also coaches on.  Schedule a 30 minute discovery call with Doug Smith.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

A member of the beauty industry since 2011, Colissa Nole recently left the salon company where she worked as a stylist and struck out on her own -- first in a booth rental space, and most recently as part of the Soul Collective. in Columbia, Missouri. While it's an adjustment becoming your own boss, Colissa says the change has allowed her to offer the best service of her career, and "fall in love with hair all over again."  In this episode, Colissa Nole and host Blake Reed Evans discuss why she made the move, and the new challenges -- like having to schedule and reschedule all your own clients --   and joys -- like having old clients open up to you like never before. Also: Colissa is here to coach you through your own self-employment journey.  This episode was originally published in December 2023.  Contact Colissa to learn more about Summit's self-employed stylist subscription service:  Colissa's Instagram Colissa's page on Summitsalon.com Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

Something we love about working in the salon industry is that our careers are customizable. Want to work just one day a week? Specialize in blonding? Just do cuts?  Split your time between two locations? Have back-to-back clients or work some down time into your schedule? All of these things are possible. Coming out of cosmetology school, Kacie Mundell knew she wanted the opportunity to grow and learn more advanced color techniques, and she wanted to have fun at work. First she got an entry-level job at a Summit salon company with a strong mentorship program that shared her values. Then the rest was up to her. Less than a year and two promotions later, Kacie's a level 2 stylist at her salon company.  In this episode, Kacie chats with host Blake Reed Evans about the combination of guts, mentorship, relationship-building, and careful financial planning that got her where she is, and keeps her on the rise.  At the time of this recording in 2021, Kacie Mundell was a stylist and color and blonde specialist at Herdis the Salon in Northampton, Massachusetts, and at Parker on Main in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Now she's an indepedent stylist in West Springfield, MA, specializing blonding and vivids.  SUMM IT UP is produced by Andrea Muraskin, with editorial support from Tim Fisk.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon. Follow guest Kacie Mundell on Instagram @kaciedoeshair_ Follow host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans. His DM's are always open!  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.   

Conflict is a natural part of human life, and your salon company is no exception. Our guest Nicholas Burns studies organizational behavior, and he says research demonstrates there are mant healthy ways of managing conflicts within a company. Hint: It starts with team goals, and a work environment where employees know where to turn with a problem, and have a chance to have their voices heard.  We explore concepts like super-ordinate goals, peer-to-peer learning, psychological safety, procedural justice and emotional labor. Also: team-building exercises - yes or no?! And how to handle a client who may be oversharing from the chair.  Nicholas Burns is a behavioral scientist who studies organizational behavior and questions of how companies can become more efficient and more ethical. He works as a research consultant in New York City. This episode is hosted by SUMM IT UP producer Andrea Muraskin, filling in for Blake Reed Evans.  Let us know what you think of this episode! You can leave a  rating and review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon.  SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at [email protected].  Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.