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Salon CEO Day, Friday 13 November, Melbourne CBD - grab your spot! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-ceo-day “I don’t know how to hire someone. I hardly know how to run a business myself.” That was Nic in 2024, still working out of her garage, when her first team member asked her for a job. My Salon Boss Mastermind member Nicola Dainton from Nic’D Collective in Shepparton, Victoria started doing lashes on her three-seater sofa in 2021, on friends, with no plan for it to become a business. In this episode Nic shares why building slowly let word of mouth do the heavy lifting, how getting obsessed with her numbers changed everything, and how she uses AI to take admin off her plate. We also get real about choosing your hard, and why the path everyone else in the industry seems to be on doesn’t have to be yours. Welcome Nic, and how a lash conference led her to the podcast and Salon Boss Mastermind [00:00].From real estate to lashes on the couch, moving into the garage, and hiring Ally then Kayla [03:52].Leasing the commercial space before she felt ready, and finally separating home and work [08:07].Why the people who spend the most on fancy beds and lights early often struggle the most [10:20].Going from “I thought I knew my numbers” to doubling revenue in 12 months [12:22].Fitting out two shops at once with her partner stuck overseas, and why the money always follows [17:22].Why fewer client hours made the salon more money, and how it made Nic a better boss [20:05].Sick leave culture, the comments I copped online, and why we’re both over our phones [33:58].Setting up AI employees with Grok Bots and Whisperflow, plus your Salon CEO Day invite [38:05].Claude vs ChatGPT, the quick Claude Design fix, and automating your weekly reports [47:15].Choose your hard, and the Runway Lash Co story behind why I sold it [55:26].Final takeaways, and where to follow Nic’s journey [1:06:16]. Want to set up Claude Design the way we talk about in this episode? Grab my AI masterclass here: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/ai-masterclass Follow Nic and Nic’D Collective in Shepparton, VIC: Website: https://www.nicdcollective.com.au Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicdcollective/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicdcollective .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

"How do I build a clientele for a new team member when they're also doing reception?" This is a listener Q&A episode, with three of your questions on the table: new staff, rebooking and team meetings. In this episode I'm sharing how to structure a role that mixes reception and client work so nobody ends up resentful, how to market a new team member so their column actually fills, the exact wording my team uses when clients want to "go home and check their roster" before rebooking, and how I plan my weekly team meetings and one-on-one catch-ups. Mentioned in this episode: Episode 203, hiring front of house and a salon manager https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5d97d0e7-e281-4cf8-8831-76dac2de31cf Listener Q&A kickoff, and the three questions on the table this week [00:00].Why a new team member can't build a clientele while covering reception with no structure [00:54].How I block out reception time with set tasks, so nothing gets left to a panic at close [02:37].Marketing your new team member flat out, from intro posts and stories to offers for existing clients [05:51].Why a full column takes nine to 12 months, and the retention rates that would actually worry me [09:23].The rebooking conversation I use when clients want to check their roster and book online later [13:00].Using FOMO to manage expectations, and why your team should rebook from a place of help [15:10].How I plan my weekly team meetings, from the running note on my phone to the monthly team goal [19:33].What I cover in my one-on-one coffee catch-ups, and wrap up [22:26]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Grab my free procrastination AI prompt pack here: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/adhd-prompt-pack or DM me ADHDPROMPT on Instagram: @laurenlappin_ Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy "It just feels too big. I can't even get my head around what I need to do first. Where the hell am I meant to start?" One of my Salon Goals Academy members said those exact words to me about her upcoming salon rebrand, and honestly, the longer I'm in the beauty industry, the more spicy-brained business owners I meet who experience the same. In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact method I have been using with AI to break down the "impossible" tasks, the WisprFlow and Claude setup I use every day, how I turned the Salon Goals Academy launch into a printed three-week plan with time estimates and delegation suggestions, and the momentum hack that means you only ever have to commit to fifteen or twenty minutes at a time. Spicy brains, ADHD and why time management was easier working for a boss [00:00].Why motivation is fleeting when nobody else knows how much is on your plate [02:25].The mopping vs presentation problem: when everything feels equally urgent [03:49].Task avoidance, unread emails and why big tasks never get started [06:47].The five-minute task method that gets you moving and feeds the dopamine [09:10].My exact setup: brain dumping into Wispr Flow and prompting Claude [11:13].How I finally launched the Salon Goals Academy after months of putting it off [15:16].Time blocking, Parkinson's Law and getting AI to suggest what to delegate [19:33].The free procrastination prompt pack and how to grab it [24:18].The ten-minute gym rule and why starting is the only hard part [27:08]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Try LED lashes with 10% off the Lash Plus LED Tweezer with my code LAUREN: https://lash-plus.com/discount/LAUREN?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fled-tweezer%3Fref%3DLauren The Salon Goals Academy: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy Sarah's LED tweezers at Lummuse: https://www.instagram.com/lummuse_/ "What equipment do you use? Do you charge more? What lamp should I buy?" The LED questions have been nonstop in my DMs and at every conference and networking event lately, so this episode is the full download. I first saw LED technology back in 2019 at a lash conference in LA and completely wrote it off. Fast forward to 2024, I was the model at our first LED training, and for the first time ever I got through a full set with no stinging, no watery eyes and no chemical burn. We've been offering LED in my salon for over two years now, it has overtaken normal lashes on our menu, and our 60-minute LED volume refill is holding a 92% client retention rate. In this episode I'm sharing exactly what LED lashes are, why they're a game changer for team-led salons with mixed experience levels, how much more I charge and why clients happily pay it, the free-trial method I used to introduce them (the same way I brought in volume back in 2014), and the safety boxes you need to tick before you buy anything. Welcome, and why the LED questions have been nonstop [00:00].What LED lashes actually are, and why salon conditions no longer matter [01:25].The retention game changer, especially for teams with mixed experience levels [03:04].The allergy claim doing the rounds that is simply not true [05:15].My own experience as a sensitive-eyed client, and why LED changed it [06:48].Big gooseneck lamps vs tweezer lights, and which one I'd choose [10:18].The business benefits: faster full sets, fuller refills and what I charge extra [14:18].The free-trial method I used to introduce LED, borrowed from my 2014 volume launch [18:25].Safe wavelengths, certificates to check, and why you shouldn't buy off AliExpress [21:50].The ROI numbers, including our 92% retention rate on LED volume refills [23:18].Using the October card surcharge changes to shuffle your menu and price LED right [26:03].Wrap up, the Lash+ discount code and what to do next [28:56]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

The Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy "I see a lot of people closing their big salons and choosing to downsize, or going back to working solely on their own on a specific thing like training or coaching. I'd love to hear more about this." This listener question was too big for a short form post, so I'm giving it a whole episode. I've been watching this trend since 2023: beauty business owners closing down solid, growing salons because a coach with sexy photoshoot marketing convinced them mentoring would be easier / more money. I'm a coach myself, so I'm de-influencing you with firsthand experience, including the week influenza A flattened me and my coaching income stopped dead while my salon kept ticking along without me! Then I'm flipping to the part of the question I love: my exact game plan if I went back to working solo, from enforcing hard boundaries and knowing your profit per hour, to niching your service menu, outsourcing everything outside client work, and booking your holidays before the clients get there first. Intro and the listener question that sparked this whole episode [00:00].The wave of salon closures I've been watching since 2023 [01:46].The MLM style coaches, the telltale marketing, and the salons that closed chasing them [02:30].You're just swapping one hard for another [06:14].The week influenza A stopped my coaching income dead, and why my salon kept earning [07:11].Marketing yourself when you can't hide behind a brand name, and why selling yourself still feels ick six years in [10:52].My exact game plan if I went back to working solo tomorrow [14:12].Hard boundaries and set trading hours: designing the week you actually want [15:12].Working backwards from your weekly profit to your pricing, and the minimum you should earn every hour [17:26].Niching your service menu down to your highest profit, easiest to stock services [19:27].Outsourcing the admin, the cleaning, and even the cooking at home [20:40].Why I'd book two holidays a year in advance, and the burnout that taught me to [22:02].Wrap up: choose your hard and know your goal before you pivot [24:31].Ratings, reviews and how to share the podcast with me [25:53]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy "I want to niche down to mainly SPMU treatments. I'm currently mainly nails. How can I grow this?" That's the first of three listener questions I'm answering in this Q&A episode, and it's one I haven't been asked before. I'm walking you through exactly how I'd pivot a booked-out nail business into SPMU without flipping a light switch on your income: culling the menu, raising prices to create white space, and shifting your content months before you announce anything. Then I'm getting honest about apprentices, including the coaching client whose trainee still wasn't covering her wage six months in, and why I spent years being a shit boss before I learnt that staff problems usually start with the owner. And to finish, the messy truth about how I manage my time with ADHD, and the one system I always come back to because it actually works. Episode intro [00:00].Niching into SPMU: why experts win and how to start the switch [01:26].Be ruthless with your nail menu: what to cull and why [02:39].The price rise that creates white space without earning less [03:55].Marketing your new direction so your feed backs up the word of mouth [05:27].Turning your best nail clients into discounted SPMU models [08:55].When an apprentice should cover their wage, and how to count the work you can't see in your reports [09:40].Why getting clients in the door is your job, never your employee's [11:23].Teaching the soft skills that get clients rebooking with your apprentice [12:50].Booked and Busy, my client retention training for you and your team [16:11].The honest answer on how I manage my time with ADHD [16:46].Time blocking: treating tasks like appointments so they actually get done [17:33].Parkinson's Law, and why open-ended time gets wasted [21:07].Wrap up, and how a rating or review helps the show [23:01]. Grab my "Booked and Busy" salon client retention training: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/booked-and-busy .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy "How do I know when to hire a front desk person or a manager, and how do I afford to do it?" This question came through more than once when I asked for your listener questions, so I'm giving it a whole episode. I'm taking you back to 2017, when I was fully booked, drowning in missed calls and DMs, getting complaints from clients about being left on the bed mid appointment, and having a meltdown at home over the ordering and wages. That was the moment I hired a full-time receptionist, and I haven't looked back. In this episode I'm sharing how to know if you can actually afford this hire, the money you're already losing without one, and exactly what to hand over to a manager or 2IC so you don't end up paying someone a manager's wage to do a receptionist's job. Listener Q&A setup, and the manager questions you sent through [00:00].Receptionist vs manager: why you don't have to combine the roles like I have [01:15].Why I hired reception: fully booked, walk-ins interrupting appointments, and the service level I wanted [03:21].The real cost of no front desk: wrong bookings, missed cancellations and short-changed clients [06:24].The Monday meltdown that made the decision for me, and the money reality behind it [08:50].How to know if you can afford the hire (and when you definitely shouldn't) [10:03].Part-time options, and putting a dollar value on the time you get back [12:59].What duties to outsource to a manager or 2IC, and the questions to ask first [16:39].Why you need a position description early, and the expensive lesson I learnt without one [19:32].Wrap up, and what's coming in the next Q&A episode [21:25]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy A post from a salon that hadn't posted in two months landed in my feed, and the comment section was full of beauty business owners saying "same." Then another post stopped me in my tracks: "has our industry confused being good at social media with being good at our craft?" In this episode I'm unpacking who you should actually posting for, why chasing likes from artists on the other side of the country won't fill your books, and when it's genuinely fine to go quiet on socials. Plus the one move I'd suggest if you want to be recognised in the industry as an educator or brand ambassador. Why I haven't talked social media in a while, and the post that changed that [00:00].The MIA salon post, and when going quiet actually works for your business [01:33].Reading the viral caption that so many of you resonated with [04:28].The question that fixes everything: who are you posting for? [08:06].What content actually gets local clients through your door [09:15].A million views vs real bookings, and how to know if your socials are working [12:16].Want to be an educator, trainer or brand ambassador? Why you need a separate account [14:28].Growing your team or moving locations? When consistency really matters [19:09].The pressure to post perfect work, and who you're actually trying to impress [24:31].Why paying clients aren't always your best content subjects [26:50].Wrap up, and how to go deeper on this inside the Salon Goals Academy [28:26]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy In this week's episode Lauren is joined by Mentor, Author and Founder of the Money Bootcamp, Denise Duffield-Thomas. In this wide ranging conversation Lauren and Denise dive deep into money, Salon pricing, confidence, community in business, ADHD and more. How's your Money Mindset in your Business? Turning money blocks into financial empowerment [02:04].Stop searching for a critic-proof price [05:33].Price for the clients and experience you want [17:53].Build a community that supports your business [28:15].Adapt your business through economic cycles [32:14].Design an ADHD-friendly way to work [39:30].Eliminate, automate, batch, and delegate [42:16].Give yourself permission to thrive [53:47]. Follow Denise on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisedt/ Listen to Chill & Prosper: https://open.spotify.com/show/5RtAeja3hIHF5QI0CZBVHt?si=a2731e2e95094a85 .... Rate and Review the Show in Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-lash-business-lounge/id1609510128 Rate the Show in Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xvJ8MNZM9cbjYBGcMDtb8?si=b23764e4d0ed4b59 Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ Allure's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allure_lashbeautybar .... This Episode was Recorded and Produced by Josh Liston at JCAL Media Group - https://www.jcaldigital.org/podcast-editing

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy 200 episodes. Nearly 150k downloads. And a whole lot of stories I've never told you! In this episode I'm taking you behind the scenes of the podcast, from guesting on a local show in 2021 to building the Salon Goals podcast you're listening to today. The scripted, breathless early episodes. The burnout that made me stop recording (and seriously consider quitting coaching altogether). What this show actually costs to make, whether it's been worth it, and everything that's coming next. Episode 200 kickoff, and how a guest spot on a local podcast started it all [00:00].Launching the Lash Business Lounge, the free Facebook group that named the show [04:41].Finding my podcast voice, over-scripting, and the editor who made me sound good [05:43].ADHD, last-minute talking points in the car, and how I come up with content ideas now [09:45].Burnout, taking a break in 2023, and the listener messages that brought me back [13:35].Consistency, schedule shifts, and why we moved back to Tuesday releases [18:00].Is podcasting worth it? What every episode costs me, and what it's returned [21:07].Listener moments, being recognised by voice in a bathroom queue, and my thank you to you [24:46].Your invite to the episode 200 celebration in Albury on Friday 7 August [26:00].What's next: the new studio, video episodes on YouTube, and more guests [27:42].Inside the Salon Goals Academy, my monthly membership for beauty business owners [31:15]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy Reducing your client hours. The goal so many beauty business owners are chasing, and the one that feels impossible when everything in the business relies on you. I went from 45+ hours of clients a week down to six hours a fortnight. In this episode I'm walking you through exactly how I did it, the two light bulb moments that forced me to change, the first half day I ever cut, the decision that became the biggest catalyst of all, and the warning I give every coaching client about stepping back too fast. Almost 200 episodes, and why long-form content suits my brain [00:00].The early hustle, working from home 4pm till 10pm [00:53].Rapid growth, booked out six weeks in advance, and hiring fast [03:25].The first light bulb moment when my best staff member left [08:50].Writing procedures, and the control freak beliefs that kept me stuck [11:06].Building a team of eight, starting Runway Lash Co. and hitting burnout [12:19].Cutting the first half day, promoting my team, and handling client pushback [15:28].Dropping Saturdays, and how COVID reshaped my week [21:22].From one day a week down to six hours a fortnight [24:03].Why I don't cover sick shifts, and turning off my own online bookings [25:50].Why stepping back too can be a risk [29:59].Inside the Salon Goals Academy, only 8 founding member spots left [32:36]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - doors are OPEN! https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/salon-goals-academy Putting your prices up. The task beauty business owners procrastinate on more than any other, and the one that costs you the most while you wait for the "right time". I've been raising my prices twice a year, every year, for a long time. And this year I was almost two weeks late doing it. In this episode I'm sharing why that didn't matter, and then walking you through my exact checklist, step by step, so your next price rise takes an afternoon instead of six months of overthinking. Why price rises get procrastinated, and why this one was two weeks late [00:00].You can raise your prices any time, you're the one who makes the decisions [02:22].The profit calculator spreadsheet that checks every service [04:12].The padding time mistake that quietly kills your profit [06:30].Checking competitor pricing, and who's actually comparable [09:15].Updating your booking system and website [12:07].The Timely trick that fixes hundreds of existing bookings in one go [15:39].The team script for pushback, plus a golden nugget from Angela Kennedy [17:46].No announcement, no apology, no email [20:39].Inside the Salon Goals Academy, founding member doors now open [22:28].Final encouragement and reviews [24:28]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast Questions? Email me: [email protected]

Salon Goals Academy - get on the waitlist: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/sg-academy-waitlist In this week's episode Lauren shares how her salon made $20,000 more in June 2026 than it did in June 2025 with a team the exact same size, after a year that started with two newbies, and a brand new manager. She unpacks the hiring, onboarding and training decisions that made the difference, and why a quiet month with a green team is not the disaster it feels like at the time. Business has seasons and this one is a rough trot [00:00].The June target she stopped checking, and hit anyway [01:06].The team turnover that reset the whole salon [03:17].The systems that held while both she and her manager were overseas [06:54].Why personality and culture fit beat skills and experience every time [08:28].Using white space to train instead of panicking about it [10:03].What to hold onto when you're in the hard part [11:33].Come to the 200th episode party on Friday 7 August 2026 [12:50].The Salon Goals Academy, waitlist gets first access [14:16]. .... Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast

Salon Goals Academy - get on the waitlist: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/sg-academy-waitlist Twelve years ago, I opened the doors to Allure Lash and Beauty Bar. To celebrate the milestone, I'm sharing the 12 biggest lessons 12 years of business ownership has taught me. Some came the easy way. Most of them I learned the hard way, and I'm hoping I can save you from a few of them. This one is raw and honest, from being taken to small claims court over a $250 refund in my first year, to the ego trap of needing to be the "best" one in the salon, to the truth about making money versus actually keeping it. In this episode: [00:00] Happy 12th birthday, Allure [01:03] Lesson 1: you don't need to do it all yourself [02:23] The cleaner example and working out your hourly rate [05:30] Lesson 2: being the best in your salon is keeping you stuck [08:35] Lesson 3: everyone is replaceable [10:51] Lesson 4: hire for personality and work ethic, not skills [13:00] Lesson 5: your team only rises to the standard you set [14:47] Lesson 6: know your numbers [16:33] Lesson 7: making money and keeping money are different skills [18:56] Lesson 8: good communication skills are everything [22:46] Lesson 9: the customer is not always right [25:37] The time I got taken to small claims court over $250 [27:57] Lesson 10: stop buying more beauty education [30:52] Lesson 11: niche down to scale up [34:48] Lesson 12: business is lonely, find your people [37:26] Salon Goals Academy is open Salon Goals Academy is here. It's an ongoing monthly membership with all my Salon Goals course content, live coaching with me twice a month, and fresh AI education every single month to help you claw back hours of your week. Jump on the waitlist at https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/sg-academy-waitlist, or DM me the word academy on Instagram and I'll send you the link. Rate and Review the Show in Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/the-lash-business-lounge/id1609510128 Rate the Show in Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0xvJ8MNZM9cbjYBGcMDtb8?si=b23764e4d0ed4b59 Lauren on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurenlappin_ The Salon Goals Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/salongoals_podcast

Salon Goals Academy - get on the waitlist: https://www.laurenlappin.com.au/sg-academy-waitlist Business is easy, right? Start it, show up a bit, and the six figures roll in. That's the story social media loves to sell. It's also complete rubbish. In this episode I'm handing over five hard truths about running a beauty business. The uncomfortable stuff that changes everything the moment you actually accept it and get on with it. I get into: Why you'll stay exactly where you are if you refuse to take risks, and how hiring, outsourcing, and investing in yourself all countThe myth of overnight success, and why the daily reps are what build something lastingThe one move to make the second you're booked out a month in advance (hint: put your prices up)Why consistency will always beat the big flashy movesThe truth most people don't want to hear, that your lack of clients or low profit is your own doing If any of this stings a little, sit with why - that's usually where the growth is hiding! Struggling with any of it and want some direction? You can apply to work with me at www.laurenlappin.com.au, or come say hi on Instagram @laurenlappin_. Follow the podcast @salongoals_podcast so you never miss an episode.