Grow My Salon Business Podcast

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 from
The four-part framework Google and AI use to decide which salon to recommend
How to structure your Google reviews so they build real trust and authority, not just star ratings
What 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!
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👉 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 expectations
How holding people accountable is one of the most caring things you can do
The difference between supporting your team and carrying every problem in their lives
Why blurred boundaries between friend and employer make hard conversations even harder
A 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!
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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 fault
The client retention approach that's driving almost all industry growth right now
Why salons with membership programs are growing four times faster than salons without one
What 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!
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👉 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 everyone
Why a pay structure based only on commission can work against the business you're trying to build
How a cash flow forecast turns "we just need to make more money" into an actual plan
Why 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 valuable
The real reason AI won't replace great educators, and how it exposes the poor ones
Why your apprentices should be productive within six months, not left to find their feet for years
The difference between being a great hairdresser and being a great teacher
Why you can't rely on colleges or government training programs to finish the job for you
Seven 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