Grow My Salon Business Podcast

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

 
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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:
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- 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!
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👉 FOLLOW TRIBE SALONS!
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👉 FOLLOW ELLE
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👉 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!
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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 change
The first discipline every master of any craft, hairdressing or business, never outgrows
Why mastering the fundamentals of your salon's finances matters more than any new marketing hack
The difference between doing something once and true implementation, and why real mastery looks effortless
Why innovation only works once you've earned the right to it through mastery
Why 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 more
Episode 41 with Guido Palau – Find out more
Episode 229 with Annie Humphries – Find out more

👉 FOLLOW US!
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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

Every salon owner has dealt with a difficult team member who is brilliant one week and impossible the next, leaving the whole team tiptoeing around them. Most owners have no idea whether to show compassion or hold the line, especially when a health issue might be part of the picture. This week, I talk to leadership coach Nina Kovner about handling it without making it personal.

Nina breaks down the difference between compassion and excusing bad behaviour, and shares the three-step process to decide when and how to step in. You will come away with language you can use in the moment, a clearer sense of where your responsibility as a leader starts, and a plan for protecting your whole team's culture.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

✅ Why most difficult team behaviour comes down to unclear brand promises and agreements, not personality
✅ How to separate the behaviour from the person so conversations stay objective 
✅ The pause, process, proceed method for deciding when and how to address an issue 
✅ Where the line sits between showing compassion and excusing harmful behaviour 
✅ How to build psychological safety so your team will actually tell you what's going on 
✅ Why letting one person's behaviour slide damages trust with the whole team

TIMESTAMPS
[00:00] Introduction 
[01:24] Antony's story about a stylist struggling with PMDD and her team 
[04:33] Where salon owners go wrong when behaviour becomes a problem 
[06:17] Separating a team member's behaviour from who they are 
[07:33] Holding high standards while still genuinely caring about people 
[14:17] Why health issues do not excuse harmful behaviour at work 
[16:41] The difference between showing empathy and making assumptions 
[18:09] Building psychological safety so your team feels safe to speak up 
[25:21] Deciding whether to deal with behaviour now or later 
[25:52] A simple three-step method for handling difficult conversations 
[28:42] Why letting one person's behaviour slide is unfair to everyone else 
[37:19] Advice for salon owners nervous about discussing women's health issues 
[42:14] Nina's rules for leading through emotionally difficult situations

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!
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👉 FOLLOW NINA KOVNER!
Instagram