Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Running a successful salon for nearly 40 years in one of the most competitive cities on the planet takes more than talent. It takes the willingness to keep evolving your model, your mindset, and even the words you use with your team. 

My guest today, Scott Buchanan of the Manhattan-based Scott J Salons, has done exactly that. With around 90 employees across two locations, Scott's story is one of grit, reinvention, and a business built around culture and community.

In this conversation, we get into the real numbers behind a thriving employee-based salon, why he treats his team as partners rather than employees, and what it actually takes to keep an employee-based salon competitive in today's market. If you want to build a business that still works 40 years from now, this is the episode to listen to.

✅ Why calling your team "partners" changes the way they show up every day
✅ The KPIs Scott tracks obsessively and why guest count matters more than top-line revenue
✅ How Scott uses "wellness check-ins" instead of performance reviews to drive better results
✅ How Scott thinks about AI, retail, and the future of the salon experience in the next five to ten years
✅ The one piece of advice from a 40-year career that every salon owner needs to hear

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Introduction: 40 years in Manhattan and what longevity really takes
[00:50] Scott's current business: two locations, 93 staff, and a long road to get here
[03:29] Is the age of the big salon over? Scott's honest take on boutique vs. large
[05:37] Why Scott considers his team partners, not employees
[07:18] Wellness check-ins: reframing performance reviews to drive real change
[10:25] How to keep an employee-based team in the age of salon suites
[13:55] The blowout story: why you have to be there when the client wants to be there
[20:11] How Scott is using AI now and where he sees the salon industry heading
[27:33] The key numbers Scott watches most closely, and what they reveal
[37:07] Intercoiffure America/Canada: building a community for employee-based salon owners
[43:57] Scott's one piece of advice for lasting 40 years in this industry

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.
I love to hear what's been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏
Until next time! 
Antony

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🎓 Intercoiffure America/Canada – A community for employee-based, salary-based salon owners in North America – Find out more

👉 FOLLOW US!
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👉 FOLLOW SCOTT BUCHANAN!
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👉 FOLLOW SCOTT J SALONS

Instagram | website

Training a salon manager is one of the things salon owners often get wrong, and most don't realise it until they've already hired the wrong person, put them on payroll, but still end up doing everything themselves. 

In this episode, I share a five-step framework for getting it right, from figuring out whether your business can actually support a manager right now, to the mindset shift that changes everything about how you lead.

By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what to define before you hand anything over, why hiring another version of yourself backfires, and how to release control in a way that builds real capability over time. Done right, a great manager doesn't take things away from you. They give you your life back.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The two pillars that underpin good management, and why most people are usually only good at one
Why you need to consider the size of your business before you hire anyone into a management role
The case against hiring a mini you and what to look for instead
How to train for outcomes, not just tasks, so your manager can think, not just tick boxes
The "let the leash out slowly" approach to handing over control without chaos
Why getting it out of your head and onto paper is the non-negotiable first step

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction: The challenge of training a salon manager
[00:30] Why hiring a manager isn’t as simple as it sounds
[01:19] The real question: how do you let go without losing control?
[01:45] The two pillars of management: people skills vs systems
[03:18] Why most salon owners lean heavily to one side
[04:11] The moment you realise you need help
[05:04] The fear of hiring and trusting a manager
[06:00] The two biggest obstacles: no systems and financial pressure
[06:40] Why most salons can’t afford a non-producing manager
[07:18] Delegating vs dumping chaos
[14:49] Recap of the 5-step framework
[15:41] Why a great manager gives you back your life
[16:04] How to get help
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🎓 Salon Management Course - A complete blueprint for building a salon that runs with or without you -  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/

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.
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

The economics of running a salon have changed, and if your approach to training assistants hasn't changed with it, your margins are going to keep shrinking. 
In this episode, I answer the questions salon owners are actually grappling with right now: Is it still worth taking on apprentices, how quickly should they be contributing, and what does it look like when a salon actually gets training right?
If you've been winging it or leaving it to chance, this episode gives you a clear framework and five practical takeaways you can act on straight away.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Why condensing the apprenticeship timeline isn't lowering standards, it's a financial necessity
The difference between income-producing and non-income-producing staff and why it matters
How quickly a new assistant should be contributing to your salon revenue (and what to do if they're not)
Why most salons' training problems are self-inflicted, and what good training ownership actually looks like
Five clear takeaways for building a structured, productive assistant pathway in your salon
EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction
[00:28] Can you condense a two-year apprenticeship without lowering standards?
[01:21] How assistants contribute to revenue
[02:41] Income-producing vs. non-income-producing staff
[04:37] The shift required to make apprenticeships viable
[05:40] A brief history of apprenticeships
[09:00] Are employment-based salons restructuring the assistant pathway?
[11:27] What the best salons are doing differently
[12:33] Five takeaways for salon owners

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books 
🆘 Management overwhelm? Download our free 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.
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 believe their biggest problem is not getting enough new clients, but what if that’s not true? In this episode, I break down why focusing on client attraction alone is keeping you stuck, and what’s really stopping your salon from growing consistently.
I share the simple (but often overlooked) three-part marketing formula that every high-performing salon is built on. The reality is, most salons are already getting enough new clients, but they’re losing them just as quickly. And that’s where the real problem lies.
If you’re tired of constantly chasing new clients and want to build a salon business that grows predictably, with loyal clients who keep coming back, then this episode will shift how you think about marketing forever.
IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:25] What do you picture when you think of a million-dollar salon?
[01:02] Why high-performing salons are simpler than you think
[02:00] Why understanding the real problem matters before you hear the formula
[03:06] The retention numbers that should stop you in your tracks
[04:53] The three-part marketing formula
[05:44] Where most salons drop the ball 
[07:59] Why the three pieces must work together, not in isolation
[11:03] What million-dollar salons do differently
[11:28] The importance of tracking your numbers
[12:25] Industry benchmarks and what to aim for
[12:53] Why you need to run retention reports by individual stylist
[14:01] The marketing course, what's inside and how to join
[17:06] Wrapping up, the formula, the course, and see you next week
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

🎓 Salon Marketing Course - now open for enrolment - Find out more

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.
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 difference between a good salon and a world-class one isn’t talent. It’s standards, and the leadership to hold them.
In this episode, I take inspiration from the Netflix series Being Gordon Ramsay and unpack what it really takes to build a world-class business, whether that’s a restaurant or a salon. Because when you strip it back, the fundamentals are the same. It’s not about talent alone. It’s about standards, leadership, and the culture you create.
I talk about the obsession with detail that separates good from exceptional, why leadership isn’t always comfortable (but it is necessary), and how the best teams operate as a unit, not a group of individuals. These are practical insights you can apply immediately in your salon.
IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Introduction and why this matters for salon owners
[00:48] Lessons from The Bear and restaurant culture
[02:21] Why Being Gordon Ramsay is worth watching
[04:00] The 3 pillars: standards, leadership, and pride
[04:31] Why standards, not talent, drive excellence
[06:30] The power of attention to detail
[07:40] Leadership, clarity, and responsibility
[08:44] Finding the breaking points in your business
[10:12] Respect for craft and raising standards
[12:12] From employees to custodians of the brand
[13:35] The big question: what are you building?

WANT MORE TO HELP YOU GROW?

🎓 Salon Marketing Course - now open for enrolment - Find out more

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Being Gordon Ramsay (Netflix)  
Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara 
The Bear (TV series)  

RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE

If you enjoyed this episode, you'll also like: Episode 322: The Beautiful Chaos of Building a Team
→ 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.
I love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Thank you for your support! 🙏
Until next time!
Antony