Grow My Salon Business Podcast

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!
Instagram | Facebook | Website

👉 FOLLOW NINA KOVNER!
Instagram

Most salon owners can rattle off a client's colour formula from three visits ago without blinking, yet ask what their actual profit margin was last year and you'll get a shrug. In this episode, I break down what profit really is, why it gets confused with your own wage, and why accountants often have a dozen different names for the same numbers.

You'll learn the real difference between profit and profit margin, why your bank account can look empty even when your P&L says otherwise, what a realistic profit benchmark actually looks like, and the only two ways you can genuinely increase what you keep.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
Why your own wage is not profit, even when the business feels like it's doing well
The real difference between profit and profit margin, and why growing one can shrink the other
Where your profit actually goes, from cash buffers to reinvestment and owner drawings
Why your bank account can look empty even when your P&L says you're profitable
A realistic profit margin benchmark for a salon your size, not a generic Google average
The only two ways to increase profit in any business, and where to focus first

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Introduction
[01:03] The profit question most salon owners cannot honestly answer
[02:31] The real definition of profit and why it surprises owners
[03:14] Why your own wage is not the same as profit
[04:17] The confusing language accountants use for profit and expenses
[04:53] Gross profit versus net profit and what each one reveals
[05:42] Profit versus profit margin and why the difference matters
[07:28] Where your profit actually goes once you have made it
[10:24] Why your bank account can look empty despite a profitable P&L
[12:31] How much profit you should actually be aiming for
[14:42] The only two ways any business can increase profit
[16:37] Why a solo operator's claimed profit margin is misleading

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

The Money Course – a step-by-step course on profit, cash flow and break-even for salon owners – [Find out more]

Want MORE to help you GROW?

📚 Check out our Bestselling GROW Books https://growmysalonbusiness.com/books/

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

The most common stereotype about hairdressers is that they don't earn enough. And in most cases, it's true. But the reason behind it is rarely discussed; you can only earn relative to what you produce. In this episode, I get into why so many stylists stay stuck and what it actually takes to change that.

If you're a salon owner who wants to pay your team more, or a stylist who wants to earn more, this episode is for you. You'll hear what high-performing stylists consistently do differently, why training is a leadership responsibility that too many salon owners quietly ignore, and what has to change for productivity and pay to go up together.

IN THIS EPISODE:
Why hairdressers' income is directly linked to productivity, and what that means for your team's earning potential
The specific habits and behaviours that high-earning stylists have in common, and why talent alone is not one of them
Why "charge your worth" is a social media soundbite that the market will ultimately ignore
Why structured training is a leadership responsibility, not an optional extra for salon owners

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS:

[00:00] Introduction: The stereotype that hairdressers don't earn enough
[01:39] The number one reason stylists don't earn enough
[02:12] Why part-time hairdressing affects income in ways most people accept
[02:40] What high-earning stylists all have in common, and it's not talent
[03:56] Why demand is the market's way of telling you what you're worth
[05:22] What "being excellent" actually means beyond doing great hair
[06:00] Whose responsibility is it to develop a stylist's skills?
[07:13] Why salon owners forget about training once the doors open
[08:41] Why leadership in salons gets negotiated instead of led
[09:57] What training should actually focus on to drive income growth
[11:06] The performance benchmarks that matter before asking for more pay
[12:25] Bringing it all together: productivity, pay, and what salon owners can do
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
RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Unlocking Your Stylists' Potential (Free Masterclass) Discover the 5 steps to building a productive, profitable salon culture where every stylist takes ownership of how busy they are and how much they earn. 👉 Find out more

 
👉 FOLLOW US!
Instagram | Facebook | Website

When I opened my first salon I was passionate about hairdressing but like most salon owners I knew very little about business, and negotiating with product suppliers was where my naivety was fully exposed. This week I take you behind the scenes of what's really happening when you deal with a manufacturer or distributor.

You'll come away understanding how the commercial side works: list price, rebates, the size of the pie, and the difference between a real partnership and a shiny distraction. My aim is simple. I want you walking into that conversation informed, prepared, and able to build a deal where both businesses genuinely win.
IN THIS EPISODE:
Why the list price is never the real price, and what sits behind it
The size of the pie: how much value a supplier can actually offer you
How rebates really work, including the catch that traps a lot of owners
How to prepare before you negotiate so you hold the stronger position
Why the real goal is a partnership where both businesses win

EPISODE TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Introduction
[00:20] The dark arts of negotiating with your product suppliers and manufacturers
[02:07] Why nobody actually pays the full list price on the page
[03:07] Manufacturer versus distributor, and why that structure changes everything behind the scenes
[05:08] The list price is just the start of a commercial conversation
[08:23] The experience gap between you and the person across the negotiating table
[09:50] The size of the pie: the concept that underpins every deal
[11:04] How you get to choose where that value lands in your business
[13:10] Rebates explained, and the two important realities that owners often overlook
[15:54] Shiny object syndrome, and the seduction of events and luxury experiences
[17:41] Why putting your business out to tender is simply smart, professional practice
[19:13] How to prepare properly before you ever sit at the table

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

AI in the salon is no longer something you can put off, and ignoring it won't make it disappear. This week I'm joined by Martha Lynn Kale, owner of Mirror Mirror in Austin, Texas, who has spent the past year building AI into how she leads, hires, trains and markets. We get practical about what she uses it for, where it earns its place, and the mistake that trips most owners up.
If you're curious about AI but unsure where it fits, or a bit nervous about it, this episode will help ground you. You'll come away knowing how to find the balance between using AI to increase efficiencies, but still protect the human side of your salon. Most importantly you’ll understand  the work you have to do first so AI actually has a foundation of knowledge to build on.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

✅ The practical jobs AI can take off your plate so your team is more present for clients
✅ Why you have to do the work on your values and systems first before AI is any use
✅ How to keep AI invisible to clients while it sharpens everything behind the scenes
✅ The "start with one problem" approach that beats asking AI to build everything at once
✅ Where to begin if you're nervous or sceptical about AI in your business
IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Introduction
[02:37] Does using AI make you lazy, or sharpen your thinking?
[04:08] Why AI works best as an enhancement to what you already do
[05:14] The platforms Martha Lynn uses and why ChatGPT knows her
[06:13] Typing versus talking: finding the input style that suits you
[09:08] Using AI to tighten org charts, roles and career paths
[11:46] The finance angle: driving revenue and solving slow Saturdays
[13:52] Keeping the human touch as salon software gets smarter
[15:46] Marketing with AI: brainstorming, captions and the branding challenge
[20:29] The front desk slip that revealed human first, policy second
[24:27] Rebuilding the apprentice program with feedback and AI
[28:58] The work you must do before AI can help you
[33:13] Where to start if AI still makes you nervous

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/

RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE

👉 If you enjoyed this episode, you'll also like: Episode 348: Practical AI in the Salon with Frank Westerbeke Listen here

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

👉 FOLLOW MARTHA LYNN KALE! 
Instagram

👉 FOLLOW MIRROR MIRROR!
Instagram | Website