After 20+ years of coaching salon owners, I can spot the pattern in under 5 minutes. Talented stylist opens dream salon, becomes overwhelmed operator, wonders what went wrong. If you're working harder than ever but not getting ahead, if you're the busiest person in your salon but still stressed about money, you're not alone.

In today’s episode, I'm revealing the #1 mistake that keeps talented salon owners stuck. The problem is that you're trying to solve business problems with technical skills instead of business skills. You cannot solve business problems by doing more hair.

I'm breaking down the 5 Pillars of Salon Success, the framework that separates struggling salons from thriving ones. Most salon owners are working on 1 or 2 of these pillars. The successful ones master all 5.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Why this episode might change how you see your business

[01:19] The pattern I see constantly with salon owners

[03:00] What most salon owners do when struggling

[04:03] The #1 mistake: You can't solve business problems by doing more hair

[06:00] The shift successful salon owners make

[07:02] The 5 Pillars of Salon Success framework

[07:19] Pillar #1: Management & Systems

[08:09] Pillar #2: Money & Financial Clarity

[09:03] Pillar #3: Marketing That Actually Works

[10:14] Pillar #4: Super Stylist (Team Performance)

[11:12] Pillar #5: Team & HR (Hiring, Culture, Retention)

[12:34] Why all 5 pillars must work together

[13:00] Why overwhelm comes from incomplete business education

[13:22] Announcing the free 3-part video training

[15:00] Introducing GROW Business School (12-month program)

[15:25] How to access the free training

Want MORE to help you GROW?

FREE 3-PART VIDEO TRAINING:

"The Five Things Holding Your Salon Back From Growing (And How to Fix Them)"

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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.

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Until next time!
Antony

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NEXT WEEK:

Episode 331 - Part 2 of the series: Deep dive into the Money Pillar. Why your salon is busy but not profitable, and exactly how to fix it.

A new year always brings with it a sense of possibility. It’s that “that was then, this is now” moment where you get to draw a line in the sand and decide what happens next. But let’s be honest, for many salon owners right now, business feels tougher than ever. Clients are cautious, bookings feel unpredictable, and the world around us feels uncertain.

In this episode, I talk about the reality of running a salon in times like these and why focusing on everything outside your control is a guaranteed way to feel overwhelmed. Global uncertainty, economic pressure, and changing consumer behaviour are real, but they’re not where your power lies.

Instead, I break down exactly what is within your control, both as a salon owner and as a stylist. Because when you focus on the controllables, the systems, the standards, the leadership, and the client experience, you put yourself back in the driver’s seat. And when you do that, growth isn’t just possible. It’s predictable.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:43] The reality that many salon owners are facing right now

[02:23] Not everyone is struggling, why that matters

[03:06] Why being in business has always been hard

[03:32] Global uncertainty and its impact on client spending

[04:17] What you can control vs what you can’t

[04:50] Control the controllable, leadership starts here

[05:09] What stylists are in control of every single day

[07:42] What salon owners are in control of

[09:32] Why focusing on the controllables guarantees growth

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:

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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

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

Free Online Training: ‘The five things holding your salon back from growing and how to fix them’. Join the waitlist to be sent the first training on 12th January.

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Not every hairdresser wants to be self-employed, and in this episode, I explain why that’s not only okay, but why it creates a real opportunity for salon owners to rethink what an employee-employer-based business can and should look like today.

Too often, self-employment is sold as the only path to freedom, flexibility, and financial success, without anyone stopping to talk honestly about the real costs involved.

In today's episode, I talk about what many stylists don’t calculate before they make the leap: rent, tax, product, tech, training, marketing, lost holiday pay, and the time spent working on the business instead of in it.

For plenty of people, the reality is that they end up earning about the same or less than they did as an employee, but with a lot more responsibility and pressure.

I also talk about what salon owners must do if they want to attract and keep great people in 2026 and beyond. The old rules don’t apply anymore. Being good at hair isn’t enough. If you want to build a business that thrives, you need leadership skills, business skills, and the willingness to adapt.

On a final note. Whether you are a returning listener or perhaps this is your first time, either way, thank you for trusting that we bring you the people and the insights that are needed to grow your salon business.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Welcome to the podcast

[01:00] Not everyone wants to be self-employed, and that’s okay
[01:31] Why hairdressers want teams, security, and belonging
[02:16] When self-employment is the wrong move
[02:44] The myth of “keeping all the money”
[03:32] The real expenses of working for yourself
[05:33] Freedom vs. the reality shown on social media
[05:53] Why many stylists return to employment
[07:00] Technology, the pandemic, and changing work attitudes
[07:33] Why traditional salon models started pushing people away
[08:00] Flexibility, resistance to change, and the perfect storm
[08:43] Why salon owners must adapt to survive
[09:00] Leadership, respect, and treating your team as clients
[10:00] What having a team makes possible
[11:28] Looking ahead to 2026

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:

FREE TRAINING: The Five Things Holding Your Salon Back From Growing and How to Fix Them in 2026 - For Priority Notification - Jump on the waitlist here

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This short episode is a reflection on the real relationships we form with the people who sit in our chairs. I’ve often said that clients aren’t your friends, they’re your clients. And professionally, that boundary matters. But every now and then, those lines blur in ways that are deeply human.

I share a couple of stories from my time behind the chair that have stayed with me for decades. One client who reminded me never to underestimate the importance of kindness, and another who became part of my family in the most unexpected way. These are reminders of the quiet role hairdressers play in people’s lives, sometimes without even realising it.

As the year wraps up, this episode is simply a thank you. To the clients we serve, the relationships we build, and to you for listening. Because when you stop and think about it, this industry can create some very special connections, and it’s easy to take them for granted.

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

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At the end of every year, I like to take a step back and look at what’s really happening in our industry. Not just at a surface level, but underneath it all. In this episode, I’m joined by my good friend Gordon Miller for one of our now-regular “state of the nation” conversations, where we dig into the biggest shifts shaping the hairdressing industry right now.

We talk about the growing importance of data, what AI is actually being used for inside real salons, and why understanding the numbers is no longer optional if you want a sustainable, profitable business. Gordon shares practical examples of how salons are using AI to improve communication, training, productivity, and decision-making, not as a replacement for people, but as a tool to make people better at what they do.

We also explore the changing relationship between salons and product companies, the rise of independent and freelance models, and why great commission-based salons are still creating incredible careers for hairdressers who want stability, structure, and serious earning potential. If you care about the future of this industry and your place in it, this is a conversation worth listening to.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Welcome and introduction

[00:24] Why end-of-year reflection matters for salon owners

[02:14] The two biggest changes Gordon's seeing in 2025

[03:02] Data is becoming the decoder ring for everything

[04:23] What's driving the focus on numbers and KPIs

[08:37] The AI revolution in hairdressing salons

[10:17] Real use cases: How top salons are using AI daily

[14:42] Using AI to improve manager-team member communication

[17:05] The connection between data and AI in salons

[18:13] How salon tech companies are integrating AI

[21:24] The evolution of the salon business model

[25:04] Why the commission model isn't going anywhere

[31:02] The truth about working hours in the industry

[36:40] The changing relationship between salons and manufacturers

[42:24] Why salon associations matter more than ever

[45:25] Where to connect with Gordon Miller

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:

Episode 267 with Maxwell Snow from Van Michael salon in Atlanta

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In this episode, I’m joined by Hayley Mears, former hairdresser, branding expert, and the driving force behind Six Underground Media. Hayley is also one of the guest educators inside our marketing course, and she brings a level of insight into social media, branding, and digital trends that most salon owners simply don’t have access to.

We dive deep into what salon owners should expect from Instagram in 2026, why the platform is about to shift in a major way, and how AI is going to become a natural part of your marketing workflow, whether you like it or not. Hayley also opens up about outsourcing, building teams globally, why email addresses are more valuable than followers, and how Canva has democratised design for salon owners everywhere.

If you want to stay ahead of the curve, understand what’s changing, and get practical, real-world advice from someone who lives and breathes digital marketing for salons, you’re going to love this conversation.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[02:23] Instagram trends coming in 2026
[04:26] Auto-responses, ManyChat, and in-app automations
[06:00] The overwhelm salon owners feel around tech and social media
[07:26] Should salons outsource or DIY their social?
[08:59] Why capability and confidence aren’t the same thing
[09:39] The shift in what salons need from social agencies
[17:41] Three things to focus on for Instagram in 2026
[18:21] Why storytelling matters more than ever
[21:04] How to use AI for content and campaign ideas
[27:27] Canva: why every salon should be using it

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:

Online Marketing Course - Join the waitlist - Enrolment opening January

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In this week’s episode, I’m tackling the flip side of a happy, high-performing team, what to do when things are not going smoothly. Because after the recent episode titled “The Beautiful Chaos of Building a Team,” I received a flood of emails from salon owners struggling with people issues.

So today, I’m breaking down the key elements that set your team up to succeed, and what to do when they don’t. From defining the vision for your business, to recruiting for cultural fit, to onboarding properly, communicating clearly, and embracing change… this episode is all about the fundamentals of strong leadership in the salon industry. If you want a team that performs consistently, this one’s for you.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] Welcome and listener shout-out

[00:42] Why this topic matters — and the emails that prompted it

[01:56] The big question: “How do I get people to do what I want?”

[02:35] First question to ask: How did you set them up?

[03:39] Point 1: Define your vision, culture, and systems

[05:21] Point 2: Recruit for values and alignment
[06:32] Point 3: Onboarding isn’t handing over a manual

[07:50] Point 4: Communication solves more than it causes

[09:26] Point 5: Don’t be afraid to manage performance

[10:14] People who resist change — and what to do about them
[12:57] Taking over an existing team = friction guaranteed
[14:13] Addressing toxic behaviour head-on
[17:17] Kaizen — why continuous improvement matters

[18:13] Wrap-up — see you next week!

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

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In this week’s episode, I sit down with someone who’s grown up alongside one of the most respected salon organisations in the United States.

Today's guest is Coco Wagner, daughter of David and Charlie Wagner owners of the Juut Salon Spa’s.

Coco brings a fascinating blend of global experience, fresh perspective, and deep respect for the culture her family has built over 40 years. What I love about this conversation is how open and thoughtful she is about stepping into a leadership role in a family business, especially one with 450 team members and multiple locations across the country.

We dive into everything from evolving an established brand to navigating the changing needs of today’s workforce, to earning the trust of long-standing team members when you’re “the owner’s daughter.” Coco also shares why structure matters more than ever for Gen Z stylists, and how Juut has managed to keep more than half their team earning six-figure incomes while working fewer hours post-COVID.

It’s a generous, insightful conversation about leadership, culture, and the future of salons, and I think you’ll take a lot from it whether you’re a salon owner, a leader in your business, or simply someone wondering how the next generation is shaping our industry.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:24] The Juut story and global context

[01:30] David Wagner, Horst, and the early Aveda connection

[07:01] Growing up in the salons and earning trust

[11:18] Digital transformation: SEO, website, and social

[15:18] Maintaining culture across locations

[17:26] Leading without being a hairdresser

[20:28] Team buy-in when changing culture

[21:32] What Gen Z wants from salons today

[23:01] Hours, flexibility, and six-figure incomes

[24:52] Suite life vs. salon life — and the boomerang stylists

[34:28] Family dynamics in a family business

[36:52] Where to connect with Coco and Juut

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

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👉 FOLLOW COCO WAGNER!

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