Sustainability

Episode 228

23 January 2024

2024 started off on a very sad note for the hairdressing world with the passing of Angus Mitchell.

Angus was the son of the late Paul Mitchell, who was the co-founder of John Paul Mitchell Systems.

As someone who had the privilege of having a close working relationship with the company, I was fortunate enough to ‘on occasion’ have spent a little time with Angus, and he was always full of life and love and genuine kindness.

This week's podcast is a re-release of episode 46, which I originally recorded in 2020. I’m re-releasing it as a tribute and thank you to Mr Angus Mitchell. He will long be missed and loved by many.

In this episode, we discuss

Why Hawaii is the spiritual home for JPMS.
The early days of the Paul Mitchell company
The importance of philanthropy and environmental issues.

[02:47] Angus shares memories of his father and why Hawaii is so spiritual to him.

[05:25] He speaks about his father having a strict diet, meditating and doing yoga.

[06:20] Remembering his father's first studios in New York

[07:40] Discussing the company's first significant success, the first sculpting lotion product.

[18:06] Angus speaks about some great hairdressers he was on stage with and how nervous he was during his first show.

[21:30] Sharing his career path as an educator.

[23:50] Angus speaks about opening a salon where he hired people straight out of beauty school.

[26:15] How Angus managed owning a salon while being a co-owner of John Paul Mitchell Systems

[28:41] Being environmentally savvy in Hawaii and how his father lived.

[36:13] Angus discusses how John Paul's daughter Michaeline is now running the company and is just as talented in the business.

[37:35] Angus speaks about the school side of JPMS

[39:43] Angus shares that they are looking for a location for an advanced school for JPMS.

[47:08] Angus is building his father's dream car in his garage even though he doesn't do the work; it's his vision that they are following.

Links and Resources

Grow My Salon Business

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Episode 224

26 December 2023

For our last episode of 2023, we’re joined by a guest who always brings a unique, highly informed perspective on the hair and beauty industry. There is nobody more fitting to share an overview of the business trends that have come to the forefront over the past year and what the future may hold.

Gordon Miller is the CEO and President of Beauty Cast Network, a platform that connects young people with potential employers, and the host of two podcasts, Mastering Beauty and Social Beauty Makers.

In today’s podcast, we will discuss:

The impact AI has had on the salon industry over the past year
An overview of the various social media apps
The problem of fake news…

And lots more!

In this Episode:

[02:45] The goal of Beauty Cast Network, the platform of which Gordon is the CEO and president.

[05:08] Why many businesses have downsized since the pandemic.

[09:01] An overview of the employee-benefit environment in the United States.

[14:19] The huge problem of fake beauty news.

[19:12] Pros and cons of some of the most prevalent social media platforms.

[23:33] The social media platform that Gordon is most interested in (and why).

[25:30] LinkedIn’s target audience.

[26:54] The benefits of YouTube for salon industry professionals.

[29:53] Tension between entertainment and education on TikTok.

[33:48] How AI has changed (and will continue to change) the salon industry (and the world).

[41:16] Use cases for generative AI.

[48:30] What the event space looks like post-pandemic and Gordon’s predictions for what it will look like in the future.

[54:00] How the current global chaos is affecting the salon industry.

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 also love to hear what’s been helpful and what you love about the podcast! Just click here to review, scroll to the bottom, tap “Ratings and Reviews” tap to rate with 5 stars and “Write a Review” and let me know what your favourite part of the podcast is. Thank you for your support!

Special thanks to Gordon for sharing his insights with me for this week’s episode.

Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

Gordon Miller

Social Beauty Makers Podcast | Instagram | LinkedIn | Facebook

Beauty Cast Network

Website | Instagram | Mastering Beauty Podcast

The New York Times

The Restaurant Revolution Has Begun

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Episode 219

21 November 2023

“If you lead an inspired life, it’s a lot easier not to get burnt out.”

The world we live in is overflowing with information, but what we really need more of is wisdom, and wisdom comes with experience.

Geno Stampora has a lifetime of experience in the salon industry and he joins us on the podcast this week to share some of the most valuable lessons that he has learned along the way.

Among other things, Geno is a hairdresser, former salon owner, and motivational speaker and in today’s podcast, we will discuss:

How you can’t solve today’s challenges with yesterday’s problems
The impact that technological advancements are having on salons
Avoiding burnout by living out your purpose…

And lots more!

In this Episode:

[03:56] Geno’s entry into the salon industry and how he made such a success of himself.

[06:08] The timeless philosophies that Geno lives by.

[12:08] Overlooked impacts that the pandemic has had on society and how Geno is helping people overcome these.

[14:36] Value that the salon industry offers its customers.

[15:13] Why adaptability is essential to achieving success in the salon industry.

[19:28] Geno’s thoughts on the future of the self-employment trend.

[22:38] Benefits of “giving 100%,100% of the time.”

[30:19] The purpose that drives Geno and the importance of finding yours.

[35:38] The combination of tools that salon owners should use to stay relevant.

[39:24] Fundamentals of creating a salon environment that retains top talent.

[45:35] How to equip yourself to be able to better handle changes and challenges.

[49:12] Advice for cultivating autonomy amongst your employees.

[51:58] Geno’s approach to continuous self-improvement.

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.

Special thanks to Geno for sharing his insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Geno Stampora

Website | Instagram | LinkedIn | X | Email Address

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Episode 217

7 November 2023

The role of a hairdresser isn’t just to do great hair; it’s also to serve our clients in a way that makes them feel seen, heard, and valued. And that’s not just because it’s a good thing to do; it’s also because it’s good for your business!

Across industries, there has been a steady decline in customer service over the years. As a salon owner in the current climate, you have the opportunity to make your business really stand out by prioritising impeccable service!

On today's podcast, I talk about the value of going the extra mile.

In this Episode:

[01:09] The value of visiting different salons as a client when you are a salon owner yourself.

[02:43] Powerful quotes relating to serving others.

[04:02] Examples of how to serve your clients outside of doing great hair.

[05:30] The current decline in customer service being experienced across industries.

[06:30] Previous episodes cover the topic of service in the salon industry.

[07:17] The benefits of making outstanding service your priority as a salon owner.

[09:07] A recent experience I had that epitomises going above and beyond in your service offering.

[10:01] A story that highlights how good service is good for business.

[10:47] Where to access our online courses that will help you take your salon business to the next level!

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.

Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Filed Under

Episode 216

31 October 2023

Daniel Di Iorio had been in business for 11 years when he decided to relocate his salon, Diior10. In two prior episodes (episode 179 and episode 194), Daniel and I discussed the process he was going through to transition from one salon location to another.

Well, you’ll be happy to know that after many trials and tribulations, he has finally made it into his new space. And, as you’ll hear today, it was well worth pushing through all the challenges!

In today’s podcast, the final in this series with Daniel, we discuss:

Some of the unexpected surprises that came with the relocation
What he loves about his new salon space
What he wishes he had done differently

And lots more!

In this Episode:

[03:15] How Daniel feels to have finally opened his dream salon.

[05:29] What Daniel and his team’s “retreat week” consisted of prior to the opening.

[08:48] Challenges of transitioning from one salon space to another.

[11:55] The fate of Daniel’s prior salon location.

[16:19] Why a large proportion of Daniel’s clients have followed him to his new salon.

[20:01] The impact of the relocation on Daniel’s team members.

[22:40] What Daniel has found most surprising about opening his new salon.

[26:21] The pros and cons of Diior10’s new location.

[29:05] Comparing Daniel’s experiences with his previous and current landlords.

[31:20] How Daniel’s new salon space compares to his old one.

[33:59] Benefits that the relocation has had for Daniel’s business.

[35:40] Diior10’s target demographic.

[40:42] Unexpected costs that Daniel incurred during the relocation process.

[42:48] What Daniel would go back and change about how he approached the relocation if he could.

[45:30] Lessons that Daniel learned about himself through the relocation process.

[47:47] The increase in revenue at Diior10 since the relocation.

[50:58] The growth potential of Diior10 in its new location.

Special thanks to Daniel for sharing his insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Diiorio Hair

Website | Facebook | Instagram

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Episode 201

18 July 2023

Despite the changes in the social media landscape, using Instagram effectively is still one of the most important tools to help you grow your salon business!

My guest on today's podcast is Vivienne Johns, a UK-based Instagram expert. At this point in time, being competent (at least) in using this social media channel (alongside the others) is a skill that you can’t afford to ignore.

On her own admission, Vivienne was late to embrace Instagram, but she has certainly made up for lost time and has established herself as a very relatable educator in a fast-moving space.

On this week’s podcast, we will discuss:

The ever-changing social media landscape
How people are consuming content today
How to manage and set guidelines around your salon's social

And lots more.

In this Episode:

[03:13] Vivienne shares the story of her career and her initial thoughts about social media marketing.

[05:18] The moment Vivienne realized she needed social media.

[09:04] Why Vivienne has chosen to prioritize Instagram rather than other social media channels.

[15:33] The benefits of using a variety of social channels for marketing purposes.

[19:46] Why the “post and ghost” approach doesn’t work on social media anymore.

[23:36] How to get the most out of the different social channels.

[27:00] Advice for enhancing the quality of your content and ensuring it is seen by your target clients.

[35:14] Why Vivienne believes engagement is the most important social media metric to focus on.

[39:19] How to create an Instagram aesthetic that showcases your unique brand identity.

[52:02] The importance of having your social media guidelines down in writing.

[52:32] Different ways of collaborating with your team members in the management of your salon Instagram account.

[1:04:09] Vivienne’s motivation for The Hairdresser’s Social Club and the value that it offers to salon owners everywhere.

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.

Special thanks to Vivienne for sharing her insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

The Hairdressers Social Club

Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

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Episode 170

6 December 2022

As I often say, “this industry is all about change.”

In reality, every industry is about change, and the salon business is certainly not immune to the changing forces of technology, consumer trends, and generational changes.

Today's podcast is specifically focused on changes in the professional salon retail model. My guest on today's Podcast is Randy Cotten, the President and GM of SalonInteractive.

At the moment, SalonInteractive is only US based, but no matter where you live in the world, you will want to listen to this episode as I firmly believe that Salon Interactive will play a big role in the salon retail model of the future…

In this Episode:

[03:38] Randy shares an overview of his educational and professional journey to date.

[05:51] What Randy’s company, SalonInteractive, does and how it benefits hairdressers.

[09:02] How SalonInteractive differs from other affiliate-linking sites (like Amazon, for example).

[12:29] The founding story of SalonInteractive.

[14:50] A more in-depth explanation of what SalonInteractive does.

[17:25] The impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on SalonInteractive.

[23:40] How consumer behavior patterns have changed over the past 10 years.

[25:25] How the SalonInteractive business model works.

[27:48] SalonInteractive from the perspective of the consumer.

[33:00] Some of the key features of SalonInteractive.

[37:19] Different approaches that SalonInteractive clients use for their online stores.

[40:18] Factors that drive success on the SalonInteractive platform.

[43:25] The overall goal of SalonInteractive, and the number of products they currently have on their site.

[46:39] How SalonInteractive enriches the relationship between brands and manufacturers.

[53:00] Delving into the numbers.

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.

Special thanks to Randy for sharing his insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

SalonInteractive

Randy Cotten

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Episode 143

31 May 2022

My guest on today’s Podcast is London based hairdresser and owner of a 5 strong salon group and academy Gina Conway.

Originally from California, she has been based in London for the last 20 plus years and has built up a great reputation as one of London's leading salons.

Gina is passionate about delivering a five-star level of service and is widely known not just for doing great hair but also for her total commitment to sustainably and the ethical side of hairdressing.

In the process, she has built up a considerable business and a reputation to match… and she’s just getting started.

In today’s episode we discuss:

Balancing the demands of life as the owner of 5 salons, a wife, a mother and finding time for everything else.
Sustainability in salons today.
Creating a team and culture where people want to come to work.
The customer service journey.
Growing a team and successful expansion.

And lot's more!

In this Episode:

[03:30] Gina also has a fashion degree and became interested in entrepreneurship.

[03:39] She moved to London 21 years ago and worked at John Frieda.

[04:04] Gina wanted to bring California sunshine to London and create a team and culture where people would want to come to work.

[05:08] Yes, it was love that brought Gina to London. One husband and three children later, and she's still here!

[08:21] We talk about what the industry can learn from different areas.

[10:02] Gina accomplishes so much. She is constantly innovating. She is so passionate about what she does, it doesn't feel like work.

[12:57] Being in your zone is like meditation. The mindful hairdresser allows hairdressers to be in the flow and create mindful haircuts. It's communication in a deep creative space for clients.

[15:27] Gina has three salons in London. She collaborated with a friend to consolidate marketing and now all of the salons are called Gina Conway.

[16:47] They also have an apprenticeship program where they train about 20 hairdressing students.

[17:19] She has a staff of around 100 people.

[19:17] Gina shares how John Frieda let her go when she talked about opening her own salon. Her new salon was empty, so she filled it with art.

[20:56] Gina built her customer service reputation in the industry by giving every customer the platinum treatment.

[24:51] Gina and her partner want to franchise sustainable salons and help other entrepreneurs.

[26:28] Look at your products. Are they using sustainable materials? Look at plastics and bottles. Look at energy and recycling. Consider everything that you purchase. Reuse and refuse, if you can. Think holistically about everything including water use.

[30:12] The green fee is included in the price of the haircuts. This is who we are and what we do. We also plant a tree for each client.

[34:28] Gina talks about the importance of having a strong culture and teaching the team the why and the values from the start.

[41:19] Generational changes include focusing on mental health and supporting students in making up for lost time. Stability, security, and finding a career path is also so important.

[49:34] A good salon should be generating between 12% and 15% with a goal of 20% in retail.

[56:42] Gina is constantly innovating and improving. She's all about momentum.

Special thanks to Gina for sharing her insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!
Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Gina Conway

Aveda

Website

John Paul Mitchell Systems

Green Salon Collective

Website

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Episode 142

25 May 2022

Today, the need to highlight environmental and social initiatives is more pertinent than ever. Unfortunately, those causes and everything they represent are often drowned out by the latest headline of the day.

However, the increased level of social and environmental awareness and urgency isn’t about to go away. In fact, these issues are only becoming more and more pressing. So, we all need to ‘own’ our contribution and stop waiting for someone else to fix our problems.

My guest on today's Podcast is Mara Gourdine, the Global Culture Ambassador at John Paul Mitchell Systems. Behind that impressive title, Mara is very much involved in the corporate side of directing and contributing to making change happen.

In my conversation with Mara today my objective is to keep coming back to how salon owners and stylists can adapt what a big business does and integrate those ideas into their own businesses.

In today’s podcast we will discuss:

What Mara’s day-to-day job consists of
The wider responsibilities of businesses today
The importance of greater diversity and inclusivity in every business
How salons can include the wider community in more local environmental and social initiatives…

And lots more!

In this Episode:

[03:22] What it means to be a Global Culture Ambassador.

[05:56] Mara shares the story of how she became the Global Culture Ambassador at John Paul Mitchell Systems, and what this role entails.

[14:48] The link between a company’s internal culture and its external impact.

[17:26] A Walk on Water; what this organization does and how John Paul Mitchell Systems became involved with them.

[25:05] Mara’s racial lineage, and the influence that this has had on her life.

[26:23] The global movement that was sparked by the death of George Floyd, and how John Paul Mitchell Systems responded to it.

[32:11] A valuable lesson that Mara learned from her mom about equity and inclusion.

[33:08] Perspectives to be gained from listening to the stories of people who are different from you.

[34:22] The importance of imagery and education when it comes to enhancing the inclusivity of your salon.

[38:22] Mara’s approach to onboarding employees at John Paul Mitchell Systems, and how it differs from her own experience of joining the company.

[43:55] Encouragement from Mara to share your joys and passions with others and to look after your mental and physical health.

[47:47] The key to building a compassionate company culture, and examples of how John Paul Mitchell Studios has done this.

[50:26] Why Mara doesn’t use social media.

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.

Special thanks to Mara for sharing her insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Mara Gourdine

Angus Mitchell

Instagram

John Paul Mitchell Systems

Paul Mitchell Schools

Website

A Walk on Water

Website

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Episode 114

9 November 2021

We are living in turbulent times and as we come out of covid the issue that is staring us all in the face is how we all need to change the way we live and work in order to stop climate change.

My belief is that that is the biggest thing we will be dealing with during our lifetime. But I also believe that we can and will do it.

I think that Covid has shown us that when the world has to react and change and find different ways of working and inventing new technology in the form of vaccines etc that we can. But it’s down to all of us to do our part.

My guest on this episode is Karine Jackson from ‘Karine Jackson Sustainable Hair’ in Covent Garden London and she is a great example of a salon owner at the forefront of change.

In this episode we discuss:

What is a sustainable salon?
Is there a compromise using organic colour?
How being ‘sustainable’ is a marketing message that can help grow your business

And lots more!

In this Episode:

[03:18] Karine shares what her journey within the salon industry has looked like.

[06:11] How Karine’s salon, Karine Jackson Sustainable Hair, celebrates Black History Month.

[11:31] Examples of how Karine reduces the amount of waste she produces in her salon as well as her personal life.

[18:41] How Karine’s clients and staff have responded to her emphasis on sustainability.

[21:10] “Plastic is not fantastic”: lessons from Karine’s four-year-old niece.

[21:52] Sustainable sources of PPE that Karine has sourced since the pandemic.

[23:36] Where Karine’s advocacy for sustainability began.

[24:30] The client who sparked Karine’s journey to find sustainable hair care products.

[27:21] How Karine offsets the costs of paying for the Green Salon Collective recycling service.

[30:46] Problems with palm oil, and the multitude of products it can be found in.

[33:41] The difference between biodegradable and compostable materials.

[35:13] Why Karine has chosen to use Organic Colour Systems products in her salon, and valuable advice for other salon owners struggling to choose a brand.

[42:33] The refill service that Sustainable Hair offers for all their products.

[44:33] Examples of the sustainability pledges that Karine and her staff have made.

[46:50] How Karine stands up against the unsustainable practices of some major brands.

[48:54] Karine shares her thoughts on the downsides of globalization and how to combat these.

[51:16] Why Karine believes humans are becoming increasingly susceptible to allergies.

[52:21] The overwhelming nature of change, and Karine’s advice on how to get started!

[56:25] An experiment Karine conducted to assess the amount of colour waste they were accumulating in the salon, and the approach she used to drastically reduce it.

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.

Special thanks to Karine for sharing her insights with me for this week’s episode. Until next time!

Antony

Links and Resources for this episode:

Grow My Salon Business

Website | Facebook | Instagram

Karine Jackson Sustainable Hair Salon

Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Green Salon Collective

Website

Green Circle Salons

Website