Grow My Salon Business Podcast

Antony Whitaker
  • 4.9 (106)
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Updated Weekly

I know that being in business isn’t always easy. Along with the many highs and ‘a ha’ moments it can sometimes be soul destroying, frustrating and a very lonely place to be. Being a business owner is one of life’s greatest educations and it gives you two clear choices, either you continually learn, adapt and grow, or you resist change, stagnate and perish. We live in ever changing and sometimes challenging times, so being informed and constantly inspired is more important than ever. Join Antony Whitaker talking to thought leaders on the business side of the hairdressing industry discussing insightful, provocative and inspiring ideas that matter. Get ready to learn, get ready to be challenged, get ready to be inspired and most importantly get ready to grow your salon business!

  1. 3d ago

    365 Five Things Every Growing Salon Needs in Place

    Growth sounds like the obvious goal for any salon owner, but chasing a bigger business without a plan can break the one you've already built. I've seen owners open a second location only to end up with two salons that struggle instead of one that thrives. So what would your business actually need to look like if it grew the way you truly want? In this episode, I share the five things I believe every salon owner needs before they scale: a clear vision, real systems, people who can lead, a handle on the numbers, and the willingness to grow as a leader. You'll get a practical insight to decide if growth is the right goal, and how to build a business that gives you the life you want. IN THIS EPISODE • The five things you need in place before you scale a salon business • Why expansion doesn't just duplicate what was already working; it duplicates the problems as well. • How to build systems that let your business run without you • Why business growth is really people growth, and how to develop leaders under you EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction [01:33] Why there is no single definition of salon business success [03:15] The assumption that bigger automatically means better, and why it isn't [04:02] The five things you need in place for growth to be sustainable [06:16] The mistake most salon owners make when they open salon number two [07:47] How growth reveals whether you built a business or just a job [10:00] Why business growth is really about growing people, not just adding them [12:24] Why you need to know the numbers before you think about expanding [14:22] Why evolving as a leader is the hardest part of growing a business [16:09] The owner who believes nobody can do it as well as they can [17:00] A recap of the five things sustainable salon growth actually requires [18:11] Where to find the free video series on salon management skills RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Management Video Series – Four Essential Lessons in Salon Management to Set You Up For Success, a free four-part video series (each video around 15 minutes) that also explains how the management course and coaching program work.👉 Register here https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-video-series and get them sent straight to your inbox 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/ 👉 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. 👉 Here's what you do: - On your phone, click here (read the steps below first): https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/grow-my-salon-business-podcast/id1456014220 - 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

  2. Sep 8

    364 What Does Your Business Need From You?

    Every salon owner learns eventually that to manage a salon business, you first have to manage yourself. It's easy to focus on the team, the standards and the accountability conversations you'd rather avoid. But before any of that works, you need to look honestly at your own time, habits and follow-through. This week I look at why being busy and managing well are two different things, why giving someone a task without also giving them the authority to make decisions isn't really delegating, and why so much of good management is invisible to your clients even though they feel the result of it. Manage yourself properly, and the rest of the business gets easier to run. IN THIS EPISODE: Why being busy and managing well are two completely different thingsThe diary test that shows what you're actually prioritising, not just what you say mattersWhy delegation fails when you hand over the task but not the authorityThe difference between managing things and leading people, and why both matter EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction: Why the hardest person to manage is the one running the salon [01:28] The uncomfortable realisation that your own standards set the tone for everyone [03:37] Why being busy and managing well are two completely different things [06:00] The two very different jobs of a stylist and a salon manager [07:21] What your diary actually reveals about your real priorities each week [10:57] Why you manage things and systems, but you have to lead people [12:32] Why clear expectations do more for standards than being hard or controlling [13:00] Why "obvious" means something different to every single person on your team [16:00] What clients actually feel when a salon business is genuinely well managed [20:11] Why knowledge alone never changes a business, only implementation actually does [23:02] The one question every owner needs to ask about their own business RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🎥 4 Essential Lessons in Salon Management (free video series) – sign up and get one short video a day for four days, straight to your inbox, starting the 14th September – Join the free video series Want MORE to help you GROW? 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at  RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE  If you enjoyed this episode, you'll also like: Episode 363: Why the Most Successful Salons Keep it Simple. 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. 👉 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

  3. Sep 1

    363 Why the Most Successful Salons Keep it Simple

    Most salon owners assume their business feels complicated because it needs to be. But after years inside salons at every level of the market, I've noticed the opposite.  The businesses that thrive are simple, while the ones that struggle are usually a collection of good ideas picked up along the way that were never designed to work together. So ask yourself: does your business actually function as one connected whole, or does it just feel like separate parts that don’t quite work together as they should? I'll share why keeping things simple takes real work, why most owners build their business one decision at a time, and why the real job of management is making sure every part connects to everything else. If your business feels harder than it should, this episode will help you see why. IN THIS EPISODE: Why the most successful salons are simple, not complicatedHow joined up thinking turns one small decision, like pricing, into a ripple across the whole businessWhy removing something from your business can matter as much as adding something newThe real difference between a simple business and one that depends on youEPISODE TRANSCRIPT: [00:00] Introduction [00:43] The one question people most often ask about salon success [01:54] The jigsaw puzzle metaphor for building a business that works [03:56] Why so many salon owners end up building the plane while flying [06:46] Why you need the picture on the box before you build [08:35] How one pricing decision ripples through every part of your business [10:00] The two sides of management: systems and processes versus people [13:16] Why removing something from the business can matter as much as adding [14:02] The real difference between a simple business and a dependent one [18:08] Why the goal is making the pieces you have work together [19:00] The free management checklist and course mentioned in this episode RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 🆘 Management overwhelm!? Download our free checklist! This checklist will help you get clarity on where you're at https://growmysalonbusiness.com/management-checklist/ 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. 👉 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

  4. Aug 25

    362 The New Rules of Salon Marketing in the Age of AI with Phil Evans

    When it comes to marketing, many salon owners pour their time into Instagram, hoping it brings new clients through the door. My returning guest Phil Evans, founder of Salon Guru, has analysed over four and a half million visits to salon websites, and the results show that social media is not driving potential clients to your website in the numbers that you might expect. So here's a question worth reflecting on: if your marketing time is going to the wrong place, what is that actually costing your salon? In this conversation, Phil breaks down exactly where new clients are really coming from, what Google's EEAT framework means for your website, and why most reviews fall short of what Google and AI are looking for. By the end of this episode, you'll know where to put your marketing time so it actually brings in bookings, not just likes. IN THIS EPISODE: Why only 1.5% of website visits come directly from social media, and where the rest actually come fromThe four-part framework Google and AI use to decide which salon to recommendHow to structure your Google reviews so they build real trust and authority, not just star ratingsWhat to search on your own phone to check whether your salon is visible on Google and AI TIMESTAMPS: [00:00] Introduction [00:51] Introducing returning guest Phil Evans from Salon Guru [01:44] Inside the new Salon Guru trends report and why it exists [03:42] Google versus social media, the surprising split in the data [05:26] Why social media rarely closes the booking on its own [09:16] How AI is reshaping the way clients search for salons [11:39] Is AI about to replace Google search entirely [18:14] The EEAT framework Google and AI use to pick a salon [22:00] Why detailed Google reviews matter more than five-star ratings [27:17] Where to focus five hours a week of marketing time [32:34] What clients actually want to see on a salon website [38:00] Inside Showcase and the early results from beta salons RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Salon Guru Trends Report – New data on where salon clients really come from and how to be found on Google and AI 👉Download the report Showcase Webinar – Phil's live walkthrough of the new website tool built from the trends report data, going live 31st August 👉Send it to me 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/ 👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW SALON GURU! 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. 👉 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

  5. Aug 18

    361 Stop Saying "We're Like a Family Here"

    Treating your team like family feels warm and caring, but it might be working against your leadership and having a negative impact on the business. A family relationship and a business relationship serve two very different purposes, and in a business, when the boundaries are blurred, accountability gets harder, standards slip, and you start making exceptions you'd never normally allow.  In today's episode, I walk through five practical shifts that replace the family myth with something stronger, a team built on genuine care and clear standards. You'll come away with a better way to handle the conversations you've been avoiding, and a level of clarity that serves everyone in the business. IN THIS EPISODE: Why family belonging is unconditional, while team membership comes with real expectationsHow holding people accountable is one of the most caring things you can doThe difference between supporting your team and carrying every problem in their livesWhy blurred boundaries between friend and employer make hard conversations even harderA better metaphor than family for building loyalty, trust and belonging EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction [01:15] Why calling your team family can create serious problems [02:31] Families and businesses exist for completely different reasons [02:42] Word from our sponsor: Zenoti [04:46] The unconditional nature of family versus the realities of a team [06:34] Why caring about people does not mean avoiding accountability [07:57] The hidden cost of protecting one person from feedback [08:53] You are not responsible for fixing everyone's problems [10:03] How the family mindset creates a one-sided psychological contract [11:26] Why blurred boundaries make leadership so much harder [17:33] Recap: five things to remember about your team [18:58] Where to find the free salon management checklist Want MORE to help you GROW? ➡️ Zenoti – all-in-one salon management platform with AI-powered client communications and automation. GMSB listeners get 50% off their first three months – Find out more 🆘 Salon Management Checklist – a free download to help you assess where your salon's management currently stands – https://growmysalonbusiness.com/free-resources 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

  6. Aug 11

    360 The Numbers Don't Lie

    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 faultThe client retention approach that's driving almost all industry growth right nowWhy salons with membership programs are growing four times faster than salons without oneWhat 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   👉 FOLLOW US! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW ZENOTI! Instagram | Website 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:- 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

  7. Aug 4

    359 Two Salons, One Family, 25 Staff with Billy Ryan and Elle Foreman

    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 everyoneWhy a pay structure based only on commission can work against the business you're trying to buildHow a cash flow forecast turns "we just need to make more money" into an actual planWhy 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! Instagram | Facebook | Website 👉 FOLLOW TRIBE SALONS! Instagram | Website 👉 FOLLOW ELLE Instagram 👉 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

  8. Jul 28

    358 Seven Lessons on Education Every Salon Owner Needs to Hear

    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 valuableThe real reason AI won't replace great educators, and how it exposes the poor onesWhy your apprentices should be productive within six months, not left to find their feet for yearsThe difference between being a great hairdresser and being a great teacherWhy you can't rely on colleges or government training programs to finish the job for youSeven 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! Instagram | Facebook | Website

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4.9
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About

I know that being in business isn’t always easy. Along with the many highs and ‘a ha’ moments it can sometimes be soul destroying, frustrating and a very lonely place to be. Being a business owner is one of life’s greatest educations and it gives you two clear choices, either you continually learn, adapt and grow, or you resist change, stagnate and perish. We live in ever changing and sometimes challenging times, so being informed and constantly inspired is more important than ever. Join Antony Whitaker talking to thought leaders on the business side of the hairdressing industry discussing insightful, provocative and inspiring ideas that matter. Get ready to learn, get ready to be challenged, get ready to be inspired and most importantly get ready to grow your salon business!

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