Transformational Profit Growth: Angie Loren, a salon owner for 12 years, shares her story of going from operating in the red to achieving a 19% profit in just nine months.

Community Support: Joining the High-Performance Salon Academy and connecting with a community of like-minded professionals helped Angie gain clarity, tools, and strategies for success.

Code of Honor: Implementing a "Code of Honor" within her salon created a foundation of accountability, collaboration, and shared values among her team.

Parts and Labor Pricing: Adopting innovative pricing strategies like "parts and labor" transformed Angie’s back bar into a profit center, increasing profitability per service.

Profit First Mindset: Angie learned to pay herself properly by separating income streams as a stylist, manager, and salon owner, ensuring she treated her business like a business—not a hobby.

Social Media Awareness: Angie overcame the negative effects of comparing herself to others on social media, regaining focus and passion for her salon.

Leveraging Technology: Tools like Maya, Salon Ninja, and Facebook ads helped Angie streamline her operations, generate leads, and boost profitability.

Tracking and Accountability: Angie emphasized the importance of daily tracking, journaling, and accountability to maintain focus and continue her salon's success trajectory.

Team Collaboration: Empowering her team with decision-making and goal-setting improved morale, engagement, and alignment with the salon's vision.

Rediscovering Passion: Angie reignited her love for the industry by creating a work-life balance, focusing on her salon's culture, and celebrating wins with her team.

Focus on the Client Experience: Clients crave genuine conversations and attention; it's not just about haircuts but about connection.

Avoid "Hamster Wheel" Operations: Salons often fall into a repetitive cycle, making the service feel rushed and impersonal.

Personal Touch Matters: Handwritten notes, personalized services, and sensory experiences (like scent machines) elevate the salon's perception.

Go Beyond Discounts: Instead of offering discounts, focus on value-packed services to make clients feel like they’re receiving premium care.

Cater to Emotional Needs: Create an "oasis" experience for clients by offering warmth, comfort, and attention to detail (like blankets at shampoo bowls).

Intentional Add-Ons: Small touches, such as warm towels or lap desks, enhance the client experience without drastically increasing costs.

Value Up, Don’t Discount Down: Bundling premium services instead of marking down creates perceived luxury without profit loss.

Tackle Digital Fatigue: Encourage clients to disconnect by offering rewards (e.g., a gift card for leaving their phone at the front desk).

Elevate Environment Aesthetics: Focus on how the salon looks, smells, and feels to create a consistent luxury brand experience.

Be Client-Centric: Shift the mindset from selling services to curating an experience that aligns with the client’s emotional expectations and lifestyle.

Brand Clarity: The podcast branding shifted from "Kayla's Podcast" to "High Performance Salon Academy's Profitable Salon Owner Podcast" to emphasize the Academy as the authority, not just the host.

Prediction for 2025: Jason predicts that mediocre salons will be wiped out in 2025, not because of external factors like the economy but due to poor internal practices.

Back to Basics: Salons need to revisit their "guest experience" and focus on strong foundational practices rather than relying on old habits and processes that may no longer be effective.

Client-Centric Sales Approach: Avoid over-complicating the booking process. Focus on asking client needs rather than explaining your pricing model. Don't make potential clients fill out surveys before booking — help them immediately.

Surprise and Delight: Small, unexpected touches (like offering warm towels or aromatherapy) can create memorable experiences that differentiate salons from their competitors.

Mental Health Matters: As salon clients and team members face rising mental health challenges, salons should offer support and resources to promote mental well-being, not just financial or health benefits.

Leadership Shift: Salon owners should shift from "chasing" and begging their teams to follow instructions to leading with a clear vision, making it clear what standards and expectations are required for being part of the team.

Build a Growth-Driven Community: Surround yourself with other high-performing leaders. Being in a community where salon owners hit big revenue milestones (like $2M+ in annual revenue) will push you to achieve similar goals.

Evolve or Die: Jason emphasizes the need for salons to continually evolve their services, team culture, and leadership approach. Complacency will lead to decline, while evolution leads to growth.

Seek Outside Support: If you could solve the problems alone, they would already be solved. Get help, seek mentorship, and join a community of successful people. The Academy is designed to provide that support and accountability.

Unexpected Journey into Salon Ownership: Janelle Fedock didn’t plan to own a salon but felt a "calling" when the opportunity arose. She took action despite being on maternity leave and managing a full-time job.

Rapid Business Growth: In just 2.5 years, Janelle doubled her salon’s revenue, growing from 10 employees to 21. This growth came through leadership development, building systems, and hiring the right people.

Personal Development as a Leader: Janelle embraced leadership training by reading books, listening to podcasts, and investing in her personal growth. She recognized that to lead her team effectively, she had to become the best version of herself.

Overcoming Self-Doubt: Once Janelle made the decision to buy the salon, she committed fully, pushing through doubts and fears, including the challenge of leading with confidence as a new mother.

Building a Leadership Team: Janelle focused on hiring leaders with strengths that complemented her weaknesses. She delegated key responsibilities, such as team promotions and competitions, to leverage others' skills.

Shifting to a Team-Driven Culture: Janelle restructured her business by creating systems and a clear career path for employees. She prioritized employee growth and empowered them to take ownership of their roles.

Accountability Systems for Growth: She implemented systems for expectations, accountability, and consistent enforcement. By setting clear rules and addressing issues head-on, she was able to foster a higher-performing team.

Empowering Her Team: Janelle learned the power of delegation, encouraging her team to create and execute their own plans. This shift from micromanagement to trust allowed her to lead with impact rather than control.

Profit-Boosting Strategies: Two of her biggest profit wins included charging credit card fees to offset costs and separating parts and labor costs, both of which significantly impacted her salon's bottom line.

The Power of Support and Coaching: After realizing she had reached her growth limit, Janelle sought support from the High Performance Salon Academy (HPSA). This move enabled her to refine her leadership skills, build structure, and continue her salon’s growth trajectory.

Gift Cards as a Tool for Growth: Gift cards can be highly profitable when used to attract new guests and grow revenue during holidays.

Biggest Mistake #1 - Discounting: Avoid offering discounts on gift cards, as this can hurt your profit margins and set unrealistic pricing expectations.

Biggest Mistake #2 - No Boundaries: Clearly define gift card usage rules to prevent misuse, like limiting their use to specific services or retail products.

Biggest Mistake #3 - Fluffing December Sales: High gift card sales in December can artificially inflate revenue, leaving other months weaker.

Biggest Mistake #4 - Spending December’s Cash: Treat gift card revenue as deferred income and avoid spending it immediately.

Biggest Mistake #5 - Misclassifying on P&L: Log gift card sales properly as liabilities until redeemed, to avoid tax and accounting issues.

Biggest Mistake #6 - Selling to Existing Clients: Focus on gift cards as a tool to bring in new customers rather than discounting services for loyal clients.

Theft Risks: Implement systems to track and catalog gift cards, as they can be a target for employee theft.

Timing and Marketing Strategies: Peak sales often happen close to Christmas, but promotions should encourage early-year bookings to maintain revenue consistency.

Creative Packages: Bundle gift cards with services or retail items to add value, attract new guests, and provide thoughtful gifting options for businesses or groups.

Passion and Growth: Learn how Brian "Leo" Mallum expanded from a one-backwash studio to three successful salons through a deep passion for the industry and a commitment to organic growth.

CARE Values Framework: Discover how Roar Hair and Beauty’s core values—Color, Authenticity, Respect, and Excellence—shape their salon culture and attract a loyal clientele.

Community Over Competition: Hear why building a supportive community of salon owners and professionals can be more valuable than competing, and how this mindset has transformed Leo’s approach.

Staying True to Your Vision: Gain practical strategies for staying aligned with your original mission, even when faced with challenges like profitability and rapid expansion.

Inclusivity and Gender-Neutral Pricing: Understand the importance of creating an inclusive environment and how Roar Hair and Beauty implemented gender-neutral pricing to better serve their diverse client base.

Protecting Your Salon Culture: Leo shares how to safeguard your team’s well-being and maintain a positive salon atmosphere, even when dealing with challenging clients or new hires.

Hiring with Intention: Learn how to make intentional hiring decisions that align with your salon’s culture and mission, including the importance of trial periods to ensure the right fit.

Handling Unprofitable Periods: Get actionable tips on what to strip back and re-evaluate when your salon is not profitable, from pricing strategies to understanding your KPIs.

The Power of Storytelling: Leo emphasizes how sharing your salon’s story and values can create a deep connection with clients, leading to long-term loyalty.

Balancing Business and Art: Discover how to balance your artistic passion for hairdressing with the demands of running a profitable business, and why knowing your numbers is critical to success.

Topic: The discussion centers around burnout and practical ways to overcome it, focusing on causes and cures.

Guest: Chris Baran shares his experiences, emphasizing his journey in the beauty industry and lessons learned over 50 years.

Causes of Burnout: Overwork, feeling unappreciated, and imposter syndrome are highlighted as key contributors.

Universal Education: Chris points out that everyone is an educator in life, whether as a stylist, parent, or leader, which can lead to exhaustion.

Experience-Based Insights: Chris speaks about identifying burnout through personal struggles and recognizing it in others, especially salon owners and educators.

Self-Discovery: He emphasizes understanding where burnout originates, often tied to deeper emotional roots.

Cure Framework: He outlines solutions like continuous learning, open communication, motivation, and mentorship.

Straight Talk: The importance of honest, direct communication is stressed as a way to alleviate misunderstandings and improve relationships.

Mentorship: Chris advises finding mentors who can provide genuine guidance without imposing their own views.

Upcoming Webinar: A free webinar is mentioned, happening on November 18th, focused on addressing burnout and boosting productivity.

Social Media Burnout: Salon owners often feel overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly create engaging social media content.

Shift in Perspective: Instead of viewing social media as a daunting task, approach it as an opportunity to showcase your business and engage clients.

Entertaining Content: Understand that social media is a platform for entertainment. Your posts should aim to entertain first and then promote services.

Inspiration from Others: Look at successful salon posts for inspiration. Saving and adapting ideas can help streamline content creation.

Team Involvement: Engage your team in content creation by hosting fun, collaborative "social media play days" to generate ideas and content together.

Embrace TikTok Trends: Use the trends from TikTok and other platforms to create relatable, engaging videos that resonate with your audience.

Frequent Posting: Accept that producing a high volume of content (50-100 pieces) is crucial to finding what works and gaining confidence.

Minimal Editing: Start with simple video concepts that require little editing to avoid getting stuck in perfectionism.

Resource Sharing: Provide valuable resources to help salon owners create engaging content, such as cheat sheets for social media posts.

Celebrate Success: Encourage salon owners to share their content, tag the podcast, and celebrate their progress to build a supportive community.

Combatting Booth Renter Mentality: Joanne Peterman discusses strategies to reduce booth renter mentality and build a cohesive, team-oriented culture in salons.

Code of Honor: Emphasizes the importance of a salon's Code of Honor to set clear standards and expectations for the team, fostering accountability and consistency.

Team Culture: Joanne shares that her salon’s success comes from a strong team culture, where everyone supports each other beyond hair services, including helping with laundry, cleaning, and client follow-up.

Wellness and Personal Growth: Joanne integrates wellness practices like Reiki and yoga into her lifestyle, which she believes benefits her personal and professional growth, positively impacting her team and salon.

Staff Buy-In and Engagement: Discusses the importance of team buy-in, with everyone understanding why certain tasks are essential for business growth, creating a supportive and engaged salon environment.

Incentives and Rewards: Joanne implemented reward systems, such as two-hour passes, as incentives for staff performance and team-building activities, which are popular among her staff.

Onboarding and Expectations: New hires receive a clear handbook and manual to set expectations and outline roles, ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities.

Handling Team Turnover: She stresses the importance of letting go of staff who don't align with the salon's culture and Code of Honor, prioritizing long-term cultural fit over immediate staffing needs.

Owner Self-Reflection: Encourages salon owners to look inward and assess how their leadership impacts team dynamics, emphasizing that team culture begins with the owner’s actions and mindset.

Future Growth and Wellness Center: Joanne is expanding her business to a larger space focused on wellness, reflecting her vision of a holistic, supportive, and connected team culture.

Staff Retention and Growth: One of the main reasons staff leave is the lack of a clear growth path. Establishing defined career goals and providing a structured growth plan is crucial for retention.

Simplifying Performance Metrics: Creative salon staff often find tracking numbers stressful. Simplifying the process by providing clear, actionable metrics like guest count and average ticket can boost staff confidence.

Personal Goals Drive Motivation: Understanding the personal goals of your staff, such as buying a home or car, can be a strong motivator. Aligning their personal dreams with performance metrics can lead to better results.

Addressing Turnover: High staff turnover in salons is a challenge, but creating a supportive and growth-driven environment helps retain staff longer.

Weekly Check-ins: Instead of monthly reviews, weekly performance check-ins allow for timely adjustments and foster continuous improvement.

Effective Leadership Mindset: Salon owners should focus on guiding their team through collaborative leadership, rather than controlling or micromanaging, to create a positive work environment.

Supporting Team Strengths: Utilize team members’ strengths by assigning tasks like performance tracking to those who excel at it, while alleviating stress for others.

Motivating with Tangible Goals: Breaking down big financial goals into smaller, manageable targets, like increasing average ticket sales, makes achieving success feel more attainable.

Mindset Shifts for Growth: Shifting the leadership mindset from enforcing rules to supporting personal and professional growth encourages team engagement and loyalty.

Building a Positive Culture: By focusing on the well-being and development of the team, salon owners can create a thriving, energized work environment that benefits both staff and clients.