Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
✔️ The truth about rising credit card processing fees in salons
✔️ How new laws allow salons to pass fees onto clients (legally!)
✔️ Why transparency is key and how to communicate fees the right way
✔️ The ONE simple tweak that prevents client complaints
✔️ How to get your staff on board (and avoid resistance!)
✔️ Why most salons see minimal pushback when done correctly
✔️ A step-by-step rollout plan to make this smooth and stress-free

⚡ Want the exact cheat sheet to implement this in your salon? Text “roll out” to 📲 (916) 258-0720 now!

💡 Need extra support? We’ve got you! Text “support” to 📲 (916) 258-0720 for expert guidance.

AI Helps Capture Missed Calls & Increase Revenue (05:37)

In just four weeks, their AI system captured 112 missed calls, leading to $1,800 in additional booked services that would have otherwise been lost.

AI-Powered Texting Enhances Guest Experience (03:50)

AI sends automated yet customizable text messages to guests, allowing them to easily book appointments without waiting for a callback.

AI Assists Front Desk by Reducing Workload (07:15)

AI takes over conversations with clients when staff are unavailable, allowing front desk employees to focus on in-person guest experience rather than constantly answering phones.

Salon Owners Gain Data Insights with AI Dashboards (06:30)

AI provides detailed reports on missed calls, booked appointments, and ROI, helping owners make data-driven decisions about salon operations.

Automated Upselling & Cross-Promotions Increase Profits (10:45)

AI sends automated text offers for add-on services, such as a massage upgrade or treatment, helping fill appointment gaps and boost revenue effortlessly.

Last-Minute Appointment Openings Get Filled Quickly (19:32)

AI texts clients about same-day or next-day availability, making it easy to fill open slots and ensure salon staff remain fully booked.

Missed Client Follow-Ups Bring Guests Back (26:22)

AI helps salons run "We Miss You" campaigns, sending messages to clients who haven't visited in a while, sometimes with an incentive like a discount or special offer.

Custom AI Training Matches Salon Branding & Tone (03:50)

AI systems learn the salon’s language, services, and customer interactions within a month, ensuring consistent and professional communication.

AI Provides Two-Way Messaging for Better Engagement (23:16)

Staff can jump into AI conversations whenever needed, ensuring seamless client interactions and preventing miscommunications.

AI Allows Salon Staff to Focus on In-Person Service (17:58)

With AI handling calls and bookings, salon employees can spend more time interacting with guests, offering beverages, and ensuring a high-end experience rather than being tied to the phone.

The Power of Giving Back: Building trust and loyalty starts with creating a salon culture that actively gives back to the community.

A Legacy of Generosity: Dawn Blom has been in the salon industry for over 40 years, and her salons have raised over $1 million for community causes.

Building Trust Through Action: Supporting local causes and individuals in need helps establish a salon's reputation as a trusted community partner.

Signature Fundraising Events: Dawn's salons host annual events like golf tournaments and a "Blessing Tree" to support families and children in need.

Attracting Like-Minded Clients and Staff: A salon culture rooted in giving back naturally draws in team members and clients who align with those values.

Start Small, Think Big: Even small acts of kindness, like "pay it forward" initiatives, can snowball into larger efforts that impact the community.

Involving Your Team: Everyone in the salon contributes to fundraisers, whether through organizing events or spreading the word, making it a collective effort.

Authenticity Matters: Ensuring donations and events are legitimate builds trust and strengthens your salon's reputation.

Emotional Impact: Acts of service create memorable experiences for clients and staff, deepening loyalty and connection.

Sustaining Momentum: Regularly hosting events and keeping giving back as a core part of the salon culture ensures ongoing trust and loyalty.

2025 Hiring Changes: Salon hiring has evolved, requiring flexibility, tailored benefits, and innovative recruitment strategies to attract top talent.

Flexible Rewards: Employees value benefits like 401(k)s, health insurance, vacation time, and educational opportunities over just high commission rates.

Dedicated Recruitment Channels: Creating Instagram pages specifically for career opportunities helps attract stylists and stand out to potential hires.

Understanding Generational Shifts: Younger stylists, especially recent beauty school graduates, are looking for workplaces that offer both professional growth and lifestyle alignment.

Customized Employment Models: Salons should identify whether they cater to full-time (40 hours) or part-time (20 hours) employees and tailor their hiring strategies accordingly.

Rehiring Booth Renters: Many independent stylists in suites struggle with management and profitability. Offering them structure, income stability, and benefits can encourage them to return to salons.

Selling Through, Not To: Using a “sell through” approach—asking current stylists for referrals instead of directly poaching—creates goodwill and uncovers talent.

Showcase Successful Stylists: Celebrating milestones like $100k in take-home pay helps attract talent by demonstrating a salon’s ability to foster professional growth.

Intentional Leadership: Salons must establish systems to ensure stylists can achieve their financial and professional goals, making them desirable workplaces.

Community and Culture: A strong team culture and intentionality in hiring create a noticeable difference, helping salons attract and retain top talent.

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.