Kayla Swanson and Jason Everett discuss the rising trend of credit card fees in salons.

Emphasizes the importance of understanding local laws regarding credit card fees.

Explains the shift in laws allowing salons to pass credit card fees to clients.

Recommends itemizing fees transparently on receipts to educate clients.

Highlights minimal client pushback observed when implementing these fees.

Advises on communicating the benefits to clients as a service rather than an additional cost.

Discusses strategies to mitigate concerns and objections from salon staff and clients.

Stresses the financial benefits of recouping credit card fees for salon profitability.

Offers practical steps and checklists for smoothly rolling out fee changes in salons.

Encourages salon owners to focus on what's best for their business and clients' interests.

Introduction and Background:

Host Kayla Swanson introduces Lia Hakim, who owns four blow-dry bar locations in New York.

Lia shares her story of starting her business 10 years ago.

Career Journey:

Lia began as a licensed cosmetologist in Los Angeles.

Worked for an airline while continuing her cosmetology practice part-time.

Business Genesis:

Noticed a growing demand for blow-dry bars in New York City.

Opened her first blow-dry bar, leading to rapid expansion.

Rapid Expansion:

Expanded to four locations within four to five years.

Faced challenges managing multiple locations simultaneously.

Learning and Systems:

Engaged a salon coaching company to help establish effective systems.

Developed processes for consistent management across locations.

Biggest Challenges:

Transitioning from one to two locations was the hardest step.

Emphasized the importance of thorough financial planning and strategic team building.

Management Strategies:

Highlighted the need for a strong team, including accountants and managers.

Implemented a departmental structure to delegate responsibilities effectively.

Personal Growth and Company Culture:

Stressed the significance of personal growth and self-care.

Focused on building a cohesive company culture across all locations.

Evaluating Success and Adjusting:

Made the strategic decision to close a fourth location to enhance profitability.

Advocated for making data-driven decisions and being adaptable.

Future Plans and Final Thoughts:

Continues to focus on growth and refining business systems.

Encourages aspiring business owners to take informed leaps and seek support when needed.

Introduction to the Topic: Mental health is crucial yet often uncomfortable to discuss, especially in the salon environment where interactions are constant.

Guest Introduction: Stephanie Russell, a global Redken facilitator and psychological safety coach, joins to discuss mental health in salons.

Psychological Safety: Stephanie focuses on creating psychologically safe environments in salons to reduce mental harm and promote well-being among staff and clients.

Importance of Relationships: The quality of interactions between salon owners, stylists, and clients significantly impacts mental health.

Identifying Problems: Many people experience unease without clear reasons, highlighting the need for language and awareness around mental health issues.

Emotional Intelligence: Essential for a psychologically safe salon includes self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.

Red, Yellow, Green Lights: Using traffic light analogy to recognize emotional states - green for trust and safety, yellow for caution, and red for distrust and defensiveness.

Leadership Role: Leaders must model and mirror the desired psychologically safe behavior to cultivate it within their teams.

Practical Steps: Begin with leadership, foster self-awareness among team members, manage emotions, and practice compassion and empathy.

Continuous Improvement: Mental health and psychological safety are ongoing processes requiring constant effort, reflection, and commitment from everyone involved.

• Introduction to Flexible Scheduling: Kayla Swanson and Holly Fox discuss the importance of flexible scheduling in the salon industry to keep teams happy and productive.
• Industry Changes: The salon industry has changed significantly, with rising booth rent and a demand for flexible schedules.
• Pandemic Impact: The pandemic has driven a shift towards hybrid work models, influencing salon scheduling practices.
• Employee Retention: Flexible scheduling is crucial for retaining employees who seek work-life balance and control over their schedules.
• Custom Scheduling Options: Salons can implement varied scheduling options to cater to different needs, such as financial goals, family commitments, and personal preferences.
• Lifestyle Scheduling: Lifestyle scheduling prioritizes employees' personal lives, allowing them to attend events and spend time with family.
• Implementation Challenges: Introducing flexible scheduling requires clear communication and boundaries to ensure it aligns with the salon’s operational needs.
• Cultural Benefits: Flexible scheduling positively impacts the salon’s culture by fostering a supportive and understanding work environment.
• Generational Shifts: The upcoming generation values flexibility and work-life balance more than previous generations, necessitating adaptable work policies.
• Continuous Adaptation: Salons must continuously reassess and adapt their scheduling practices to meet the evolving needs of their employees and industry trends.

• Introduction: Host Kayla Swanson introduces guest Cindi Mausehund to discuss handling walkouts and rebuilding salon culture.
• Cindi’s Background: Cindi shares her journey from sales desk to co-owning a salon with 16 team members.
• Experiencing a Walkout: Cindi details the impact of losing 8 team members over several months, reducing the staff to 4 stylists.
• Adjustments: The salon condensed hours and adjusted schedules to maintain a vibrant environment with fewer staff.
• Emotional Impact: Cindi discusses feelings of hurt and betrayal, emphasizing the owner's emotional investment.
• Rebuilding Strategy: Post-walkout, the salon held open Q&A sessions, revised their mission statement, and focused on team communication.
• Hiring for Culture Fit: New hires were chosen based on cultural fit rather than skill level to ensure alignment with the salon’s values.
• Team Involvement: Involving current team members in the hiring process helped integrate new hires and strengthen the team.
• Leadership & Connection: Cindi highlights the importance of staying connected with the team and regularly seeking feedback.
• Final Advice: Cindi advises balancing future goals with enjoying the present, fostering a fun and positive work environment.

1. Introduction to the podcast episode discussing achieving success beyond traditional salon practices.
2. Carla's background as a stylist and her journey into exploring modalities like EFT tapping and coaching.
3. The importance of understanding how our thoughts and emotions impact our professional and personal lives.
4. Exploring the three distinct pillars that can block success: fear, energetic exhaustion, and self-awareness.
5. Strategies for managing fear and anxiety, including recognizing triggers and reframing negative beliefs.
6. Understanding the energetic aspects of our being and how to manifest positive outcomes.
7. Carla shares her personal experiences and insights into embracing self-awareness and overcoming challenges.
8. Encouragement to explore various self-discovery methods, such as therapy, reading, or EFT tapping.
9. Emphasizing the significance of taking proactive steps towards personal growth and embracing the unknown.
10. Acknowledging the transformative power of shifting perspectives and nurturing a deeper understanding of oneself.

Introduction by Kayla Swanson to the topic of sustainability in salons and its profitability.

Interview with Paul and Valorie Tate, founders of Sustain Beauty, discussing their journey into sustainability and its importance in the salon industry.

Emphasis on sustainability not just as energy conservation but also as a performance enhancer and a future-focused strategy.

Examples of sustainable products like eco-friendly color mixers and pigmented lighteners that improve efficiency and profitability while reducing environmental impact.

Discussion on the importance of storytelling and community-building in aligning salon brands with sustainability.

Recognition of the impact of sustainability on both stylist and client recruitment and retention.

Highlighting the role of sustainability in attracting like-minded individuals to salons and building a brand with a strong mission.

Practical tips for salon professionals to integrate sustainability into their businesses, including calculators for cost comparisons and creating branded content.

Testimonial of the positive impact of sustainable practices, such as providing fresh drinking water to communities in need through product purchases.

Encouragement for salon teams to engage in community initiatives and discussions to foster a shared commitment to sustainability.

1. Podcast delving into challenges in the beauty industry.
2. Hosted by Kayla, featuring insights from renowned industry veteran Vivienne Mackinder.
3. Guest Vivienne shares insights from her 40-year career.
4. Vivienne's passion lies in enhancing people's appearance.
5. She emphasizes the importance of discernment and expertise.
6. Social media can create unrealistic expectations for hairdressers.
7. Balancing client desires with professional judgment is crucial.
8. Continuous learning and skill development are essential.
9. Salon owners should foster a culture of education and growth.
10. Gain valuable insights from Vivienne to thrive in the salon business!

1. Introduction: Kayla Swanson discusses the implementation of a system to solve salon team and culture problems.
2. Sponsorship: Sponsored by Salon Scale, a backbar management app designed by salon owners.
3. Guest Introduction: Jason Everett joins the discussion about implementing a "Code of Honor" inspired by Blair Singer's book.
4. Purpose: Exploring how to teach and implement a Code of Honor within a salon team.
5. Importance: Code of Honor fosters unity, solves conflicts, and strengthens organizational culture.
6. Process: Steps include clarifying core values, converting values into rules, and refining them.
7. Impact: Code of Honor ensures consistency, accountability, and adherence to standards.
8. Application: Can be implemented in any organization regardless of size or industry.
9. Challenges: Mistakes include not involving the team in creating the Code, neglecting regular review, and setting unrealistic standards.
10. Conclusion: Emphasizes the transformative power of Code of Honor in improving team dynamics and performance.