Welcome to the "Profitable Salon Owner" podcast with Kayla Swanson. In this episode, Kayla interviews Alice Campbell, a salon owner with 18 years of experience. Alice shares her insights on what she wishes she had known before opening a salon.

Alice talks about how her husband, Doug, inspired her to become a salon owner. Initially hesitant about the challenges of running a salon, Doug convinced Alice to train and educate stylists and create a supportive working environment for them. Alice emphasizes the importance of having help with the paperwork and owning the real estate as key considerations when starting a salon.

The early stages of Alice's salon involved renovating a hundred-year-old house, which required a lot of hard work from both Alice and Doug. They faced the challenges of inspections and the pressure of trying to please everyone by offering both booth rental and employee options. However, after a year, Alice took Doug's advice and focused on creating a clear business plan, which led to significant growth and a rewarding experience of employing and supporting stylists.

One of the most fulfilling aspects for Alice as a salon owner is watching stylists overcome societal misconceptions about the beauty industry and achieve personal and financial success. She emphasizes the importance of having a support system and seeking help when struggling as a salon owner. Alice also highlights the need for clear systems and the ability to adapt and pivot in an ever-changing industry.

Alice shares her insights on the importance of staying flexible and open-minded as a salon owner. She learned from her early mistakes of trying to please everyone and losing sight of her own principles. Finding a clear mission and setting boundaries was instrumental in improving her salon's operations. Alice encourages salon owners to stay true to their core values while allowing for growth and evolution in other areas of their business.

Lastly, Alice discusses common misconceptions about salon owners, particularly the assumption that they make a lot of money. She learned the reality of salon finances and the challenges of dealing with people who may not always honor their commitments.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights and advice for salon owners, highlighting the importance of support, clear systems, adaptability, and staying true to one's core principles in the ever-changing salon industry.