SUMM IT UP
SUMM IT UP is a podcast from Summit Salon Business Center that engages salon, school, barbershop and spa professionals on their shared path toward happiness in the beauty industry. Hosted by stylist, salon owner, educator, and “Top 30 Colorist Under 30” Blake Reed Evans, the show features frank conversations with changemakers from all corners of the beauty world, focusing on business and interpersonal relationships. New episodes are released every Wednesday.
Episodes
Struggling with retail? Try this experiment
If your salon offers retail, chances are you'd like to be selling more product than you currently are. Retail sales boost profit margins, enhance client loyalty, and help clients maintain salon-quality results. But there are a number of reasons we fall short of our retail goals. For instance, providers get busy and don't find the time to talk to their guests about home care; suggesting a guest inc
Decoding the generations on your salon team
Salons professionals span a particularly wide range of ages, from 18 to 60+. That means you probably have three or four generations working together at any given time. Boomers, Gen X, Millenials, and Gen Z each bring something different and valuable to the table -- but we don't always understand each other. Maybe you're a service provider trying to figure out what your Gen X boss wants from you, l
Juggling your passions with salon owner/ brand artist Cody Evans
Cody Evans is the co-founder or Colour Collective Salon in Mobile, Alabama, and a L'Oréal Professionnel artist.In this episode, Blake sits down with Cody Evans to get real about what it looks like to juggle salon ownership, brand artistry, education, and still have a life. Cody opens up about the journey from behind the chair to business owner, the persistence it took to become a L'Oréal Professio
Listen again: Guiding newbie styists with Lisa Giles
If you're a newbie or baby stylist or a salon owner looking to grow and retain new stylists, this episode is for you.
Guest Lisa Giles is a digital creator and educator who specialiizes in working with stylists brand new to the industry, or as she likes to call them "guppies." She runs the education and mentoring platform Straight Out of Cosmo, where she teaches classes including "Make
Level up your retail game with Inovshop ft. Martin Spritzer
Salon retail can be a tough nut to crack. Salon products available to clients from big retailers at just a few taps on a phone. Inovshop's interactive digital displays give stylists a leg up by sparking guests' curiosity and providing education right in the salon, increasing sales. And with AI, these tools are becoming ever-more customizable to your individual customers.
In this episode, Summ it
Building a $6 million business from the ground up w/ Urban Betty's Chelle Neff
Based in Austin, Texas, Urban Betty Salon is one of Summit's longest running and most successful salon clients. In this episode we meet the woman behind the juggernaut, founder Chelle Neff. Chelle started hair school back in high school, and her first job was at Supercuts. She opened her first Urban Betty location in 2005 as a booth rental. Now Urban Betty is a 3-location commission salon company
What the heck are shareholders? Your people, your legacy with Lisa Lipani
If you own a salon company by yourself or even with a partner, it can be lonely at the top. Every major decision comes down to you, including how to exit the company when you're ready to retire or take a different path. Plus, you probably have valuable employees looking for ways to grow and considering striking out on their own. Shareholder programs can be a beautiful way to share risk and decisio
Navigating cancer as a (young) salon leader with Sarah Hooper
To be a salon owner requires ambition, commitment and hustle. But you're also human. So how do you balance responsibility with self care when difficult things happen -- and also in the every day?
When Sarah Hooper got diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer it came as a shock, followed by a million questions and endless medical appointments. And on top of that, she had to come up with a plan fo
Travel stylist and thriving with Trish Vereze
Does summer have you wishing for more vacation time or a bigger travel budget? What if you could travel and do hair at the same time? Trish Vereze is an independent stylists specializing in color correction who splits her time between Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Honolulu. It was a rough road at the beginning, but now Trish stays booked and busy. Just five years into becoming a hairstylist, she boug
Future-proof salon: AI & the human touch ft. Phorest's Ronan Perceval
Guest Ronan Perceval began his journey in the beaty industry as a receptionist at a busy salon in Dublin, Ireland. While he loved the salon culture and people, he found that constant "admin-y conversations" -- like explaining the parking situation or cancellation policy -- were sapping taking time away from more meaningful client interactions. Now founder & CEO of Phorest Salon Software, Ronan des
This salon grew more than 16% in 2025. Here's their formula
Success story time! Host Blake Reed Evans sits down with Heather Meredith and Maegan Moore of Ahead of Hair Salon in Midlothian, Virginia to unpack how a legacy Summit salon achieved 16.76% growth in 2025 — 23 years into ownership.
It wasn't easy: In their time working together, owner Heather and director of operations Maegan navigated a major walk-out, which led them to evaluate and build more
Employees struggling? Lead with curiosity ft. Araceli Castaneda
In an industry with high turnover and lots of workers fresh out of school, on-the-job education is par for the course. But even for experienced owners and managers, the skills needed to handle personal and performance issues that come up in the salon are often not fully developed. That's why were so lucky to have a conversation with today's guest, Araceli Castañeda. Araceli is a leadership trainer
Reduce salon waste and boost your bottom line ft. Shane Price
Did you know that salons in the United States and Canada generate about half a million pounds of waste every day?
Beauty shouldn't come at the planet's expense. Guest Shane Price founded Green Circle Salons in 2009, a company that parters with salon companies to recover up to 95% of salon waste. That includes hair clippings, foils, tubes, excess color and more. The program is supported through a
Gaining a social media following as a colorist with Alejandro Lopez
What is a day in the life of a content creator like? How do you balance your responsibilities as a creator with your work as a stylist behind the chair? And what does it take to amass a significant following on social media in the hair salon industry?
Our guest this episode is Alejandro Lopez, an incredibly talented stylist based in Orlando, Florida, with over 870K followers on Tiktok and 670K on
How to get featured in SALON TODAY ft. Stacey Soble
SALON TODAY recently announced their 2026 SALON TODAY 200 honorees, one of the industry's most coveted awards. Does your salon company have spectacular customer service? Enviable growth numbers? An amazing culture? A kick-ass education program? Here's how you can get featured next year.
Stacey Soble is Editor in Chief of SALON TODAY, the only salon industry media outlet solely focused on business
Learn to recognize signs of domestic violence and how you can help ft. Liz McKeon
Salon professionals have a unique ability to create a safe space for our clients, lend a friendly ear and build years-long relationships. For someone in a domestic violence situation, the salon may be the one of few or even the only place they can go without their abuser. So how do we identify the signs of domestic violence, and offer the right kind of support for clients and team members who may
Legacy, loyalty, and giving back with Lester Crowell
“He’s been with us for 13 years. He’s the new guy.” When host Blake Reed Evans heard those words on a visit to Three-13 Salon in Marietta, Georgia, he knew we had to talk about this business’ staying power on the show.
Our guest Lester Crowell is a managing partner at Three-13, a departmentalized salon and spa company that’s been running for 52 years. What’s their secret? The formula combines lot
Find your financial blind spots with Kevin Robinson
For salon professionals transitioning to management and ownership, leading a salon company can be a steep learning curve. Don't be a passenger on your own business journey. Join Blake Reed Evans and Kevin Robinson, CFO of Summit Salon Business Center, for an essential conversation about financial literacy for salon owners. Learn how to shift from reactive to proactive financial management, identif
Inside a 4 generation family salon business with Chris Huffstutter
It all began with Viola, who's salon did so well that she made more money than the doctor who delivered her son -- in the Great Depression, no less. That son went to hair school and joined the family business too. Fast forward to today, and a small family business has become large and legendary: Viola's great grandchildren own and operate a four-location salon company and a Summit Salon Academy.
A salon leader's guide to mental illness and mental health ft. Laura Watkins
An entrepreneur, military spouse, mom and life-long high achiever, Laura Watkins thought mental illness was for the weak -- until it happened to her. Laura is the owner of Pure Salon Spa in Louisville, KY, and the author of Something Feels Off: Thriving in Life & Business Beyond a Mental Health Crisis. After coming out of the other end of her own crisis, Laura is working to end the stigma around m
Building an empire, together. With Heather, Aliscia and Monica of Privé Salon Co.
How do you go from seven employees to seven figures 11 years? Heather Piselli, Aliscia Martinelli and Monica Rivera did it together. They're co-owners of Privé Salon Co., with three comission salon locations and a suite rental facility in the Phildelphia metro area. The also co-host the GoHam podcast, featuring unfiltered conversations on business, leadership, and the beauty industry.On this episo
Financials 101: You deserve to retire
At Summit, we believe salon professionals should be able to retire on their own terms. In this last episode in our Financials 101 series with CPA Chris Wittich from Boyum Associates, Chris explains why you should be saving for retirement now, even if you're working your very first job. Chris and Blake discuss retirment investment accounts for individuals like IRAs, Roth IRAs, and 401Ks. Also, did
Thriving through year's end (and the slow time after) with Chad Faass
Sometimes in the salon business we get so "busy being busy" in November in December that our relationships with clients suffer, and that can lead to a January and February that are slower than they have to be. Summit salon Coach Chad Faass is back to help you navigate the next few months. For salon owners, Chad talks about the importance of showing up for your team consistently, without doing tea
Summit Unplugged Sneak Preview with Derek Reynolds!
Summit Unplugged is SSBC's signature salon leadership retreat in beautiful Cancun, Mexico, and it's back for a second time in January 2026. We're joined by Derek Reynolds, Summit's Associate Director of Training and an organizer of Summit Unplugged. Derek and Blake get into the disctinctions between self-soothing and self-care and the importance of true self-care for leaders. Also: the gap between
Financials 101: Which type of tax entity is best for your business?
As a small business, your salon company has options when it comes to paying taxes. But are you chosing the right one? Whether you're in a parternship, an S corp or a C corp, the best entity for your business might not be the same as the salon across town, or even the same as it was a few years ago when you had four chairs instead of eight. For the second in our Financials 101 series, Boyum Associa
Financials 101: How much is your salon really worth?
Whether you expect to sell your salon in 6 months or in 20 years, the time to start preparing is now, says Chris Wittich, a CPA who works with Summit and specializes in salons. Early planning leads to better outcomes, smoother transitions, and higher valuations. And unfotunately, many salon owners miss the mark then it comes to the true value of their salons. In this episode you'll learn exactly
Commission salon or suite rental - Why not both? with Anne Chesbro
Stylists are increasingly seeing renting their own suite or booth as an appealing alternative to working in a commission salon. Guest Anne Chesbro is co-owner of a commission salon company, Platinum Salon, as well as a suite rental business in Rochester, NY. She and her husband Joe Chesbro founded Platinum Salon Suites to meet the needs of stylists who wanted to strike out on their own. Unlike m
New tax laws around tips benefit salons and stylists -- Here's what to know ft. Chris Wittitch
This episode we're amped to talk about taxes. That's because new U.S. laws benefit both salon owners and stylists. Blake brings in Chris Wittitch, a CPA and partner at Boyum Acounting, to break it all down. They chat about the exciting new FICA tax tip credit now available to the beauty industry and what salon owners need to know to take full advantage of it. They also touch on the new tax-free ti
Discover where your business stands with Salon IQ ft. Chris Mahoney
Is your salon company maximizing its potential? As a salon owner in the thick of things it can be challenging to step back and take a holisitc look at the business, including growth areas. In this episode, Summit Business Intelligence Developer Chris Mahoney introduces Salon IQ, a comprehensive business assessment tool. Chris built this assesment based on decades of Summit Salon Business Center's
Going into business with your life partner ft. Doug Smith
When guest Doug Smith and his wife, stylist Tara Summersett Smith opened The Studio + Co. in Florence SC in 2011, Doug was a corporate guy who was completely new to the salon world. Now he's a certified Summit Salon Coach who helps other salon owners figure out financials, marketing and management. In this episode, Doug and Blake discuss the joys and complexities of running a salon company when yo
On my own - self-employed stylist with Colissa Nole
A member of the beauty industry since 2011, Colissa Nole recently left the salon company where she worked as a stylist and struck out on her own -- first in a booth rental space, and most recently as part of the Soul Collective. in Columbia, Missouri. While it's an adjustment becoming your own boss, Colissa says the change has allowed her to offer the best service of her career, and "fall in love
Leveling Up with Kacie Mundell
Something we love about working in the salon industry is that our careers are customizable. Want to work just one day a week? Specialize in blonding? Just do cuts? Split your time between two locations? Have back-to-back clients or work some down time into your schedule? All of these things are possible. Coming out of cosmetology school, Kacie Mundell knew she wanted the opportunity to grow and l
Yes you can have healthy conflict at work! With Nicholas Burns
Conflict is a natural part of human life, and your salon company is no exception. Our guest Nicholas Burns studies organizational behavior, and he says research demonstrates there are mant healthy ways of managing conflicts within a company. Hint: It starts with team goals, and a work environment where employees know where to turn with a problem, and have a chance to have their voices heard. We ex
Prestige brands with L'Oréal's Guillaume Duez
Guillaume Duez has worked in marketing and management for L'Oréal for 14 years, rapidly ascending through the ranks. When recorded this interview in 2022 Guillaume was in charge of the prestige brands Kérastase and Shu Uemura Art of Hair. Now he's the General Manager for REDKEN USA. Guillaume speaks with host Blake Reed Evans about the legacy and evolution of prestige salon brands, what sets Kéra
Authentic inclusive salon culture with Twylla Jane
Twylla Jane cuts hair for humans. That means whatever your gender identity or sexual orientation, you are welcome at Twylla’s Chicago area salon, and you’ll pay the same prices and be offered the same services as any other human who walks in the door. What’s more, the salon culture encourages self expression and has measures in place to make sure each individual’s personal pronouns are respected.
Building a barbershop culture with Gino Maggio
Gino Maggio is the owner and a barber behind the chair at The Barber Shop Tampa. But he’s not anyone’s boss: the other barbers rent chairs from him and contribute to decision-making for the business. In this episode, Gino chats with host Blake Reed Evans (who is also his loyal customer!) about barbershop culture including booth rentals, gender inclusivity, and maintaining an environment that’s wel
Stop losing money on color ft. Vish's Tim Howard with Les McFadden and Luke Huffstutter
Color services are fundimental to any salon business, but color is also ridldled with opportunites for loss. Are your stylists mixing too much color and ending up with waste and the end of a foil? Are you struggling to recall the formula your client loved the last time they were in your chair? Are you ever unsure what to quote a guest for a service, or make sure the front desk bills them appropria
In-SPA-ration with Victoria Perry
All hail the Queen of Spa! Victoria Perry is the owner of Soto Signature Spa in Perrysburg, Ohio, a Summit Spa Consultant, and Spa Division Team Leader at Summit Salon Business Center. Victoria and host Blake Reed Evans discuss both tried-and-true and trending spa services, investing in machines, social media marketing, associate training, and more. Connect with Victoria Perry on Instagram: @Vict
Guiding newbie styists with Lisa Giles
If you're a newbie or baby stylist or a salon owner looking to grow and retain new stylists, this episode is for you. Guest Lisa Giles is a digital creator and educator who specialiizes in working with stylists brand new to the industry, or as she likes to call them "guppies." She runs the education and mentoring platform Straight Out of Cosmo, where she teaches classes including "Make Box Color
Styling Hair for TV and Film with Kauilani Goodwyn
Fashion, commercials, wig-making, on set: there’s a whole world of work out there beyond the salon. But in show business, success rarely comes overnight. Kauilani Goodwyn is a Mizani artist and educator, and co-founder of the Texpert Collective and the Global Artistry council. After working with hair for over sixteen years, she’s recently become a stylist for TV and film and a member of the Makeup
Low-tox salon with Sophia James
Do you have clients who are sensitive to the chemicals used in salon products? Do you want to make your salon more sustainable and reduce waste? It can be daunting to know where to start when it comes to vetting products that claim to be "cleaner," or moving on from tried and true favorites. That's where Sophia James can help. Sophia James is an independent stylist specializing in vivids and razor
Cut out overwhelm and boost profit with Phorest's Siobhan McCaffrey
Guest Siobhan McCaffrey is Strategic Partnership Development Manager at salon tech powerhouse Phorest. A former salon owner, Siobhan understands all the classic salon pain points AND the latest tech innovations to help keep your salon running on schedule and in the black. Even if you know Phorest, you might be surprised at all their software can do, including integrations with Facebook and Instagr
I See You: Healing from trauma and abuse with Jennifer J. Boutwell
Jennifer J. Boutwell is the owner of Salon Sanity in Gretna, Louisiana, and a Summit consultant, trainer, and shareholder. A few years ago, the end of her third marriage and the sudden death of her sister forced Jennifer to shift her focus from her successful career to confronting trauma and abuse that began in childhood. Throughout the last three years, Jennifer has focused on the study of healin
Getting a college degree as a hair stylist with Sherilynn Smart
If you are a listener to this podcast, it’s very likely that you went to cosmetology school. It’s also likely that those classes never added up to a degree. Right now, that is changing. L’Oreal has teamed up with Arizona’s Mesa Community College and Arizona State University to create The Lead Institute, a program where cosmetology school graduates can apply credits from beauty school towards an as
When clients cancel ft. Schedulicity's Missy Megginson
As stylists, we want to be there for our clients, while also setting professional boundaries around our time. Online booking saves time and takes some of the emotion out of setting up hair appointments. But today's guest says combining tech with a human touch makes for the best customer experience, and makes business sense too. Guest Missy Megginson is Director of Sales and Business Development at
Meet the Willy Wonka of pro hair products, Bil Neal
For Bil Neal, being a salon sales consultant isn't about pushing product. It's about building relationships and growing small businesses. Bil Neal is a salon business partner (SBC) with SalonCentric, a division of L'Oréal USA, working with Summit salons and other salon companies in southern Ohio. Want to try out a new product without commiting? Call Bil. Want education for your stylists? Bil can
Travel stylist and thriving with Trish Vereze
Trish Vereze is a powerhouse. A specialist in color correction, she regularly travels between Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Honolulu to do hair. And just five years into her career in the industry, Trish recently bought her first condo. In this episode, Trish and Blake discuss:How she got started as a travel stylistHer work ethicWhy she's only had one re-doHer tricks of the trade when it comes to col
Bring recognition (and incentive) to your front desk team ft. Rose Coitrone
The front desk team is essential to the success of any salon company. And yet customer service and retention are pain points for many salon companies. "No one should feel like they're 'just' a front desk person," says Summit salon coach and front desk trainer Rose Coitrone. And if trained, respected and incentivized appropriately, the front desk can be a sales powerhouse. In this conversation, Ro
Wake up to a growth mindset with Heather Bagby
Have you ever felt like that next level jump is never going to happen, or you'll lose your clientele if you start charging everyone full price -- even though the stylist in the chair next to you has achieved these goals? You might be stuck in what business pros call a fixed mindset. Summit VP Heather Bagby is back to help you recognize a fixed mindset, and transition to a mindset of growth. Heathe
Mental health and salon culture with Hayley Jepson
Hayley Jepson (@the.resilient.hairdresser on Instagram) has an amazing story. A top-earning colorist, she left the hair industry over a decade ago due to burnout, thinking she'd never come back. Hayley became a school counselor and a psychotherapist. Eventually, the knowledge she gained in that process brought her back to her first love -- hairdressing -- but this time with the tools to lead a
You have influence over your influence with Stephanie Russell-Jacobs
Stephanie Russell-Jacobs is a former hairstylist turned psychological safety facilitator and coach. This is Stephanie's third time on SUMM IT UP, and this episode we're focusing on leadership. Stephanie says just about anyone can be a leader, whether they know it or not, and that leadership is more about intention than power. In this insightful conversation, Stephanie and Blake discuss:The many f
Becoming the boss with LaShawnda Hall
LaShawnda Hall's salon journey began in an unconventional way. As a retail manager in a chain clothing store, she befriended a customer -- a hair stylist from across the mall. She became a regular guest of that stylist, Summit's own Jen Culverhouse. Years later, when Jen opened her own salon company, Jen invited LaShawnda to manage a boutique. Fast forward to today, and LaShawnda has become the ow
Hair Has No Gender with Jamie DiGrazia
Jamie DiGrazia (she/they) is the owner of Logan Parlor Hair Salon and Barber Shop in Chicago, and a Level 6 cosmetologist and barber. DiGrazia is the founder of Hair Has No Gender, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting inclusive, gender-free, and gender-affirming practices within the hair world. In this heartfelt episode, DiGrazia and host Blake Reed Evans discuss:Gender-neutr
Grow your clientele on social (without being creepy) ft. Kim Light Pearson
Hair stylists are in the business of people. You know how to take care of a guest when they're in your chair -- but how do you get people into your chair to begin with, and get them to keep coming back? In a post-2020 world where just about everyone does great hair, people skills are more important than ever. Our guest is Kim Light Pearson, Marketing + Branding Team Leader for Summit Salon Busines
Client acquisition the smart way with mya's Kati Witledge
On average, only about 30% of new salon clients book a second appointment. A few write negative reviews online, but many simply don't come back. Why is that?Our guest this episode, Kati Witledge, says clients often don't return because they weren't matched with the best stylist to meet their unique needs at that first appointment. Her company, mya, provides a software that allows potential clients
Leading with Vulnerability, with Derek Reynolds
In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, uncertainty reigned in the salon industry. Questions like “When will I be allowed to open back up?” “Is it worth the risk to go to work?” and “Will my company survive this?” were on the minds of owners and staff. Leaders had a choice: put on a brave face for their workers, or be honest about their fears. Our guest Derek Reynolds says learning to be vul
Emotional Regulation with Andrew Carruthers
Andrew Carruthers is a stylist educator and trainer and a Sam Villa culture ambassador. He also coaches private clients inside and outside the beauty industry through his company The Journeyist. Our conversation in this episode is about managing stress and controlling reactivity – skills essential to communication and leadership. You’ll learn simple breathing techniques from the Oxygen Advantage m
Salon Associate Training with Paige Lowe
The relationship between a stylist and their repeat guest is special. But if you build that special relationship with enough people over time, you might feel maxed out because your days are so busy. You have a waiting list. So you raise your prices, but that waiting list doesn’t get any shorter. Though you may feel like you can’t handle one more thing, this could be the perfect time to bring on an
Changing How the Salon Industry Does Color with Tim Howard, Co-Founder of Vish
The way most salons manage their color results in a loss of profits - that's why Tim Howard co-founded Vish, software that is revolutionizing how salons manage their color so they can reduce waste and increase their profits. Tim has over 25 years of experience in the salon industry and is the former owner of two award-winning salons. He chats with Blake about how salons can charge clients correctl
Gaining a Social Media Following as a Colorist with Alejandro Lopez
What is a day in the life of a content creator like? How do you balance your responsibilities as a creator with your work as a stylist behind the chair? And what does it take to amass a significant following on social media in the hair salon industry? Our guest this episode is Alejandro Lopez, an incredibly talented stylist based in Orlando, Florida, with nearly 700k followers on social media. Ale
What Student Stylists Are Looking for in a Salon with Beonca Torres
What is going through students' minds when they go on salon tours? What gives them the sense that the vibes are right, and what is on their dreaded "ick list" when it comes to salon culture? This episode is all about supporting and welcoming the next generation of stylists who are ready to begin their careers. Our guest this episode is Beonca Torres, Associate Trainer with the Summit Salon team an
Get to know your enneagram with Jen Culverhouse
The enneagram is a powerful personality assessment tool that looks at the core motivations and fears behind our actions. Knowing your enneagram type can help you play to your strengths, and be more mindful of your weaknesses. In a salon company, an enneagram assessment can help build better leaders, and help close communication gaps within a team. Our guest this episode is Jen Culverhouse, owner o
How he does it: An interview with Blake Reed Evans
In this episode, we switch things up and put host Blake Reed Evans in the hot seat. In conversation with Summit Director of Brand Development Tim Fisk, Blake spills the beans on how he became an influencer and super in-demand educator, while still working behind the chair and managing employees at Shear Art Salon in Tampa, Fl. Plus, how he balances family life and "time to do absolutely nothing" w
How to get featured in SALON TODAY ft. Stacey Soble
Stacey Soble is Director of Brand Content Strategy at SALON TODAY, the only salon industry media solely focused on business. She's also the organizer and a judge of the SALON TODAY 200, one of the industry's most coveted awards. She's been involved in the conversation of salon business for more than two decades—as a reporter, a consultant and as the editor in chief of SALON TODAY.In this episode,
Maximizing your productivity with associates ft. Molly Limes Getz
Whether you have never worked with an associate before, or you've been a trainer for years and are looking to update your methods, this episode is for you! Not only do associates provide an extra pair of hands, but they provide the opportunity to book more guests, maximize productivity, and help your salon run like a well-oiled machine. Our guest Molly Limes Getz is a Senior Educator and Partner a
Never Stop Learning with Sam Villa
Sam Villa is the founding partner of Sam Villa Professional Brand, the Redken Global Artistic Ambassador, and 2017 NAHA Lifetime Achievement Award winner. Famous across the salon industry for his line of tools and his educational videos, Sam is a master of change and adaptation, whether that be hair trends or the way education is delivered. Sam never stops learning, and you shouldn’t either. In th
Shear Haven anti-domestic violence training with Liz McKeon
As salon professionals, we have a unique ability to create a safe space for our clients, and lend a friendly ear. For someone in a domestic violence situation, the salon may be the one of the few or even the only place they can go without their abuser. So how do we identify the signs of domestic violence, and offer the right kind of support for clients and team members who may be in danger?
Our g
Introducing the Vitality Project! with Elizabeth Faye
You might know Elizabeth Faye from her Instagram, or maybe you've watched her Tedx Talk about how hairstylists can change the world or attended one of her retreats with Hair Love University. Elizabeth just announced her latest venture, The Vitality Project, the first wellness program designed for salon companies, barbershops and beauty schools! In this high-energy episode, Elizabeth and Blake disc
Never underestimate the power of empathy with Faith Rivers
Faith Rivers contains multitudes. In the salon industry, she's worn many hats, including stylist, colorist, salon manager and manager of education and marketing for a major haircare brand. Faith also brings her experiences in theater, journalism, and gender studies, as well as her Buddhist practice to bear in her work and in this wisdom-packed interview. Topics include: Setting and maintain bound
Becoming a new Summit salon with Bianca Rose
Guest Bianca Rose is a stylist behind the chair, owner of Bianca Rose Salon in Fairfield, Ohio, and hair influencer known for vivid colors, including her own gorgeous pink hair. Bianca recently began working with a Summit coach and converting her salon company to Summit systems. She speaks with Blake Reed Evans about why she made the decision, and how to set expectations for your team and graceful
How to Have Tough Conversations, with Johnny Stellato
You’re an associate, and the stylist you’re assigned to isn’t letting you get hands-on with clients. You work the front desk, and one of the stylists is consistently rude to you. You’re a stylist, and the front desk has been under-booking you for weeks. You’re a co-owner, and your business partner is over-spending on spa equipment. Situations like these require communication - and in a business wh
Commission salon or suite rental - Why not both? with Anne Chesbro
Stylists are increasingly seeing renting their own suite or booth as an appealing alternative to working in a commission salon. Guest Anne Chesbro is co-owner of a commission salon company, Platinum Salon, as well as a suite rental business in Rochester, NY. She and her husband Joe Chesbro founded Platinum Salon Suites to meet the needs of stylists who wanted to strike out on their own. Unlike m
Growing an award-winning salon with Korie Lance
Korie Lance is the owner of The Mae Salon and Spa in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Mae took home two 2024 Summit Unplugged Awards: for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Sound Financial Practices. Out of all Summit salon companies, The Mae was recognized for highest year over year growth: 192%! In this episode, Blake and Korie discuss how The Mae has built a salon culture that's inclusive of all
Booking with tech + humanity with Missy Megginson
As stylists, we want to be there for our clients, while also setting professional boundaries around our time. Online booking saves time and takes some of the emotion out of setting up hair appointments. But today's guest says combining tech with a human touch makes for the best customer experience, and makes business sense too. Guest Missy Megginson is Director of Sales and Business Development at
Destination education with the Hair Nerds
Erin Gray and Annie MacArthur are The Hair Nerds, an independent pro beauty media and education company. Their signature events, called Hairventures, allow salon professionals to learn from top stylists around the world, as well as experience foreign cultures and build lasting friendships, at an affordable price. In this episode, Erin and Annie tell Blake about their recent trips to London and Tok
Live from Cancun! AI with Chris Mahoney
We're still riding the high of Summit Unplugged, our first ever salon leadership conference and a time to really focus on ourselves and our wellbeing in the industry. (Did we mention it was on the beach in Cancun?!) If you missed this year don't worry: we've got a recap on this episode and info on how to get in on the next one. Blake also hosted our first ever live SUMM IT UP episode at the confer
Salon recruitment and retention with Jared Thompson
As Blake says, hair stylists these days are in such high demand, they could set up shop in the middle of a field and people would still come to have their hair done! In addition, the new generation of incoming stylists care more than ever about company culture, including fair labor practices, flexibility and social and environmental values. So salon owners need to adapt to attract and retain talen
Summit 2024 with Dave Kirby
The last four years have been a big reset for the salon industry. When we shut down in 2020 we learned that many of our clients see us as essential workers. We saw a surge in demand coming out of lockdown. But now, we once again need to raise our standards to keep our clients. The pandemic years also accelerated a trend towards employees asking for more flexibility in shaping their schedules. Her
Utilizing your salon business partner with Bil Neal
For Bil Neal, being a salon sales consultant isn't about pushing product. It's about building relationships and growing small businesses. Bil Neal is a salon business partner (SBC) with SalonCentric, a division of L'Oréal USA, working with Summit salons and other salon companies in southern Ohio. Want to try out a new product without commiting? Call Bil. Want education for your stylists? Bil can
Emotional regulation with Andrew Carruthers
Andrew Carruthers is a stylist educator and trainer and a Sam Villa culture ambassador, and coaches private clients inside and outside the beauty industry through his company The Journeyist. Our conversation this episode is about managing stress and controlling reactivity – skills essential to communication and leadership. You’ll learn simple breathing techniques from the Oxygen Advantage method,
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