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All Smiles At Salon Smart 2025

All Smiles At Salon Smart 2025

All Smiles At Salon Smart 2025

From candid talks and open Q&A to brilliant insights and exceptional support, the vibe at Creative HEAD’s business networking event was one of pure positivity. Scroll the gallery!

by JOANNE | CONNECT

Five Big Takeaways From Salon Smart 2025

Five Big Takeaways From Salon Smart 2025

Five Big Takeaways From Salon Smart 2025

Creative HEAD’s networking event was just what hair business owners needed

by AMANDA | CONNECT

“Whoever says the hairdressing industry is dead should eat their words. Far from throwing in the towel, business owners are facing challenges head-on with razor-sharp thinking around pricing and an increased emphasis on customer service. It’s the kind of creative response that underlines why this industry is the most resilient out there.” Catherine Handcock, publisher, Creative HEAD

Let’s get one thing straight: Salon Smart 2025 was much needed. At a time of industry turmoil, this was a day where business owners and employers could get together to discuss the challenges and share ideas on how to power through – and there were fresh takes on everything from pricing and profit margins to learning how to rub along with younger team members. With no fewer than 21 presenters and panel members taking to the stage, the Salon Smart agenda was varied and wide-ranging. But as the day played out, some key themes emerged:

Sophia Hilton

1. Gen Z are ready for the world of work, but are you ready to work with them?

Do you think your generation is smarter than your parents’ generation?

Of course you do!

That’s because every generation answers that question exactly the same. Every single generation thinks they’re elite to the one above and the one below.

So, said Sophia Hilton in her session entitled Navigating The Next Generation, it’s really not constructive to say things like, “Kids don’t want to work nowadays,” or that “They are just lazy,” or that “They are going to get a shock when they see what the real world is about.”

Nor, as fellow speaker Michael Young advised, should you start sentences with the words, “When I was your age,” because that puts you firmly in the past, when you need to focus on the future.

Instead, what the new generation want is a sense of control over decision-making; breaks, holidays and flexibility; to be able to bring their problems to work (within professional boundaries); and a boss that can hold a conversation about the new topics of the world (such as gender activism, consumerism, sustainability and maybe even anti-capitalism). 

Think about investing in some resilience training, to help you develop skills and strategies to cope with challenges. Meanwhile, map out growth and development plans for each member of your team to keep them motivated and loyal to your business.

Monica Teodoro

2. Always keep an eye on the future of your business

It’s not just your team that’s changing; your clients are evolving too. Monica Teodoro shared invaluable insight from L’Oréal Professional Products Division to remind us that while it’s imperative we look after our current customers (42 per cent of women claim to be watching every penny they spend, so give them what they’re looking for – personalised, expert-led experiences that will lead them to book services based on your recommendation), we need also to be sure we are tapping into the clients of tomorrow. She highlighted that while consumers classified as Growing Minorities (eg, Southern Asian and African) account for just 16 per cent of the population, they also account for 30 per cent of spend because of their reliance on a high degree of specialisation. Men, too, offer untapped potential, and 70 per cent of this category will come from Gen Z and Millennials.

“However,” said Monica, “while all around us is changing, it’s important to focus on the things that will never change: consistency creates a sense of stability and trust, while empowering your team will make them feel comfortable to learn. Continuous upskilling is no longer optional – it’s a must.”

Jacob Morris

3. Financial education, goals and stability contribute to employee satisfaction

“Staff are more loyal if they are financially empowered,” argued Jacob Morris from Salon Smart software partner, Phorest – a powerful insight, given the challenges around recruiting and retaining staff nowadays. Phorest data shows that using Phorest Tips increases not just the number of clients tipping, but also the amount of tip they leave. However, while tipping is seen by staff as a second income, a lifeline for paying rent or saving for their first home, around 30 per cent of them still choose to spend their tips on having fun. Employers could look to provide their teams with a toolkit for handing their money better, said Jacob. However, if that feels too invasive (or beyond your skillset) he also revealed that Phorest will be releasing a series of financial literacy masterclasses this year to help tackle the problem.

Colour panellists Sean Butt, Sophie Hill, Lorraine Naughton and Tony Walmsley

4. Salon colour is your superpower!

Desire for luxury continues to boom, especially among Gen Z, revealed Viktoria Vinnichenko from L’Oréal Professionnel Paris – clients aged 16 to 35 spend 10 per cent more per appointment. Tap into the trends they see on social media by offering colour services that deliver the Gen Z must-haves of healthy shine and a multi-dimensional, natural-looking result (spoiler alert: L’Oréal’s iNOA colour does it all!) or try the hidden colour placement ‘peekaboo’ trend spotted by the L’Oréal colour hack team on TikTok.

There were also loads of tips and ideas for maximising colour revenue in a panel session featuring a quartet of business owners. These included:

• Ban colour notes to avoid the ‘same again’ attitude that can lead to clients eventually leaving (Tony Walmsley, Anthony John Salons)

• Check voice dynamics in the consultation to ensure clients can have confidence in everything your team is recommending. If the stylist’s voice goes up at the end of the sentence, that signals a lack of confidence in what they’re saying. If the stylist sounds like they don’t believe in what they’re saying then why should the client? (OB-1 Hair and Inside Outside)

• Look in-depth at your client base to see how and when they book. For those who come less frequently, introduce them to ‘interim’ services that tempt them back in between appointments. For time-poor clients, make sure you offer speedy services that can be done in a lunchtime appointment – and charge more for them. (Sean Butt, Alchemy & I)

• Make sure you keep your colour training up to date so your colour team can jump on trends and be enthused by the colour they’re creating. (Sophie Hill, Headmasters)

Oliver Blackaby, pictured with fellow budget panellist Katya Milavic Davies 

5. Now, more than ever, you need to know your numbers

After THAT Budget, it’s not surprising this came up time and again throughout the day, as salon owners take a long, hard look at their business to see where economies can be made and new revenue streams found. For some, like Oliver Blackaby of The Hair Salon Collective, this meant facing up to one of his biggest fears (looking at the actual accounts side of his business), while for others, like self-confessed spreadsheet nerd Sheona Hill of Bloom Salons, it meant picking apart the complex commission structures she had created to help simplify the path to profitability. “I refuse to be a low-margin business anymore,” she said. “I decided what profit I wanted to make and worked back from there.”

Look out for tonnes more coverage from Salon Smart 2025 in the May/June issue of Creative HEAD, and see more photos from the event here.

New Year, New Business Goals

New Year, New Business Goals

New Year, New Business Goals

Calling all salon and barbershop owners! Book for Creative HEAD’s business networking event and set yourself up for a brilliant year ahead

by JOANNA | CONNECT

The business of hairdressing is challenging – perhaps now more than ever. But one thing is certain: you do not need to go it alone. In fact, togetherness is the beating heart of Salon Smart, Creative HEAD’s business networking event. 

Now it its 19th year, Salon Smart aims to serve and support salon and barbershop owners and managers across the UK and Ireland, offering unique insight, sharing experiences, and providing endless opportunities to connect with like-minded professionals. Large or small, urban or rural, established or newly launched – the one-day event agenda is abuzz with fresh information, advice and inspiration for every business. And the community spirit is second to none.

Taking place in London on Monday 7 April, a ticket to Salon Smart costs £100 plus VAT (£80 plus VAT for newsletter subscribers), and guarantees access to a schedule of candid talks given by industry innovators, debates on big topics, interactive and live Q&A sessions, and the hair and business brands that could transform the way you work. A hot and delicious lunch plus coffee and cake breaks will ensure you’ll feel satiated and supercharged to absorb every second!

But don’t just take our word for it, these are the words of one satisfied Salon Smart attendee: “Every salon owner needs a pick me up! Today lifted me to the moon. So much great content to take away and digest, then spring it all into action.” 

Relaxed, inclusive and relevant for right now, if you want to build a better business, get to Salon Smart.   

Get tickets >

Discover more > 

Five Great Moves If You’re A Hair Business Owner

Five Great Moves If You’re A Hair Business Owner

FIVE GREAT MOVES IF YOU’RE A HAIR BUSINESS OWNER


These were the big ‘must-dos’ that emerged from Salon Smart 2024.

The hairdressing landscape is complex and challenging, so it’s more important than ever for business owners to be pro-active and strategic. Here are the best ideas for thoughtful decision-making to come out of Creative HEAD’s networking event for salon and barbershop owners, Salon Smart 2024.

Massarella & Jones

1. Get collaborating.

Business collaborations can bring lots of benefits: they help build relationships, generate ideas and create new opportunities. When Jordan Massarella and Ben Jones opened their new Massarella & Jones premises in Leamington Spa, they made it a priority to develop relationships with local businesses that operate exclusively online. A collaboration with a local florist not only ensures the reception area always has stunning flower arrangements, the blooms are also available for clients to purchase; a collection of books on the coffee table includes works by local authors, giving clients the chance to discover new literary talent. Says Ben: “Our salon operates as a shopfront for these businesses, giving them useful exposure, and we gain brand awareness through their social media followings that target a similar local demographic to our own, which in turn brings new clients through the door.”

Chris Foster

2. Recruit a chatbot.

Yes, we know, AI feels very Brave New World, but it is revolutionising the way businesses interact with their customers, and salons should grab a slice of that action, argues professional profile-builder (and men’s hair specialist) Chris Foster. AI-powered chatbots can be programmed to do anything from handle queries to offer personalised advice, using natural language processing and machine learning to communicate with customers in real time. “What if you had a retail bot in your business, just retailing? While you’re talking to your client about Love Island, she can interact with the bar code by her chair, which is recommending her products, showing her how they’re to be used, she puts them in the basket and picks them up at your till. A well-trained bot is an asset to any business,” he said.

Sam Cusick

3. Don’t be afraid to delegate.

As a business owner you’re probably attempting to do the work of five full-time jobs. Keep hold of the parts where you know you bring value but ensure people with different strengths take care of the rest. As serial entrepreneur Samantha Cusick stated: “In order to grow, you need to take steps to work on your business, not in it. That includes delegating tasks, so that you can create the time you need to work on your plans.”

And after years of being told not to put the salon assistant in charge of Twitter, Instagram et al (something about compromising the ‘authentic tone of voice,’ we seem to recall) it turns out even social media is fair game for delegation. Says Ben Lifton, social media expert of Content Kweens: “I thought my socials had to be all about me, but I learned the hard way that’s not the case. I hired someone to help me with content creation and they shone a light on so many holes in my existing business and so many new avenues I could explore. Delegation is important!”

Mark Ronayne

4. Ensure you’re compliant on tipping

Are you familiar with the Employment (Allocation of Tips) Act 2023? (Err, hello, what?). It’s a piece of legislation – expected to be introduced on July 1 this year – that creates a legal obligation on employers across all sectors (including hairdressing) to allocate all tips, gratuities and service charges which they are paid or which they exercise control or significant influence over to workers, without any deductions. It also requires employers to ensure that the distribution of qualifying tips between workers is fair.

The legislation and draft code concern what is called ‘Employer-received tips’, which involve tips paid by a consumer and subsequently allocated and distributed to workers by the employer. For example, a client pays a tip via card payment made into the employer’s bank account before being distributed to the workers.

This is different to ‘Employee-received tips’, whereby the employer has no control over how the tips are distributed. For example, if a client pays one of your team members a cash tip that the team member is entitled to keep for themselves. Employee-received tips are not covered by the legislation.

With the aim of promoting fairness, the new legislation places great weight on an employer’s duty to be transparent when it comes to tips and how they are allocated and distributed. To ensure transparency, employers will be required to:

• Have a written policy in place for how tips are dealt with at their place of work: This policy must be made available to all employees and agency workers.

• Consult with workers to seek a broad agreement that the allocation of tips is fair, reasonable and clear. As above, factors determining the allocation of tips must be included in the written policy.​​​​

• Keep a record of tips received and distributed to each employee for three years from the date of the tip: All records need to be kept for three years from the date that the tip or service charge is made by a consumer.

• A worker has the right to make a written request (limited to one request per worker in one three-month period) to view the tipping record for a period dating back three years. If a request is made, the employer must provide:

The individual’s tipping record; the total amount of qualifying tips received by the employer (i.e. Employer-received tips); and the amount of tips paid to that specific individual (tipping records of other individuals must not be disclosed as part of this process).

(Luckily for customers of salon software Phorest, as Salon Smart presenter Mark Ronayne confirmed, there’s a free update that ensures your customers can still tip, and you will stay compliant. For more info visit phorest.com)

Maddi Cook

5. Be confident with your pricing.

It’s common knowledge that the hairdressing industry can be guilty of discounting (let’s face it, discounts are easy to give away). And yes, they can be a great way to promote your business, bring new customers and turn existing ones into loyal clients but discounts can play havoc with your profit. So is there another way?

“Please put your prices up, guys,” says Boss Your Salon boss Maddi Cook, who once surveyed 20,000 hair pros on how they set their current prices to discover that 80% either copied their competitors or guessed. “The prices you charge need to be tailored to you and your business. You will have your own household income, number of kids, amount of debt and mortgage interest – and that’s what make your goals so specific to you. There are so many moving parts. So your pricing has to be really personalised to you and based on your goals. And actually, when you learn to articulate the value of what you do – the incredible hair you create, the services you offer – pricing becomes less and less relevant. And that is one of the easiest ways to soften the blow for any price increase is to lean into that and learn how to articulate what you do.”

Meanwhile, Danny Coles of colour management system Vish says salon owners need to start looking at the cost of product, in order to price services more accurately and profitably. Other industries charge for every bit of product, he argued, whether that’s ordering an extra ‘side’ in a restaurant or a refill in a wine bar – while salons often lose out by not understanding the numbers (a Vish survey of 2,400 salons showed that one in five colour services are non-profitable). “Learn from your local garage,” said Danny. “They break down their invoice into parts and labour, and you need to start thinking that way too. Break down your services into time and product cost, price accordingly, and the profits will come.”

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Embrace Tech, But Not At The Expense Of Human Connection

Embrace Tech, But Not At The Expense Of Human Connection

SALON SMART 2024: HERE’S WHAT WE LEARNED

Tech is important to support your business, but the human connection is unique, enduring and vital.

Brian MacMillan, Justin Mackland, Josh Miller

First things first: Salon Smart 2024 was an absolute belter – packed with people and packed with new ideas for how best to run a hair business now. Tickets for Creative HEAD’s networking event for salon and barbershop owners and managers had sold out weeks in advance, so it was a lucky crowd of 200 first-past-the-post hair pros who descended on the Chain and Buoy Store in East London for a day of insight, learning and inspiration delivered by industry experts and innovators. And what did they learn?

With no less than 22 awesome presenters and panel members taking to the stage, the Salon Smart agenda was diverse and wide-ranging. But as the day played out, some key themes emerged:

• It is vital now to embrace technology within your business, whether that’s using best-in-class software for client bookings, stock management and marketing; creating AI bots to tackle specific areas like retail or staff training; or harnessing the power of social media to find new clients (let’s face it, social media is the only place young humans are looking for a hairstylist nowadays). Tech is not only changing the game in-salon, it’s something your clients expect to experience within their salon visit, too.

• However, whizzy tech should not come at the cost of human connection. We heard a lot about the powerful role hairdressers play in the lives of their clients beyond a cut and blow-dry, whether that’s as an advisor, a listening ear or as a business within the community that’s genuinely making a difference. (Most Wanted Best Local Salon 2023 winner Alison McRitchie, owner of The Head Gardener in Inverness, delivered an incredibly moving showcase of the work she does at the Highland Hospice, where she provides joy and happiness to terminally ill cancer patients.) This human connection is unique and valuable and should lie at the heart of your business long into the future.

• Your client base will change dramatically over the coming years. According to keynote speaker Monica Teodoro, general manager of education and professional development at L’Oréal Professional Products, by 2035 your clients will be older, more male, even more urban, more ethnically diverse and also more culturally and religiously diverse. “Whatever you did before will not be enough for tomorrow,” warned Monica, noting that businesses will need to invest in education, in order to stay one step ahead of new skills and trends as they emerge, and they will need to be significantly more diverse. This latter point was also made in compelling fashion by textured hair campaigner Winnie Awa, who revealed that only 1% of the UK’s 35,000 salons currently cater for textured hair clients. “We need to work harder to create an inclusive environment for the products we use and the services we offer,” she said.

• Don’t be afraid to delegate. As a business owner you’re probably attempting to do the work of five full-time jobs. Keep hold of the parts where you know you bring value but ensure people with different strengths take care of the rest. As serial entrepreneur Samantha Cusick stated: “Take steps to work on your business, not in it. That includes delegating tasks, in order to create the time you need to work on your plans.”

 

“Salon Smart is like a litmus test for what’s actually happening in salons right now – what’s working well, what’s going wrong. It’s an event that takes a vast amount of information from real business owners and distils it into clear, thought-through ideas that you can use to plan for the future.”

Catherine Handcock, publisher, Creative HEAD

 

Phillip Bell, Ishoka, Aberdeen

Winnie Awa

Jenni Gibb, Charlie Miller, Edinburgh

Monica Teodoro

Jenni Gibb, Charlie Miller, Edinburgh

Samantha Cusick

Jenni Gibb, Charlie Miller, Edinburgh

Alison McRitchie

And there was so much more to listen to and think about at Salon Smart 2024. In other highlights:

Jordan Massarella and Benjamin Jones shared the clever thinking behind their new Massarella+Jones salon in Leamington Spa, from their collaborations with local online-only businesses (“We give them a shopfront, while we benefit from their social media presence”) to how they created a homely and welcoming salon experience that fully reflects their personalities and brand ethos (the bespoke wallpaper, created by a local artist, features nods to the duo’s pets, agricultural upbringing and even their tattoos).

Mark Ronayne of salon software expert Phorest alerted the audience to upcoming new legislation surrounding tipping – primarily targeted at unscrupulous behaviour within the hospitality industry but also, coincidentally, impacting on hairdressing – and offered excellent advice on how to stay compliant (there was plenty of note-taking during this session!).

Staying with software, Danny Coles of colour management system Vish showed how salon owners need to start looking at the cost of product, in order to price services more accurately and profitably. Other industries charge for every bit of product, he argued, whether that’s ordering an extra ‘side’ in a restaurant or a refill in a wine bar, while salons often lose out by not understanding the numbers (a Vish survey of 2,400 salons showed that one in five colour services are non-profitable). “Learn from your local garage,” said Danny. “They break down their invoice into parts and labour, and you need to start thinking that way too.”

Phillip Bell, Ishoka, Aberdeen

Jordan Massarella and Benjamin Jones

Jenni Gibb, Charlie Miller, Edinburgh

Mark Ronayne

Jenni Gibb, Charlie Miller, Edinburgh

Danny Coles 

The Resilient Hairdresser, Hayley Jepson, offered tips on recognising and dealing with burn-out, a condition she believes is leading people to exit the industry. Juggling a business with family life (and the logistical overwhelm that can involve) and the exhaustion that comes with having to be “creative on demand” can lead to feelings of joylessness and resentment and the realisation that you don’t do anything for yourself anymore. Hayley’s advice? “I prescribe fun! Put your phone away, focus on your family, go out on date nights with your partner and make time for other creative outlets that are non-work related. If you’re going to look after clients, you’ve got to take care of yourself first.”

Delegates were fully immersed in the Salon Smart experience, with the opportunity to ask questions after every session, as well as taking part in on-the-spot polls about their business. A Working Lunch session also provided valuable contact with brands providing transformative business support and innovative products and services, including L’Oréal Professionnel Paris, Phorest, Vish, Beauty Works, Glowwa and Moroccanoil.

For a full report from Salon Smart 2024, read the April issue of Creative HEAD magazine. Register for your free copy here.

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SALON SMART 24 – WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA

SALON SMART 24 – WHAT’S ON THE AGENDA

SALON SMART 2024: FIVE TOPICS WE’LL BE TACKLING

Profit, recruitment and mental health are all right up there!

When we start shaping the Salon Smart line-up, we look at the topics first – what are you, the Creative HEAD audience, telling us would benefit your businesses right now. Then we marry those topics with the perfect speakers to deliver actionable insight that could make a real difference, or perhaps inspire an unthought-of outlook. So, what will the 2024 event cover, here’s a look at five subjects hitting the stage… 

1. How to boost your profit 

It’s the number one, business 101, isn’t it? Making sure you’re making money? Well, Boss Your Salon owner, Maddi Cook, will be giving a masterclass in maximising on missed potential and divulging her top tips for topping up your profit in 2024. She’s helped over 15,000 professionals unlock business growth, putting over £30 million back into pockets of people just like you. 

Then this year we’ve also introduced a brand-new Profitability Partner in the form of Vish, who are all about reducing colour waste and increasing coin. They’ll be taking to the stage with some awesome advice. 

This isn’t just about conserving cash, but how to actively make more money – pretty pertinent in a financial crisis we think! 

2. Maintaining mental wellbeing 

A recurring concern across the industry has been prioritising wellbeing. Hayley Jepson, aka The Resilient Hairdresser will be deep diving into burnout and how it is a gateway to spiralling mental health, providing essential facts and tips to keep yourself and your team fighting fit.   

3. Navigating the recruitment crisis

Falling apprenticeship starts, a widening skills gap and unfilled vacancies ranked highly in hairdressing business owner worries, so Neil Maclean, owner of five Edinburgh salons and Charlie Collinge, director of six Collinge & Co salons, will come together to discuss how they find, train and retain young recruits and what that’s meant for their teams and approach.

4. Exploring untapped texture potential

From our reader survey to our most viewed articles, you continue to tell us that you want more access to education on textured hair. In 2023, Winnie Awa, founder of AI-driven platform Carra, unveiled its first Texture Gap report, drawing on millions of data to identify common concerns for the Type 4 hair community, along with their needs, and goals, to uncover opportunities to better serve them. Winnie will be joining us to provide insight and advice on the untapped potential in the textured hair market and how professional hairdressing businesses can provide what clients are currently missing.

5. New rules = New revenue

The shape of salons is shifting, could you be missing out on a new revenue stream? Following on from the launch of her multi-use space Stā Studio, Samantha Cusick will delve into the potential on offer when you dare to diversify your business offering.

Have we tickled your interest? Then head HERE to get your ticket to Salon Smart 2024 – spaces are limited! You can make a cheeky £20 saving on the ticket price if you sign-up to the Creative HEAD newsletter and if you do, you’ll also be in for some incredible content direct from our team, including a load of exclusives not seen anywhere else…

Salon Smart 2024 | Monday 18 March, 9.30am to 5.30pm | The Chain and Buoy Store, London

FULL EVENT INFORMATION >

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