SUMM IT UP

We've all had health issues come up that we're not sure how to address. Do you try to manage on your own, ask Dr. Google, try to book an urgent care appointment, or just head to the emergency room? As an ER doctor, Courney Hutchins was constantly seeing patients who didn't have real emergencies, but needed access to a health provider quickly, and had nowhere else to go. That's why she created Apios Health. With Apios, you can reach a board certified physician via text message. Apios' doctors can send perscriptions to your pharmacy or doctor's notes for your...

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 gracefully transition to a new - and more profitable - way of doing business. 

Follow Bianca on TikTok @hairbybiancarose

Follow Bianca in IG  @hairbybiancarose

Learn more ab...

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 increase their total ticket can feel icky (especially in a time of high food and gas prices); and service providers aren't motivated by commission. 

Our guest this week is Lisa M...

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, looking for more clear direction. Or if you're an owner, you're trying to figure out what motivates Gen-Z service providers, or how to grow a Millenial stylist into a leadership role instead...

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 Professionnel artist, and the less-glamorous side of flying home at midnight only to be back behind the chair at 8 AM the next morning.

Topics covered:

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 Your Bitch" and "The Bull Sh*t Behind the Business." She's a hair stylist and a Paul Mitchell Pro partner, based in Orange County, California. 

In...

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 Up executive producer Tim Fisk sits down with Martin Spritzer of Inovshop USA to unpack the evolving world of salon retail. They explore how digital displays, user-generated content, AI-driven personalization, and interactive t...

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 and they're trending to hit $6.7 million this year. 

It wasn't easy, and Chelle is candid in this interview. You'll hear about:

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 decision making, retain talent, and grow the next generation of salon owners. And while they're an established part of Summit systems, they're still relatively rare in the...

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 for how her salon company would run while she was in treatment, and reassure her shareholders and team that it would be okay. 

Sarah Hooper is...

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 bought her first condo. 

 In this episode, Trish and Blake discuss:

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 designs AI tools that handle the admin, so service providers can focus on what we do best -- making our guests look and feel great. 

Phorest AI handles admin like booking, consultation forms and self c...

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 flexibility into staff schedules. They also rennovated their space down the the studs, and revamped their associate program, all with a little help from Summit coach Deb McMahan. 

Ahead of Hair is able...

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 in Summit Salon Business Center's Leadership and Wellness Training division. She's also COO, General Manager and an owner at The Fixx Hair Studio in New Braunfels, Texas. Araceli has a bachelors d...

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 small fee on guests' tickets at no cost to the salon. It can boost revenue by appealing to increasingly eco-conscious customers. And as Blake points out, Gen Z stylists place a h...

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 Instagram as of April 2026. 

 Alejandro chats with Blake about his background in braiding, how he transitioned to vivid color work, and what his dai...

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. 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...

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 be in danger? 

Our guest Liz McKeon is a salon business expert, author of the best-selling book, ’30 Days to Beauty Business Success’, and and UK & Irish...

“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 lots of structure, weekly service provider education, and schedule flexibility when it comes to guests. 

Three-13 also gives back to the community. Lester is a two-time he...

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, identify common blind spots, and build sustainable business practices -- all while embracing an abundance mindset. 

Learn more about Summit Financial Services and book a discovery call. Or email Nikke Salmon at [email protected]

F...

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. 

Our guest this episode is Chris Huffstutter, owner of Summit Salon Academy Portland, shareholder at Anastasia Salon, and a Summit School Coach. Listen for a fun and f...

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 mental health, and bring the same care and compassion to mental illness as any other illness. 

In this frank conversation, Laura and Blake discuss the nuances of w...

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 episode, Blake is joined by Healther, Alisica, and Monica; and their Summit salon coach, Kierstin Nemer, who's been at their side throughout the journey. Yes this is the most guests we've ever had on a single episode...

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 you know you can create an online account with the Social Security Administration and see how much you've been contributing in your working life so far? (We didn't!)

From the salon owner...

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 team members' work for them or micromanaging. (Don't go from hero to villian!) Boost morale and save money with an early holiday party, and boost sales by ga...

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 the values of many salon owners (Gen X) who often ignore self-care, and younger employees (Gen Z) who tend to prioritize it more. 

Then it's on to what you can expect at Unplugged, including sessions wi...

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 Associates accounting wiz Chris Wittich breaks down everything you need to know to make an informed decision. 

You’ll hear:

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 what factors into a salon's value, and how to make your salon company attractive to buyers. Also: Where to look for a buyer, and tips for selling in "bite-sized pieces" to...

 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 most suite rental setups, Anne provides renters with  benefits like laundry, business coaching, free access to stylist education, and more. She says the new business has been a great way to provide sty...

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 tips for service providers and discuss the impact of digital tipping platforms like Venmo and PayPal. Tune in to get all the insights straight from an...

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 research and best practices. And it's free, whether your salon works with Summit or not. As Blake and Chris discuss, Salon IQ goes beyond dollars and cents to assess salon company culture, branding, and client relations. 

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 your life partner is your business partner. (We need to get Tara on the show to hear her side of the story!)

Doug also opens up about the process of...

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 with hair all over again." 

In this episode, Colissa Nole and host Blake Reed Evans discuss why she made the move, and the new challenges...

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 learn more advanced color techniques, and she wanted to have fun at work. First she got an entry-level job at a Summit salon company with a strong mentorship program that shared her v...

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 explore concepts like super-ordinate goals, peer-to-peer learning, psychological safety, procedural justice and emotional labor. Also: team-building exercises - yes or no?! And how to handle a client who may be o...

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  Kérastase and Shu Uemuraapart, and the benefits they provide for salon companies and clients. 

LEARN MORE

Kérastase 

Shu Uemora Art of Hair

Guillaum...

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. And did we mention the salon is Harry Potter themed? Also in this episode: silent appointments, tips for dealing with burnout, and lots of laughs! Plus, find out what soap ope...

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 welcoming to women and kids. Also style trends, online booking tech, and more. 

This episode was originally published in April 2022. 

Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSa...

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 appropriately? Are you overwhelmed by inventory? 

Vish's color management software takes the guesswork out of color and integrates with your salon's point-of-sale system, so y...

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: @Victoria.beauty.expert, or email her at [email protected]. 

Visit Summit’s Spa Division to explore the coaching services we offer. 

Has the spa side of your business been dragging? Check out ou...