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In this episode, Todd and Jen dive into the two pillars of salon growth: retention (keeping clients coming back) and acquisition (bringing in new ones).

Too many salon owners focus on just one—but long-term success requires mastering both.

You’ll hear practical strategies, client experience tips, and marketing insights drawn straight from the Hello Hair Co. playbook, including how to create loyalty, inspire referrals, and consistently attract new faces without burning out.

Key Takeaways

• Retention and acquisition aren’t either/or — both are essential for lasting salon growth.
• Consultations (and re-consultations) are the secret to keeping clients loyal.
• Hospitality and personalization turn good services into unforgettable experiences.
• Building staff confidence is a leader’s job — and prevents overwhelm in new stylists.
• Smart marketing tools (Google Ads, SEO, automation, reviews, social media) keep new clients coming consistently.
• Focusing only on retention or only on acquisition will break your business model.
• Tracking the right KPIs (rebooking, client lifetime value, cost per new client, referrals) shows you what’s really working.

Episode Timestamps

• [00:00] – Intro & why Jen refused to kick things off
• [00:01:30] – Jen's opening take and quote of the week: Vidal Sassoon on why hairdressers are magical
• [00:03:00] – Todd's opening take, owner perspective: the happiness KPI
• [00:07:00] – Why retention matters: loyalty, consistency, referrals, and fun
• [00:11:00] – The consultation game changer: how to re-consult every visit
• [00:14:30] – Building relationships when your skills are still developing
• [00:15:00] – Hospitality Playbook: moving beyond snacks and water bottles
• [00:17:00] – Personalization & note-taking for unforgettable experiences
• [00:19:00] – Staff happiness and motivation = client happiness
• [00:21:00] – Helping “baby hair pros” build confidence without overwhelm
• [00:23:30] – Why acquisition matters: churn, plateaus, and growth
• [00:26:00] – Automated touchpoints: email & text marketing that works
• [00:28:30] – Google Ads, SEO, and why outsourcing marketing was a game-changer
• [00:33:00] – Social media strategy: faces > backs of heads
• [00:35:00] – Cross-promoting with local businesses & the power of reviews
• [00:37:00] – KPIs: client lifetime value, cost per client, rebooking, referrals
• [00:38:30] – Wrap-up + free Hospitality Playbook download

Resources & Links

• Subscribe to the 321 Pro Push Newsletter: Real business lessons, strategies, and challenges delivered weekly.
• Listen to more episodes: the Hello Hair Pro podcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @hellohairpro

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Find more of our things:
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Hello Hair Pro Website

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In this episode of the Hello Hair Pro Podcast, Todd and Jen tackle one of the most hot-button topics in the hair industry: booth and suite rental vs. commission salons.

They break down the hidden costs of going out on your own, the predatory marketing tactics some rental salon owners use, and why many stylists actually make less money renting than they would in a well-run commission salon.

You’ll also hear about Jen’s unique apprenticeship program, how demand and merit (not time) should drive pricing, and why the future may be swinging back toward commission salons that innovate, lead with vision, and provide real support to stylists.

If you’ve ever wondered whether renting really means “keeping all your money,” or if you’re considering making the jump, this episode will give you the clarity you need.

Key Takeaways:

• The myth of “keeping all your money” — why rental comes with major hidden costs like software, insurance, licensing, cleaning, and taxes.
• Predatory practices in rental salons — from targeting new grads to dangling “amenities” that erode profitability.
• The rental vs. commission mindset — it’s less about freedom and more about whether you want to be left alone or guided.
• Apprenticeship success stories — why Jen’s program produces stylists who can raise their prices even before they’re licensed.
• Future industry trends — why rental is plateauing, and why well-run commission salons are primed for a comeback.

Episode Timestamps:

• [00:00] Welcome & opening banter
• [00:01] Todd’s “seed planting” approach to partnership and decision making
• [00:05] Jen celebrates Madison, her apprentice, hitting 1,500 hours
• [00:07] Pricing apprentices fairly: demand vs. time in the industry
• [00:11] Rental vs. commission: not good vs. bad, just different needs
• [00:13] Why “you keep all your money” is predatory marketing
• [00:14] The danger of targeting new grads for rental
• [00:16] Loneliness and stagnation in suites — why many return to community
• [00:18] Business basics renters MUST know: mission, vision, P&L, insurance
• [00:20] The importance of marketing and curating like-minded renters
• [00:23] Why commission salons lost ground — and how they can bounce back
• [00:26] The constant need to evolve in business
• [00:27] Hidden costs checklist: rent, licenses, equipment, insurance, software, accounting, taxes, education, and more
• [00:35] Commission salon advantage: stylists get to focus on creativity
• [00:36] Todd’s renter’s checklist — what to have in place before you jump
• [00:38] Why industry infighting (rental vs. commission) is hurting everyone
• [00:39] Wrapping up & newsletter invite

Resources & Links

• Subscribe to the 321 Pro Push Newsletter: Real business lessons, strategies, and challenges delivered weekly.
• Listen to more episodes: the Hello Hair Pro podcast
• Follow us on Instagram: @hellohairpro
  
  

Links and Stuff:
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Find more of our things:
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Hello Hair Pro Website

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In this episode of the Hello Hair Pro Podcast, Todd and Jen unpack the Evolution Trap — the danger salon and barbershop owners face when they stop evolving their business.

Complacency might feel comfortable, but in reality, it leads to shrinking profits, bored staff, and clients who notice when nothing changes.

Drawing from their own salon experience and mentoring work, Todd and Jen share practical strategies for staying adaptable, auditing systems, and keeping your business fresh — without overwhelming yourself or your team.

Key Takeaways:

• If you’re not evolving, you’re regressing — because inflation, client expectations, and staff goals are always moving forward.
• Stability often equals stagnation. Your business can look “fine” while actually losing money and momentum.
• Staff want growth and opportunity. Without it, your best people will outgrow your business.
• Clients value consistency but also crave freshness. A business that never changes feels stale.
• Small, consistent nudges toward improvement compound into massive long-term growth.

Timestamps:

• [00:00] – Intro & Labor Day recording
  Todd and Jen kick things off on Labor Day
• [02:00] – Staff complaints vs. staff goals
  Jen explains why owners should ask their staff about their goals instead of assuming laziness or a lack of work ethic.
• [05:00] – Defining the Evolution Trap
  Todd explains why saying “my business is fine” is a red flag — stability without evolution equals stagnation
• [07:00] – Systems that need revisiting
  Examples: cleaning lists, product lines, and small changes that create energy and accountability in the salon
• [10:00] – Why owners resist change
  Comfort and fear make it easy to default to “just doing more hair” instead of leading
• [14:00] – Mistaking stability for growth
  Why repeating the same playbook for 5–10 years leads to declining profit margins, bored clients, and high staff turnover
• [17:00] – The hidden costs of stagnation
  How failing to evolve affects money, staff retention, and client experience.
• [20:00] – Creating opportunity for staff
  Why your best stylists will leave if they can’t see a path forward — and how to give them leadership or education roles
• [25:00] – Signs you’re stuck
  Haven’t raised prices in years, verbal systems only, repeated staff questions, or plateaued growth = trapped
• [27:00] – How to break free
  Audit your systems annually, update standards, seek mentorship outside the industry, and use “nudges” (small changes that compound)
• [32:00] – Lessons from other industries
  Todd and Jen share ideas borrowed from restaurants and hospitality that salons can adapt.
• [34:00] – Closing & challenge
  Final reflections and this week’s listener challenge: What’s one area of your business that hasn’t changed in 3+ years?

Resources & Links

• Subscribe to our free newsletter, 321 Pro Push
• Follow us on Instagram: @hellohairpro
• Explore free resources for salon owners:

Links and Stuff:
Our Newsletter
Mentoring Inquiries

Find more of our things:
Instagram
Hello Hair Pro Website