Podcast thumbnail for The Blowout - By Salon Owners for Salon Owners

The Blowout - By Salon Owners for Salon Owners

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by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward

14 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇬🇧

Podcast Overview

Salon owners — we need to talk. The industry is under pressure, the rules keep changing, and too much is being said in whispers. That’s where we come in. Haylee Benton & Hellen Ward — salon owners with decades of real industry experience. No filters. No limits. Raw, honest conversations about what’s actually happening. From independent owners to industry leaders, we’re unpacking what’s on everyone’s mind — the rise of self-employment, shifting rules, and the changes quietly reshaping our industry.

Language

🇺🇲

Publishing Since

1/5/2026

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Recent Episodes

Episode thumbnail for #0013 - Why Salon Retail is Failing and How to Fix It!

June 20, 2026

#0013 - Why Salon Retail is Failing and How to Fix It!

<p><strong>Disclaimer</strong></p><p>The views and opinions shared in this episode are for general discussion and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended as professional, legal, financial, or business advice. Please seek your own independent advice before making any decisions based on anything discussed in this podcast.</p><p><br></p><p>In this episode of the Blowout Podcast, Haylee and Hellen dive deep into the complexities and hurdles faced by salon owners in retail. They discuss online competition, brand relationships, and innovative solutions to boost retail sales and maintain professionalism.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.</p><p><br></p><p>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946</p><p><br></p><p>Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!</p><p><br></p><p>Timestamps:00:00 - Industry overview: the state of retail in salons00:33 - Why retail sales are declining and the challenge of online shopping01:17 - The impact of brands undercutting salons&#39; prices01:57 - The role of brand ownership and COVID&#39;s exacerbation of issues02:36 - How brands sell directly online and bypass salons03:14 - The difficulties salons face in competing with online prices04:10 - Strategies brands use to maximize their sales channels04:54 - The importance of exclusive in-salon offers and how brands manipulate availability06:23 - The ethical concerns around brand messaging and product availability07:40 - The effect of product proliferation and &quot;straight to retail&quot; strategies08:57 - The importance of retail targets versus actual sales performance09:47 - How to incentivize salons and create a profitable retail ecosystem10:44 - Challenges in spending on new product ranges and margins12:12 - The influence of product education and emotional engagement13:12 - Risks of product ranges being sold off or taken over by larger corporations15:05 - The &quot;gray market&quot; and the difficulty in controlling online sales16:23 - The importance of brand storytelling, theatre, and customer experience17:55 - Why exclusive in-store offers can boost retail sales19:18 - The significance of theatre and professional environment in product sales20:22 - Building trust through salon-only initiatives and professional support22:19 - The future of community-driven recommendations over social media influencers23:48 - The potential evolution of retail over the next five years25:20 - Diversification: supplements, accessories, niche products26:45 - Selecting product ranges that suit diverse client needs28:34 - What brands can do to support salons with education, support, and loyalty tools30:07 - The power of education and brand love in customer loyalty31:16 - The influence of professional endorsement and long-term brand relationships32:50 - The cyclical nature of trends and the importance of professionalism in branding34:32 - The role of authentic storytelling and professional credibility in brand success36:21 - The call for industry collaboration and joint solutions to retail challenges36:54 - Closing thoughts: sharing tips, struggles, and industry solutions</p>

Episode thumbnail for #0012 - Sabbaticals, Unpaid Leave & Competing With the Rent-a-Chair Model

May 31, 2026

#0012 - Sabbaticals, Unpaid Leave & Competing With the Rent-a-Chair Model

<p><strong>Disclaimer</strong></p><p>The views and opinions shared in this episode are for general discussion and entertainment purposes only. They are not intended as professional, legal, financial, or business advice. Please seek your own independent advice before making any decisions based on anything discussed in this podcast.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.</p><p><br></p><p>Summary</p><p>In this episode of the Blowout Podcast, hosts Hellen Ward and Haylee Benton delve into the complexities of employment status within the beauty industry, focusing on sabbaticals, unpaid leave, and the rise of self-employment. They discuss the challenges and benefits of sabbaticals, the flexibility of unpaid leave, and the allure of self-employment for stylists. The conversation also touches on the need for a hybrid model that balances employee benefits with the autonomy of self-employment, as well as the implications of dynamic pricing in salon management. Legal considerations for self-employed stylists are examined, highlighting the importance of proper guidelines and insurance. The episode concludes with a call for clarity in employment regulations to ensure fair practices in the industry.</p><p>Chapters</p><p><br></p><p>00:00 Introduction to Employment Status in the Beauty Industry</p><p>03:01 Exploring Sabbaticals and Unpaid Leave</p><p>05:58 The Challenges of Client Retention</p><p>09:02 Self-Employment Trends in the Beauty Sector</p><p>12:07 The Flexibility Dilemma</p><p>15:09 Dynamic Pricing and Its Impact</p><p>18:08 Navigating Self-Employment Guidelines</p><p>20:55 The Future of Employment in the Beauty Industry</p><p><br></p><p>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6AGUDraVqTouQmKq2Ujgb9?si=Am8vbwJ7Te6tkWkfkPWa0QApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-blowout-by-salon-owners-for-salon-owners/id1866607946Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!</p>

Episode thumbnail for #0011 - Layoff Days, Cancellation Policies, Low Seasons & Leadership Guilt

May 24, 2026

#0011 - Layoff Days, Cancellation Policies, Low Seasons & Leadership Guilt

<p>The Blowout is the no-filter podcast by salon owners, for salon owners. Hosted by Haylee Benton and Hellen Ward, this show dives into the real conversations behind running a successful salon — from building a strong team and managing money, to navigating burnout, boundaries, and bold business decisions. Expect honest advice, relatable stories, and practical takeaways you can actually use behind the chair and behind the scenes. If you’re ready to grow your salon without the fluff, The Blowout is your weekly seat in the chair.<br /></p><p>In this episode, we dive deep into effective cancellation management strategies, the challenges of implementing deposit policies, and how layoffs and short-time working can stabilize salon operations. If you're looking to reduce cancellations, improve cash flow, and create industry-standard policies, this discussion is packed with practical insights.</p><p><br /></p><p>Timestamps:</p><p>00:00 - Introduction: The challenges with salon cancellations and profitability<br />02:16 - Why clients are willing to pay deposits to dentists but not to salons<br />05:43 - Training clients to respect policies through consistent behavior<br />08:19 - Handling cancellation feedback and exceptions<br />11:10 - Simplifying deposit and rebooking policies for clarity<br />13:01 - Transparency about pricing and cancellation terms<br />15:51 - Industry variations in cancellation fees across salon types<br />18:42 - Using automated reminders to reduce last-minute cancellations<br />22:10 - Implementing layoff days to manage slow seasons<br />27:10 - The importance of staff coaching to maintain performance<br />33:20 - Building staff accountability: performance and client building strategies<br />40:49 - Final thoughts: Standardizing policies industry-wide for better stability</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you for watching this episode, and stay tuned for the next one, where we will continue to explore industry transformations and innovation strategies!</p>

14 total episodes available

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Frequently asked questions

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What is The Blowout - By Salon Owners for Salon Owners?

Salon owners — we need to talk. The industry is under pressure, the rules keep changing, and too much is being said in whispers.

That’s where we come in. Haylee Benton & Hellen Ward — salon owners with decades of real industry experience. No filters. No limits. Raw, honest conversations about what’s actually happening.

From independent owners to industry leaders, we’re unpacking what’s on everyone’s mind — the rise of self-employment, shifting rules, and the changes quietly reshaping our industry.

How often does this podcast release new episodes?

This podcast updates daily.

Where can I listen to this podcast?

This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.

Does this podcast accept guests?

No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.

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