SUMM IT UP

 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 stylists the opportunity to be their own bosses, while retaining them within the greater salon family and culture. Tune in for a smart and savvy conversation about navigating changes in our industry.Follow Anne on Instagram @anne_chesbro.Follow Anne on TikTok at anne_chesbro. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 expert and make sure you're maximizing these new tax benefits!MORE RESOURCESComplete guide to tax reporting for salonsNo Tax on Tips guide for salon employeesFind more guides and learn how your salon company can work with Chris Wittitch at salon.cpa00:00 Introduction00:33 Meet the expert: Chris Whittich, Summit's right-hand accountant01:10 Understanding the FICA tip credit04:41 Salon owners: Maximizing the FICA tip Credit13:58 Tax-Free Tips: What service-providers need to know24:22 Impact of digital tipping and 1099-K reporting28:38 Conclusion and what happiness means to Chris Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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. Learn more and take the assessment at saloniq.summitsalon.com.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 selling The Studio + Co. to a former employee -- at topic he also coaches on. Schedule a 30 minute discovery call with Doug Smith.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 -- like having to schedule and reschedule all your own clients --   and joys -- like having old clients open up to you like never before. Also: Colissa is here to coach you through your own self-employment journey. This episode was originally published in December 2023. Contact Colissa to learn more about Summit's self-employed stylist subscription service: Colissa's InstagramColissa's page on Summitsalon.com Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 values. Then the rest was up to her. Less than a year and two promotions later, Kacie's a level 2 stylist at her salon company.  In this episode, Kacie chats with host Blake Reed Evans about the combination of guts, mentorship, relationship-building, and careful financial planning that got her where she is, and keeps her on the rise. At the time of this recording in 2021, Kacie Mundell was a stylist and color and blonde specialist at Herdis the Salon in Northampton, Massachusetts, and at Parker on Main in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Now she's an indepedent stylist in West Springfield, MA, specializing blonding and vivids. SUMM IT UP is produced by Andrea Muraskin, with editorial support from Tim Fisk. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon.Follow guest Kacie Mundell on Instagram @kaciedoeshair_Follow host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans. His DM's are always open!  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 oversharing from the chair. Nicholas Burns is a behavioral scientist who studies organizational behavior and questions of how companies can become more efficient and more ethical. He works as a research consultant in New York City. This episode is hosted by SUMM IT UP producer Andrea Muraskin, filling in for Blake Reed Evans. Let us know what you think of this episode! You can leave a  rating and review on Apple Podcasts or a comment on Spotify.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 MOREKérastase Shu Uemora Art of HairGuillaume Duez on LinkedIn  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 opera character host Blake Reed Evans is named after. Twylla Jane is a global Redken Artist, a social media influencer, and the owner of Lumos Nox Salon in Naperville, IL. Follow Twylla on Instagram @twyllabroad and check out their salon page @lumosnoxsalon, or at lumosnoxsalon.com. You can also find Twylla’s videos on TikTok: twyllajane. This episode was originally published in October 2021.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 you can focus on creating an incredible guest experience every time.  This episode, Vish co-founder Tim Howard steps into the host chair with Vish VP of product Les McFadden; and Luke Huffstutter, owner of three salons and a Summit Salon Academy in Portland, Oregon.You'll learn about new innovations Vish has developed in partnership with salon companies and color manufacturers and distributors, like their new inventory module. Plus upcoming features like a service engagement tool that provides insight into how stylists are interacting with Vish's signature scale and measuring software, and a service that improves record keeping and quotes during consultations. Learn more and book a discovery call at getvish.com. And please let Vish know you heard about them on SUMM IT UP!  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 vperry@summitsalon.com. Visit Summit’s Spa Division to explore the coaching services we offer. Has the spa side of your business been dragging? Check out our episode “Spa Reboot” with Emily Richardson for advice on how to rev up your spa. This episode was originally published in September 2022.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 this episode, Lisa and Blake cover:Understanding market rates and charging a rate that's fair to yourself, even when you're newCreating customized incentives for new stylists, especially for retail salesBuilding a clientelle through guest educationGoal and budget-setting Skills not always taught in cosmetology school, like client experience and working with box-dyed hair And more.Follow Lisa Giles on Instagram @LifeofLisaG. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 Artists and Hair Stylists Guild. In this episode, Kauilani dishes out advice for hairstylists looking to break into entertainment, including how to network, and the importance of assisting and education along the way. Follow Kauilani Goodwyn on IG: @kauigoodwyn.This episode was originally published in October 2022.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 cuts, and a green beauty educator (Green Artist) with the Green Beauty Community Foundation, based in Dallas Texas and Denver, Colorado. In this episode, you'll learn how to get started with brands, packaging, recycling, working with sensitive clients, and more. Your salon can go green without sacrificing beauty. Follow Sophia James on Instagram @indiehavenstudioLearn more about salon recycling with Terracycle.  Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 Instagram, and a suite of customizable booking features, and more. Listen for insights on:Customizing social media marketing to perspective clients, current clients, and "lost" clients who haven't booked in a whileCustomizing booking to client's unique needsHow to make your cancellation policies crystal clearWhen and how much to charge for a depositBanning unwanted repeat customers Phorest's integration with Vish for a seamless color experience from visit to visit Digitizing salon retail Book a demo with PhorestFollow Phorest on Instagram @phorestsalonsoftware Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 healing after abuse and trauma, drawing from her own experiences and professional journey to offer practical and emotional guidance. In her new book, I See You, A Guide to Finding Your Inner Strength, Confidence, and Voice after Trauma and Abuse, Jennifer shares her transformative journey of healing after molestation, grief, trauma, and abuse, focusing on self-love and acceptance. In this refreshingly honest and moving discussion, Jennifer J. Boutwell and host Blake Reed Evans discuss sensitive topics including child molestation and partner abuse. They cover:Self-compassion and self-alignmentHow to support friends and coworkers experiencing grief or traumaBreaking generational cycles of abuse and traumaTools for healing and self-regulation (Not one size fits all!)Friendship and community in difficult timesAnd much more. Follow Jennifer J. Boutwell on Instagram @jenniferjboutwell.Purchase the book on Amazon.   Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 associates or bachelors degree.  In this episode, host Blake Reed Evans and Sherilynn Smart talk about going back to school, not an easy endeavor for any busy professional. But, even with a full schedule, doing hair and working in education, Sherilynn is finding time to get a degree in less than one year.  From planning your schedule to getting a full scholarship, Sherilynn tells us how she did it, and how anyone who has been to cosmetology school can make this move for themselves.This episode was originally published in January 2022. Reach out to Sherilynn Smart SSmartt@Redken.comFollow her on Instagram @Sherilynn_RedkenThe Lead website is: www.leadinstitute.degree.  On Facebook it’s: Lead Rolfs Global Institute.  And on Instagram it’s @leadrolfsglobalinstitute.SUMM IT UP is produced by Andrea Muraskin, with editorial support from Tim Fisk. This episode was edited by Amy Walters. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 Schedulicity, a booking, payment and marketing software for salons and spas. She's a former salon owner and has been behind the chair for 20 years, most recently out of her own suite north of West Palm Beach, Florida. IG: @schedulicityLearn more: schedulicity.com/essentialsThis episode was originally published in March 2024. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.  

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 set you up with an expert. Planning out your promotions for the year? Bil's your guy. And he's one of 400 SBCs working for SalonCentric across the United States who offer these services -- which often go underutilized in the industry.Listen for a lively discussion with Bil and host Blake about all that, plus how to earn commissions on products beyond in-salon sales! Follow Bil on Instagram @bil.neal.This episode was originally published in January 2024 Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon, and on TikTok at SummitSalon. SUMM IT UP  is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlockedFind host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans. His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com. Visit us at SummitSalon.com  to connect with others in the industry.