PhorestFM: Stories From the Salon Floor
The salon industry has a lot to be proud of. Phorest has always been in awe of it. The energy. The camaraderie. The creativity. Being a business owner takes courage, but it can sometimes become an isolating, all-consuming reality. Along with the mental load of the daily to-do lists, there’s also a need to look towards the future and consider long-term goals. The PhorestFM podcast celebrates innovative ideas, methods, and perspectives on business management and growth, marketing, leadership, and building great teams and cultures. Launched in 2017, it is hosted by Alex Bélisle-Springer (he/they), Global Education Content Lead at Phorest Salon Software. As of Season 9 (2025), new episodes air every second week, with occasional bonus drops on ”off” weeks.
Listen on:
Episodes
Monday Feb 01, 2021
Monday Feb 01, 2021
[193] For many of us, 2021 will be a year of rebirth — a year in which we find new ways to connect and take care of both ourselves and our communities after grief and loss left several of our wellbeing spheres in distress. The hard thing about wellness is that we must find what works for us and our journey.
Whether that's making our routine more like self-care, getting better sleep, prioritising our happiness, eating cleaner, or learning how to wind down, we need to accept that we might not always get it right (at least not at first).
Davines Global colour ambassador, director of the HAIRDOTCOM Art Team, and Chancellor of The Fellowship for British Hairdressing, Ashleigh Hodges, is sought after the world over. In this episode, we dive into how she's dealt with wellness throughout her life and career, discuss how it can look different for each of us, the implicit weight of the word "should," and question whether salons do enough to support staff wellbeing.
Links:
Follow Ashleigh Hodges on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ashleigh_hodges_hair/
Learn more about UpLift! powered by Phorest: https://bit.ly/2YxEDuv
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter: http://bit.ly/2T2gUj1
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Jan 25, 2021
Monday Jan 25, 2021
Learning how to grow and develop your salon business shouldn't feel like a chore but a process that blends into your day-to-day. That's why Phorest FM, co-hosted by Zoé Bélisle-Springer & Killian Vigna, aims to answer all of your most pressing business, marketing, and growth questions by sharing insightful and inspiring conversations with salon business leaders and experts. Tune in for the fifth season of the show, which launches on Monday, February 1st. We're ready to make 2021 a year of choice, passion, readiness, and determination. Are you?
Monday Dec 21, 2020
Monday Dec 21, 2020
[192] Season 4 is officially a wrap with 1587 minutes of inspiring stories and conversations you can now catch up on! A massive thanks to all of the wonderful guests worldwide, giving their take on topics that can help the industry shine and grow, but also to every one of you who's tune in this year. In this very last episode of the season, we give you the top ten most downloaded episodes of the year!
Support Closing Days:
USA: December 25th and January 1st
IRE/UK: December 25th, 26th, and January 1st
Links:
Get your ticket for UpLift! our Virtual Event on January 25th, 2021: https://linktr.ee/phorest_uplift
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Dec 14, 2020
Monday Dec 14, 2020
[191] This week on Phorest FM, Killian and Zoe welcome back to the show Phorest Salon Software CEO Ronan Perceval and CTO John Doran for the annual "year in review" episode. Expect discussions around resilience, feature releases, and more importantly, things to look forward to in the coming year.
Links:
Get your ticket for the UpLift! Virtual Event on January 25th, 2021: https://linktr.ee/phorest_uplift
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Dec 07, 2020
Monday Dec 07, 2020
[190] James Davis, Sara Cheeny, Hellen Ward, Gavin Hoare, Jen Baudier, James Alba, and Stefanie Fox Jackson know that sharing is caring and that there's nothing easy about building, owning, and growing a salon. Invited to feature in Phorest's most recent educational series on Facebook, they each shared some of their key strategies, tools, and tactics going into December.
Featuring highlights from the Beat 2020 conversations hosted over the past month, this week's episode aims to provide you with the inspiration and motivation to max out the last of this year's opportunities and start 2021 with a new mindset.
Links:
Watch the Beat 2020 UK/IE episodes in full: https://bit.ly/3ovpLYx
Watch the Beat 2020 US/CA episodes in full: https://bit.ly/3lXRiAi
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Nov 30, 2020
Monday Nov 30, 2020
[189] COVID-19 has created a considerable shift in consumer behaviour, forcing salons and spas around the world to adapt quickly. Whether you're facing a temporary closure or not, there are various ways video consultations can help you stay connected with clients and generate revenue. This week's episode features recent podcast recaps and an interview segment with Aisling Scolard, Product Owner at Phorest, discussing the latest Video Consultations integration and how some salons have embraced the new virtual reality so far.
Links:
Beat 2020 Educational Series (UK/IE): https://bit.ly/38YuiOX
Beat 2020 Educational Series (US/CA): https://bit.ly/2UGX2Dx
Watch the US "This vs. That: A Leadership Conversation" on-demand: https://bit.ly/2JDLw9K
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Nov 23, 2020
Monday Nov 23, 2020
[188] Pre-COVID-19, it was estimated that seventy-five percent of businesses had less than a month of money in the bank. Wild and scary, right?
What if your business served you, not the other way around? What if you knew exactly what you could spend and when? Or had the power to guarantee profitability?
Following the principles of Mike Michalowicz's Profit First system, Jen Baudier (@jenbaudier), Phorest US Brand Ambassador, Owner of Bella Style Salon, and PIP University Professor, was able to transform her business and help peers do the same through the Rich Life CEO graduate program. Get insights into the required methods to achieve such results and take your shot at long-term growth and sustainability.
Links:
Learn more about Bella Style Salon: https://www.mybellastyle.com
Learn more about PIP University: https://pip-university.com
Get Mike Michalowicz's Profit First free resources: https://profitfirstbook.com
Beat 2020 Educational Series (UK/IE): https://bit.ly/38YuiOX
Beat 2020 Educational Series (US/CA): https://bit.ly/2UGX2Dx
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter: http://bit.ly/2T2gUj1
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Nov 16, 2020
Monday Nov 16, 2020
[187] It's safe to say we've come a long way since the first synthesised dye in 1863: products have evolved a great deal, and so have application techniques. Currently, you could probably list over 50 colour trends travelling back and forth across the globe, with some going viral overnight.
For a first-time colour client, it's easy to think that anything is possible — after all, social media does make us feel like the sky is the limit in terms of creative colour. However, not everything is always possible, and most definitely not in one appointment. If you truly care for the result, you never just get a colour. You commit to one. That means agreeing to consultations, multiple appointments, home care, maintenance, being patient, and of course, being conscious it will require a certain budget.
Featuring Kristina Russell (@colourkristina), salon owner, multiple award-winning hair colour specialist, educator, and podcaster herself, this week's episode explores what her bespoke colour journeys look like for both her and her clients.
Links:
Learn more about the education offered by Kristina Russell: https://kristinarussell.com.au/
Listen to the Colour Kristina Talks podcast: https://apple.co/35QP9Sg
Beat 2020 Educational Series (UK/IE): https://bit.ly/38YuiOX
Beat 2020 Educational Series (US/CA): https://bit.ly/2UGX2Dx
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter: http://bit.ly/2T2gUj1
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Nov 09, 2020
Monday Nov 09, 2020
[186] Assessing staff performance is often a threatening process for both managers and employees. However, when you put in place clear KPIs, agree on a plan of action, and put your staff in control of their performance, you provide an opportunity to discuss progress and make aligning employee and company goals easier.
The problem with statistics isn't the data itself; it's how you interpret it. Looking at figures alone to get an unbiased picture of an employee's performance might feel logical, but in the end, it will give you the wrong overview or assessment. Numbers without context are just that: numbers.
Featuring Hellen Ward (@hellenwardltd), co-founder and managing director of Richard Ward Hair & Metrospa (@richardwardhair), this week's episode dives into her approach to KPI management, interpreting data, assessing staff performance, and so much more.
Links:
Learn more about Hellen & her coaching/consultancy services: https://www.hellenward.com
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter: http://bit.ly/2T2gUj1
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.
Monday Nov 02, 2020
Monday Nov 02, 2020
[185] When we talk about benchmarking, we talk about identifying opportunities for improvement within a business. On paper, that's simple enough... but what does that look like within the hair & beauty industry?
Featuring Data-Driven Salon Experience speakers Joshua Howard (Vish Co-Founder & CEO) and Britni Volkman (Phorest Salon Success Manager), this week's episode dives right into the topic. Bringing to light industry experience and insights throughout, we discuss benchmarking's purpose and importance, talk about salon business metrics, solutions to major industry pain points, and so much more.
As platinum sponsors of the month-long look at metrics proposed by Salon Today's Data-Driven Salon Experience, Phorest is proud to say that all sessions are now available to watch on-demand (at no cost) — click here to register!
Links:
Watch Joshua Howard's DDSE session: https://bit.ly/2HXBJug
Watch Britni Volkman's DDSE session: https://bit.ly/3kUdD1X
Access our secondary lockdown resources: https://bit.ly/385UiaE
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter
This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Great music makes great moments. Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed.
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software.