PhorestFM: Building a Stronger Industry, Together
The professional hair, beauty, and medi-aesthetics 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. Amidst the daily whirlwind of tasks, there’s still the challenge of thinking ahead, of carving a path forward.
The PhorestFM podcast celebrates innovative ideas, methods, and bold 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. New episodes every second week, with occasional bonus drops on ”off” weeks.
The professional hair, beauty, and medi-aesthetics 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. Amidst the daily whirlwind of tasks, there’s still the challenge of thinking ahead, of carving a path forward.
The PhorestFM podcast celebrates innovative ideas, methods, and bold 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. New episodes every second week, with occasional bonus drops on ”off” weeks.
Episodes

Monday Mar 30, 2020
Monday Mar 30, 2020
[157] In Ireland & the UK, salons and spas have been forced to close as a result of government measures to overcome the spread of the novel coronavirus. In contrast, this is only being seeing in some states in the USA. While both situations (opened or closed) are significantly different, the pressure on business owners and their staff remains — only in different ways.
Featuring Joe Bolger, Managing Director at ESA Consultants, this week's conversation explores employment law tips that can help salons through the current crisis, regardless of their current state of operations.
Disclaimer: ESA Consultants is an Irish-based company, offering employment law advice and expertise. However, this week's guest, Joe Bolger, has both studied his Degrees in the USA, UK & Ireland and worked in the industry in several countries including the USA, Germany, UK and Ireland. While this episode will inevitably have some share of focus on Irish employment law, it also covers some universal sub-topics, such as reasonable accommodations during these times, non-compete agreements, etc.
Links:
Access the HelpJuice Salon Closure Checklist
Access the Phorest Coronavirus Best Practice resource page
Click here to watch all of our webinar replays on-demand
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Mar 23, 2020
Monday Mar 23, 2020
[156] With every new decade comes new challenges, and to discuss some of the beauty industry’s — gig economy, inclusivity, diversity, etc. — was the initial idea for this episode. However, adding another layer to the existing industry-related challenges is now the current coronavirus (COVID-19) worldwide crisis.
Businesses who thrive during uncertain times and economic downturns often have strong brands. But what does it take, really, to future-proof your brand in this industry? Is the way of the future all about listening to the consumer's voice? Featuring retail maven, brand creator & CEO of the British Beauty Council Millie Kendall MBE, this week’s episode explores three essential aspects of strong brand building, and how to best prepare for some of the challenges the industry is currently facing.
Disclaimer: As new governmental measures to flatten the COVID-19 curve get announced daily, more and more country leaders have required all non-essential businesses — including salons & spas — to close. With the pace at which the crisis is evolving, we will be working on reducing the elapsed time between recording and publishing of upcoming episodes. However, please bear in mind that this conversation was recorded about 1.5 weeks ago, at a time where salons and spas around the world were only starting to see cancellations creeping into their diaries. We thank you for your understanding.
Links:
The British Beauty Council, a non-profit, inclusive organisation that aims to support a successful, innovative, and inclusive British beauty industry. Click here to learn more and get involved.
Access the HelpJuice Salon Closure Checklist
Access the Phorest Coronavirus Best Practice resource page
Click here to watch all of our webinar replays on-demand
Register for Nina Tulio's free "Facts vs Fear" webinar, March 25 (1:00 pm EST)
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Mar 16, 2020
Monday Mar 16, 2020
[155] Success, a lot like values, is defined differently by every one of us. Have you ever stopped to think about what it meant to you? Is it overcoming a hurdle, spending enough time with your family or winning awards? How do you define success, and when will you know you'll have got it?
To help us explore the topic, we asked Dom Lehane (@domlehane), host of the 'How To Cut It' podcast to join us on the show this week. A fourth-generation hairdresser himself and the original founder of HairClubLive.com, his experience in the hairdressing and barbering industry combined to the hundreds of conversations he's led and featured on his podcast made him the perfect candidate for quite the interesting discussion.
Links:
Click here to listen & subscribe to the 'How To Cut It' podcast, hosted by Dom Lehane
Register for Caroline McEnery's free "Salon HR Advice For Managing COVID-19" webinar, March 23 (10:00 am GMT)
Register for Angela Anderson's free "Gain New Clients From Social Media" webinar, March 23 (12:00 pm EST)
Click here to secure your Super Early Bird Salon Owners Summit 2021 tickets
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Mar 09, 2020
Chris Moody on Helping Those Who Educate to Reach and Impact More People
Monday Mar 09, 2020
Monday Mar 09, 2020
[154] If teaching is a skill, then teaching can be taught. Featuring Redken Artist and teacher training specialist Chris Moody (@chrismoodyhair), this week's conversation explores the world of adult education in the hair and beauty industry. More specifically, we'll be discussing learning styles, the difference between teaching and facilitating, what it takes to become an educator and how to truly make an impact on students.
Links:
Click here to register for Chris Camp, here for the UK 1-day Teaching Teachers course and here for the L'Oreal Access training
Register for Caroline McEnery's free "Salon HR Advice For Managing COVID-19" webinar, March 23 (10:00 am GMT)
Click here to secure your Super Early Bird Salon Owners Summit 2021 tickets
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Mar 02, 2020
Monday Mar 02, 2020
[153] Mental health disorders are among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide; and sometimes, the people with the biggest smiles are the ones struggling the most. You never really know what people are going through.
Following the recent UK and Irish movement to ban toxic publications in salon and spas, this episode takes a look at what bringing more kindness and positivity into these spaces means to various owners. Interviews feature Anita Donoghue, Director of Hair Cafe Salon (Ireland), Amelia Herbert, Manager of Watkins Wright (UK) and Andi Kelly, Owner of Andi Kelly Hair Studio (UK). #KindSalons
Links:
Register for Caroline McEnery's free "Salon HR Advice For Managing COVID-19" webinar, March 23 (10:00 am GMT)
Click here to secure your Super Early Bird Salon Owners Summit 2021 tickets
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Feb 24, 2020
February Monthly Round-up
Monday Feb 24, 2020
Monday Feb 24, 2020
[152] Did you miss an episode this month? Catch up on everything that's happened in February with Killian and Zoe's round-up. On the agenda: product and blog updates, upcoming webinars and events you can join as well as snippets from previous interviews with Selina Tomasich (CEO of Hair Aid), Michaella Blissett Williams (CEO of Salon718 salons), Marcus Allen (Global VP of the Refinery) and Josh Hafetz (President of Art of Business).
Click here to subscribe to the weekly Phorest FM email newsletter!
Links:
Register for Caroline McEnery's free "Salon HR Advice For Managing COVID-19" webinar, March 23 (10:00 am GMT)
Licensed to Create 2020 shows: Nashville, Bellevue & Washington D.C. Fashion Focus tickets
Pro Beauty London, March 29-30: tickets & registration
Click here to secure your Super Early Bird Salon Owners Summit 2021 tickets
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Feb 17, 2020
Josh Hafetz on Motivation and Unleashing Employee Peak Performance
Monday Feb 17, 2020
Monday Feb 17, 2020
[151] If you're a salon or spa owner who finds it hard to keep staff engaged and motivated in their work, you're not alone. A recent survey Phorest has run within the hair and beauty industry found that of all the HR and training aspects of running a salon, a whopping 25% agree to say that retaining and motivating staff is their most difficult challenge. The good news is, it doesn't have to be that way.
Featuring the President of Art of Business (@art_of_business) Josh Hafetz, this week's conversation explores the science behind getting your team 'in the zone', how habit plays a role in locking in both motivation and long-term results, and what you can do to foster these habits.
Links:
Learn more about Art of Business (and the AoB Atlantic City event on April 5-6, 2020)
Salon Owners Summit 2020, flagship event in Dublin
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Feb 10, 2020
Monday Feb 10, 2020
[150] Often described as "thinking outside the box", creative thinking is what drives innovation and progress. Seeing situations from a different perspective can have a substantial impact on problem-solving, communication, leadership, sales, marketing, and many other aspects of running a business. For many, though, thinking in new, unconventional ways when facing adversity doesn't come naturally.
Featuring Global VP of The Refinery Marcus Allen, this week's conversation explores the value of creative thinking in business as well as the link between leadership, self-awareness, vulnerability and salon management.
Send your video challenge to Marcus Allen at the following email address: marcus.allen@mac.com!
Links:
Salon Owners Summit 2020, flagship event in Dublin
Licensed to Create 2020 shows: Nashville, Bellevue & Washington D.C. Fashion Focus tickets
Book a free 15-30 minute consultation on The Salon Mentorship Hub
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 Feb 03, 2020
The Hair Aid Global Cut-A-Thon: Changing the World One Haircut at a Time
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Monday Feb 03, 2020
[149] Since its inception in 2010, Australian-based Hair Aid works globally with volunteer hairdressers to provide free haircutting training for people living in extreme poverty. The organisation has been doing this work in the Philippines, Indonesia, Cambodia, and expanding its operations in Thailand and Vietnam last year, changing in total over 5000 lives.
Part of the organisation's fundraising activities is the annual Hair Aid Global Cut-A-Thon event (@globalcutathon), held this coming Sunday, March 29, 2020, and which encourages salons, stylists and training organisations to come together and cut hair for donations. To discuss both Hair Aid and the upcoming fundraiser, this week's episode features CEO of Hair Aid (@hairaidinc) Selina Tomasich and CEO of Salon718 salons (@salon718) Michaella Blisset Williams.
Links:
Click here to register for the Hair Aid 2020 Global Cut-A-Thon
Read more about the Salon718 salons, Brooklyn's upscale & urban retreat hair salons
Salon Owners Summit (Website)
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 Jan 27, 2020
January Monthly Round-up
Monday Jan 27, 2020
Monday Jan 27, 2020
[148] Did you miss an episode this month? Catch up on everything that's happened in January with Killian and Zoe's round-up. On the agenda: product and blog updates, upcoming webinars and events you can join, Phorest Academy's official global launch as well as snippets from previous interviews with entrepreneur/star of 'The Apprentice' Pamela Laird, salon industry educator Jamie Dana, President of the Fellowship for British Hairdressing Ken Picton, as well as the Buddha Beauty Company co-owners Llewellyn and Sam Thomas-Wood.
Follow Phorest Salon Software on Instagram (handles):
@phorestsalonsoftware, @phorest.au, @phorest.ukie, @phorest.northamerica and @phorestgermany
Links:
Tightening self-employment legislation may impact hair and beauty industry (NHBF)
Thinking Differently: Your 2020 Blueprint For Salon Growth
Licensed to Create 2020 shows: Nashville, Bellevue & Washington D.C. Fashion Focus tickets
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.
Tune in every Monday for a mix of interviews with industry thought-leaders, roundups of our most recent salon owners marketing tips & tricks, all the latest in and around Phorest and what upcoming webinars or events you can join. Feel free to let us know who or what topic you'd like to hear on the show!
Leave a Rating & Review: http://bit.ly/phorestfm
Read the transcript, or click here to request a personalised quote from Phorest Salon Software.










