Podcast Summary: Thriving Stylist Podcast - Episode #394: "Popular Leadership Advice I'd NEVER Follow...."

Podcast Information:

• Title: Thriving Stylist Podcast
• Host: Britt Seva
• Description: Exploring the evolving landscape of the beauty industry, the podcast delves into effective marketing strategies and business skills essential for hairstylists and salon owners to thrive.

I. Introduction

In Episode #394 of the Thriving Stylist Podcast, released on July 14, 2025, host Britt Seva addresses controversial leadership advice commonly circulated within the beauty industry. Titled "Popular Leadership Advice I'd NEVER Follow....", Britt offers a candid critique of several prevalent business strategies, urging stylists and salon owners to adopt more transparent and effective practices.

II. Host’s Perspective and Purpose

Britt begins the episode by reflecting on her eight-year tenure as the podcast's host, acknowledging a shift towards greater transparency and willingness to challenge established norms. She emphasizes that her intent is not to disparage other business coaches but to foster critical thinking among her listeners.

"This is not coming from the place of my way is the only way. [...] I just want to share that as a caveat at the top, that the point and purpose of this episode is not to dismantle anybody else's point of view."
— Britt Seva [02:20]

III. Critiques of Common Business Strategies

Britt identifies and examines five widely adopted business strategies that she believes may not serve stylists and salon owners effectively.

1. Service Fees Off the Top of the Ticket

Overview: This compensation structure involves deducting a fixed fee from each service before calculating the stylist's commission. For example, a salon might keep $500 from $10,000 in services before applying a 50% commission.

Issues Highlighted:

• Transparency Concerns: Stylists often lack clear breakdowns of withheld fees, leading to distrust.
• Manipulative Practices: Promise of higher commissions (e.g., 45%) may be misleading if actual earnings are lower after deductions.

"It feels manipulative to promise people 45% commission, but actually, no, they're making more like 41 or 42% commission."
— Britt Seva [16:40]

Conclusion: While supporting salon profitability is crucial, Britt argues that opaque fee structures can erode trust between stylists and owners.

2. Promotions Based on Pre-booking Percentage or Retail Sales

Overview: Promotions and commission increases tied to metrics like pre-booking appointments or retail sales.

Issues Highlighted:

• Lack of Correlation: Britt has not observed a consistent link between pre-booking and high performance.
• Changing Consumer Behavior: Increased last-minute cancellations and shifting preferences reduce the effectiveness of pre-booking incentives.

"There's no correlation between if you do it and it works great. If you don't do it and it works great."
— Britt Seva [10:30]

Conclusion: Britt advises against locking in stylists' earnings based solely on pre-booking or retail metrics, advocating for more flexible and individualized approaches.

3. Annual Price Increases

Overview: Mandating price hikes based on calendar milestones rather than business or market conditions.

Issues Highlighted:

• Ineffectiveness: Arbitrary price increases can alienate clients, especially those already hesitant about current rates.
• Lack of Personalization: Uniform price hikes do not account for individual stylist performance or client base.

"If you have a stylist who's struggling to build charging $60 for a root touch up, do you seriously think raising their prices to 65 is going to help them or hurt them. It's going to hurt them."
— Britt Seva [26:15]

Conclusion: Britt recommends dynamic pricing strategies that consider multiple factors, rather than fixed annual increases, to better align with business realities and client expectations.

4. Cancellation Policies and Deposits to Protect Time

Overview: Implementing strict cancellation fees, deposits, and credit card holds to minimize no-shows and protect revenue.

Issues Highlighted:

• Client Deterrence: Overly stringent policies can discourage potential clients from booking.
• Trust Damage: Heavy-handed approaches may create anxiety and reduce client loyalty.

"The way to get people to value your time more, [...] is to make coming in to see you so damn good that they would never think about canceling the appointment."
— Britt Seva [32:45]

Conclusion: Instead of imposing punitive measures, Britt advocates for enhancing the desirability and quality of services to naturally reduce cancellations and foster client commitment.

5. Retail Sales Expectations and Ulterior Motives

Overview: Emphasizing retail sales as a primary income driver, often influenced by affiliations with retail brands.

Issues Highlighted:

• Unsustainable Models: High markups and dead inventory can make retail sales programs financially burdensome.
• Potential Conflicts of Interest: Coaches promoting retail-heavy strategies may have vested interests tied to specific brands.

"If a coach leans into the importance of retail and they happen to be networked with a retail company or brand, maybe an orange flag [...] is there an ulterior motive to this push that's taking place?"
— Britt Seva [43:10]

Conclusion: Britt urges salons to critically assess their retail strategies, ensuring they align with genuine business benefits rather than external incentives.

IV. Insights and Alternative Approaches

Throughout the episode, Britt emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and customized strategies tailored to individual salon dynamics. She highlights the necessity of:

• Building Client Desire: Creating such compelling service experiences that clients are naturally inclined to commit without restrictive policies.

  "It's creating more desire. Desire is the key. Not policies and deposits and money and credit cards."
  — Britt Seva [35:50]

• Transparent Business Practices: Ensuring all compensation and operational strategies are clear and fair to foster trust and collaboration.

• Dynamic Pricing Models: Utilizing tools that consider multiple business factors to set prices that reflect true value and operational costs.

V. Conclusions and Takeaways

Britt Seva's episode challenges salon owners and stylists to reassess commonly accepted business practices. By questioning the efficacy and ethical implications of strategies like service fees, rigid promotions, automatic price increases, stringent cancellation policies, and aggressive retail sales, she advocates for more transparent, trust-based, and client-centric approaches. The overarching message encourages professionals in the beauty industry to think critically and adopt strategies that genuinely support sustainable growth and client satisfaction.

"Just want you [...] to think critically about your business, critically about the way you promote, critically about the way that you look at revenue and profit [...] and how you can grow faster."
— Britt Seva [48:55]

Final Thoughts: This episode serves as a valuable resource for hairstylists and salon owners seeking to refine their business practices. Britt Seva's candid analysis and actionable insights provide listeners with the tools to build more trustworthy, profitable, and satisfying businesses in the ever-evolving beauty industry.