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This is our final episode of 2025, and instead of predictions or tactics, we wanted to pause and reflect.

We discuss what we’ve seen this year in the salon industry: the widening gap between growing and struggling businesses, the mindset shifts that set Tier-A salons apart, and why customer service, leadership, and long-term thinking matter more than ever.

We share real stories from inside our salon, mentoring moments, client experiences, leadership decisions, and hard truths about where the industry is headed. We talk about gratitude, resilience, and why quitting too early often means missing the moment when things finally start to work.

This episode is about perspective, patience, and staying human in an industry that sometimes forgets it’s a service business.

Your business should serve you, so that you can serve others. As we head into 2026, our message is simple: keep going.

Key Takeaways

• Gratitude and consistency matter more than viral moments.
• Confidence is often the missing piece — not technical skill.
• Leadership includes teaching people how to succeed, not just telling them to try harder.
• Collaborative salons create better client experiences and stronger teams.
• The industry is splitting between businesses that evolve and businesses that blame.
• Customer service is becoming the ultimate competitive advantage.
• Short-term thinking destroys long-term opportunity.
• Grace builds loyalty faster than rigid policies.
• Leaders don’t need all the answers — they need curiosity and resources.
• If you believe in what you’re building, don’t quit too early.

Time Stamps

00:00 — Welcome + final episode of 2025
01:00 — Todd’s opening take: gratitude, not quitting too early
05:00 — Jen’s opening take: leadership, confidence, and mentoring Piper
09:00 — Teaching confidence vs teaching technical skill
11:00 — Collaboration over scarcity with clients
14:00 — Industry reflection: struggling salons vs growing salons
17:00 — Customer service as the real differentiator
19:00 — The “artist over service” mindset problem
21:00 — Short-term thinking vs lifetime client value
24:00 — Grace, cancellation policies, and long-term loyalty
27:00 — Not needing all the answers as a leader
29:00 — Asking better questions, finding better resources
31:00 — What’s coming to the podcast in 2026
33:00 — Final thoughts, gratitude, and closing

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