Meet the New Owner of Our Salon with Jess Attard

What happens when a team member who wants more progression ends up holding the keys to the salon?

In this episode, Nic and Tess sit down with Jess Attard, the new owner of Ahead, to share the real story behind their salon sale. What may look simple from the outside was actually a journey filled with leadership, trust, timing, courage, and a whole lot of patience.

Jess shares her winding path from hairdressing to running a home studio, managing a gym, stepping into the corporate world, and eventually finding her way back to the industry she loved. She opens up about the personal challenges that shaped her, the pressure she puts on herself, and the mindset shift required to move from being a team member to becoming the person responsible for leading a growing business.

Then they go behind the scenes of the salon purchase itself, from the initial conversations and negotiations to lawyers, accountants, lease transfers, landlord approvals, and the long periods of waiting when nothing seemed to be moving.

Throughout the conversation, Nic, Tess, and Jess share what helped them protect their relationship through the transition and why a successful succession is about so much more than signing paperwork. It's about trust, communication, and creating an opportunity where both the outgoing and incoming owner can step into their next chapter with confidence.

In this episode, you'll learn:

💇‍♀️ How Jess went from team member to becoming the owner of a thriving salon
🌱 Why creating opportunities for team progression can completely change someone's career
🧠 The mindset shift required to step from employee into leadership and ownership
❤️ How personal challenges can shape the way you lead and build your business
🤝 Why trust and strong relationships are essential when selling a business to someone you know
📋 What the salon purchase process actually looks like behind the scenes
⏳ The reality of navigating lawyers, accountants, leases, landlords, and unexpected delays
🚀 Jess's vision for creating more opportunities for her team and building deeper community connection

Whether you're a hairdresser dreaming of salon ownership, a salon owner thinking about succession, or a team member ready for your next level of growth, Jess's story offers an honest look at what it really takes to make that transition.

Sometimes the biggest opportunities begin with simply having the courage to say, "What if I could?"

To follow our journey:
Instagram @aheadhair_
@the_conscious_salon

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:52

This episode of the Conscious Allen Podcast is brought to you by CPR Hair. Welcome back to the Conscious Allen Podcast. This week on the potty, we are joined by someone incredibly special to us. She is and actually last night when we were writing this, I asked Tess, tell me the words that you would use to describe Jess. She's gonna cry, I can just tell already.

SPEAKER_02 1:17

You'll have to fake it now if you don't.

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Here's what Tess said. She is powerful, resilient, deeply grounded, and one of the most remarkable hairdressers we've ever known. Not just because of the skill set that she has, but although she's obviously exceptional at what she does, but because of the way that she makes people feel. Her clients don't just leave with beautiful hair, they leave feeling seen, understood, cared for, and more like themselves. And for us, we know that that's a gift that you can't teach people. She is a natural-born leader, a woman of her word, someone who

Sponsor And Introducing Jess

SPEAKER_03 1:50

expands the people around her simply by the way that she lives, works, and shows up. After moving through one of the hardest years of her life personally in 2025, she rose from the ashes and was determined to other sorry, was and was determined to make 2026 her best year yet. She backed herself, stepped into a completely new chapter, purchased a salon, and adopted five new team members. And not just any old salon, it was our salon. This guest now carries on the legacy that we leave behind, the team, the clients, and the future of our salon ahead.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

What is this called? I don't know. It's like a thank you. You're no man in the fashion of the thank you.

SPEAKER_03 2:46

Um but we couldn't be prouder of the woman who has stepped forward to lead. Please welcome to the Condason podcast, the new owner of Ahead, Jess Atard. Jessica.

SPEAKER_02 3:00

How good. How good though. That was like, I honestly think it's yours was such an easy one to like we were just spitballing. It was like powerful, like incredible, ignited, driven, growth focused, so many like incredible things. But yes, the new owner of a head is with us, which is very exciting. How does it feel hearing that, Jesse?

SPEAKER_04 3:21

Um, that was beautiful, yeah. I think it's just nice to yeah, hear that. And I guess yeah, it's been a bit of a whirlwind, so it's nice to just have that um, yeah, like reflection, I guess.

SPEAKER_03 3:34

Yeah, it has certainly been a whirlwind, and I know so many people have been so curious about how this conversation actually came about, how we sold. I want to tell the story of how fucking long it's taken because I think that there's so much power in like the behind the scenes, because obviously we couldn't talk about it at the time, but now we can. So today we want to deep dive and ask you all of the juicy questions. I want to start by saying, let's talk about how you're feeling in this moment. So, right now, at the time of recording, we are two weeks away from settlement today or yesterday? Yesterday. So two in two weeks' time, you're gonna be the owner of a business. This is also not the first time that you've owned a business, but it's the first time that you've owned a business and a team of this size. Yes. Um, how are you feeling right now in this moment?

SPEAKER_04 4:22

Um, I'm excited, nervous, scared. I think, yeah, there's just so many things that I'm feeling, but most of all, like I'm just really excited to

Settlement Countdown And Mixed Feelings

SPEAKER_04 4:32

get into it and just find my groove, I think, because I think that's the biggest thing right now. It's kind of feels like I'm not there yet, but yeah, it's it's important to just stop and I guess realize, you know, how far it has how long it has taken. Um and we're so close now.

SPEAKER_03 4:49

So it's like the carrot that's been dangling in front of us, and we've been like for so long. Um and we're gonna tell that story, but first I wanna ask to tell the story about how you came to work with us initially. So you've been in our team in the A-Team for nearly two years, is that right? December. December will be two years. Yeah. So about 18 months now. Let's tell the story of where you were. So you tell your story where you previously were, like working from home, running a salon, and then obviously working in corporate, um, and depending on what you want to say about the previous business that you owned, and then coming to work at ahead.

SPEAKER_04 5:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 5:24

Okay, well.

SPEAKER_04 5:26

Um so I yeah, I had my own little studio at home, which I did hair for um for a couple of years. Um, it was just me on my own. Um, and then from there, I had a gym with my ex-partner. So we ran that together. Um, and then from there moved into corporate, which was just a complete change of everything for me.

SPEAKER_03 5:49

It was so wild to think of like you as such a creative and such a people's person.

SPEAKER_02 5:54

Yeah, I think that's what Jessie said in her interview with you. It's just like, can you imagine like me being

From Home Studio To Ahead

SPEAKER_02 5:59

in corporate? We would like and I was like, not cage an animal.

SPEAKER_03 6:02

Like it's yeah, it's so you're such a people's person and such a relationships person. I was like, I can't imagine you're in this like cold, sterile office.

SPEAKER_04 6:10

Yeah, and that's exactly what it was like. And but it was good for me to just experience it. I got the the opportunity came to me just pretty much in my lap, and I was like, why not? Like, let's just give it a go. What can go wrong? I'll just take it and leave it if I do. Yeah, I was like, oh, I can get a call for it. Which didn't laugh at all went to television. Um, but yeah, I obviously like when hair and then the gym very similar in terms of the connection to people and being able to help people. The role that I was in in corporate was an executive assistant, so I did think, oh, I'm still helping someone, but it was just not the right environment.

SPEAKER_03 6:58

So we would get a copy. Yes.

SPEAKER_02 7:05

Well, I think so. When we met Jess, one of the first things that I remember I think I actually said this to Tay as well. I was like, oh, if you weren't here, I would put her in leadership.

SPEAKER_03 7:15

When Tess first met you, she was like, She's got leadership potential, she's like, she's a leader, she's a natural-born leader. So imagine. You always can tell from so far away of like that person's got leadership potential, that person like is always going to be a great team member, or that person is gonna go really well in leadership.

SPEAKER_02 7:31

It sounds like I'm constantly judging. I'm not sure I just usually point out if I can see leadership. But I saw leadership in you very, very early on. And this is the thing, because we haven't actually had that long time together, but we've instantly like fallen in love with each other.

SPEAKER_03 7:46

I wonder your interview was like one of the longest interviews I've ever done. Yeah, I think to be like Nikki. And afterwards, I was like, I I had the feeling of like, I just want to go get a drink with this girl.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

Also, do you notice my top? I'm wearing the martial. I love it. We're um we're the mar girls, that's what we love. But I think that was the thing. We just had this instant connection and then we also like entered, I think at a really pivotal moment of your life. Because you, as you shared, you had a business with your ex-husband, there was a lot happening, and it was kind of a really crossroad, like now when we look back, like a crossroads for you of like which direction things could go in. And this is also I think one of the parts of our story that I most I honestly feel privileged to be with like that we got to experience that with you. Not not a breakdown of a marriage and a divorce. Like, I'm not like yay, but hearing seeing where the woman that started versus the powerhouse that you have become, and it's not just from you know, the marriage breakdown or anything like that, it is what I saw was someone who was really playing small, and I think almost a part of you was like playing small to let your ex like really shine. And when that shifted and we got to experience that journey and be with you through that heartache and that you know, your life was in a completely different picture than where you were expecting it to be. But as Nikki said, the Phoenix straight away just got back in. Jesse was someone who really like you put yourself in it, you were like, I want to feel it, I want to process it, I want to get through it, and I'm gonna come out on the other side of this. You got so crazily addicted to running. I think you said that you were gonna do a 10k run and then it was a half marathon, and then didn't you only have to just pull out of the she broke her freaking leg, so you couldn't do the full. Yeah. But this woman is someone who will just keep pushing herself to go to the next level, next level, next level. And I think when we had the conversation around, I think this is a really great story to tell. No, not both. Sorry, let's slow down. So I'm going back to our memory.

SPEAKER_03 10:10

Jess is very excited today. Um, but Jesse, I want to come back to so you started at ahead. Yeah. So why did you decide to come back into here? Like what made you decide to come back into hair?

SPEAKER_04 10:20

Um, I think corporate really made me consider everything. Like what I guess even just like landing myself in corporate, I began began to think like, hang on, this isn't really where I want to be. So it made me just think, I guess like go really deep into what was my purpose? Because I there was a part of me that enjoyed the corporate and being um, I guess, like I was able to help in the smallest ways, um, but it was the smallest ways, and I think for me that it wasn't enough. Um, so then I thought, like, okay, like I didn't mind the job, it was good, but it was you could see, I could see how people easily got stuck in that because obviously the money, the salary, all of the perks of corporate, it's really easy to be like, oh, it's comfortable. But there was just something that just wasn't really lighting me up. So then I had to, yeah, just I guess

Purpose Pulls Her Back To Hair

SPEAKER_04 11:14

go back to the roots of why, what what do I love? Um, and it came back to people and helping people and making people feel good. Um, and that wasn't the environment that I was in. So I then started to think about okay, well, when was I my happiest? And it was when I was either making people feel good at the gym or making a difference for them, or it was when I was doing hair, and especially when I was doing it on my own, because I was, you know, I was making such a big difference for those people. Um, but there was a little bit of I don't know if it was like ego or what it was about it, but going back into hair, I was like, I don't know if I want to go back there. So I didn't, I hadn't actually fully decided before I came for the interview with you guys that I wanted to go back into hair. Um, but uh when I saw your ad, I was like, this place seems amazing, and I really want to just see where this goes. But when I messed, like I reached out to you guys on Instagram because I had no resume. Um, well, the resume I had was for the corporate job, so that wasn't gonna help me. Um but I just thought, okay, well, I'm just gonna reach out and see where it goes. Um, but I hadn't fully made up my mind if I wanted to come back to hair yet. Um, but I just knew that I wanted to be around people and do something, you know, that was I guess back to my passion and my purpose. Um, so yeah, then I decided to yeah, come and meet you guys. Obviously, when I saw the ad, I was like, I want to be at this place, like even if I have to decide to go back to Hair, like it was the environment and I guess how you guys the in your Instagram and how you showed yourselves, I guess, to the world. She loves chaos. Yeah, I was like, I like this, like I want to be a part of it. Um, and then yeah, pretty much as soon as I walked in the door for my interview with Nikki.

SPEAKER_03 13:03

The world's longest interview with Nikki, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 13:05

Yeah, I think Mum we did. We were just like Mum was like, um, are you okay? What's going on?

SPEAKER_02 13:12

It was closing, yeah. We were all doing the cleanup and they were like, should I wait? I was like, no, just go in now. It's been in there for like an hour.

SPEAKER_04 13:21

Um, and yeah, and then it was pretty much when I came back in. When I came in was when I was like, I want to be here. And I was like, I really hope they flag me. They pick me up.

SPEAKER_02 13:31

Well, and there was also at a really busy time as well, because I was just about to go on Matt Leave. I was super duper pregnant. It was Christmas week, or like that was before we started Christmas week.

SPEAKER_03 13:42

Yeah, it was we were like, Yeah, let's do it.

SPEAKER_02 13:45

Yeah, but it worked. So I think we only got the privilege of working together on the floor for a week, a week.

SPEAKER_03 13:50

Yeah, and then we took, I think we um took you out or something for like everyone, the whole team out. Yeah, well, it was like a big night. We were like, karaoke and farewell for another team member. It wasn't farewell for another team member, but we were like, Yeah, you can come.

SPEAKER_02 14:06

So good, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:07

It was so good, and I remember that night just being like, oh, I just love this girl so much.

SPEAKER_02 14:11

Well, there's footage because I was stone cold sober being a million months pregnant, but there's footage. We had a camera set up, and all of it I remember that you were like front and center when we were doing karaoke. And it was like you were one of the oldest like team members that we had, not someone that had been there for like a week.

SPEAKER_03 14:32

It was just so beautiful. You were just straight in, and the whole team, even just the respect and the love that the team have for you, like it was so instant and so amazing. So then obviously, we've worked together for the last 18 months, nearly two years. I want to talk about how it came about this conversation, because when this is really interesting, when we told the team last week about the sale of the salon, we sat our team down and we said they're selling the salon, and that was a really big, scary conversation for all three of us because as much as we understood the process, it was brand new news to the team, and it is it can be really scary and overwhelming, and you just don't know how a team is going to react. They reacted so beautifully. And one of the questions that because we opened up the floor, you know, who wants to ask any questions? Um, and one team member came forward and asked, Can I ask how this conversation went? And I thought that's a really good question.

SPEAKER_01 15:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:22

Um, and obviously, curiosity will get to people, and I know there's a lot of people that will be listening to this who will be wondering the same thing. So let's tell that story. I wish Tay was here because she told it, she told it so well for the team the other day and said to them, like, this is a really important moment and lesson for you all to realise to go after what you want. Yeah. So, Jesse, let's tell it from your lens. What happened and how did you end up buying a salon?

The Progression Chat That Started It

SPEAKER_04 15:44

Um, well, I I think I don't know when it was. It was like at some point. Um November, 2025. Yeah. November last year. Towards the end of the year, yeah. I had a one-on-one. November or December, I remember it was. It was somewhere around there. It was during a one-on-one time. I think it might have been one of the last one-on-ones for the year because I was starting to feel like, okay, cool, I've been here for a year now. Like I love it. Um, but I can get very stagnant. So I didn't want that to happen. So I was kind of trying to project, you know, how I would feel, you know, in six months' time and what that would look for m look like for me. Um, and just knowing myself, I didn't want to get to that place and then feel like, okay, now I've got to like I needed to, I guess, voice how I was feeling because I knew that in six months I'd probably be like, okay, cool, like I'm ready for something more.

SPEAKER_03 16:33

Do you know what's really interesting? We'd had conversations with Taya leading up to that of like, okay, we've got to flag that Jess is someone who you we can't we can't get stagnant with her. We can't get stale with her, we've got to keep putting things in front of her, otherwise she'll get really bored. Like we'd had conversations about that, which is really interesting, but obviously just never about that level.

SPEAKER_04 16:51

Yeah, and then so I went into Tay's one on like my one-on-one with Tay, and I just said, look, like I'm just gonna be straight out honest. Um, I am gonna want progression next year. Um, and I like I don't know when or how that will look, but like I'm just putting it out there that like if there is anything more for me, that's what I want. Um, and she was like, Okay, cool. And I think I don't know if I caught her a bit off guard, but she was like, All right, well, I'm like she said she was gonna take it to you guys, and then we'd go from there. Um and then I think it was like she actually came in and was like, I had a really great meeting with Jess.

SPEAKER_02 17:24

And I was like, amazing. She's because normally she'll let me know, like, you know, we've we've debrief we'll debrief and like talk about um one-on-one any notes that I need to be aware of, and we'll like go through it. She's like, I need to call you. She picked up the phone. She was like, I think Jess is coming for my job, which I'm okay with. She's like, I actually am very impressed. I'm okay with that. And I was like, really? And she was like, Yeah, she wants more. She doesn't know what, but she wants more, and we need to find something that we can like do with that.

SPEAKER_03 17:54

And her biggest take from the conversation was, we don't want to lose this team member. What else can we give her? What more, what opportunity? I remember Taya saying that, what other opportunities can we give her in the company?

SPEAKER_02 18:04

Because I think you'd also, yes, and then I said, Cool, I'm gonna have a chat with Jessie and see what it is that she's wanting.

SPEAKER_03 18:10

And when Taya was sharing this with the team the other day, she said to the team, basically, Jess came into the meeting and said that she wanted my job. And I took that feedback, took it to Nick and Tess, and now we've ended up here. So this is your lesson, everyone, to shoot your shot and go after what you want. And it was a really big eye-opener for the rest of the team to be like, oh fuck, that there is actually so much opportunity in in just having that courage and being like, I'm gonna shoot my shot for 10 seconds.

SPEAKER_02 18:35

Yeah, and Tays always saw a really good one with that, where you know, she didn't have any ego with that, and she was excited. She was, she could see that leadership as well and was like, Yeah, we need to find something like we don't want to waste this talent.

SPEAKER_04 18:47

Yeah. So then we had our little Yeah, so and then I think it was like that day or the next day, you'd text me and was like, let's have a meeting.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

We were trying to work out like that.

SPEAKER_02 19:00

I was like, in education, what are we gonna do? What do we do?

SPEAKER_04 19:04

So yeah, we sit down and we had a little future. Because I I guess like as well, there's like uh yeah, I felt like there wasn't, I didn't know what that would look like. So it was just we were sort of like spitballing ideas and like, oh well, I could do this or I could do that. And then I was like, you know, obviously, like I was quite open with what I wanted, but all I knew was I wanted a little bit more responsibility and I had no idea what that looked like.

SPEAKER_02 19:27

She got a shitload of responsibility for the end. It's funny though, because it was just we were talking and you were like, I don't know if maybe if there's something like so we came a topic, tell me what you want. Like, tell me, tell me, I I know you want more, tell me what what you're looking for, tell me what you're after. And she was like, I don't know if there's gonna be opportunity in like conscious or if there's things I can do with that. And I was like, Oh, conscious, like I don't know, but then I was like trying to work it out. And then you said something about I love the salon and like what happens here, and like one day I'd love to do something like this myself.

SPEAKER_04 20:00

Yeah, I think you asked me actually, you said, Would you own a salon? And I said, Well, I wouldn't because I love this concept. That's right. I said, I love your concept that you've made, and I would never take that and run with it. Like, I I love you guys, yeah, and I don't want like I don't want a salon that's not like this. Like, I want like a salon like this with this, um, I guess how you've created like that's right, you did you literally said, I don't want to take this and run with it.

SPEAKER_02 20:24

And I was like, Do you want this one? You can actually take it and run with it, which was pretty rogue, and I remember your face being like, maybe.

SPEAKER_03 20:34

And I was like, you need to talk to Nikki Ball and I was like Jess ranking.

SPEAKER_02 20:42

I'm down.

SPEAKER_03 20:43

I had a chat with Jesse.

SPEAKER_02 20:44

Um sit down and don't be mad, don't react and listen to me in my entirety.

SPEAKER_03 20:49

What do you think if we sold the salon to Jess? And I sat there for a second, and I'm gonna be so honest, we've never considered selling the salon to a team member ever. Ever. There's been certain team members that's like, wow, you you live and breathe this culture. There's other team members who would be great in that position who were like, I fucking never want to own a salon, I just want to be employed. I've never truly considered selling the salon to a team member ever. And when Tess picked up the phone and said that, and I was like, oh, I'm getting like a full body yes. And I was like, oh, okay,

The Rogue Offer To Buy Ahead

SPEAKER_03 21:25

are we ready to sell the salon? Like, do you feel ready to sell? And we had that conversation. And then the biggest thing that we kept going back to is if we were ever going to sell it to a team member, this is this is the perfect person. Like, and we talked about it because you were got you had just been through a separation, and it was a huge moment in in your life and so much self-development and growth that you'd had. So we've got a very sexy moment, I have to say.

SPEAKER_02 21:52

Anyone that's like, should I, shouldn't I? Jess tell them that they should definitely leave because this is what it can look like six months later.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

Come on, plug them all. Plug them all. But you were going through such a it had been such a difficult time for you, and you had handled it so well. But the biggest thing that Tess and I talked about was this is the perfect person. I think this this could potentially be the perfect moment. The only thing that we talked about was your capacity. Is this the perfect moment in her life to be actually doing this? I mean, it turns out it took like fucking nearly a year to do, but it was such a such a big full-body yes for both of us. And then the more that we talked about it, the more I was like, oh my god, yes. Oh, this is a great idea. Oh, she could do this. And then we kept talking and talking and seeing the potential.

SPEAKER_02 22:38

Yeah. So even when we had that conversation though, because it was rogue, like I wasn't like, and that's a part, it wasn't like a pre rehearsed thing. I was just like, I've got an idea and I'm gonna say something, and maybe I'll regret it, maybe I won't, but it Even just the which I think look, it's not something I wouldn't recommend this for other salon owners to be like just go and like throw around to your team if anyone wants to buy it one day. It's a risky one to do, but it's it is a risky conversation to have as a salon owner. When Jess said, I don't want to take this and run with it, like because realistic logistics-wise as well, Jess doesn't live close to the salon. Like you live on the other side of town. It takes you how long to get to the salon? It's like 50 minutes. 50 to an hour, yeah, depending on track that you're talking about. She lives on the other side of the you live on the other side of the um West Coast? Yeah. Isn't it over the wheel? She's in like the northwest. Northwest. Yeah. Um she's one of the trendy ones over there. But so even with that, it was like it was a big thing. And even when you said that like I would do something like this, but I don't want to take this and run with it. In my head, I was like, logistically, if we don't do something like this, she will I knew that you were gonna be back as a leader and an owner. Like without question. Like I knew like even with your the gym that closed down due to circumstances during like you can't continue on when you're going through a divorce. That's just not gonna happen. But well actually no, it can work for some people, but not in this case. No. I knew that you were m like meant to be leading and truly meant to be like running and doing your own thing. Like CEO is written all over you. But that conversation was just one where it that idea popped in. We had a conversation, and I watched your response, and it wasn't a this scares me. It was a I'm intrigued by this, I'm excited, I'm not sure how it's gonna work. And I remember just saying to you, I need to talk to Nikki. I need to talk to Nikki, say nothing. I need to talk to Nikki. Haven't spoken to Nikki. I was like, don't like it's like Nikki actually had a great reaction.

SPEAKER_03 24:39

You had a great reaction, but I was like, in my head, you still have that thing of being like, Yeah, like she basically rang me and said, Hey, I've just organized to sell the salon to Jess, and I was like, Well look at him.

SPEAKER_02 24:48

That's excellent. But then we started getting like more serious about it, and we had those conversations, and it was a really lengthy process. Yeah. And I think this is the thing, often people think that you just both agree and you like sign a piece of paper, and that's it. But for all three of us, and I think the the biggest win in this situation was how the three of us have constantly kept coming back to the three of us, the margarita girls, really anchoring into we know the vision, we understand what this is, we just kept locking in and trusting that whatever the lawyers are saying to each other, that's for them. Whatever people are like putting in and out, everyone's just trying to do the due diligence, due diligence, but actually having that thing of like, we know that this is gonna work out, yeah, this is gonna be we know the vision, yeah, and really anchoring into that.

SPEAKER_03 25:41

Yeah, and I actually want to talk about what we said with that as well. Jesse, after that conversation, how did you actually feel leaving? The one with Tess.

SPEAKER_04 25:48

Yeah. Um, I was excited because I was like, wow, okay, this would went

Negotiation Rules And Protecting Trust

SPEAKER_04 25:53

like so much further than I thought it was gonna go. Like I did not even think that that was on the card. So I was like, okay, I'm excited, but I guess I didn't want to get my hopes up too much because I knew that you you guys still needed to have that conversation as well. So yeah, I was excited, but I was like, okay, let me actually just think and process this because obviously as well, I hadn't even I had like I had to go home and who did you talk to first?

SPEAKER_02 26:16

You spoke to you?

SPEAKER_04 26:17

I think I called mum first, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 26:21

Your mum was like, what's happening?

SPEAKER_04 26:22

Yeah, yeah. Well, I think she they she knew that I was having like a progression chat with you, so she she knew, but then when I told her, she was like, Wow, what? Like she was just like, hang on a minute. Um, and then obviously we had to have that conversation, and my mum was worried about my capacity as well. Um, because obviously, you know, it hadn't even been a full year since the separation. There was still I like I I still wasn't even able to apply for divorce, so there was lots of things that we had to work through at like you know, for my own personal circumstance before we could even get to that. Um, but yeah, I was I was excited by the the thought of the opportunity. Yeah, it was so amazing.

SPEAKER_03 27:03

So then we had a chat to Tay, and I rem remember saying to her, Hey, what do you think about this? And I just remember her saying yes. Oh, yeah, yeah. She was like, Yes, yes, yes. And the reason that we obviously want to chat to her was because you guys are gonna have such a close relationship running the salon and as a team leader, and it is really important that dynamic. But I just remember her, she was so excited by the idea of I was a bit offended if I'm being like, yes, like rude. Someone coming in with so much passion and fresh eyes, and it's really interesting. I was um I was actually talking to my brother-in-law the other day about the salon sale because none of our family knew until the other day. And I phoned my brother-in-law, he's a businessman as well, and I said to him, like, we've sold the salon, and he said, Um, why would you sell the salon? He was like, I don't get it. Like, why would you sell it?

SPEAKER_02 27:50

Because that's what our dad said that too.

SPEAKER_03 27:52

He's like, Yeah, the selfish part of us would keep it because it's a great business, it runs itself, and um, it gives us a lot of opportunity. And I said to him, When you're not the right person to be in that room anymore, you can't unsee it. And when you stop giving other people opportunity to step forward, I said the day that we talked about this, it was like a penny drop for me. And I was like, if we don't do this, we're gonna stop someone else having opportunity, and we're gonna stop the whole team having opportunity in having a new owner with fresh eyes and more passion, and that is gonna stop the clients as well for more opportunity. And I was like, when you think like when you see that, you can't unsee it, and you just realize like fuck this is not the room for me anymore. And it was really interesting.

SPEAKER_02 28:36

We'd always said that though, that we we didn't want to have it. We've watched so many salon owners be like crawling to the finish line and get to the point of just being like, fuck it. Like, I don't I'll give I'll give away the salon, I'll like throw it away. And not that it's about wasn't about you know money or anything like that. For what we saw, it was someone who has growth and drive and like all of the things that we can't give to a head anymore. We've got a head kind of capped with where it's at at the moment. It needs to go to the next level, but it needs you in there who can take it to that level. Absolutely. And I think that was probably one of the biggest points when we were discussing that with like our family who were like, Why would you do that? It's self-run, you don't need to like explain to us why. It's literally that thing of you want to hand it over and have it be a great opportunity and story and thing for someone else.

SPEAKER_03 29:36

Absolutely. So then we ended up having a conversation. We also like, and I think this is a really healthy conversation to have, then we went into negotiation. So we all sort of put forward, look, this is what it would look like in a perfect world for us, this is what price we would want for it, this is what timeline we'd want. And I remember you saying, I I've got a feeling that you said two was it 2027? And then we said to you, how does July the first sound?

SPEAKER_04 30:00

Yeah, I think I said I think I said like a year or something. Like I was I wasn't expecting it to be within 2026.

SPEAKER_03 30:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 30:08

Um, because I I didn't know what was involved really. So totally.

SPEAKER_03 30:11

And it was really interesting. We we basically we talked it out of what it would look like in a perfect world for everyone. And then we talked about like what would you want from it and how can I make this work? And then there was some logistical things of like, okay, we're gonna have to do this to make this part work, we're gonna have to do this to make this part work. And the three of us had a really great conversation, I will never forget it, a really great conversation around if we're gonna do this or if we're gonna go all in, we need to make a pact that the three of us, like our relationship, is so fucking important. And because we had such a beautiful dynamic beforehand, the most important thing to us was to preserve that dynamic over anything. Yeah, and it can be really hard when you're doing such a big business deal and you've got lawyers involved and you know, huge amounts of money and contracts, and you get, you know, there's a lot of accountants and you've got a lot of people in your corner. A lot of opinions, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 31:01

A lot of people advocating for you and you know, putting that forward. It's also just like the, I guess the um the stigma around it all. Like, you know, it's like almost like um, what's the word? Like expected that you're trying to do each other dirty or something. And it's like that's not how it is at all. And I think it's, you know, like just making sure that everything's fair. And yeah, but it was like it, yeah, it doesn't have to be that way. And I think that was like the biggest thing for me that I was like, as soon as I felt a bit like wobbly or like I'm unsure, or I would say to my parents, like, I'm talking to Nikki and Tess about this because I need them to know what's going on in my head and how I'm feeling, and you know, just having that clear communication with between the three of us at all times.

SPEAKER_03 31:45

Yeah, and that's what we've maintained from day one. It was a conversation around like, and I remember saying to you, Jess, like the lawyers, it's gonna be like strike one, strike two, strike three. Like the lawyers are gonna fuck up, they're going to try to, you know, make it seem like we're doing each other, you know, doing each other dirty. And and like we kept saying to our lawyer, we're happy to compromise. Like, if we need to compromise, it's okay. Like we just we know that this is, it doesn't have to be the absolute best possible deal for us. This is the right deal, and we're okay to to bend here and there, and like it needed to be a healthy conversation, but we kept coming back to the fact of any time we felt wobbly, and there were so many instances where it was like you know, you put under pressure, you're like, holy shit, is this gonna happen? Then you've got all the team dynamic. There's so many different things that we had to keep communicating about, but we had really healthy. I'm so proud of how the three of us communicated the whole way through.

SPEAKER_02 32:37

Yeah, and I think we were, we were really open when we were feeling wobbly. We'd talk about it and we'd have that conversation. And again, we'd always come back to we look at each other in the eye. We know like as soon as we see each other, we're solid. Yeah, we can block out the noise, and like everyone's just trying to do the right thing by each other, but it is one of those things where and I think I I'm super grateful for that because I don't think that that's everyone's experience. I think it can I think we did really incredibly well, the three of us, to keep our blinkers on and keep coming back to the three of us, knowing what this was gonna look like and it was gonna pan out, but it did take some time, it took nine months.

SPEAKER_03 33:14

So we we were so we were due to settle on the first of July. Um, and there's basically like three parts to this. It was really interesting. I just thought this is me being so naive because I remember saying as well, none of us have ever been through this process, so we've got to like hold each other's hands through this. Yeah, and it was it was also interesting, like the way that the lawyers think and the accountants think they go, um, you know, I'll advise Jess's team of this. And I'm like, no, I'll just pick up the phone and call her and just say, hey girl, like this is what's happening that I'd rather her hear that from us than hear it through like your channel of people. Yeah. And then there were certain things of when it came to the contracts, we were like, leave it to the lawyers and just let them talk. Yeah. But I think it was really interesting the the the dist the distance, the time distance, what do you call it? Like the duration between doing this and actually getting it done. And I just thought, so naive beforehand, but I just thought that when you sign a con when you like buy a business, you just sign a contract and it's done. Yeah, and you get some money coins and then you own the salon and we're done. Um, and that's not the case. Yeah. Unfortunately, it's not the case. It's like the parts to it, and then getting the landlord to sign off on a new tenant, and they can refuse. I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_02 34:24

I think the biggest thing for all of us, really 30 days, or they're 29 days or 28 days, whatever it is. The business days as well, mind you. Yeah, it's like such a long time.

SPEAKER_03 34:33

28 days to decide, and then they can decline, like with reason, but they can decline. And then when that got told to us, oh, they can decline. And I was like, what about all the fees we've paid the lawyers? And they were like, too bad, so sad. And I was like, Oh what if it didn't go through because of that? Yeah, like that was a real concern.

SPEAKER_04 34:51

Yeah, I think that was like the biggest thing. And I was like, So my fate is relying on this guy who owns the building.

SPEAKER_02 34:56

Like, I don't know, and then it was so crazy because we actually then found out, which is like it, we found we and I was like, Don't worry, we've got a great relationship with the landlord.

SPEAKER_03 35:06

And I picked up the phone and I was like, mate, we've sold the business, like we're selling the business, we've got a new She's great, you've met her. He goes, I sold that property six months ago. And I was like, what? I was like, who finds it now? And he's like, I don't know, and I was like, oh my god.

SPEAKER_02 35:21

Even with that, we were like, that really threw a spanner in because we were like, shit, we don't know the new owner. Also, thanks for telling us.

SPEAKER_04 35:28

And I think that, like, yeah, yeah, it just even just that alone, it's like, you know, you just you think that that's something that, like, shouldn't you know that?

SPEAKER_02 35:36

Yeah. I remember we spoke about it, and I was like, I can't believe this. You know, like, shouldn't they have told you it's like, yeah, it's like I sent them a grumpy email and then they were like, actually, we've got no legal obligation to tell you. And I was like, I'm just learning, really. Those moments have been horrifying. When we were talking about it, Jess, I was like, this is outrageous. He's really taking his time. They're like, well, he can because he's got this. I was like, Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_04 36:02

Well, it just made sense then, right? Like when you use, you know, you had such a great relationship with the other landlord. Right. It made sense because we were like, okay, well, now we understand why he's taking so long because obviously he needs to make it work for himself too, exactly having someone new come into it.

SPEAKER_03 36:16

So basically, we got the green flag only a couple of weeks ago, many weeks after um settlement was due. We got the green flag. We told the team the following week. Um, how did you feel in that conversation with the team?

SPEAKER_04 36:29

Oh, I was so nervous. Like, I think I said to you guys after I could hear my heartbeat, and I think Jazz was sitting so close to me that she probably could hear my heartbeat too. Um yeah, but um it was um, yeah, I was super nervous. Um, but I I don't know, there was like a lot of me that knew that it was gonna be okay, but um, and I think the way you guys handled it was just beautiful and you know, it kind of wrapped it all up. Yeah, but you know, it showed your it's not an easy conversation for like all of us and for you guys especially. You know, you've had the business for 13 years, so it's something that's always gonna be hard. But I feel like the whole room could feel that emotion and that energy and that it wasn't an easy thing.

SPEAKER_03 37:13

Um it's a really awkward conversation because the team are sitting there, like most of the time when a salon sells, it's not that often that it's to a team member, so they'll hear,

Telling The Team And Holding Nerves

SPEAKER_03 37:21

oh, we're selling, everyone processes that. In this instance, it was like, okay, we're we've decided to sell the salon, everyone's uh, and the new owner's here.

unknown 37:29

Yay!

SPEAKER_01 37:34

Where who is it?

SPEAKER_02 37:35

They did really well. It was it was, but I think that's the thing. I and this is the thing I said to you afterwards, I wasn't upset about selling the salon. It's not about leaving the business, it's not about leaving the clients like love you guys, but it's not, it's about leaving the team. And I feel like that was the part that was emotional in it. It's not it's definitely our time to move on from the business, and it's definitely our time to move on from the room and from the salon from the space. But leaving you guys is like the hard part, but seeing their reaction when it was you and watching that excitement and elation and joy, and although everyone was like, We're gonna miss you guys so much, but this is exactly what ahead needs. And like so excited for you. That just really confirmed it's just always been like since we had that conversation, I was like, Why not this one? And you were like, if it can be this one, I'm okay with that. And then Taya being so excited, and then the crew being so excited, and I know the community they're finding out next week, they're gonna be so excited. It just really confirms you are that the exact right person who's not only gonna be able to take this salon and run with it, you're gonna take it ten times further than what we ever could. And that's the part that I'm really excited for. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 38:48

I'm just so excited to be your client.

SPEAKER_02 38:49

Me too. It's like so exciting.

SPEAKER_03 38:52

Jesse, I want to.

SPEAKER_02 38:53

We're gonna book in all of our appointments now. Yeah, you do.

SPEAKER_03 38:56

You don't have access to the software anymore. I want to ask you a couple of questions just to wrap this episode. I want to know what you are the most scared of in this moment going to this new chapter.

SPEAKER_04 39:08

Um, I think we had this conversation yesterday, but I am scared about letting the team down or letting everyone down. I think, you know, there's a lot riding on me in terms of like I feel I do feel the pressure, you know, from my family, from the team, and I and not the pressure that they like they're directly putting on me, but I put the pressure on myself. So I think, yeah, it's just letting everybody down, you girls as well. Um but I know that that pressure, like I work well under the pressure, so I know that that that will be my motivation to not let that be the reason that I'm scared. Yeah. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 39:52

I want to know you you I've said this to you so many times, but you are truly born to do this. And you're gonna smash it and take it way further than what we could.

SPEAKER_03 39:59

I agree. And it's it's so interesting. I think you'll being an A-type personality, you will always see yourself in a critical lens. Like you will always look at you could do the best thing in the world and you'll look at how can I do it better. Um, and that's something that as a a business owner, it's so hard to actually sit and go, oh wow, I've just done that. That's actually fucking amazing. It's so hard for us to do that. And then you've got the extra layer of having that pressure from the team, having that pressure from the family of people knowing that you are a high achiever and they're all waiting, going, go and achieve. They want to see you achieve. And I think the biggest thing is like you're going to do things exceptionally well, you're gonna fuck up, you're gonna have amazing leadership moments, you're gonna have leadership moments where you think I can't do this. And we have had those even this year, like we still have so many fuck-ups, we still have so many leadership moments of going, Oh, I could have handled handled that conversation better. There would have been conversations where we've that we've had with you where we could have shown up better. It's constantly learning and looking at how can I do better, how can I how can I also meet myself where I'm at with whatever I'm going through, on top of that as well. Jesse, I want to know what you are the most excited about or anything that you're going to change in the salon, anything that you want to drop and share.

SPEAKER_04 41:16

Um, I don't think like I've spoken about this before, and even the girls were asking me a lot last week, like, oh, what are you gonna change? What do you know? And really, like nothing massive. I think the biggest thing that I want to do is bring the community in more and also just give the team opportunity. I think that's the biggest thing. I think there is a lot of room for all of them to step up and do incredible things if that's what they want. Um, so I think yeah, just being able to really give to them and allow them to be where they want to be. Um, and then also just yeah, bringing in the community and um yeah, just elevating it even more than what you girls have, you know, already created.

SPEAKER_02 41:57

Just that you've got vision that we don't have, and even with that, there were things that you've like said, like I'm thinking this and this. I'm like, oh, is that what I want? Yeah, we're just like, let's

New Vision Plus How To Shoot

SPEAKER_02 42:05

let's go for another dinner. Yeah, let's just keep doing fun things together. Whereas you can see what they actually need and what the salon needs, which is where you are the exact person.

SPEAKER_03 42:14

Agree. Thank you. Jesse, you've got a lot of team members listening right now, and a lot of saloners, which is your new community, your new room that you're stepping into. And it's gonna be so amazing when you come to off the floor in September and sitting in a room as a CEO, being like, fuck, I belong in this room right now. You've got a lot of team members listening. What is one thing that you would say to a team member who is listening to this feeling like, oh my god, I would love this opportunity. How can they shoot their shot?

SPEAKER_04 42:39

Yeah, I think just like don't be afraid to have those conversations because you just never know where it's gonna land you. And I think that's the biggest thing. Like it's always for me, if I've you know, when I was when I came into a head and I was working with you guys, I think I actually said to you in my interview, what is the growth opportunity? You did. Um, and when you you actually said to me, ownership is on the table, and I don't know if you remember that. Did I? Yeah, but um I must have really wanted you to work there. Um I would never think that. I don't think you said it like in that that tone, but you said like ownership is always like a possibility.

SPEAKER_03 43:17

I think I I reckon I said um for the right person, we would consider yeah, owning like a partnership or a yeah, I think it was something along those lines. And actually, I think I always say that in an interview.

SPEAKER_04 43:28

Yeah, and I think that was something that like stuck with me. Every other employee is like never heard that.

SPEAKER_02 43:32

Yeah, because I can't get some classic standards, just like I don't want to get shitty thing, like, really.

SPEAKER_04 43:40

Um but I think it was like me, obviously, like I I loved the space so much that I was like, you know, I need to do what I can to get where I want to be. And for me, yeah, it was just something that it yeah, I guess, yeah, just don't don't underestimate what your opportun like your hang on. Yeah, does that make sense? Yeah, don't underestimate your opportunities that you've got to be.

SPEAKER_03 44:13

Hang on, just like do you want to buy it? Do you want to buy it? What I'm saying is have create a space where it's safe enough to talk about career progression because if we had been like no one can ever leave and you know, don't ever start your own salon, we wouldn't never be in this position, you would have gone and started your own salon, I guarantee it, and we would have lost a great team member, and the legacy wouldn't have have well not even continued, evolved. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 44:36

But I think even for you know, even for staff or team members that aren't wanting to buy a business or be a salon owner, like there's still always growth opportunity, absolutely stock monitors on the table, stock monitors there's so much opportunity in this industry, like so much, and the possibility can be so endless.

SPEAKER_03 44:55

Absolutely, Jesse. We are so unbelievably proud of you, and there is literally not a fibre in my body that has any doubt about how fucking incredible you're going to be in this role, and we will be here to hold your hand as much or as little as you want, and we cannot wait to cheer you on and see what you do and watch you evolve into the incredible leader that we already know who that you can do that and who you are. So it's gonna be an absolute pleasure, but it's a privilege to hand over the keys in a couple of weeks' time to our firstborn.

SPEAKER_02 45:27

That's right. How exciting!

SPEAKER_03 45:29

Thank you guys so much for listening to another episode of the Contest Allen potty.

SPEAKER_02 45:33

I love you guys, stay conscious.