064 Even in This Time of COVID, Some Salons Are Growing. What Are They Doing Differently?

I get the privilege every week to talk with salon owners all over the world, and some of them are doing it really tough, and believe it or not, others are doing better than ever!  Now I know there are many reasons as to why some salons are doing well, and others have been decimated, and it’s not always in your control, and so I don’t want to belittle the very real struggles that some salons are facing because of COVID and lockdowns, etc.  But over the next few weeks, I want to focus on what I am calling ‘Comeback stories’ because we all need some good news to focus on and always to be looking for how we can tweak our approach as salon owners.  So on that note, my guest today on the Podcast is Tony Walmsley. Tony is the owner of the Anthony John salon in England, and even though England has gone back into lockdown at least until the 2nd of December, Tony’s business has consistently been growing over the last 12 months. So if you are like me, you will want to know what are the things he’s doing that might help your business…    So, in today’s podcast, we will discuss: The role that leadership plays. Tony talks about his marketing strategy…and  The importance of building a team culture And lots more!   In This Episode: [02:40] Welcome to the show, Tony! [03:19] Tony shares his background and his journey into the beauty industry. [05:41] Listen, as Tony discusses how his salon has continued to grow throughout the pandemic. [08:40] Have you lost any team members because of COVID? [10:06] Tony speaks about the new team members he has hired. [12:59] Tony discusses what leadership looks like in his salon from day to day. [15:32] Tony says they start each day with a team brief to begin the day on track. [18:04] The most important thing Tony has learned as a salon owner is having conversations as quickly as you can and being proactive. [20:27] As a leader, how do you overcome adversity? [23:23] Tony speaks about what he wishes he was better at. [24:52] Tony shares what he believes his biggest strengths are. [27:38] What did you learn from the first lockdown to help you prepare for this second lockdown? [30:02] Tony says that he reaches out to one of his team members every day to make sure they are ok and in the right frame of mind to return. [34:00] Listen as Tony shares how they have been keeping in contact with their clients. [38:09] Tony speaks about the social media platforms he uses to connect with his clients. [39:14] Tony shares his marketing strategy and marketing approach through COVID. [41:20] They are sharing their safety protocols with their clients through social media. [43:55] Did you get any push back on the safety tax you are charging clients? [44:57] Tony talks about how they changed their scheduling to accommodate social distancing. [47:55] Tony speaks about where his inspiration comes from. [52:13] Tony shares that he doesn’t follow the industry because he wants to do things differently than everyone else. [54:55] Tony details his steps to create a positive and nurturing culture. [56:12] Antony speaks about the filters he used when he was hiring team members. [58:34] Tony, thank you for being on the show!   Links and Resources Grow My Salon Business    Find Tony Walmsley Anthony John Salons @anthony_John_Salons Instagram @anthony_John_Walmsley Instagram