PhorestFM: Building a Stronger Industry, Together

[331] Raquel Merlini is the founder of R SKIN Aesthetics in Michigan. As a seasoned Registered Nurse and Certified Aesthetic Nurse Specialist with over 14 years of experience in the plastics industry, she offers a real-world model of collaborative care and ethical practice for those who, like her, seek to educate, listen to, and guide patients toward treatments that transcend fleeting trends and instead align closely with their most authentic self-expression goals. In the context of rising calls for tighter regulation, greater transparency, and stronger safety standards, this episode is a warm, grounding conversation about Raquel’s philosophy and approach, as much as it is about what it takes to build trust and one’s responsibility as a practitioner. Her insights cover what a consultation informed by her worldview and life experience entails, how she holds patient vulnerability with integrity as people face increasingly unrealistic standards, and how she balances it all with business growth. Connect with Raquel Merlini (RN-CANS) Learn more about Raquel and R SKIN here and apply or contribute to the Raquel Merlini Pay it Forward Scholarship here. TikTok: @rskinaesthetics Instagram: @rskinnurseraquel, @rskinadmission, @rskinaesthetics LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raquel-m-14947b21/ All things Phorest Find out how Phorest helps the top salons & aesthetic clinics steer their business toward happier clients, productive teams and bigger growth. Say hello to life with Phorest! Learn more about the Phorest Summit & secure your tickets: https://www.phorestsummit.com/ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[329] AI is soon coming to Phorest, and this serves as officially non-officially the first conversation in a string of ones to be sprinkled into the podcast’s schedule during Season 10. A version of this conversation could easily live in extremes, but this one does not. Rather, it asks a valid and core question of our time: How do you adopt new technology, AI & automation more precisely, without losing what makes your business human? In this episode, joined by guest co-host Rich Cullen (Principal Product Designer at Phorest), we sit down with Jennifer Jade Alvarez, founder of Naperville, Illinois’ Refined Beauty, to discuss what it has been like to bring AI and automation tools into various areas of her business. And beyond discussing tools, we also spend time discussing decisions: what to automate, the trust factor, and what should perhaps never be automated in a beauty and wellness business. We unpack the opportunities, the trade-offs, the real-world lessons—including what happens when AI gets it wrong—and the paybacks. All of it, with a deep belief that the businesses that win in the future won’t be the ones to remove the human touch. They’ll be the ones who remove friction around the craft and care. Connect with Jennifer Jade Alvarez Download Jennifer’s Top 50 Ways Salon Owners Buy Back Their Time: A free checklist using AI, automations, and virtual assistants Learn more about the Salon CEO Method™ coaching program, listen to the Beauty Business Game Changer Podcast, and connect with Jennifer on Instagram @JenniferJadeAlvarez All things Phorest Learn more about the Phorest Summit & secure your tickets for 2027: https://www.phorestsummit.com/ Learn more about Phorest Software. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

In this second (and final) bonus episode from the Salon Owners Summit 2026, more on-the-floor reactions from salon, spa, and clinic owners attending the event, an overview recap of the 2026 lineup and a candid conversation with Davina Devine, one of Ireland’s most recognizable drag queens and cabaret showgirls (@davina.devine on Instagram). Briefly stepping away from her hosting and emcee duties of the day, the discussion explored Davina's flavour of drag, how she goes about warming up a crowd, and her relationship to the industry. For more about Davina Devine and to inquire about bookings, click here. For her podcast, Petty Little Things, click here. Learn more about the Phorest Summit & secure your tickets for 2027: https://www.phorestsummit.com/ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

Calvin Stovall, customer experience and leadership keynote speaker, joins the show live from the Salon Owners Summit 2026, shortly after his main-stage talk on the art of the 'WOW' experience. In this conversation, Calvin shares the story behind his own “why,” how his book Hidden Hospitality: Untold Stories of Black Hotel, Motel, and Resort Owners from the Pioneer Days to the Civil Rights Era came to be, and connects lessons from historic Black hoteliers to practical customer experience and leadership principles. Plus, on-the-floor reactions from salon, spa and clinic owners attending the event, and a look ahead to the Phorest Summit 2027. Connect with Calvin Stovall on Instagram @iconicspeaker Learn more about the Phorest Summit & secure your tickets for 2027: https://www.phorestsummit.com/ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

When Phorest salons shared, in early 2025, that "growth" was their number one priority this year, we got busy. On Season 9 of the PhorestFM podcast, we brought you insightful interviews, case studies, episodes with special guest co-hosts, and bonus live content! Sourced directly from the community, this season finale is a feel-good festive send-off. Thanks for tuning in, and thanks for another incredible year — slán go fóill (bye for now)! This episode was made possible thanks to the contributions of: Jackie Gonzalez @hairbyjackie_g @maggiethesalon David Campbell @davhoc @thesalonedge @houseofcolour Christine Cunningham-Smith @blissbeautyfife Emma Jarvis @emmajarvis.thbacademy @thehairbase Lori Fudens @whitesandhairsalon @lorifudens_redkenartist Shirley Popham @pophamsalons Naomi Cartwright @thefarmhousesanctuary_ @nlc_x Leslie Perry @leslieperry_pba Greg Clarke @greg_clarke @amicaecohairdressing Stay tuned for Season 10, coming to you soon after the Salon Owners Summit 2026! Learn more about the Salon Owners Summit: https://www.salonownersummit.com/ Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

In this episode, keynote speaker, business coach, and educator Lance Courtney explores what salon leadership looks like in an era shaped by Gen Z, shifting values, and rapid cultural change. Drawing on themes from his Salon Owners Summit 2026 workshop and blending real-world salon examples with coaching insight, he takes an educational “what works, what doesn’t work, and what works better” approach to challenging leadership styles. If you're navigating generational shifts within your team or seeking guidance on how to evolve your leadership style without compromising your authentic self, this conversation offers a modern perspective on leadership and provides valuable self-reflective prompts to prepare for the new year. Connect with Lance Courtney on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lancecourtney Learn more about the Salon Owners Summit & explore the full lineup and agenda: https://www.salonownersummit.com/tickets Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[322] For Wafaya Abdallah, owner of Oasis Curl Salon (@curlyoasis), real growth happens when we let go of control, release the need for perfection, and create a safe space for others to rise. In this episode, we explore the salon as a space for transformation and how her journey into energy medicine, holistic beauty, and cultivating trust has shaped her approach to leadership. Now dedicated to integrative education and developing a curriculum that blends the art of curly and texture hairdressing, the science of natural hair care, and the power of energy healing, she is driven by a desire to ensure hairstylists are equipped not just with technical skills but with the tools to uplift and empower themselves and others. Connect with Wafaya Abdallah on Instagram @yinrizingofficial or by email <wafaya@curlyoasis.com> Listen to her podcast, The Curl Code (in process of rebranding): https://podcast.ausha.co/curl-code Secure your Salon Owners Summit tickets here: https://www.salonownersummit.com/tickets Want to share your love or gratitude for the industry on PhorestFM's Season 9 finale? Fill out this form before November 30, 2025! Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[320] When approached with intention, leaning into happiness can become a powerful tool for personal and professional growth. In this episode, Heather Bagby (@heatherbagby on Instagram) — the visionary behind the Summit Salon Business Centre’s Happiness Project and the recently announced keynote speaker for the Salon Owners Summit 2026 — reframes happiness as hard work with high rewards. Known to inspire audiences and organizations to embrace the journey toward a more joyful and successful workplace, Heather joins the PhorestFM podcast for a conversation blending personal stories, actionable strategies, and bold ideas that connect happiness with leadership, resilience and personal growth. Find out more about the Summit Salon Business Centre here: https://www.summitsalon.com Secure your Salon Owners Summit tickets here: https://www.salonownersummit.com/tickets Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[319] If you’ve ever sat down for a chat with Dave Evans and Debbie Halls-Evans, founders of and. coaching (@andcoachme), you know you’re in for a bold and disarmingly honest one. High off a year so far defined by intentionality, bravery, and play, Dave and Debbie share: How fear can manifest and be reframed as an invitation to look inward The difference between being uncomfortable and being unsafe How adopting a “be more kid” mindset unlocks creativity, imagination, and joy at work The power of language and modelling care to build cultures rooted in curiosity and kindness Deeply practical, rich with anecdotes and offering 10 powerful language reframes, this conversation is an essential no-BS starter toolkit for any salon owner or leader looking to reimagine how they show up for themselves, their businesses, their teams, and their clients. Find out more about and. coaching here: https://www.andcoachme.com/Listen to Double D Season 6 EP114, "Ripple effects. The quiet power of individual impact." Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[317] It’s one thing to say your business stands for something, and it’s another to prove it. Certified B Corporations around the world are doing just that. Featuring Anne Butterly, Founder of Easydry, along with Kelly Swann, the driving force behind Denver’s Let Em Have It Salon — both Certified B Corps— this episode shines a light on the systems, leadership, and values behind their purpose-led businesses and traces their journey from values to action, and from action to measurable change. Co-hosted in partnership with Daniel Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of The Green Beauty Community. Download the FREE Pivot Point x Green Beauty Community Guidebook here. Follow Daniel Johnson, Anne Butterly and Kelly Swann on Instagram: @greenbeautycommunityfoundation, @loveeasydry, @lehisalon To take the B Impact Assessment, click here. To learn more about BLab's Theory of Change, click here. To learn more about the Berkana Institute's Two Loops Model of Change, click here. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[315] When David Popham first opened his salon in 1981, he didn't set out to build a legacy business. And Shirley certainly didn’t set out to work in or manage a salon—she grew up intimidated by them. In this episode, Shirley and David Popham of Popham Hairdressing (@popham.salons) reflect on decades of hair and life stories. Stories of long, imperfect journeys, humble and unlikely beginnings, chance encounters, love, bold decisions, closing chapters, starting over and everything in between. Most of this year’s PhorestFM conversations and stories have, in one way or another, connected to leadership, and in that way, this episode is no different. But here, leadership isn’t loud or perfect. It’s people-centered, creative, humble, built by curiosity and carried by integrity. To find out more about Popham Hairdressing, click here. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[313] Sarah Abel, also known as the known as the Funding Godmother, is the CEO of TNB Skills Training (@tnbskillstraining) and author of The Power of Funding, is an award-winning entrepreneur and funding strategist with a fierce passion for helping beauty businesses grow, secure funding, and develop accredited and regulated programmes, all without getting buried in bureaucracy. In Part 1 of this conversation, co-hosted by Luke Doolin (UKI Managing Director at Phorest), we explore Sarah’s experience of overcoming adversity, her first steps into the industry, and the core skills, ideas, and mindset that have helped her build resilient businesses, no matter the economic climate. Find out about: 💸 Sarah's early days in the industry: buying a nail salon without any experience as a beauty business owner or nail tech/artist📣 Why sales & marketing have been and continue to be critical skills for her businesses🧠 What salon owners can do today to shift from survival mode, into inspired vision with outside-the-box solutions amid financial hardships and/or economic uncertainty As the industry continues to lobby the government, our hope is that this conversation leaves you seeing new possibilities, not just for your salon but for your team, yourself, and the way you lead and run your business. Watch "There won't be a Hair Industry in the UK without change," by the Salon Employers Association here, and read the British Hair Consortium report here. To learn more about Sarah and TNB Skills Training, click here. To watch her podcast interview on Susan Routledge's podcast Beauty Business Matters, click here, and to order her book The Power of Funding, click here. You can also find Sarah on Instagram @sarahabelfundinggodmother @sarahhairbeautyfunding. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.

[312] Co-founder of the neurodivergence community and training platform I Am Paying Attention (@iampayingattention), Jess Joy, along with best friend and business partner Charlotte Mia, is championing change in the way we all work, one radically honest conversation at a time. This episode is no different, featuring vulnerable shares of lived experiences and an exploration of how the pace, pressure, unspoken expectations or the structure of businesses might be pushing some of the most talented and creative team members into quiet survival mode, shame and/or burnout. We get into: 🧠 Commonly used terms, concepts, their definitions and why understanding them matters 🔍 How masking, burnout, and sensory overwhelm often go unacknowledged in professional work settings ⚙️ Why many “difficult” or “high maintenance” behaviours might actually be indicative of the invisible labour of being “fine” at work✋ Questions salon owners and managers can start asking themselves and their teams today to create neuroinclusive cultures Bold, affirming, and full of practical reflection, this conversation is your invitation to rethink inclusion not as a perk, but through the lens of universal design.. Learn more about and access I Am Paying Attention's toolkit, course, training offerings and free resources here. Purchase 'How Not to Fit In,' co-authored by Jess Joy and Charlotte Mia, here. Enjoyed the episode? Leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts! Click here to subscribe to the PhorestFM email newsletter or here to learn more about Phorest Salon Software. This episode was edited and mixed by Audio Z: Montreal's cutting-edge post-production studio for creative minds looking to have their vision professionally produced and mixed. Great music makes great moments.