Where leaders love to learn

10 PhorestFM Podcast Conversations That Quietly Said the Loudest Things

For the past nine years, whenever someone asked if I was from the industry, I had my well-practiced answer ready: “Actually, no, I come from a sound recording/tech background…” I would say this with a smile, always accompanied by a brief, perceptive pause and a shift in my seat, unable to fully conceal my belief … Continued

The Future of AI at Phorest

Every so often, an industry hits a turning point. These moments call for reflection – and they call for leadership. 2026 is one of those moments.  AI is no longer experimental. It’s rapidly becoming part of everyday business operations, shaping how teams communicate, how decisions are made, and how clients experience service. Across the salon, … Continued

Profit Playbook: Success Stories that Actually Work

Profit: it’s an uncomfortable topic for many salon, spa, and clinic professionals. Yet, without profit, a business cannot survive. Erin Kuhn Bhansali, President and Partner of Qnity, opened her keynote at the Salon Owners Summit 2026 by addressing that tension head-on. With over 15 years of experience transforming financial education and business performance in the … Continued

OBM in Numbers: The Data Behind The Marketing Results 

For many business owners in the professional hair and beauty industry, measuring marketing results can be complicated. Have new bookings come from that email campaign sent last week? Are people talking more about a product because they heard about it from friends, or saw it on your Meta Ads? What’s the best creative to use … Continued

Delegate to Elevate

Booked and busy – what every business owner wants. While desirable, it does have its costs: sleepless nights and overwhelming stress.  Heather Harris knows this all too well.  A nationally recognised stylist, salon owner, business leader, and celebrated speaker, Heather brings a plethora of insight around entrepreneurship and leadership. As the Founder and CEO of … Continued

Caroline Hirons: Building a High-Performing Salon Culture

To kick off the keynote speeches at the Salon Owners Summit 2026, Caroline Hirons led the audience in a refreshingly honest take on the beauty industry. The award-winning ‘Queen of Skincare’, educator, best-selling author, and founder of Skin Rocks and Skin Rocks Pro, is known for her genuine, and oftentimes blunt approach to beauty.  In … Continued

Celebrating a Decade of Inspiration: A Recap of The 10th Salon Owner’s Summit

This year marked a major milestone for Phorest: the 10th Salon Owners’ Summit, a full decade of connecting salon, spa, and clinic owners with insights and innovation. From the opening keynote to the closing remarks, the atmosphere was electric – filled with laughter, learning, and a sense of shared ambition. Attendees left buzzing with ideas, … Continued

When Your Software Stops Matching Your Standards

Nicholas Nicola, founder of Allertons, on standards, scale, and why the right partner matters when your business is growing. For premium salons, the danger rarely shows up as one big failure.It shows up as friction. Small moments where the experience you want to deliver no longer matches what your systems can support. Moments your clients … Continued

What a “Simple” Payment Really Costs a Salon

On average, salon teams spend 45 hours a month dealing with payment-related admin after the client has already left. This doesn’t mean 45 hours taking payments; that’s 45 hours untangling them. These situations could include cash-ups that take longer than planned, deposits that need chasing or explaining, or tips that raise questions rather than landing … Continued