Where leaders love to learn

Empathy, Understanding, and Patience: The Human Connection in Customer Service at Phorest

Having spent over two decades working across the global beauty industry, I’ve seen first hand what truly shapes a client’s experience. From managing luxury department store counters to leading education for premium brands, I’ve learned that exceptional service rarely comes down to technique alone.  The most powerful moments in customer experience often come from something … Continued

Why AI Isn’t Replacing Salon, Spa, and Clinic Professionals — It’s Giving Them Their Time Back

Let’s start with the obvious — because it’s the part that tends to get lost in the noise. The human touch will never be replaced. No algorithm can replicate the way a great therapist reads a room the second a client walks in. The subtle shift in tone when someone’s had a hard week. The … Continued

The Ethical Edge: Demystifying AI in the Beauty and Wellness Industry

AI is rapidly becoming part of everyday life. Across industries, it is being used to enhance efficiency and improve client experiences. As these tools become more and more accessible, many beauty and wellness professionals may be feeling both excited and slightly overwhelmed by what this shift means for their day-to-day. How do we embrace the … Continued

Why Self-Belief is a Business Strategy

At this year’s Salon Owners’ Summit, Phorest invited Katie Piper to deliver our closing keynote for a reason. The salon, spa, and clinic industry is powered largely by women – approximately 85% to 93%, according to the National Hair and Beauty Foundation. It is built on resilience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to adapt under … Continued

The Art of the WOW Experience

Achieving a “WOW experience” for clients is the goal – but are you consistently creating the same feeling for your team? In the competitive salon, spa, and clinic industry, being “average” is no longer good enough. It’s about cultivating a culture where engaged employees deliver extraordinary experiences – every single day. This requires you to … Continued

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