T Gordon Salon Talks

Insta-Famer Daniel Mason Jones                            21 May 18 Insta-Gram fame was my first motivation for interviewing Daniel Mason Jones, an incredibly successful hairdresser with 40,000 IG followers, but his personal journey is wildly compelling filled with sorrow and triumph. Daniel Mason Jones has emerged into an Insta-famer, turning everything he sees and touches into a post that further pushes the fame. He integrates his break neck salon pace in with IG. He lets me know in exceptional detail with wit and humble humor how to duplicate this feat. Instagram fame is achievable for everyone, but it has its costs, like cars, fancy watches and lots of freebies. Daniel has become an influencer. But Daniels personal story is one of personal realization, coming to grips with his strict upbringing.  What interests me is his journey, from religious zealotry to funeral worker to starving stylist to a speed train of success. Daniel Mason Jones says it isn’t about the number of followers, it’s about the engageme

Keri Davis-Duffy President(Prezels) of 3 Gila Rut Salons in San Diego talks about her fabulous journey as a salon owner, her experiences and challenges. Keri often goes by Gila, happiness in hebrew, but many people call her Prezels. She has a long list of accomplishments, including: Top 200, presented at Aveda In this fun spirited conversation about salon and life in the beauty business, she goes over her experience as a Aveda Business College Purefessor. Why do salons fail? "Lack of systems, hiring, strong culture." What was the experience like to prepare and present at Aveda Congress.  Gila Rut is the  go to salon for San Diego Fashion Week. But salons are a wild ride. How to catch a thief? How to convey the great potential of this industry to aspiring students. Passionate about education from way back, she also created the web site beautybackbone.com helping other salons create trainers and more. "Salons are like a bucking bronco some issues throw you clear off." Join me for a wonderful conversation with t

Listen up stylists to this indepth discussion of what clients like and dislike in the salon world. International travelers discuss their salon experiences from accross the globe. The talks are relevant to what we do in North America and beyond, but the perspective is fresh. Multiple women living in the Cayman Islands are experienced fashinistas, salon goers from their earliest childhood, and in the various places they have lived. From Singapore to New York City,  these stories will inspire you to take appropriate actions for positive salon results. Across the salon world the actions need to be the same, listen to your clients, over communicate including price, anticipate the mood of the client and match/mirror their behavior to give them the appointment they disire. 

Death of the founder takes an incredible toll on any business, but after Jerry Gordon passed away in November of 2015, Karen Gordon his wife,  had to take over. She has done it with grace and smarts. Take a listen to this incredibly hard working salon owner, stylist and beauty industry friend! Karen has insight into the inner operation of various important organizations like Chicago Cosmetologist, Intercoiffure, the International Association of Tricologists. She gives us her opinion on the dangers facing the industry: Amazon, booth rental, deregulation and more.  Karen reviews the deepest thoughts and feelings of her late husband and industry icon, Jerry Gordon, on issues concerning the beauty industry and specifically salons.  http://shopmodernsalon.com/history-and-economics-101

Kim Hansen of Kim Hanson Salon Business Coaching tells her personal story and quest to save the salon industry. We discuss wide ranging topics including: Salon industry changing licensing requirements, the pit falls of Insta-Famers, oxytosin created by social media, millneials, GenZ and a much better future, the advantages of John Maxwell coaching, does the craft of hairdressing still exist in California, and her personal experience with a near death experience. Listen now for the current state of the beauty industry and its possible future. 

Bullied, harrased, falsly accused by the tattoo supremicists, Paul-Anthony Surdi has brought his company through tough times to become a modern artistic version of the tattoo shop. Enduring picket lines in front of your store tends to repel customers. Experiencing hate mail from different parts of the world, is one of those things that happen when you are "inking" different. Take a listen to this smart,  creative guy whom has created a different experience for students and customers all while taking his company to new finacial heights.  PA Surdi can be found at www.tattoschool.com Tony Gordon can be found at gordonsalon.com

Join me, in a fun , moving conversation with Luca Boccia co-owner of Pyure Salon.  Luca has been in the salon business since he was 23 years old. Young and brash, buying a 3000 sq ft salon with no experience, no money and no experience he has emerged as a force on the Aveda scene.  Always emersed in hair, like any other stylist without much regard for the business side of things. What makes people succesful sometimes is what kills another persons career. But then he got involved with the Aveda business college. Three going on four salons and a great system that takes value added to a whole new level. Luca's goal is world class experience for his guests. Join me in discovering the journey of of one of South Florida's premier salon organizations. This fun lively conversation will bring you back to why we do what it is we do. As a stylist how you can make someones day. How you can be part of team. See how Luca's experience has moved and how yours could do the same.  For more info go to: pyuresalon.com and for mo

At 74 years old JIm Pacifico is going on 40 plus years in the beauty business and it appears he isnt slowing down anytime soon. I spoke with Jim about a wide range of topics, starting with Centre Salons in Colorado and Utah to his many years developing systems and products for the likes of Horst Recklebacher, Clairol, Zotos and more. Jim has a unique focus as he owns a finacial services firm that focuses on salons. He understands the bench marks, what makes salons work and what doesnt. He wants to create a place where stylists can be succesful by offering the guest the full Aveda experience. I was surprised to find out his roots are in Camden NJ and after graduating from High School spent time in Army, traveling to Korea in the early 60's. Before getting into the salon industry he had unique jobs including: butcher, metal stamper, etc. Jim is a dyanmic, smart guy who can relate incredible detail about things that occoured many decades ago. Round out your beauty industry history knowledge by listening to this

Modern Salon Magazine's Steve Reiss gives an overview of the indepth studies undertaken by the industries leading trade publication. Steve's deep knowledge on subjects ranging from booth rental, retail sales, to data driven salons which will help you and your salon. Take a deep dive into information that will raise the bar for your beauty career. 

Drugs, homelessness, jail, abuse, violence and more is how life began. But for the husband and wife barber team of Riico Ramirez Laboy and Lici Febo creaters of Hair Palooza and Hair Palooza Reloaded, what has emerged from all that pain and suffering, is a fulfilling artistic life. Two master barbers have used the ever emerging popularity of the barber art form  and the rise of social media to transform their business together.  What a beautiful story of triumph over exceptional odds. Listen to how these two, use hopes, dreams, a huge determination to survive and thrive. After so much tragedy, the only place is up. The ladder up, was hair!

Oscar Valencia Jr is a former Pro Baseball player that then became a hair stylist. He now helps salons become all they can be. In this great discussion Oscar talks about the correlation between salon life and sports,  baseball coaches and mentoring stylists. What he thinks about many of todays hot salon topics: Booth Rental, Blow Dry Bars, Lash Studios and more. Entertaining and informational. 

Gordon salon and family history has been great with 70 plus employess, but this Top 200 salon has been under the radar. While the Gordon's are a fourth generation salon family and Tony is a 3rd generation salon owner, no one knows us. In the professional salon industry we are incognito. So we are laying out an agressive agenda for where this podcast will go. To the moon? you bet... This new communication push is ready to morph like a chameleon and go where society and technology might take us. The Current plan: YouTube channel, coaching for struggling stylists, speaking gigs and a book even. Go big or stay home!