022 Sam Villa
On today’s episode of the Grow My Salon Business podcast, Antony speaks with Sam Villa. Sam is known in the industry for his passion, authenticity, humility, and for being a great educator because teaching is his passion.
Listen in as we discuss:
- The changes that are happening in education.
- The role of social media in continuing education.
- The personal skills of success.
Sam talks about his background, why he never wanted to be a barber, and why he chose to be a stylist. He speaks about being in his dad’s barbershop shining shoes for customers when he was a young boy. His father took him to a hair show in 1976 put on by Vidal Sassoon, and that was the catalyst that made him decide to be a hairdresser. He worked at a salon for three years after beauty school and then opened his own salon.
After owning the salon for 20 years, he was offered a great opportunity with Redkin to be an educator. He closed his salon to pursue this new direction. He felt that in the salon, he could only help a handful of people, but being an educator at live shows, he could reach thousands of people.
Listen in as Sam speaks about what customers want, that price is what they pay, and value is what they get. He believes that we all need to be teachers behind the chair and be able to create an experience. Sam talks about continuing education on the internet versus face to face and why he thinks that online is a convenience, but a live event is an experience.
Sam shares his knowledge and insight into the industry and what he sees happening in 2020. He talks about the ergonomic tool’s company he launched, his advice for hairdressers, and salon professionals that are thinking about opening a salon. This is one of those conversations you don’t want to miss, so sit back, relax, and plugin.
In This Episode:
[01:18] Welcome to the show, Sam!
[02:12] Sam gives us a backstory on who he is and what he has accomplished in his 43 years in this industry.
[03:05] Did you start as a barber?
[03:52] He chats about shining shoes at his dad’s barbershop.
[04:29] Sam talks about going to a hair show in 1976 that Vidal Sassoon was putting on.
[06:34] After beauty school, he went to work at a salon for about three years before opening his own salon in California.
[07:45] He got a great opportunity with Redkin and decided to close one chapter and open another.
[10:52] Do you think you need to close the salon side to be a runway artist?
[13:01] Do you ever miss owning the salon?
[14:06] They talk about the changes happening in the industry with education and the need to be at live events.
[16:12] Sam tells us why his ego doesn’t get in the way of being humble.
[19:55] He discusses why ongoing education is so crucial for all hairstylists.
[24:58] What do you think about the two different systems of learning between beauty school and apprenticeships?
[28:24] Sam believes that learning from social media is fine as long as you marry it with face to face education.
[31:10] What is the difference between the social media channels you use?
[33:30] Sam gives us his thoughts on the changes in the industry with technology and advertising.
[37:37] He speaks about what he sees globally in salons, the retail model, and the changes to come.
[42:11] What still drives you? What keeps you going after all these years?
[44:46] Sam talks about how he reinvents himself and how he keeps himself relevant.
[46:47] He tells us that when diversity hits, as long as he can pick himself back up and learn from it it’s not a mistake.
[48:19] What’s the biggest lesson that you have learned in life in general?
[49:41] Sam gives us his advice for someone going through each stage of their career as a hairdresser.
[53:15] What information would you give someone thinking of opening a salon?
[55:47] They talk about when it’s the right time to close a salon for whatever reason and have an exit plan.
[57:53] Sam speaks about what he thinks 2020 holds for the industry and his goal for the year.
[59:31] They discuss what has been televised about the risk with permanent hair color.
[1:02:30] Sam speaks about the ergonomic tool company that he says is his exit plan.
[1:05:27] Sam gives us his final words.
Links and Resources
Find Sam Villa
@samvillahair
YouTube | Instagram | Pinterest
@samvillapros
Facebook |