049 Antony Whitaker
Are there any questions you have wanted to ask me, or anything you wanted to know about how I got started in hairdressing? You get your wish today because I am being interviewed by Vivienne MacKinder on this episode of the Grow My Salon Business podcast.
My good friend Vivienne reached out to me recently and suggested that she do a podcast takeover. She wanted to be the host and have me on the other side of the microphone being grilled. So now I get to find out how my guests feel when they are on the other side of the mic. It should be entertaining, and I hope you enjoy it.
We will discuss:
- What are some things that all of my podcast guests have in common?
- Personal reinvention and finding your niche in this industry.
- The importance of understanding your brand.
- What are the myths around salon ownership?
- What might be the successful business models of the future?
In This Episode:
[00:30] Welcome to the show, Antony!
[00:59] Antony shares the impact that the guests he has had on the show have had on him.
[02:29] Antony speaks about everyone falls down, but the successful people get back up and start again.
[05:45] Antony says we all have our genius, we all have our gift, and we should never put ourselves down or feel lesser if someone can do something better.
[08:48] Vivienne appreciates the authenticity that this podcast brings to the industry.
[09:53] Antony, what did you want to be when you were a kid?
[12:25] Antony shares that he fell into hairdressing.
[14:59] Antony reveals that a high school counsellor suggested that he be a hairdresser.
[16:07] He speaks about a friend of his brother opening a salon and asked Antony if he wanted to be an apprentice.
[18:30] What do you owe to your parents?
[20:03] Antony discusses whether he would have done anything differently.
[22:07] Antony speaks about the price you pay when you move away from home.
[24:42] He shares that he would have liked to have a more rounded skill set.
[26:09] What is the worst job you've ever done as a hairdresser?
[29:31] Antony shares a story of doing a celebrity's hair and not knowing what he was doing.
[33:12] Antony advises anyone to try to figure out what they want to do.
[35:03] You will always learn on the job, but you have to have the fundamentals down before you can learn anything else.
[37:08] What was your greatest victory?
[38:10] Antony shares his online learning platform.
[38:52] Antony speaks about what drives him crazy.
[40:26] Antony describes his coaching process with a salon that is failing.
[43:03] A mentor is someone who's been there done that, a coach is someone who gets you to identify what you need to do to get where you want to go.
[44:19] Antony feels like he is a cross between a mentor and a coach.
[45:31] How do you mentor or coach someone who has lost their direction?
[47:10] Antony shares how he visualized what he wanted to do and then followed through.
[50:16] Vivienne speaks about years ago being asked what her brand was and not knowing how to answer.
[52:46] Hunger for something more or doing more is what always drove Antony.
[53:52] Antony speaks about his daughter and her idea of fun on a Friday night.
[55:51] Who would play you in a film of your life?
[57:53] Vivienne shares what she is taking away from her conversation with Antony.
[59:08] What are the common myths about being a salon owner?
[1:01:11] Antony discusses what he believes you need to own a successful salon.
[1:03:20] The most creative art form is business.
[1:05:58] Leadership is acknowledging what you are good at and knowing what you aren't good at.
[1:07:24] Where do you see the beauty industry going in the future?
[1:09:26] Antony's favourite business model is building a team, but the salon suite model thrives during the pandemic.
[1:11:40] Antony discusses a business model that he has been looking at.
[1:14:15] Antony thinks employee-owned business models would work well with salons.
[1:16:37] Thank you for listening to the show!
Links and Resources
My daughter Scout's favourite piece of art in the Louvre – Canova's ‘Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss'
Al Pacino Inspirational Speech – Any Given Sunday Inch by Inch
The Business of Fashion Podcast – Fabien Baron Interview