SUMM IT UP

Hosted by Summit Salon Business Center

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124

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Aug 2026

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About the show

SUMM IT UP is a podcast from Summit Salon Business Center that engages salon, school, barbershop and spa professionals on our shared path toward happiness in the beauty industry. Hosted by stylist, salon owner, educator, and “Top 30 Colorist Under 30” Blake Reed Evans, SUMM IT UP brings you frank conversations with changemakers from all corners of the beauty world, with a focus on business and interpersonal relationships. New episodes every Wednesday.

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60 recent

August 26, 202631 min

Listen again: Guiding newbie styists with Lisa Giles

If you're a newbie or baby stylist or a salon owner looking to grow and retain new stylists, this episode is for you. Guest Lisa Giles is a digital creator and educator who specialiizes in working with stylists brand new to the industry, or as she likes to call them "guppies." She runs the education and mentoring platform Straight Out of Cosmo , where she teaches classes including "Make Box Color Your Bitch" and "The Bull Sh*t Behind the Business." She's a hair stylist and a Paul Mitchell Pro partner, based in Orange County, California. In this episode, Lisa and Blake cover: Understanding market rates and charging a rate that's fair to yourself, even when you're new Creating customized incentives for new stylists, especially for retail sales Building a clientelle through guest education Goal and budget-setting Skills not always taught in cosmetology school, like client experience and working with box-dyed hair And more. Follow Lisa Giles on Instagram @LifeofLisaG. This episode was originally published in May 2025 Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

August 12, 202636 min

Level up your retail game with Inovshop ft. Martin Spritzer

Salon retail can be a tough nut to crack. Salon products available to clients from big retailers at just a few taps on a phone. Inovshop's interactive digital displays give stylists a leg up by sparking guests' curiosity and providing education right in the salon, increasing sales. And with AI, these tools are becoming ever-more customizable to your individual customers. In this episode, Summ it Up executive producer Tim Fisk sits down with Martin Spritzer of Inovshop USA to unpack the evolving world of salon retail. They explore how digital displays, user-generated content, AI-driven personalization, and interactive technology are reshaping the in-salon shopping experience — and why salons that ignore these trends risk losing revenue to big-box retailers like Ulta and Sephora. Learn more and sign up for a free consultation at Inovshopusa.com Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

July 29, 202633 min

Building a $6 million business from the ground up w/ Urban Betty's Chelle Neff

Based in Austin, Texas, Urban Betty Salon is one of Summit's longest running and most successful salon clients. In this episode we meet the woman behind the juggernaut, founder Chelle Neff. Chelle started hair school back in high school, and her first job was at Supercuts. She opened her first Urban Betty location in 2005 as a booth rental. Now Urban Betty is a 3-location commission salon company and they're trending to hit $6.7 million this year. It wasn't easy, and Chelle is candid in this interview. You'll hear about: The importance of having a coach who doesn't handle you with kidgloves Overcoming self-worth issues around making and discussing money in a women-dominated industry Building Urban Betty's brand through early, aggressive social media adoption — collecting emails, engaging followers, and entering industry awards Growing pains from opening a third location and having to rebuild SEO/local presence from scratch Advice on scaling: delegate leadership contact points instead of being the sole point of contact; find a coach or mastermind group of like-minded owners Plus, Chelle spills the tea on getting through some of Urban Betty's toughest moments, including catching a team member embezzling, break-ins, and a walk out. Where to find her: Instagram @urbanbetty and @urbanbettysalon , and chelleneff.com Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

July 15, 202634 min

What the heck are shareholders? Your people, your legacy with Lisa Lipani

If you own a salon company by yourself or even with a partner, it can be lonely at the top. Every major decision comes down to you, including how to exit the company when you're ready to retire or take a different path. Plus, you probably have valuable employees looking for ways to grow and considering striking out on their own. Shareholder programs can be a beautiful way to share risk and decision making, retain talent, and grow the next generation of salon owners. And while they're an established part of Summit systems, they're still relatively rare in the salon industry, and we get lots of questions about them. Our own host Blake Reed Evans is a shareholder and service provider in a large group at Shear Art Salon in Tampa, Florida. Guest Lisa Lipani is the founder and CEO of Carl Michael Salon, with locations in Danvers and North Reading, Massachusetts, and a Summit Salon coach. Lisa opened the company in 2006, and now runs it as part of a shareholder group of six. In this episode, Lisa and Blake answer questions including: Are shareholders owners? Why start a shareholder program and how do you know when it's the right time? What characteristics in a staff member make for a good potential shareholder? How do you train and oboard new shareholders? How do shareholders make difficult decisions in a salon company? What mistakes have other salon owners made along the way? More questions? Get in touch with Lisa Lipani at llipani@summitsalon.com. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

July 1, 202631 min

Navigating cancer as a (young) salon leader with Sarah Hooper

To be a salon owner requires ambition, commitment and hustle. But you're also human. So how do you balance responsibility with self care when difficult things happen -- and also in the every day? When Sarah Hooper got diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer it came as a shock, followed by a million questions and endless medical appointments. And on top of that, she had to come up with a plan for how her salon company would run while she was in treatment, and reassure her shareholders and team that it would be okay. Sarah Hooper is the owner of Paradigm Salon & Company in Bel Air, Maryland, and a Summit salon coach, and is back at work 16 months after her diagnosis. In this highly personal interview, Sarah talks about what it was like to step back as a leader, and how that actually created space for her team members to grow. Blake and Sarah also discuss how to find the balance between hustle and rest, the value of a 32-hour workweek, and why Sarah decided not to go back behind the chair. Plus: Advice on how to advocate for yourself as a patient and take control of your health journey. Follow Sarah Hooper on Instagram @sarah_paradigm . Interested in coaching? Book a discovery call with Sarah. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

June 17, 202631 min

Travel stylist and thriving with Trish Vereze

Does summer have you wishing for more vacation time or a bigger travel budget? What if you could travel and do hair at the same time? Trish Vereze is an independent stylists specializing in color correction who splits her time between Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Honolulu. It was a rough road at the beginning, but now Trish stays booked and busy. Just five years into becoming a hairstylist, she bought her first condo. In this episode, Trish and Blake discuss: How she got started as a travel stylist How she finds clients on social media Her killer work ethic How she avoids re-do's Her tricks of the trade when it comes to color correction Whether you're interested in traveling for work or not, you're sure to learn something from Trish. Find Trish Vereze on Instagram and TikTok @hairbytrishv. Curious about in traveling internationally for stylist education? Check our our episode with the Hair Nerds! This episode was originally released in March 2025. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

June 3, 202634 min

Future-proof salon: AI & the human touch ft. Phorest's Ronan Perceval

Guest Ronan Perceval began his journey in the beaty industry as a receptionist at a busy salon in Dublin, Ireland. While he loved the salon culture and people, he found that constant "admin-y conversations" -- like explaining the parking situation or cancellation policy -- were sapping taking time away from more meaningful client interactions. Now founder & CEO of Phorest Salon Software , Ronan designs AI tools that handle the admin, so service providers can focus on what we do best -- making our guests look and feel great. Phorest AI handles admin like booking, consultation forms and self check-in, but now there's so much more. Stylists can use mobile apps to track their tickets, tips and progress toward earling goals, with gamification features. Phorest even integrates with Instagram to help you micro-target ads to the perfect clients in your area. And once you have a returning client, Phorest will track their services and retail purchasing patterns so you can be ready with the next recommendation. Listen for the human side of the story. Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

May 20, 202631 min

This salon grew more than 16% in 2025. Here's their formula

Success story time! Host Blake Reed Evans sits down with Heather Meredith and Maegan Moore of Ahead of Hair Salon in Midlothian, Virginia to unpack how a legacy Summit salon achieved 16.76% growth in 2025 — 23 years into ownership. It wasn't easy: In their time working together, owner Heather and director of operations Maegan navigated a major walk-out, which led them to evaluate and build more flexibility into staff schedules. They also rennovated their space down the the studs, and revamped their associate program, all with a little help from Summit coach Deb McMahan. Ahead of Hair is able to offer a matching 401(k) program and offer health insurance. With a 43-person team including ten mentors, the salon company has worked with Summit to expand their stylist level structure up to Level 10. Listen to learn how they pulled off all that, and more. Follow Ahead of Hair on Instagram @aohsalon and on Facebook at Ahead of Hair . Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

May 6, 202639 min

Employees struggling? Lead with curiosity ft. Araceli Castaneda

In an industry with high turnover and lots of workers fresh out of school, on-the-job education is par for the course. But even for experienced owners and managers, the skills needed to handle personal and performance issues that come up in the salon are often not fully developed. That's why were so lucky to have a conversation with today's guest, Araceli Castañeda. Araceli is a leadership trainer in Summit Salon Business Center's Leadership and Wellness Training division. She's also COO, General Manager and an owner at The Fixx Hair Studio in New Braunfels, Texas. Araceli has a bachelors degree in psychology and a masters in Marriage and Family Therapy. As Araceli shares with host Blake Reed Evans, managers should go into conversations with employees with an attitude of curiosity. You'll get a lot from this conversation with two seasoned salon leaders including: What kind of questions to ask How to listen Understanding generational shifts in expections of reward and disapointment Advice for checking internal biases Self-regulation mini-skills for leaders Legal and ethical limitations of managment-employee conversations RESOURCES Learn more about Araceli and schedule a 30 minute discovery call. You can also email her at acastaneda@summitsalon.com. Sign up for Araceli's Summit leadership subscription series. Take the Summit Owner Burnout Diagnostic , a research-backed self-assessment to help salon owners identify burnout patterns and receive personalized recommendations for sustainable wellness. Find more information about burnout and the diagnostic tool here . Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.

April 22, 202633 min

Reduce salon waste and boost your bottom line ft. Shane Price

Did you know that salons in the United States and Canada generate about half a million pounds of waste every day? Beauty shouldn't come at the planet's expense. Guest Shane Price founded Green Circle Salons in 2009, a company that parters with salon companies to recover up to 95% of salon waste. That includes hair clippings, foils, tubes, excess color and more. The program is supported through a small fee on guests' tickets at no cost to the salon. It can boost revenue by appealing to increasingly eco-conscious customers. And as Blake points out, Gen Z stylists place a high value on sustainability. Blake and Shane also address recycling skeptics! Learn more at greencirclesalons.com and sign up by April 30 to take advantage of their Earth Month special offer with $650+ in added value. Follow Green Circle on Instagram @greencirclesalons . Follow Summit Salon Business Center on Instagram @SummitSalon , and on TikTok at SummitSalon . SUMM IT UP is now on YouTube! Watch extended cuts of our interviews at www.youtube.com/@summitunlocked Find host Blake Reed Evans on Instagram @BlakeReedEvans and on TikTok at blakereedevans . His DM's are always open! You can email Blake at bevans@summitsalon.com . Visit us at SummitSalon.com to connect with others in the industry. SUMM IT UP is produced and edited by Andrea Muraskin. The executive producer is Tim Fisk.