Salon Swagger

Brie (00:01)
Hey there and welcome to Salon Swagger, make bank, run the show, ditch the chair. This is the podcast where we get real about the highs, lows and everything in between when it comes to running a commission salon or spa. I'm Brie and today I am beyond excited to introduce you to someone whose journey is going to leave you totally inspired and hopefully really, really motivated. Tanya is a commission salon owner from Pennsylvania who has really been through the trenches. She has felt stuck, overwhelmed.

and unsure of how to make real changes in her salon business. But today, it's a whole different story. She's running a profitable, organized salon with a motivated team and really a whole new outlook on leadership and life. And the best part is it all started by taking action on just one thing, one little thing, and that was her decision to invest in herself and her business through the Beauty Biz agency. So.

If you have ever been thinking about whether coaching is something that you should try and if it's worth the investment, then you are going to love this episode because Tanya's story is proof that when you take that first step, incredible things can happen. With that being said, let's dive in. Hey Tanya, welcome to Salon Swagger. How are you?

Tanya Feite (01:14)
Great, how are you, Brie?

Brie (01:16)
Doing excellent. I am so pumped about this episode. Like I've been excited all weekend. So thank you for joining me. I really appreciate it. Yes. Well, every salon owner's journey starts somewhere. And for so, so many of us, those early days, they are full of excitement, but also full of stress, uncertainty, and a lot of trial and error. Tanya, I know that you have come so far since those days, but let's take a step back and talk about what life was like.

Tanya Feite (01:24)
Thanks for having me.

Brie (01:45)
before your big transformation. So can you tell us how you got started in the beauty industry and what first drew you into this career?

Tanya Feite (01:56)
Yeah, actually I went to college first, but I knew I needed to work with my hands because I'm very artistic. And the only way I was going to be happy is if I was using my hands, not sitting. I could never sit all day. It's just not in me. So I decided to go be a hairdresser. Cause I love to do with hair and I love to be creative and you can do both. And I enjoy people. I can talk to anyone. So I think when you put those two things combined,

makes an excellent stylist, so it worked out good for me.

Brie (02:28)
Yeah,

I love that. What inspired you to really take the leap and open your own salon in Pennsylvania? Instead of working for other people, you decided to do your thing.

Tanya Feite (02:40)
Yeah, so I worked for someone for seven years in a salon in a town nearby, and then started to have children. And of course everyone's life changes a little bit when you start to have kids. And by our second child, decided, you know what, I'm going to maybe work a little bit from home, see if that works for me. I worked from home two months and realized that the small town that I was living in needed a salon because I was overly busy, ridiculously busy. And I was like, that's it.

this town really needs a really nice salon that people can depend on to be there for them. So that's when I decided to take that big leap and open a bigger salon.

Brie (03:22)
I love that. That's awesome. What were some of the biggest challenges that you faced like in the early days of running your salon?

Tanya Feite (03:32)
I would say working behind the chair full time and trying to keep employees happy at the same time. It was almost impossible.

Brie (03:41)
Yeah, that's a big one and we hear that quite often, right? And so many people I think go into it thinking, you know, this is going to be great. We're going to be friends and we're all going to work together. And that's just not reality when it comes to being a business owner. And so it's something I think that is on people's minds more often than not. Now, before joining the Beauty Biz agency, what did your salon business look like or, and really what did your life look like and how were you feeling at that point?

Tanya Feite (04:12)
I strapped to my business. I really didn't take off hardly at all because I was always working. I was always stressed about making payroll every two weeks. It was a very stressful time for me. And at the time I had little kids. So if I wasn't working, I was doing something for them. And it was a very stressful time of life. And I don't want anyone to have to go through that because you shouldn't have to go through that.

Brie (04:40)
It sounds like you were juggling so much and just trying to keep everything running at the same time. I know being a mom, being a grandma, being a wife even, you know what I mean? All of those things. And then all the hats that we wear and trying to perform services, it's insane. I know that is a place where so many salon owners find themselves right now, like listening to this right now. And it's one of the reasons that I created the Beauty Biz Agency to help owners like you.

get out of that survival mode and into that place of growth. So I wanna dive into how that kind of started to shift for you, because I think that's really, really important. So one of the things that I admire about you most and about your story is how you actually take action, because you don't just sit there, you do things. You literally could have stayed in that cycle of stress and overwhelm and being broke, but you decided to do something different.

Making the leap into coaching, I know it can be terrifying. It's a huge investment, not only in time, but in money, right? But it's often the first step towards creating the business and the life that you really want. So what really motivated you to join the Beauty Biz Agency coaching program? And was there a specific moment or challenge that just pushed you to finally say, I'm doing this, I'm all in?

Tanya Feite (05:59)
Yeah, I mean, really over COVID when I was spending more time at home and I was realizing, you know what? I can't keep running my business this way. This is nuts. Like half the time I'm just breaking even. Is this even worth it? Like, this is crazy. I've got to make income. This can't be just a break even lifestyle. This is, this is crazy. So I decided to start looking for something to possibly help me. I had no idea what I was even looking for, to be honest with you.

I didn't even know there was coaching programs out there stumbled across a coaching program that helped me a little bit get more clients in, but did not help me on the business end whatsoever. And if you're struggling like this, you need help on the business end, not just getting more clients in your more clients are going to come right. But not the business side. You're not going to understand it. If someone's not helping you with it, if you don't

know exactly what, sometimes you just gotta swallow your pride and say, I need help. Like, because this isn't working. And it's been the best thing I ever did.

Brie (07:08)
I that. think people do. I think we always think more clients is the answer, right? More clients is the answer. And the thing about that is if you are seeing more and more clients, but you're still broke, you know you still have a problem on the business end. And that's where 90 % of salon owners find themselves. So when you first joined the program, what was one of the biggest light bulb moments or strategies that helped you really start making the changes you needed to make?

Tanya Feite (07:13)
Mm-mm.

my gosh, Brie, everything. Are you kidding? I mean, it was everything. mean, everything from the back end, like a contract for my employees, a handbook for my employees, learning how to have correct team meetings, how to have correct one-on-one meetings, making KPIs for employees so they can better themselves. Cause your employees do want to better themselves. And if you're not encouraging them or know how to encourage them,

You know, what ambition do they have then? You know, like, and of course the best part has to be the profit and loss. Like, just learning how to handle my money properly, where to put it at, where to use it at. I'd say everything, I'd have to say. Yeah.

Brie (08:26)
love that. And I know because I've been part of your journey that you've seen major shifts in things like your team, because you went from having a team to not having a team to now having your dream team, your finances, you went from zero profitability or, you know, breaking even to positive profitability, and you're in one of the highest profitability areas that salon owners find themselves in really right now. And then your client experience has changed too. And so

When you can change all three of those things, that's major. That's incredible. I love it. I love hearing how implementing these strategies has really just made a big impact on you. And for anyone out there listening, I think it's important to know that there are coaching programs out there that will guide you step by step through these strategies. And you don't have to guess anymore. You can actually run your salon so you can focus on the growth.

So be very cautious when you're out there, you know, looking at different things. It's easy to think about transformation when we talk about just fixing the business side of things, systems, revenue, team dynamics. But the truth is the journey often becomes just as much about personal growth as it is about business growth. Tanya, I have seen you step into your role as a leader in such an incredible way. And I know that shift has impacted you so much.

and it impacted more than just your salon. I personally feel like it impacted you on a personal level. So how has being part of the program changed the way that you view yourself as a leader?

Tanya Feite (10:05)
I feel more confident now than I ever have because I know what I'm doing is right. mean, when you're making these changes in your business, at first you might question yourself a little bit, but then you see...

the delivery it makes in the end. And you're like, okay, that worked. And that worked exactly the way it was supposed to work. So then the next few steps, you're like, okay, give me more, give me more. I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready. Like you're, you want to do more because you, see the success that you're having. And once you start to have success, it just takes care of itself.

Brie (10:45)
Yeah, yeah, I love.

Tanya Feite (10:46)
the business starts to take

care of itself and you can stand back and say, I implemented that, it's working, now I'm ready for the next thing I need to do. And that takes a little work, so you need time to do that. But it's the best thing that has ever happened to my business, that's for sure.

Brie (11:07)
What is something that you've been able to do now, whether in your business, in your personal life that felt completely impossible before joining BBA and getting your business on track?

Tanya Feite (11:21)
I would say not work as much behind the chair. I mean, I never thought in a million years that I could say, you know what, I'm not going to work as much in the next few months and let's see how it goes. And then it goes well. It goes really well. And I just never, ever thought I would be there. I never thought I'd be to the point where I could actually pay myself appropriately for doing all the backend work, for doing

all the payroll for doing all that. I mean, I spend my, I spend my week working. I'd spend my evenings working at home and I'd spend my weekends working at home doing all the backend. And I'm like, this is crazy. I am never getting time to do anything. And now I'm starting to see the shift and it's really nice. And I'm super excited about it, but I never thought ever. If you would have told me I could have done this 10 years ago, I would have laughed at you. Definitely.

Brie (12:21)
Yeah, to be honest with you, I felt the same way. Like when I was in your position, I felt I was like, there's no way out of this. There's no way out of this. So many people are terrified that they're going to lose their passion when they step out from behind the chair. But you find passion in other ways. There is nothing.

Tanya Feite (12:28)
Mm-hmm.

So true, Brie.

It's so true because you have always said that and I was like, yeah, I don't really see myself giving up the passion for hair like I have and have it for the business end. But I'm seeing that now because I see the happiness in my staff. What's better than seeing the happiness in your staff? I mean, you're helping giving them this happiness.

Brie (12:43)
you

Tanya Feite (13:03)
That's what you want in the end. You want them to be so happy that they're coming to work for you that they're like, dude, I'm thrilled here. This is awesome. I've never had anyone sit down with me and talk like this. I've never had anyone take the time and go over my goals with me. Like it feels so good inside to be able to have that time with them. And then on top of it, to be able to have a little bit of income myself. Like I never had it before, but then again, I'm

also making them very happy. It's just working out extremely well.

Brie (13:37)
Yeah, it's really neat because I find it really funny. know, a lot of times we separate our clients and our employees and we want to create raving fans from our clients. But realistically, that's what we have to do with our employees as well. There's no difference. I look at it as my employees are my internal clients. My clients are my external clients and I have to make my internal clients just as happy so that they're raving fans and they won't leave.

Tanya Feite (13:44)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Brie (14:06)
And the only way to do that as a salon owner is to be able to spend time with them, help them grow, create growth plans for them, help them make the money that they want to make and help them hit their personal goals. Because just because a goal means something to me doesn't mean that they're going to be motivated by it. And you just can't find the time to do that when you're behind the chair 24 seven. It's not realistic at all.

Tanya Feite (14:30)
It's impossible. It's impossible because you're exhausted just from making your clients happy all day. You know, have that exhaustion just from that. And then on top of it, you're supposed to have the energy to put into your staff. It's impossible to put that energy into the staff that you need to put into them. If you don't have the time set aside to do it properly.

Brie (14:32)
Absolutely.

What moment was it during this journey for you when you kind of looked around and you realized just how far you'd actually come?

Tanya Feite (15:07)
I guess this isn't like a positive thing, but it is for me. I just recently went through a divorce with my husband and I had to move me and my three adult children out into a different home and you know, chaos with divorce, right? And I'm thinking, my word, am I gonna be able to afford this? Can I keep my kids up to the lifestyle that they're used to keeping up to? Like, I mean, there are

They're young adults, but they still need help. So I'm like, boy, this is very stressful. Well, just at that moment was when my salon and my business as a whole started to make a major change in profitability. So it was perfect timing for me to me. I like to say it was God's timing, not my timing, but it's really, it really made me sit back and go, Whoa. Wow. Wow.

This couldn't have been better timing than what it was. And it's all because of being with Brie and Chandra. Definitely. Definitely.

Brie (16:15)
That literally gives me

chills because I've been through it with you so I know. And I remember getting the message from you or we were talking about it and I broke down in tears. Like I was so proud of where you were because I knew you were going to be okay, right? Like in that moment, I knew you were taken care of, your kids were taken. I don't care how old your kids are, they're your kids. They were taken care of and you've got a new grandbaby on the way who is going to be taken care of and going to be able to spend the time with you that that little angel deserves.

Tanya Feite (16:18)
Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

Brie (16:44)
all because you took action. You took action. It is incredibly inspiring to hear how this journey has really transformed not just your business, but also your confidence and your mindset. And I feel like that's exactly what we focus on in our program, empowering salon owners to step into their roles as confident, effective leaders, because true transformation, it starts with leadership. And then the ripple effect extends far beyond the salon into your personal life.

Tanya Feite (16:45)
Yeah.

Brie (17:14)
When you are stuck on this hamster wheel of overwhelm and burnout, that doesn't just impact your business. It spills over to your personal life as well in ways that can feel draining and discouraging. Here's the amazing part though. When you break free from that cycle and you know this, you know this, the positive changes, they're not limited at all. They go all the way around. You start to feel them.

in your personal life, start to fill them in your friendships, you start to fill them in your business, more balance, more joy, more energy, so that you can show up as your best self and usually more financial freedom for most people. So I'm really proud of you. Your story, I think, is just a powerful reminder of what's possible when you just make a decision and take action. I know there are salon owners out there listening right now who are exactly where you were, feeling stuck, feeling overwhelmed.

Tanya Feite (17:52)
Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Brie (18:09)
burnt out, knowing deep down that something needs to change, but feeling really, really scared to take that first step. So let's give them some advice to help them move forward because that's what we want to see. We want to see a shift in this entire industry. I'm so tired of people saying commission salons are dead because they're not. There are so many people who just want to go to work, go home and make good money. I feel like every

Tanya Feite (18:36)
No, I mean, everybody

just has to sit back and realize that the way to be is a commission salon owner. These little salon suites that are popping up. mean, those girls are killing themselves 24 seven. are killing themselves. And why? When they can sit, when they can go work in a commission salon and come to work, do their job and leave and end up making better money in the end, because they're not doing their, their overhead correctly. And you know, they're not.

Brie (18:59)
100%.

Right.

Tanya Feite (19:07)
You know,

so I think that what most people have to realize is if you're not making profit and you're killing yourself behind the chair, and I know it's hard to come up with money to find coaching in the end. I know that's a struggle because it was a struggle for me. I'm so stressed about it. I'm like, oh, like I need I need to be paying our extra money right now. This is nuts. But if you do it,

And then you make the change and you listen and you do what you're supposed to be doing. I mean, it's like pennies on the dollar. It means nothing to you after a while because you know, it's completely worth it. It's going to get you where you need to be probably within four to six months. If you listen, you can make that change. No problem. You just have to listen and know that you're going to be working a little bit harder on your off time. So you can get to the point where you're, you're no longer where you're just.

Okay, I'm pushing my clients to the side. I'm working on my business because I see it's completely working for my staff and that's what I want. Because that's all I really wanted. I wanted my staff to be happy. And it was really hard to come up with that on my own. I needed help.

Brie (20:25)
Well, and every salon and spa owner deserves to build a profitable business that doesn't rely entirely on them. This is the only industry, the only industry where businesses rely on the business owner to succeed. And that is heartbreaking because let's be honest, if you're not making money and you are tied to your business 24 seven, it's no different than working for somebody else. That's all you're doing.

except you have all the risk and you owe probably a lot of money. At least then you could, if you work for somebody else, at least then you could get a steady paycheck and maybe some days off, right? But when you're the business owner and your business relies on you, it's not that way. With the right tools and support, you can break free from the cycle that you're in and create a business that works for you, not the other way around. Tanya is living proof of that.

Tanya Feite (21:04)
Mm-hmm.

Brie (21:21)
So Tanya, what is one piece of advice that you would give to a salon owner who's feeling just completely, completely overwhelmed right now?

Tanya Feite (21:32)
I would somehow come up with the finances to find yourself the right coaching because if you don't, it's never going to stop. You're spinning the wheel that's going to keep spinning. The only way that wheel is going to stop is if you make major changes and the major changes might not go as you seem at first. I mean, I lost a bunch of staff members at first. I think I lost six.

six staff members at first. And then I re-grew my team into a team that was going to work for the plan that I felt would work for the business. And now I'm to a point where I'm like, okay, now I need to back off. Now I need to stop working so much. Now I need to start spending more time on the business because I'm enjoying making my employees really happy. I really am. And at the same time, I'm enjoying having a profit and who wouldn't enjoy having a profit. So,

If you want to get to the point where I'm at, you've got to get the help that you need. So somehow set the money aside that that's what you're going to do.

Brie (22:42)
What do you think holds most salon owners back from making changes and how do you think they can start to overcome that?

Tanya Feite (22:50)
They're scared. I mean, you always get pushed back. Everybody gets pushed back. I'm still getting pushed back. I'm making changes right now and I'm still getting pushed back from it because I'm making all these changes and everyone's like, what's going on? And I'm like, don't panic. Just, just stay with me. Don't panic. Just stay with me. The changes I'm making are going to end up making the better business better as a whole because it's just been me, me, me, me, me. And it can't just be me all the time.

It has to be a business as a whole, which brings your employees into it. And it gives them a little bit of, what do you say? What?

I can't think of a word, but a little bit of something in your business. You know, they need to have a little bit of something there that it's worth it for them. Thank you. That's it. That's it. Brie skin in the game. They need to have a little bit of skin in the game to feel like, Hey, I'm part of this. I'm not just an employee here. I am part of this. And that's where I'm at right now. I'm introducing a lot of my employees to coming in and doing a little bit more. And of course they get a little bit back from it. Of course they do.

Brie (23:41)
They have to have skin in the game. They have to have skin in the game.

Tanya Feite (24:04)
but it makes them feel like they are part of the business, not just working for the business. And that's where I'm at right now, but I had to go through all the other stuff first in order to get where I'm at now. So that's where I think most, most people are scared to make that first step because you are going to step on toes. You are going to upset some people. Like it's just part of it. Anytime there's change, right? People freak out some personality types more than others.

where they panic. The panic is real, but you got to try to calm them down, you know, through that change. And if they can't calm down, maybe they're not the right employee for you. You know, maybe you need to search for some new employees and that's not fun. I've been there, done that. I'm searching for a new assistant now. Like it's just part of, it's just part of the business, part of having a business, right? Not everyone's going to work for you.

Brie (25:03)
Well, and I think that's so true. If what you have been doing is not working, why are you going to keep repeating that, right? Maybe you do need to shake things up a little bit. Maybe you do need to, you know, implement new things so that at least you know that you're building your dream team, you're going to be financially stable, and you are no longer going to be tied to your business. And sometimes that is worth ruffling just a few feathers.

Tanya Feite (25:29)
Mm-hmm.

Brie (25:29)
We miss the part so often that our employees have to have the buy-in. Talking to salon owners all over the nation, everybody thinks their culture is perfect. And we come to find out that it's not as great as what they think, right? If your employees aren't buying in to your vision and what you want to do, and if they don't have the opportunity to grow within your organization, eventually they're going to leave anyway. Nobody wants to be just a hairstylist, just an aesthetician.

for decades, they just don't. The times are changing. And so sometimes you have to just shake things up a little bit to make sure that your foundation is steady for you to move forward and grow the way that you need to grow.

Tanya Feite (26:14)
Definitely.

Brie (26:16)
So for anyone listening who feels like you are in that spot and you are ready for a change, we would always love to help you. But I'm going to say this, you have to look for coaching programs that fit what you are looking for. And we are very picky at the Beauty Biz Agency. We're there to give you tools and support and confidence and transform your salon in your life. But we wanna make sure that you're the right fit for us. So if you are looking for a coaching program, do your research.

Make sure that they are the right fit. Make sure that they have been successful in what you are looking to do. That is number one. Make sure that they are in the freaking industry. Number two, very, very important. Tanya, thank you so much for being here with me and sharing your incredible journey with us today. Your story is literally proof that when you invest in yourself, when you do the work and when you trust the process, amazing things are going to happen. I

Tanya Feite (26:54)
Yes.

Brie (27:12)
I'm just so proud of what you have accomplished and honored to be just a teeny teeny part of it. Teeny teeny part.

Tanya Feite (27:19)
You're a much bigger part than

what you think, bring, much bigger, definitely.

Brie (27:23)
Cool, I appreciate that. Before

we wrap up, what is one final piece of advice or maybe encouragement that you would like to share with our listeners who are ready to make that change in their lives, ready to make that change in their business, and ready to make 2025 their best year ever?

Tanya Feite (27:42)
I will say that the one thing about the BBA is we do meet, you know, twice a month as a group, but what makes the major difference are the one-on-ones that Brie and Sandra spend with us. One-on-ones, it's an amazing time because you come with a problem and they solve that problem by the end of the hour. The problem is solved.

whether it's your profitability and whatever, or you're spending too much on color, or this employee's having this issue, how do I deal with it? I mean, it can be anything. I have brought anything to these one-on-ones. And they somehow sit back and help me how to solve it. there's nothing like that, I believe, out there. I've never, I mean, the other coaching program I was in, I didn't have that.

Nobody cared. You know what I mean? All they cared about was you, are you getting more employee? Are you getting more clients in? Are you getting more clients? And that's all they cared about. They didn't care about what exactly what's happening in my business this month. What's actually happening in my business this month? What is the problem I'm dealing with? And when I have that one-on-one, I can sit down and say, these are my problems. And by the end of that one-on-one, I have ways to solve them. There's nothing better than that. So if you're looking,

for someone to help you, the BBA is definitely your spot to go. Definitely.

Brie (29:19)
I

appreciate that very much. But you did a ton of the work and we are super, super proud of you. Super proud.

Tanya Feite (29:21)
Yeah.

I had good direction.

Brie (29:28)
All

right, guys. Well, that's a wrap on today's episode of Salon Swagger. If Tanya's story inspired you, please like, share and subscribe to the podcast. And don't forget to follow us on all social media platforms @thebeautybizagency and visit our website at www.thebeautybizagency.com. We have some amazing free resources that you can grab, implement immediately in your salon and you will see results. We've got coaching options and we've got tools that will help you grow your salon or spa business. Now go out there.

make bank, run the show, and ditch that chair. Until next time, keep slaying those business goals with a whole lot of swagger.