In this episode, we sit down with Crystal Mercer for an honest conversation about identity, integrity, and what it really means to lead in the salon industry.

Crystal shares her perspective on staying true to who you are as a leader, why trying to perform or shape-shift for others leads to burnout, and how clarity builds trust with both teams and clients. We talk about her journey from teenage motherhood to salon ownership, the role coaching has played in her growth, and why systems matter—not just for profit, but for protecting people and creating longevity.

This conversation explores leadership as a responsibility, not a title, and challenges salon owners to build businesses that reflect their values, support their teams, and can survive beyond them.

If you’re navigating leadership, growth, or the pressure to be everything to everyone, this episode offers grounded perspective and real-world insight.

🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/grow...

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/arti...

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

00:00 — Intro & Icebreaker
02:31 — Leading as Yourself
04:36 — Salon Ownership
06:36 — Systems & Color Management
10:02 — Hiring & Growth
11:33 — Leading Young Stylists
13:45 — Coaching & Intention
15:53 — Working with Cosmo Schools
16:27 — The Broom Story
17:14 — Final Thoughts

In this episode, Evan sits down with Siobhan McCaffrey, a longtime leader at Phorest, to talk about the evolution of salon technology and what’s coming next for the industry.

Siobhan shares her journey from Ireland to Philadelphia, where she helped launch Phorest’s North American expansion. They dive into the differences between the U.S. and European salon markets, what it was like onboarding massive salon groups in the early days, and how customer feedback directly shapes Phorest’s development roadmap.

They explore Phorest’s newest features — including enhanced goal setting, forecasting, lead management, and upcoming improvements to the waitlist — plus a look at the future of AI-powered reporting.

This conversation shines a light on why Phorest continues to stand out: constant innovation, thoughtful evolution, and a deep commitment to serving salons at every stage of growth.

🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth-coaching

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork

In this episode, Christopher sits down with Joanne to talk about what it really takes for a salon to grow through systems—not guesswork. From resetting her front desk, to grounding her service providers, to bringing an associate through The Artist Academy, Joanne shares the real-time shifts she’s making to simplify onboarding and strengthen her team.

They dive into how clarity creates momentum, why training needs to be replicable (not dependent on one person), and how The Artist Academy freed up her educators while getting new artists earning faster. Joanne also talks about hiring consistently, staying ahead of the next associate, and what she learned about timing, communication, and trust throughout the process.

To round out the conversation, they touch on vitality—training for a half Ironman, rebuilding routines, and staying aligned personally so you can lead well professionally.

This is an inside look at how system-driven salons create sustainable growth.

🔗 Resources & Links

📈 Learn more about Growth Coaching:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/growth-coaching

🎓 Explore The Artist Academy:
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/artistacademy

📊 Discover SCALE (the Refine systems program):
https://www.therefinenetwork.com/scale

📲 Download The Refine Network App (Apple & Android):
Search “The Refine Network” in your app store

📸 Follow us on Instagram:
@therefinenetwork