It used to be that running a successful hair salon meant doing great hair and providing great service. Today it’s so much more than that. Add a global pandemic to the mix, and a new wave of staff that demand a different way of working and you have a very different business than you once had, and the way you change and adapt will determine your success. Meet dynamic duo Jenn Linton & Jaye Mcdonald, owners of Linton & Mac salon in Aberdeen Scotland. Not only is their entrepreneurial spirit infectious, but you can’t help fall in love with their honesty and vulnerability. In this episode you’ll hear how these business partners first (and friends second) adapt to an ever changing industry and how what they once knew for certain is now more unpredictable than ever.

ELEVEN Australia Podcast Series

Episode 16 - Linton & Mac - The times they are a changin.

This one is for salon owners and professionals. With e-commerce well and truly leading the charge globally in the hair & beauty industry, does this mean traditional brick & mortar retail as we know it is dead?In this episode, we chat with ELEVEN Australia North American Distributor Manager Jeff Peterson who like us, definitely disagrees. In fact now more than ever as hairstylists and their clients come back to their salons, the retail game needs to be treated as Jeff describes “a business within a business”.  It’s no secret that some of the biggest global fashion and lifestyle brands do merchandising really well, and Jeffs 360 degree approach not only mimics these brands, but insists that in order for a salon’s retail game to be strong, they need to create a space that their clients feel is an experience. A place to have face to face education on the benefits of their hair care and ultimately a place where they want to buy. 

Episode 15 - Open for business, retail business

After spending 5 years working, living and learning in a remote community in the Northern Territory Australia as a school teacher, Emma Sullings discovered that it is through connection and the simple act of giving that truly strengthens and unites women, both young and old. Founder of The Happy Boxes Project, Emma has dedicated herself to ‘spreading happy’ throughout indigenous communities in the outback and has partnered with us, ELEVEN Australia donating basic toiletries and supplies. Emma and her team of charity coordinators teach the importance of good health and self-esteem and are committed to nurturing the spirit of true empowerment.

Episode 14 - Spreading Happy -The Happy Boxes Project.

Meet our ELEVEN Australia EDU. Ambassadors Melvin Royce Lane and Rachel Vitullo, the powerhouse duo that help lead our education teams here in Australia and Internationally. Hear how Rachel grew from Apprentice to Salon Owner in one of Australia’s most prestigious salons through educating herself and discovering her love for educating others, and how Melvin’s love/hate relationship with hair drove his desire to work hard and create his own path in an industry he adores. Both Rachel and Melvin have an infectious charm and an unwavering commitment to education. They understand it is more than just telling people how to do a haircut, but sharing knowledge and continuing to learn and grow themselves.

Episode 12 - EDU. goes global!

Meet two of North America’s top Sales Consultants: Ian Di Russo from Evolve Salon Systems and Maile Lowe from Beauty Solutions. Hear how Ian and Maile’s love for the brand paired with the simple ethos from ELEVEN Australia that “Haircare doesn’t need to be complicated, it just needs to work” is the key to success for them and the brand in their respective markets. Winning a place at the inaugural Disrupter Retreat in 2019, Ian explains how invaluable one on one, face to face time was with our Co-Creative Directors of ELEVEN Australia, Joey Scandizzo and Andrew O’Toole and how that opportunity lead to a deeper understanding and connection to the brand.

Episode 11- East meets West – two sides one mission.

Meet Blake and Laci, owners of The Salty Mane salon in Atlanta Georgia. As a business and creative duo with a committed team of 10 plus stylists, hear why they have a 4 month wait list and an average of 25 to 35 new clients a week from social media alone! The Salty Mane have a definite sense of who they are and have stayed true to every aspect of their brand. From Blake’s background in photography, to Laci’s beach roots comes the salon name, it’s look and the clientele it attracts. Each stylist also curates their social feeds with the work they love, elevating their personal brand to attract the clientele they’re also after. Creatively The Salty Mane believe that you need to be doing your best work every time. The need to see a visual outcome before its done ensures both their clients and stylists are on the same page, giving consistent work and a high client retention.

Episode10 - The Mane Event

In a world where for business, digital is king we chat to Jenni Tarrant owner and force behind Australian Business of the Year Bond Hair Religion in Canberra, Australia. While Jenni sees the importance of social media to her business, the winner of the Vidal Sassoon Humanitarian of the Year Award has built her success on a foundation of human connection. In this episode Jenni talks about how sensory experience, consistency and the desire to make people feel good is the way to connect with her clients in a genuine and meaningful way.

Episode 9 - Build It and They Will Come

From sales representative to co-owner of top Canadian distributor International Beauty,  Graham Kenny chats about his journey and what exactly has attributed to his success. We explore Eleven Australia’s success in his market and how the brand has been smashing records since it launched in 2018. Graham speaks as a true leader about building good culture, using social media to enhance relationships and the controversial topic of online selling through mass market retailers like Amazon. He is a unique thinker, humble by nature, and has an innate desire to be happy! The perfect listen for today’s climate.

Episode 8 - Pursuit of happiness - Meet Graham Kenny Co-Owner of International Beauty

Managing Eleven Australia’s North American distribution comes with big responsibility and takes a team of talented and committed individuals. In this episode we chat with Aussie born Gabe Ormando, North American Distributor Manager. We discuss finding your purpose, stepping out of your comfort zone to achieve personal and professional growth and development, the power of vulnerability, the importance of self-belief to achieve success, as well as leveraging technology in the modern age to widen your footprint and reach more people in your business. We also deep dive on the Eleven Australia Disruptors Retreat and the impact that has had on North American DSC’s growth by building a community.

Episode 7 - Blaze your own trail - Meet North American Distributor Manager Gabe Ormando

ELEVEN Australia has been a proud partner of  Hagar for over 5 years raising much needed funds through STYLE FOR LIFE. Now a global initiative, STYLE FOR LIFE contributes to Hagar’s economic empowerment program helping transform the lives of women and children who have survived horrific human rights abuse. In this episode you will hear heart breaking yet inspiring stories of survival from Hagar Australia CEO Jo Pride and the incredible, life changing work Hagar do to end modern day slavery in places like Cambodia, Afghanistan and Vietnam. ELEVEN Australia Co-Creative Director and Hagar Ambassador Joey Scandizzo explains how hairdressing is often the career of choice for survivors to create a new life for themselves and Global Brand and Marketing Manager, Amy Forrest shares how you can get involved and truly make a difference, whatever it takes for as long as it takes.

Episode 6 - Style For Life

Entrenched in the brand and an integral part of the ELEVEN Australia sales team down under, Nicolette Howard and James Hinds are two of Eleven Australia’s strongest business consultants. With a combined six years’ experience between them selling ELEVEN Australia, hear the holistic approach they take to pitching, prospecting and selling the brand! Determined to be more than just ‘order takers’, understand their process for cold calling, building strong relationships with salon owners and their staff and just how important it is to sell yourself as well as the brand. Drawing on every facet of ELEVEN Australia - from marketing support to social media and front to back product representation, James and Nicolette know how to really make a difference to their clients business and what it takes for sales to go next level!

Episode 5 - FROM THE FRONT LINE – Selling a brand, not just taking orders

With a family steeped in distribution within the haircare industry Joe was destined to make an impact. From a hungry 23 year old starting out in sales with one of North America's largest distributors to today, where he manages a sales and education team covering every state across the USA and Canada. With an innate understanding that it takes good people and a great a team to get results, paired with an openness to new ideas and the to ability to learn from mistakes has been the catalyst to his success. Joe has a genuine desire to help his distributors and their sales teams grow. He  has a 360 degree view that sees the link between sales, education and marketing and the contribution that this makes to the big picture. His energy is infectious.

Episode 4 - Born in the USA - Meet Joe Portinari our Director Of Sales for North America

In this episode we talk all things education. With years of industry experience and as the head of ELEVEN EDU globally, Leesa Smith discusses how education connects people, how it up-skills stylists, creates loyalty with a brand, and most importantly how education is developed to drive sales. For a brand to grow and have longevity it requires education with marketing and sales to work together for a common goal. With a fresh new way to educate through Pop Up education, Leesa explains that the success of ELEVEN EDU is ensuring its looks are attainable, education is authentic and able to be implemented that very day on the salon floor with paying clients.

Episode 3 - Knowledge is Power-ELEVEN EDU

In this episode we explore the multi layered marketing channels of working with distributors, salons and consumers all in one. Marketing is more than just creating beautiful images, it's the link to the wider organisation to ultimately drive sales. We learn that adapting to the speed of changing trends is as important as staying true to your brand and what you originally set out to achieve. 

Episode 2 -Brand Camp - Marketing ELEVEN Australia

In this episode we chat with our co-creative Directors,  four times Australian Hairdresser of the Year Joey Scandizzo & Australian Photographer of the Year Andrew O'Toole. Hear their story, insights and challenges and how two Aussie creatives from different worlds came together to help create a global brand.

Episode 1 - Meet The Creatives

This Podcast Series is an insight into ELEVEN Australia, featuring candid conversations with its people. Deep dive into what it takes to get a new brand off the ground. From the creatives, to marketing, education and sales, every area plays a role with its challenges and wins, and is as important as each other.

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ELEVEN Australia Podcast Series

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