Episode 104: HOT TAKE - Is Retail Dead?

All right, we're on another hot take episode.

And this one is supposed to be a shorty episode, but I don't know if it will be because I feel like you're really going to get me on one here.

Should every salon sell retail? I'm going to give you my honest take based on everything that I know.

So this may not be the right answer.

This may not be the answer you're looking for, or this may not be the answer that's right for you.

But based on all of my years of experience in the industry, I will give you what I think.

So you can take it.

I will give you my educated opinion.

My educated and experienced opinion.

How about that? I think that every salon, and I mean everyone from a commission to a suite to an independent, okay? I think every salon should have something to sell, some opportunity for someone to buy.

I don't think that you need the brands and just being from a distributor and all of that.

I don't think you need so much that everybody, that everyone wants to sell you.

So I do think that you need a full portfolio of a line.

And when I say that, I don't mean if a line has 300 SKUs that you need 300 SKUs.

I mean, I think that you need a line that that has a full portfolio like for example you need a line that's like an everyday or like a moisture you need and then also some type of like color care you need some type of volume I don't think that you need every single violet line.

Yes, should you have something for a chemical process? Blonding? Yes.

But do you need all 85 skew? No.

You need the basics that are going to solve hair problems.

And so do I think every salon needs some type of retail? I do.

Now, do they have to have it on the shelf? Yes.

In 2026.

I do kind of think that they have to have it on the shelf, but okay.

If you are just getting started and you don't have the budget to do certain things, like let's say you're a suite owner.

Okay.

So you don't have the budget to do all of the things.