On Saturday and Sunday I will be presenting my 2 day tough love presentation on How to Build and Grow a Successful Business, on July 22-23 in Las Vegas, Nevada. As professionals I know you want information, resources, and solutions to the many challenges of owning a successful and profitable business. I also think that you will agree that our profession has not adapted to the many challenges and obstacle of salon ownership. New labor laws concerning minimum wage, overtime pay, misclassifying of workers, combating turnover, [Click here to read full article...]

“When you are just average, you are just as near the bottom as you are the top.” Jon Gonzales Many of us were unprepared for a competitive job market when we entered the job market. Many thought that graduating from beauty school would be all that we would need to build our beauty professional careers. Unfortunately there were other skills we failed to develop that would help us better meet job market and consumer demands such as communication and people skills, personal development, excelling at [Click here to read full article...]

Many hairdressers and salon owners are working hard and experiencing many challenges as they try to earn a good living and provide a better life for themselves and their families. In order to make this a reality, we must join together as professionals and address a topic that is hurting our salons, our profession, and our livelihoods. It my hope that this article will help bridge the gap between salon owners and hairdressers, so we can provide a better dialogue and better understanding between staff [Click here to read full article...]

Over the years I’ve made it a point to observe why some people make it big while others just get by. What personal characteristics set them above the crowd? I finally figured it out: they all seemed to have true grit, that fierce determination to succeed. I want to share some of my findings, so you too can obtain the same passion it takes to succeed. This is part one of my journey to success series, where I show you the key personal growth characteristics [Click here to read full article...]

“To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.” — Anonymous My message is dedicated to all the mothers who work in the beauty profession. As a hairdresser, educator, and salon owner, I certainly understand the sacrifices you make daily in trying to earn a better living for yourself and your family. Trying to be a wife, a mother, or a single mother working to help yourself and family to a better life is truly inspiring to [Click here to read full article...]

Who is Jon Gonzales? Many of you are probably wondering why I am telling you my story;  it is not because I have an ego, it is because I want you to learn from my failures and successes. I want to share my 45 year journey with all my colleagues who are working and struggling to earn a very good living as well as helping our new generation of newcomers reach higher levels of excellence in the beauty profession. Learning by trial and error is [Click here to read full article...]

“People do not mind paying a little more if you exceed their expectations.”  Jon Gonzales Salon owners, like business owners across all industries of every kind, are struggling in this changing economy to to stay ahead of rising business costs and the cost of living. Far too many salon owners are trying to find solutions to these challenges by trial and error. As your business costs keep rising, profits will continue to drop. The bottom line we must raise our prices. But before we raise [Click here to read full article...]

As many of you are aware, the costs of owning your own business will continue to escalate, especially after the new proposed tax increases, new labor laws and the uncertain growing business challenges. A trial and error approach to finding solutions to these growing obstacles are too costly. Another factor that is causing more financial strain on small business owners and and your team is  the rising costs of living. Despite these coming challenges I feel well managed salons will prosper, provided they develop a [Click here to read full article...]