You Don't Own a Salon. You Own A Business.
In his latest blog, Leon Alexander Ph.D., challenges industry conventional thinking to help owners add more to their bottom lines.
Competing for Revenue: Veteran Business Owner Shares a Framework for Growth
The former CFO of Perdue Farms and owner of Hardy Seafood, Terry Owens delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs in his new book, "Business is Simple."
June 17, 2026
In his new book, Conway shares the three-part structure he developed while building businesses under pressure and navigating decades of competition, uncertainty, and growth.
Credit: Publish Your Purpose
2 min to read
"Many businesses fail because they lose focus on the fundamentals," says Author Terry Conway.
Credit: Publish Your Purpose
Nearly six million businesses are expected to launch this year, yet roughly half of all new businesses will fail within five years. Former CFO and veteran business owner Terry Conway believes many of those failures stem from losing sight of the fundamentals required to compete for revenue.
In his new book, Business is Simple: From a Family Cottage Business to World Processing and Markets, Conway shares the three-part structure he developed while building businesses under pressure and navigating decades of competition, uncertainty, and growth.
“Many businesses fail because they lose focus on the fundamentals,” Conway said. "You have to continuously improve the quality of your products, produce them at a competitive advantage, and surround yourself with people who know how to close the deals. That’s the essence of business.”
In Business is Simple, Conway details his three-part framework — based on principles shaped by decades of experience as the former Perdue Farms CFO and longtime Handy Seafood owner — and introduces “all-abouts”— bottom-line focal points designed to eliminate noise and keep each function of a business aligned around its core purpose.
“Core values are essential,” Conway said. “I like two: ‘Trust is the cornerstone of everything’ and ‘free flowing collaboration to innovate and use innovations for competitive advantages.’"
This time-tested methodology guided Conway’s own journey as he took the helm of Handy Seafood — a small company with one phone line and no plans for expansion — and transformed it into a thriving international business operating across 17 countries. In his book, he retraces the risks, fierce competition, regulatory hurdles, betrayals, and costly mistakes he encountered and how he overcame them.
Along the way, Conway navigates emerging markets across Thailand and India through a series of high-risk ventures and international expansion efforts that earned him the nickname “The Indiana Jones of the seafood
business.”
Part memoir, part business manual, part survival story, Business is Simple delivers a wealth of wisdom and strategies for entrepreneurs, business leaders, family-owned companies, and recent college graduates
— anyone looking for real-world applications of business principles.
“Testing the structure had many enjoyable moments,” Conway added. “The thrill of making it work, the joy of working with cultures in 7 countries, spreading the brand worldwide, and building longevity for the family made the hard work worthwhile. I hope this book helps propel your growth.”
The book which is published by Publish Your Purpose is available for purchase on Amazon.
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
More Salon Management
Are Your Stylists Doing Free Hair on Your Time? Introducing the 'Win-Win' Staff Services Playbook
In her latest blog, Amy Pal helps you develop your own clear guidelines around complimentary free employee services.
Caring for Your Caregivers at the Front Desk
From managing air traffic on busy days to handling frustrated guests' complaints, your front desk team often serves as the salon's emotional shock absorber. From a customer service lesson from the DMV to a list of strategies for caring for your front line, our experts offer ideas for alleviating stress, celebrating wins, and setting goals.
by Stacey Soble
What's Really Happening with Salon Retail and How to Reclaim Your Revenue
According to the KIM Report, top-line salon revenue appears steady or slightly up, but that growth is driven primarily by service price increases. Beneath the surface, retail performance and client visit frequency (appointment drift) are under real pressure. In his latest blog, Alain Audet offers strategies for keeping your salon's retail sales strong.
Trimming Your Tax Bill by Putting Family on the Payroll
Putting your family to work in the salon offers some real tax benefits, but you have you have to play by the rules of the tax code to claim them. Azarvand Tax Law's Leticia Skrabut, Esq., shows you how.
The Art of the WOW Experience
Discover how to create a true “WOW experience” for every client by first building a culture where your team feels engaged, empowered, and inspired. Drawing on Calvin Stovall’s Iconic Framework, this blog explores how salon, spa, and clinic leaders can strengthen culture, elevate customer experience, and build a business that stands out for the long term.
Sponsored by Phorest Salon Software
Why Wellness Belongs on Your Salon's Growth Plan
The wellness industry is growing fast, and salons and barbershops already are an important part of it. In her first blog, Tracy Rado shares where the wellness dollars are heading, and how salons can grow with this movement.
Why Your Revenue Looks Good But Your Business Feels Stressed and What to Do About It
While salon sales are increasing, owners often feel they're working harder for the same or less profit. Leverage Q2 data from The KIM Report, Alain Audet reveals some of the structural changes that are dampening your growth and why your region and your salon size matters.
Why Your Holiday Season is Won in September
Weaknesses in your business are amplified during the Holiday Season. Spark Pro Global's Lucy Randall shows you five things to do now to have the strongest holiday season yet.
Appearance Standards are the New Dress Code
In Kati Whitledge's latest blog, she shares how salons have moved away from dress codes and embraced appearance standards. But by removing strict dress codes, some businesses may have unintentionally lowered their appearance standards. Whitledge helps you explain to your team why an appearance standard is important and how to smoothly implement a new appearance policy.
Working Through the Gray Areas of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit
The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit is a non-refundable tax credit for for-profit businesses that provides a financial incentive for eligible employers who offer health insurance coverage to their employees. Leticia Skrabut, Esq., walks you through how to claim that credit.
5 Things Every New Stylist Should Learn Early
Developing strong work habits early in one's career supports long-term success in the salon industry. Jesse Linares offers new stylists his top five tips.
The Four Numbers Every Salon Owner Should Know
Most salon owners have no idea what these numbers are. You can hit record sales and still have a profit problem. The difference comes down to four numbers almost nobody was taught to track.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Your Salon Can't Survive Without You. That's the Problem.
A five-area audit every owner-dependent salon needs to run. You built something that looks successful. Now find out if it can survive without you.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
Waiting for the Right Time Is a Decision. Here's What It's Costing You.
Every month you put off fixing the problem, it gets bigger, more expensive, and harder to solve.
Sponsored by Strata Salon Systems™
A Partner in Business and in Life
At Janet St. Paul Studio for Hair and Beauty, Director of Operations Natasha McMillen helps bring her wife Janet St. Paul's vision to life, elevating every system from education to operations.
by Stacey Soble
Back to Business with the Pinstripe Trend
Expand your color service menu with the Pinstripe technique. Brooks and Brooks' Marlon Hawkins walks you through the technique.
by Stacey Soble