The booth-rental model was never designed to build wealth—it was designed to keep stylists independent but isolated. In today’s beauty industry, independence without infrastructure has become the biggest trap holding talented professionals back from true success.

In this high-energy, truth-telling session, Rickey Leathers, co-founder of Savvy Salon and author of Booth Rent Is Dead, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving, profitable, and purpose-driven salon or barbershop using the employee-powered model. Drawing from his decade of experience building one of Kansas City’s most innovative salons with his wife and partner, Lenora, Rickey breaks down the systems, leadership mindset, and culture shifts that turn chaos into consistency and stylists into thriving professionals.

Attendees will learn:

• Why booth rental caps your growth—and what to do instead
• The proven systems that make scaling beyond yourself possible
• How to attract and retain top stylists who buy into your vision
• Real-world financial insights on pricing, payroll, and profitability
• How to build a culture that creates loyalty, freedom, and longevity

Rickey’s approach blends business strategy with beauty-industry realism—it’s not theory, it’s field-tested leadership from someone who’s lived every stage of the journey. As a Senior Business Services Consultant with the Missouri Small Business Development Center (SBDC), he’s coached hundreds of entrepreneurs through scaling pains, funding challenges, and team development. His passion lies in helping beauty professionals make the shift from hustling for survival to leading with structure, systems, and purpose.

This class is more than motivation—it’s a movement. Attendees will leave with the clarity, conviction, and tools to build businesses that work for them, not the other way around.

This class is complimentary with the purchase of your Premiere Orlando show pass! Get your show pass early and save. REGISTER NOW »

Need help purchasing your show pass? Please contact customerservice@premiereshows.com or call (800) 335-7469, 9am to 5pm ET, Monday – Friday.