Inside the O&M Growth & Glow Retreat on the Gold Coast
By Linda Woodhead.
ARRIVE AS YOU ARE. GLOW AS YOU BECOME.
Those powerful words set the tone for the O&M Growth & Glow Retreat, held on the Gold Coast recently in March, where salon owners, educators and industry leaders gathered for two days of inspiration, connection and practical business insight.
As an invited guest, CEO of Mocha Group, Linda Woodhead, was there to report on the event.
Built around the pillars of Clean, Kind and Original, the retreat reflected the ethos that has helped Original & Mineral (O&M) grow into a global professional brand while staying deeply connected to its salon community.
A Global Vision with Heart
Opening the retreat, O&M Founder and CEO Jose Bryce Smith shared an update on the brand’s remarkable growth.
Now present in over 20 countries, O&M continues to champion its commitment to clean, conscious haircare, proudly manufactured in Australia and distributed around the world. Jose spoke about the company’s ongoing dedication to sustainability, from solar-powered manufacturing and recycled packaging to the brand’s philosophy of being both clean and kind.
Among the updates was the introduction of the new PS Shampoo and Conditioner, alongside insights into upcoming product launches designed specifically for modern salons.
Jose also highlighted the growing importance of O&M’s Pro Instagram platform, created as a dedicated community space for professionals while giving salons tools to direct clients to consumer-facing content through the aligned O&M’s Consumer account.
International expansion continues to accelerate, with two distributors now operating in the United States, and a growing global network of COR Creators helping to share education and inspiration across markets.
Looking ahead, Jose also revealed plans for the next Made for Originals global event, scheduled for Croatia on October 18, 2026, promising an international gathering of creatives and educators from around the world.
But above all, Jose expressed deep gratitude for the O&M community.
“This industry is built on connection,” she shared, reinforcing the brand’s ongoing support of independent educators through support and partnerships.
Profitable Salons in 2026
The retreat’s first major session saw Susie Kundalini, a Canberra-based salon owner, join Jose on stage for a candid conversation about building a profitable salon in today’s market.
With a team of 18 staff, Susie shared bold operational changes that dramatically improved her salon’s bottom line.
One surprising move? Removing the coffee machine!
By replacing it with a simple water station and two tea options, the team spent less time preparing drinks and more time focused on clients, a change that positively impacted both service flow and profitability.
Other key changes included:
- Reducing trading hours from 53 hours to 38, and then to 34 while increasing profit
• Introducing a 12% Saturday surcharge, which clients accepted without resistance
• Implementing a clear structure for team incentives and negotiated deals
Her message was clear. “Profitability often comes from simply rethinking the everyday habits inside the salon.”
COR Creators Share Real Stories
One of the retreat’s most engaging sessions came from the COR Creator Panel, featuring Jaye Edwards, Lucas Dioslo, Sheridan Rose Shaw, Mary Alamine, John Pulitano and Jordan Doroschuk.
Rather than polished success stories, the panel offered something far more valuable; honest reflections on growth, scaling and sometimes stepping back.
Jaye spoke about the lessons learned from rapidly expanding to 22 salon locations before making the conscious decision to scale down and reconnect with his team and business values.
Jordan shared a similar journey, growing from one salon and three staff to three salons and 25 staff in just 18 months, before realising the pace of growth had pulled him away from what mattered most.
Mary discussed building brand culture through hospitality and high-level education, while also stepping into the fashion space through involvement with Fashion Week.
Sheridan spoke about taking bold leaps with her salon brand Mamawest, demonstrating how strong business strategy and creativity can successfully coexist.
Meanwhile, Lucas, joining from Paris, delivered a memorable insight on social media, saying how engagement matters far more than follower numbers and encouraging salons to focus on conversations that attract their dream clients.
Understanding Human Potential
Adding a deeper personal dimension to the retreat, Amber Clements led a session exploring Human Design, helping attendees understand how their individual energy types, including Generators, Manifestors, Projectors and Reflectors, influence the way they work, lead and make decisions.
Through practical insights, participants learned how understanding their design can unlock greater alignment, productivity and personal fulfilment.
The Power of Protein
Wellness also played a central role in the program, with clinical nutritionist Sarah Di Lorenzo presenting a lively session on the Power of Protein.
Through a fun on-stage cooking demonstration, including simple, high-protein energy balls, Sarah highlighted the critical role protein plays in energy, metabolism, muscle maintenance and healthy ageing.
She explained how protein supports key functions including hormonal balance, immune health, bone structure, neurotransmitters and hair growth, reminding the audience that the health of hair, skin and nails begins from within.
For the evening event, all guests walked the pink carpet for a beautiful gala cocktail event, with Guest DJ, oysters, fresh prawns, bbq buffet and drinks. An impromptu guest singalong being just one of the highlights!
The Human Side of Building a Brand
Day two saw Jose return to the stage to host a powerful panel titled The Human Side of Building a Brand, joined by Megan Ziems (Grace Loves Lace) and Corbin Halliday (Three Warriors).
Both founders shared candid stories about the realities behind rapid business success.
Corbin spoke about launching Three Warriors, now selling every 30 seconds, after overcoming personal health challenges caused by black mould exposure. He emphasised the importance of mentorship and building a team early when scaling a business.
Megan reflected on the evolution of Grace Loves Lace, which began as a small home-based e-commerce business before expanding to multiple global showrooms. She openly discussed the pressures that came with growth, particularly during COVID when the wedding industry temporarily shut down.
Jose also shared personal rituals that support her leadership, including morning walks with her dogs, Pilates and taking time to reset before making important decisions.
Her message resonated strongly with the audience:
“It’s who, not how! The people you surround yourself with make all the difference.”
A Community That Continues to Grow
Across two inspiring days, the O&M Growth & Glow Retreat delivered far more than education.
It created space for reflection, honest conversation and meaningful connection within the professional hair community.
From business strategy and brand building to personal wellbeing and leadership, the retreat reinforced a powerful message: growth is not just about scaling a business — it’s about evolving as individuals and as a community.
And as attendees left the Gold Coast with new insights, renewed motivation and deeper relationships, one thing was clear:
The future of the industry looks bright – and full of glow.
