Kerrie Di Mattia and Jenni Tarrant own successful salons in two very different, regional parts of Australia. Kerrie runs the innovative Di Mattia and Co in Grafton (Northern NSW) and Jenni operates Bond Hair Religion in Canberra with an extremely mixed professional, business and rural market.
They are ‘hitting the road’ with 2026 Culture + Bond Business Seminars from March to August in Geelong, Albury, Gold Coast and Newcastle. Ready to spread their management and leadership expertise, Kerrie and Jenni share their thoughts here on how their experience can help salon leaders develop.
What is different about your business in your town compared to major cities?
Kerrie – Running a salon in a regional town means access to education, recruitment and industry exposure is far more limited than in major cities, yet our clients and our community deserve the same high standard you’d expect to find in a major city. Education often means bringing educators to us or travelling to them, which comes with extra cost, but it’s non-negotiable. With limited foot traffic and a smaller population, retention is everything. We don’t have the luxury of dropping the ball — we have to stay at the top of our game, keep innovating, and consistently deliver exceptional service and results so that when someone new comes to town and asks, “Who would you recommend?”, we’re the salon people name.
Jenni – There’s a common stereotype within both the industry and the public that regional salons are inferior to city salons. At the same time, access to education and professional development for our team is far more limited than in major cities. That’s why it’s important for Kerrie and I to make business education more accessible.
How does client service need to differ compared to cities?
Kerrie – As I touched on earlier, in a regional town we don’t have new faces walking past our door every day. The people walking down our main street live here, work here and raise their families here, so when someone chooses your front door over the many others in town, that choice matters and it should feel appreciated. Client service has to go beyond great hair. It’s about communication, connection and making people feel genuinely seen, heard and cared for. Hairdressing is a luxury for many, so clients need to feel the value in what they’re investing in every time they visit. We want to be their people, a place they feel comfortable, feeling welcomed and like they belong.
Jenni – It’s our responsibility to show clients that our skills, service and overall experience are every bit as five-star as what they would receive in a major city. Consistency is key. When clients experience excellence every time, they feel confident in our pricing. This is consistent for all salons despite location.
Is there anything unique about your business?
Kerrie – Very much so!! Over 21 years, our business has evolved by continually adapting to the needs of our community. What started as one flagship salon has grown into multiple, very distinct spaces under one roof. We have our flagship salon upstairs, a dedicated training salon downstairs that allows us to mentor and develop our younger team at a lower price point for clients, and most recently, a head spa and scalp wellness space. This model allows us to give our clients genuine choice & flexibility & helps immensely with retention.
Jenni – After 22 years in business, Bond has earned strong respect within the hairdressing industry as a regional salon that leads the way. We’re known for our client experience, commitment to sustainability, high-level team education, and genuine contribution to the wider community. People want a consistent experience they can trust. That consistency gives clients confidence to refer others, positioning us as a by-referral, appointment-only salon with deeply loyal clients, many booking a year in advance.
What is the most important business training needed in your area?
Kerrie – Leadership and people management training is the most important. Hairdressers aren’t taught how to run a business or lead a team, yet that’s often the hardest part of ownership. Authentic, genuine education that helps owners manage expectations, navigate the emotional load and avoid burnout. Shared learning, real conversations and knowing you’re not alone makes all the difference.
Jenni – Dynamic educators who genuinely inspire the next generation of hairdressers. As a brand, we regularly bring educators into our business to keep our team current, which requires a significant financial investment.
Generally, what kind of training will get regional salons ahead? And how often?
Kerrie – A mix of technical and business education, delivered consistently, is what gets regional salons ahead. Little and often works best, staying curious, up skilling regularly and keeping conversations going with other salon owners all matter. Education doesn’t always have to be on a large scale, books, podcasts, online learning and even social media can be just as valuable. The key is constant improvement and innovation, if there’s something you don’t know or can’t do yet, find the support and keep learning
Jenni – Education at all levels is desperately needed in regional areas. Technical training supports stylists, while business education helps owners stay inspired and avoid overwhelm.
Travel and time away from the salon often make training cost-prohibitive, so for us, educating in regional areas helps solve that problem.
Selling product adds to the bottom line. Are all your team confident at selling? Where do they need help?
Kerrie Not everyone is comfortable with the word “selling,” and nor should they be, so we reframe it as education. We’re not selling, we’re educating our clients on how to get the best out of their hair.
Jenni The idea of “selling” can be uncomfortable in our industry. Our approach is education, particularly around at-home care to maintain colour investment and hair health. It’s not selling, it’s education.
