In business
Exploring longevity, leadership, creativity, and success in modern hairdressing.
Grant Bettjeman
Grant Bettjeman, one of New Zealand hairdressing's most respected salon owners, educators, and industry leaders. Over a career spanning more than five decades, he has built award-winning salons, mentored generations of successful stylists, and remained a passionate advocate for professionalism, service, and excellence. Known for his infectious enthusiasm and people-first approach to leadership, Grant continues to inspire through his commitment to helping both clients and hairdressers reach their full potential.
The Love of the Industry
Why passion, purpose, and adaptability create longevity
WHAT KEPT YOU IN HAIRDRESSING WHEN OTHERS BURNT OUT?
Quite simply- The love of the industry! I’ve always felt I’ve had more to give. More clients to help feel great about themselves. More wonderful people to work with and inspire. To get more inspiration from an ever changing world of fashion and expectations.
WHAT DOES PRODUCTIVITY ACTUALLY MEAN TO YOU NOW VERSUS EARLIER IN YOUR CAREER?
I’ve always been a fast hairdresser doing between 15 and 20 services a day and in those earlier days it was all about what MY productivity was. Now it’s all about my teams productivity and how I can help them to be more productive. Being a commission based industry helps but not all hairdressers are motivated by their pay packet. In my experience all successful hairdressers are motivated by their pay-slip and that’s what makes them productive.
HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR CREATIVITY WHILE STLL RUNNING A SALON.
My forte is the creative side of the business and I actually can’t do both.I recognised my limitations early on and am very fortunate to have married someone who’s forte is running the financial side.If business is not your bag hand it over to someone who can. That was the “gold” in employing a coach.
"What an amazing career hairdressing is!
I've loved it all."
Building Great Teams
Leadership, culture, and developing future talent
Grant's success has never been measured solely by what happens behind his own chair. Throughout his career, he has focused on building environments where people can thrive. From employing business coaches to creating clear systems and expectations, he believes great salons are built on communication, appreciation, and shared vision. Here he discusses the leadership principles that have helped create strong teams and successful careers.
WHAT SYSTEMS OR ROUTINES MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN YOUR BUSINESS.
I think teams work best with clear goals and systems . If I had to choose the biggest single business breakthrough I had it was to employ a business coach. Once a month an outside motivational expert would guide us through sales, service and reward strategies. Every team member had goals, knew ours/theirs expectations and how they had preformed. Only the wins were celebrated and the monthly session was always positive and fun.Young apprentices and stylists grew up with a real knowledge of how to be both productive and successful. We have a weekly half hour staff meeting so everyone learns product knowledge, salon policy and our vision all together and all at the same time This makes for a very cohesive team.
WHAT MAKES PEOPLE STAY IN A SALON LONG TERM?
It is SO simple really. They have to know they are appreciated. Also that there is a future for them in your business and you constantly work with them on that. Good honest communication is key. Treat everyone as you would like to be treated. Take time to listen to what ever concerns them. Regular check-in meetings work wonders.
WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MANAGING STAFF AND BUILDING CULTURE?
Both are about leadership. Managing staff should be fun and rewarding. I love mine….mostly! On that rare occasion when I’m struggling I remember that they will be too so we need to communicate and I need to listen. Remember we have two ears and one mouth so use them in that ratio. At these times all the coaching and staff meetings show their real value and resolutions are normally easy to reach with a win win. Building culture is about sharing a clear vision of your expectations and standards. I’ve always found it easy to get a universal buy-in if the vision is clear. How do people feel when they are in your salon and what are they saying about your salon. That’s your culture.
WHAT TRAITS PREDICT SUCCESS IN YOUNG STYLISTS?
It starts with a ready SMILE and the ability to say YES! Add hunger and subtract procrastination and you are well on the way. My most successful young stylists have been a pleasure to train and have been the first to put their hands up to help both during work time and after hours on shows and shoots etc. All successful hairdressers both young and old have to 100% want to make their client feel great.
"They have to know they are appreciated. Also that there is a future for them in your business."
Excellence, Service & Legacy
Lessons from a lifetime behind the chair
Throughout Grant Betjeman's career, one principle has remained constant: excellence is about far more than technical skill. As client expectations have evolved, so too has the role of the hairdresser. Today, success requires a blend of craftsmanship, service, discipline, communication, and care. In this section, Grant reflects on what defines true professionalism, how creativity is developed and sustained, and the legacy he hopes to leave behind after a lifetime in the industry.
HOW DO YOU CREATE STANDARDS THAT LAST? WHAT SEPARATES TALENTED STYLISTS FRON TRUE PROFESSIONALS?
I’m a lead-by-example sort of guy. Osmosis is a great thing! Sometimes a gentle reminder is required but seldom. I don’t think anything separates talented stylists from true professionals.Service is what ties them together. Have you given the client the cut and colour you and he/she loves? Have you protected their hair with the treatment modern science allows? Do they have their next appointment? Do they have the take-home products they need to look after their hair? A talented and professional stylist would need to say yes to all of the above.
WHAT ADVICE IN HAIRDRESSING IS COMPLETELY OVER RATED?
My pet hate and, in fact , great shame is how we in our industry treat leaving staff. The hugely outdated over rated advice is “ protect your intellectual property at all costs”. Salon owners seem to forget that any and all formulas and client information legally belongs to the client. Also with social media where the stylist is going is very visible. So why not embrace the change sharing truthful information with the client while thanking them for their valuable business. Surely that epitomises good service.The kudos and the karma will come back to you and your business 10 fold.
HAS EXCELLENCE BECOME HARDER OR EASIER TO MAINTAIN?
In the 70’s when I started hairdressing excellence revolved around being able to do a short basic graduation cut and then panel-beat it into a shape with rollers, back-combing and hairspray. Throw in a perm to help it last a week and that was excellence. Now you have to be an architect, a scientist , a psychologist , a social media guru and a master in Hospo! Excellence has become all encompassing.
WHAT ROLL DOES DISCIPLINE PLAY IN CREATIVITY?
I have come to realise creativity is full of doubt. So many times when I have been creating look for a photo shoot or a show I’ve wondered if I’d be laughed off the stage or the page. So if there is a discipline required in creativity it is SELF DISCIPLINE. Keep pushing yourself and believe that what you are creating is the best you can do. Keep going until that little bell inside you rings success.
WHAT DOES A SUCCESSFUL LIFE IN HAIRDRESSING ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE TO YOU NOW?
No debt. Money in the bank. The ability to lie straight in my bed knowing that I have always treated everyone fairly and with respect. The thought that I’ve given back to my industry. Pride in creating a memorable brand. Being at least partly responsible for the careers of many very successful hairdressers out there. But most of all knowing that I’ve helped so many people feel better about themselves. What an amazing career Hairdressing is! I’ve loved it all!
"A talented and professional stylist would need to say yes to all of the above."
Gene Cooksley
Few figures have had a broader influence on modern New Zealand hairdressing than Gene Cooksley. Across a career spanning decades, Gene has continually challenged convention, combining creative vision with an uncompromising commitment to raising industry standards.
Known for his sharp eye, strong opinions, and passion for developing people, Gene has spent much of his career championing creativity, education, and the idea that hairdressing should constantly evolve. Whether building salon cultures, creating opportunities for emerging talent, or helping shape industry conversations, his impact extends far beyond the clients who have sat in his chair.
The Evolution Mindset
Why longevity in hairdressing is about movement, not survival
What kept you in hairdressing/pulled you back in when others burned out?
What I love about the industry is that you can keep evolving, moving, and changing...
I’ve been lucky enough to build multiple hairdressing brands over the years (I think the current one Drake On Drake is the 12th physical salon I’ve built).
With a friend I started a hairdressing magazine called TRADE because I was so disappointed with the industry ones around at that time. Our goal was to celebrate New Zealand hairdressing and New Zealand hairdressers (rather than the dated international shit we were being fed here). It meant I got to interview and give a leg-up to some really cool people.
Foolishly I rose through the ranks of the National Hairdressing Association and ended up being president of the NZARH for a while. Doing things by committee was a real challenge but it allowed me to convey what I thought needed to happen in the industry.
I think burnout comes when you stagnate.
What does productivity actually mean to you now versus earlier in your career?
When I first started and right through for a couple of decades, productivity meant doing bigger figures and working longer hours than anyone else in the team. Productivity now means helping others realise their dreams; up-skilling people that are maybe a little bit disillusioned. I’ve always seen more potential in others than they see in themselves.
How do you know when to evolve versus stay true to your identity?
Evolving is what the industry is about, and the market will tell you when. If you hold on to one set way of doing things you’ll have to hope it comes back into fashion in 20 years time. That idea bores the hell out of me. Staying true to your identity should be about quality; and that doesn’t need to change.
Any major industry shifts forced you to adapt?
Nothing has really forced me to adapt. I’m always hoping that something new is coming so that we want to adapt. That’s the rad thing about the industry.
What does relevance look like after decades in hairdressing?
At this stage staying relevant is not wanting/expecting to be PLAYING in the first team but realising what you offer is COACHING the first team. I love going to seminars and laughing at old guys who haven’t realised they should stand to one side and let the new group of players come through. (Old guy sports analogy😂)
Building Businesses That Outlast You
Systems, leadership and creating something bigger than yourself
What systems or routines made the biggest difference in your business?
Systems have been probably the biggest reason that my previous businesses have worked. That and obviously the quality of people that I’ve been lucky enough to work beside. With my apprenticeship and my first salon, actually my first couple of salons, it was all rock ‘n’ roll and ‘fuck anyone who thought differently from us’. We would literally fight people whowe thought shouldn’t be in the industry. Once I started to systemise the salons things were a little less erratic. And it’s lovely to see previous businesses that I’ve sold still running - because of the systems in place and not the personalities involved.
What makes people stay in a salon long-term?
I think it’s about having a vision and a sense of team & community. For me I’ve always been pretty definite about where we’re going as a group. It’s “lead, follow, or get out the way” and I’ve been really lucky with the people I’ve worked alongside who appreciate that. Plus paying people correctly seems to contribute to longevity.
What’s the difference between managing staff and building culture?
Managing staff sounds a bit shit to me. Building culture is about treating people like the adults they are and finding what works for them. Once you find the people that want to do beautiful work/creative work and whatever ticks their boxes, you’ve got a team that wants to be great. That inturn creates a culture. Then it becomes ‘us against the world’. Plus music/fashion/sex & drugs & rock ‘n’ roll always help. 😂
What traits predict success in younger stylists?
An open mind and a fire for wanting something better, which in turn leads to a great work ethic and a willingness to take advice & learn from others.
The Future According to Gene
What the industry gets right, what it gets wrong, and where it's heading next
What advice in hairdressing is completely overrated?
Probably the first thing that comes to mind is doing a hairdressing course before you start any work in a salon. Just do an apprenticeship.
Which changes improved the industry and which weakened it?
I’m not sure what changes have improved the industry as I’ve always enjoyed it anyway. Probably the biggest thing that has weakened it is home hairdressing and rent-a-chair or shared salon suites. I understand people thinking that they are getting a greater percent of the revenue day to day, but they don’t seem to understand the value of community and inspiration you get from working in a team. I also think barbers and chain-salons have created a race to the bottom as far as quality and pricing goes. I hope that doesn’t piss anybody off. But if you see me out, buy me a Negroni and I will explain
How do you protect your creativity whilst still running a business?
Protecting my creativity is something I never valued and I do regret that a little bit. I just assumed it would stay with me no matter how rock ‘n’ roll my lifestyle was. I now value breaks away from the industry to get fresh eyes and build up the energy & love I have for it. Then it’s easy to come back with creativity and vision.
What does a successful life and hairdressing actually look like to you now?
Success in hairdressing for me doesn’t need to change that much just because I’ve been in it for so long. It’s still about trying to make a dollar and being of service to the people I work with and the industry as much as I can, so that hopefully others have the same ridiculously great life it’s afforded me 👊
