The Data You've Never Been Shown Before: A Conversation with Alain Audet

In a recent episode of the Beyond The Technique™ Podcast, host Kati Whitledge sat down with Alain Audet, the beauty industry's "lifer" and VP of Sales and Marketing for SalonInteractive and The KIM Report. With decades of experience at the intersection of professional beauty and luxury retail, Alain shared his fascinating journey moving halfway across the world to Singapore as a luxury brand buyer, and eventually launching Kérastase in Canada.

The Quest for Industry Data

Alain's career has been defined by a quest for better salon data. When he first entered the professional beauty world, transactions were manual, and data was scarce. Today, through The KIM Report, he helps beauty professionals at every level of the industry leverage data-driven insights to modernize client experiences and maximize profitability.

The KIM Report currently follows 10,785 businesses, consolidating anonymized data from contributing software platforms. This reporting enables tracking of national and regional trends that help manufacturers, distributors, and salon owners understand where the industry is headed.

Key Metrics and Trends for 2026

According to Alain, the industry has shown incredible resilience despite economic fluctuations. Some of the most critical trends currently being observed include:

• Revenue vs. Visit Frequency: While overall industry revenue rose by 1.1% and average transactions increased by 2.6%, retail sales have fallen by roughly 5%. Salons are seeing fewer customer visits, meaning more revenue is generated by fewer people.
• Capacity Building: Larger salons (20+ service providers) are increasing staff counts, though volume hasn't yet caught up. This data suggests a phase of building capacity to handle future client growth.
• Data Consistency: One of the biggest hurdles is the lack of standardization. With over 300,000 different names for services alone, Alain emphasizes that "garbage in, garbage out." Precision in data entry—from service names to inventory tracking—is essential for a sustainable business.

Looking Ahead

Alain encourages salon and spa owners to be intentional with their pricing structures and to focus on the quality of the experience. As the middle market gets "squished," businesses must decide whether to lean into luxury and experience or compete on price point.

While the manufacturer and distributor version of The KIM Report has been available for over a year, the new KIM for Salons—designed specifically for verified salon owners and managers—is anticipated to launch in late summer 2026.

To hear more, check out the full episode of Beyond The Technique HERE.