Franchise Interviews 4.0

We are meeting with Shannon "The Cannon" Hudson, Founder of 9Round. 9Round fitness is a 30 minute full body kickboxing program. Their workouts change every day and their circuit training model allows members to come in any time of day and start their workout. A certified 9Round Trainer is with the trainer each and every workout to motivate and encourage. Their business model is small. Each location is between 1000 and 1500 square feet and can be run with one to four employees.

We are meeting with Dr. Jason Helfrich of 100% Chiropractic. 100% Chiropractic is a family of full-service wellness clinics that offer cutting-edge chiropractic care, massage therapy, and a full line of supreme quality nutritional supplements. Jason and his wife Vanessa founded 100% Chiropractic to revolutionize chiropractic care and go beyond just treating pain - they work to help patients live life to its fullest potential. An aspect of this approach has always been becoming more involved in the community, creating a warm and welcoming space for everyone. Beyond their seasonal giveback efforts, the brand has additionally made an effort to give chiropractic care to those who need it by accepting all types of insurance. 

We are meeting with Jeni Garrett, Founder, President and CEO of The Woodhouse Day Spa. The Woodhouse Day Spa is an upscale chain of day spas offering more than 40 different treatments that encompass skin and body care, hand and foot care, massage therapy, specialty treatments and more. Treatments use organic skin and body care products made from sustainable ingredients that are healthy for both guests and the planet. DAYSPA magazine named The Woodhouse Day Spa the Best Day Spa Chain in America.

It is interesting how so many more industries are using franchising as a method of growth and distribution. One example is 3,000-unit international co-ed fitness chain Anytime Fitness, the world's largest and fastest growing co-ed fitness franchise, which recently acquired the emerging wax-only franchise, Waxing the City.
Today we are meeting with Summer Vasilas and Alex Arlotta the founders of Waxing the City. Summer and Alex discuss how they attracted such a big franchise company to agree on acquiring Waxing the City. As the upkeep of individual body parts such as eyelash extensions, facials, body waxing and pedicures spurs growth of offshoot single-service salon concepts, fitness industry giants are starting to dip into the lucrative niche beauty business.

 My sister recently told me how she is addicted to Pickleball. She frequently sets her alarm clock at 11:55 PM EST to make reservations at midnight for a Pickleball court. Several months ago, I read a great article by Beth Ewen of Franchise Times on a franchise called Pickleball Kingdom. We are meeting with Ace Rodrigues, Founder & CEO of Pickleball Kingdom, an indoor pickleball facility with a membership model. Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and Pickleball Kingdom is the leading brand of indoor pickleball facilities. In part two, we will play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

The Lash Lounge, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, currently operates six franchise and corporate locations throughout Texas. The company was founded in 2006 and is the first franchise concept of its kind, specializing in the art of semi-permanent eyelash extensions and permanent make-up. To add to the luxurious spa experience, each Lash Lounge location offers a variety of beauty products and trendy ladies' boutique items for customers to browse. At the same time, they receive services from licensed technicians at Lash Lounge. Founder Anna Phillips has developed a comprehensive training model to ensure that a visit to any Lash Lounge exceeds industry standards and customer satisfaction. The tried and true methods have been seamlessly replicated in each salon to make effortless glamour more convenient. We are meeting with Anna Phillips, Founder and President of The Lash Lounge. 

Back in 1993, Joanna Meiseles sought a hair salon that catered to her young children. But instead of a salon, she discovered a business opportunity. That's because at each hair salon she visited, she either found (1) stylists not wanting to deal with wiggling, squirming kids (2) suboptimal cleanliness standards, or (3) little or no originality in the design. Joanna knew there had to be a better way to crop kid's hair while keeping them entertained, so that kids would be captivated rather than tearful, and parents would be fascinated rather than fearful. We are meeting with Kim Ellis, the VP of Franchise Development of Snip-Its.  

Co-Founder Jack Griffey's wife was a hair stylist who rented a chair in a salon suite. He quickly saw the potential to launch a creative real estate development and leasing business in the franchise industry that provides high-end retail space for beauty and wellness practitioners. In December 1997, not knowing how to develop a salon suite business, Jack and his business partner Cecil Miller conducted two separate focus groups, each consisting of 10-12 beauty professionals (i.e. hair stylists, nail technicians, facialists, etc.), all of whom worked in conventional salons. The idea was to gage their interest in the business model. Despite a consensus among the participants that such a business was a fad, Jack and Cecil proceeded with their plan. Tapping into their personal funds and securing a SBA loan, Jack and Cecil opened the first Salons By JC in 1998. They started offering a franchise opportunity in 2008 and sold their first four franchises to family and friends. We are meeting with Jack Griffey, co-founder of Salons By JC. The San Antonio-based concept has quickly become one of the nation's fastest-growing franchises in the billion salon suite industry.

We have a great show today.  We are meeting with Vas Maniatis, the founder of the Seva franchise opportunity.  Seva is a franchise model that specializes in the art of brow shaping, facial hair removal and waxing.   The Seva brand is known for offering eyebrow threading which is a flourishing concept that more people are seeming to utilize for its various advantage s. There are several unique aspects of this franchise concept. 
First, Seva grows within retail stores and has established an exclusive partnership with Walmart to begin with. There is also opportunity to grow in other retail stores.  By using a growth strategy of a store within a store, the Seva opportunity increases the opportunity for foot traffic.  In addition, Seva utilizes a technological strategy to ensure success for each Seva salon.
Seva has created a complete turnkey "Salon-in-a-Box" system which handles all phases of the design, construction, delivery, and coordination of build out of every new Seva salon.  Aspiring frantreprneurs do not need to know a thing about eyebrow threading, waxing or beauty to be successful with a Seva concept. 

Phenix Salon Suites is the nation's leading salon suite concept that provides upscale and customizable suites for independent lifestyle professionals. Its business has been growing rapidly, and the brad recently surpassed 300 locations. Following this milestone, the brand revealed its expansion plan internationally with the opening of its first British location in Manchester earlier this month. Now, the brand has its eye on international and national expansion in a number of new markers.? This focus on growth comes after the brand saw a 344% increase in salon professional inquiries during the pandemic and recently partnered with rapper and entrepreneur LL COOL J. We are meeting with Philip Watson, VP of business development for Phenix Salon Suites. Every business has a story Gina Rivera was destined to pursue a career in the world of beauty. From her early roots of sweeping hair from the floors of her parent's salon, Gina attended beauty school and later moved to a booth renter salon where she quickly established a winning reputation. Find out what happened next on Franchise Interviews.