Franchise Interviews 4.0

We are meeting with Inger Nicolaisen the founder of Nikita Hair, an international hair salon chain with 150+ locations across Europe and recent franchise expansion to the United States. Inger is a prominent figure in Norway, most known from the Norwegian television series The Candidate in 2004, which was the Norwegian version of the American series, The Apprentice. Nikita Hair supports the foundation, A Hand to Children. This organization provides help and assistance to children. The involvement of this foundation is to give children a chance at a better life, and hope for the future. All projects within the scope of this foundation aim to provide support to those most in need by providing food and clothing. For every haircut, Nikita Hair will donate a portion of the proceeds to support this organization.

We have a great show. We are meeting with Ken McAllister, the President of MY SALON Suite. Founded in 2010, MY SALON Suite is raising the bar in luxury for salon entrepreneurs and consumers across North America. MY SALON Suite attracts and inspires experienced professionals from all facets of the health and beauty industry to individually own and operate their own businesses in one of several private suites, each fully equipped with a styling center, state-of-the-art security system and other eco-salon suite amenities.

We have a great show today. We are meeting with Christo Demetriades, the COO of LunchboxWax, a boutique speed-waxing concept that combines refined techniques and the highest quality products. What makes LunchboxWax unique is their waxologists are trained to know how to wax every body and make the LGBTQ+ community especially the transgender community feel comfortable walking in and getting waxed. This inclusivity is present in all fronts of the business and each employee is put through a course of ?culture classes? to ensure everyone is fully aware of the brand's mission. The brand has salons open and recently signed 2 multi-unit deals in brand new markets throughout the Midwest.

We have a great show today. We are meeting with Jason Olsen, founder of Image Studios 360. Image Studios 360 is an exclusive franchise that provides modern, high-end salon studios at affordable rates to salon professionals. Their core values of creativity, freedom and success are the driving force that empower us collectively and embodies all that we do as professionals in this industry. They strive to improve the communities we live in with the creation, support and growth of independent franchisees across the country.  Their concept is simple: they provide an incredible space an atmosphere through their franchise system; their people bring the passion, talent and clientèle to their space. Together, they create an intoxicating formula for success.

Did you know that around 30% of people experience hair loss by age 30, and that number jumps to 50% by age 50? Interestingly, 40% of those affected are women. Despite its prevalence, hair loss and the available treatment options are often misunderstood. Hair Club occupies a unique space—it's not a medical necessity like treatment for a chronic condition, but it's certainly more than just a luxury, as hair loss can have a significant impact on an individual's self-esteem and quality of life.
Recognizing the importance of accessibility, Hair Club has offered financing options to customers from the very beginning, ensuring their services are within reach for anyone seeking help.

We are meeting Onyi Odunukwe, the CEO of Glo Tanning - A Franchise that is about to open its 100th location shortly and has seen 4X revenue growth in the past 3 years alone. As a minority-owned business in a landscape that doesn’t typically see minority owners (Tanning/Skincare) and the holder of a commercial Real Estate Portfolio of over nine figures, Onyi’s success story has seen much adversity and much success, and he can provide some amazing detail as to how Glo is being built, the team building strengths of programs like employee franchise ownership programs and the realities of today’s market. Glo Tanning was voted NWA’s “Best of the Best” in 2015, 2016, & 2017! Whether you want a traditional suntan or a sunless spray tan, Glo Tanning is the place for you! Glo Tanning believes in giving their clients the best in everything – great prices, educated staff, advanced equipment, and high-quality products – and with plenty of options to customize your plan to achieve a gorgeous suntan or a natural-looking sunless spray tan. In Part Two, we play a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast.

With more homeowners prioritizing their outdoor spaces, the demand for pool installations and maintenance has skyrocketed in recent years. But what’s really driving this trend? We are meeting with Dave Mele, pool expert and brand president of Pool Scouts to talk about some key factors the brand is seeing.Post-Pandemic Outdoor Living Boom: Since 2020, homeowners have been investing heavily in their backyards, with pools becoming a top feature for recreation and relaxation.
Aging Infrastructure: Many existing pools are decades old, leading to a rise in renovations and ongoing professional maintenance to keep them safe and functional.
Eco-Conscious Upgrades: Advances in energy-efficient pool equipment and sustainable cleaning solutions are making pool ownership more appealing—and cost-effective—than ever.
Listen to our interview with Dave and what these trends mean for homeowners and pool businesses. 

On today's two part show, we are meeting with the Fantastic Sam's franchise opportunity. This will be the second time we had Fantastic Sam's on the show. With over 1,300 salons located throughout North America, Fantastic Sam's Hair Salons is one of the world's leading full-service hair care franchises with an outstanding reputation for providing quality hair care services for the whole family. Fantastic Sam's Hair Salons has been consistently ranked as one of the top franchise opportunities by Entrepreneur Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Franchise Times and Bonds. We are meeting with the CEO to Fantastic Sam's Scott Colabuono. Scott will discuss the brand's growth strategy, the role of a Fantastic Sam's franchisee, what the brand looks for in franchisees, and the hair care industry as a whole. We are also going to have Rich Upson, multi-unit Fantastic Sam's franchisee from San Antonio!

Franchise Interviews meets with Nellie Akalp of CorpNet
We’re meeting with Nellie Akalp, the CEO and co-founder of CorpNet.com, a trusted provider of business incorporation, LLC formation, and corporate compliance services. Nellie entered the industry in 1997, when she and her husband launched their first company with only $100, eventually selling it to Intuit in 2005 for $20 million. CorpNet now offers a partner program that enables entrepreneurs to white-label startup and compliance filings. Through this program, Nellie has collaborated with numerous franchisors and franchisees to establish corporations, LLCs, and maintain compliance, helping businesses remain in good standing. In Part Two, we share a clip from our popular Great Quotes in Franchising podcast. 

Franchise interview with The Telephone Doctor Nancy FriedmanNancy and Marty Discuss almost everything on this show from customer service, LinkedIn and business. 
Nancy Friedman, Founder of Telephone Doctor: Nancy is a leading expert in customer service training, frequently featured by major media outlets like Oprah, CNN, and Franchise Interviews, The Wall Street Journal. Moreover, Nancy has been voted one of America's Favorite Speakers.
ServiceSkills.com: Her organization offers an eLearning platform with over 100 online training modules covering various aspects of customer service, sales, and management.
Author and Keynote Speaker: Nancy has written nine books and delivers high-energy keynote presentations that inspire and motivate audiences with practical tips and techniques.
Focus on Millennials: In her discussions, Nancy addresses perceptions of Millennials in customer service, sharing insights from her experiences at industry conferences.
Interview Format: The podcast features a conversation about the "4 Cs of communication" (Covid, Civility, Culture, and Customers) and includes a segment with questions reminiscent of James Lipton’s interview style.