Work-Life Balance in Franchising

November 7, 2019 ·

Why Our Kid’s Haircut Franchise Was Perfect for this Father and Former Restaurant Manager

Andrew McGehee spent the first 18 years of his career logging 70-hour workweeks as a restaurant general manager. But, as a father of two young children and a third on the way, Andrew’s strenuous work schedule became less sustainable.

He decided to re-route his career path away from restaurant management and in pursuit of franchise ownership. After taking his sons for a haircut to Pigtails & Crewcuts, Andrew realized the children’s hair salon franchise presented the perfect business opportunity.

“Every four weeks, my wife and I had been taking our three- and five-year-old sons to the nearest Pigtails & Crewcuts, which was a two-hour roundtrip drive from where we lived,” Andrew said. “Our whole family loved the brand and experience, and there were no similar concepts in our area. Opening a local Pigtails & Crewcuts seemed like a no-brainer.”

Finding Fulfillment with a Kid’s Salon Franchise

Beyond the strength of concept and high market demand, Pigtails & Crewcuts also felt like the perfect fit for Andrew because of its kid-friendly focus. Before having young children of his own, he spent his college years pursuing a degree in elementary education

“Before getting into hospitality management, I always thought I’d be a teacher because I loved working with kids,” Andrew said. “I enjoyed working in the restaurant industry, but the idea of opening up my own kid-friendly business was really exciting.”

The opportunity seemed like destiny to Andrew, and in January 2016, he opened the doors to his first Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise.

“Even during the very first phone call with the VP of Franchise Development, I felt like I was talking to family,” Andrew said. “I felt like that when I met the entire leadership team and continue to feel the same way to this day. And if I ever have a question, I can count on them to get back to me with an answer by the next day.”

Growing His Business while Raising a Family

Just one year after opening his first location, Andrew became an Area Representative. Now he oversees our entire Alabama and Mississippi markets.

“I wanted to break into the Mississippi and Alabama markets because both areas were untapped, and we knew the concept had the potential to really take off there,” Andrew said. “We also wanted to bridge the gap between some of the states, like Louisiana and Tennessee, where there were also no existing Pigtails & Crewcuts or many competitors. I really had the chance to corner the market by investing as an Area Representative.”

In 2019, he decided to purchase the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise in Roswell, GA, where he used to take his kids.

Andrew now owns and operates his two Georgia franchise locations, while overseeing the development of two others in Alabama. Even with so much business growth, he has also been able to spend more time with his family – one of his main objectives in business ownership.

“The first six months to a year in business, you have to really give it your all. But now, I spend about half as much time working as I did in restaurants,” Andrew said. “Pigtails & Crewcuts completely changed my life from that standpoint. I’m able to pick my kids up from school, help them with their homework, and I work from home for much of the business management work.”

Whereas Andrew previously worked until 3 a.m. most nights in the restaurant industry, the simple hours of operation at Pigtails & Crewcuts were a welcome change for the father of three.

An Unyielding Commitment to the Brand and Business

Andrew has been able to achieve an enviable work-life balance, but his strong work ethic and dedication to his business haven’t wavered.

His hard work has paid off even beyond the balance sheet, and last year, he received the prestigious President’s Award. This award is presented by President and CEO Wade Brannon to a franchisee who is not only committed to the success of their salon but also the success of the entire franchise.

“It was completely unexpected, but the President’s Award meant a lot to me because I really go out of my way to not only protect the brand but also push the brand, make it better and be there for my fellow franchisees,” Andrew said. “Whenever a prospective franchisee calls for validation, I’m always more than happy to tell them about what an amazing opportunity and experience it has been.”

To learn more about opening a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise, download our franchise information packet!

October 31, 2019 ·

4 Ways to Identify the Best Franchise Opportunity for Parents

Parenting is a full-time job with plenty of stress, as well as rewards. Yet there are many moms and dads with a strong entrepreneurial spirit who seek the best franchise opportunities for parents.

Restaurant franchises of all kinds can keep them away from home for long hours and late into the night. Other concepts require franchisees to step in if an employee doesn’t show up, or the business model adds to stress levels because of complex operations or a lack of support. There are myriad reasons why finding the right franchise opportunity for parents is difficult.

Here are four questions to ask to identify the best franchise opportunities for entrepreneurial moms and dads:

1. Does the Franchise Brand Focus on and Understand Kids?

Who knows kids better than parents? Parents are experts at knowing what excites children, what makes them happy, what makes them scared and what makes them feel secure. The Pigtails & Crewcuts concept aligns with the parental instincts that drive moms and dads to provide joy and security for their children.

Pigtails & Crewcuts offers a memorable and stress-free haircutting experience that parents often struggle to find. They typically feel a sense of relief when they see their young son and/or daughter enjoy receiving their haircut thanks in large part to the brightly colored salon interiors and themed chairs, along with children’s movies, books, and toys. Many of our current franchisees were so inspired by the experience as customers that they decided to join the Pigtails & Crewcuts family by becoming an owner.

2. Does the Franchisor Promote Work-Life Balance?

With so many of our franchisees and corporate team members being parents, we understand how important a work-life balance is for them. Whether franchise owners want to work as an owner-operator or absentee owner, the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise opportunity allows franchisees to spend more time with their families.

Pigtails & Crewcuts salons are not open late, which allows franchisees to be home for dinner, to spend time with their kids, provide homework help, and to put their children to bed. Because our franchisees are their own boss, they have the flexibility to leave the salon whenever they want to attend school functions or stay home to care for a sick child.

Our business model does not require that franchisees be present at their salon full-time, which makes multi-unit ownership possible while maintaining a work-life balance. You can leave the day-to-day operations up to the team of stylists you hire, which allows owners to focus on other aspects of their life, including expanding their Pigtails & Crewcuts footprint.

3. Is there a Community of Like-Minded, Supportive Franchisees?

We are as much a family-friendly franchise for our owners as we are a family-friendly business for our customers. Like a family, we provide you with an abundance of support from all members.

The Pigtails & Crewcuts peer-to-peer network provides support among fellow franchisees just like you – parents. The peer-to-peer network makes communication easy for franchise owners to discuss a variety of questions about the business and to problem-solve together through multiple channels. For example, the network’s private Facebook group allows salon owners to share experiences that others can learn from on a daily basis.

The corporate team also provides superior assistance and training, which continues as long as you own your hair salon. Our protected territories along with marketing, operation, and retail training give you the advantage over other children’s hair salons in your market. New franchisees attend a five-day training program in Atlanta, where they receive training in the classroom and in a salon. Each franchisee is also assigned a franchise support specialist for continuous training that includes tips for hiring and retaining top-notch employees and hairstylists.

4. Are there Actual Parents within the Franchise System?

Our CEO and President Wade Brannon is a father to a son and two twin girls. He fell in love with Pigtails & Crewcuts before acquiring and franchising it when he brought his children to one of our salons for a haircut. Besides the smiles the salon experience brought to his kids’ faces, Wade immediately recognized the concept would be ideal for franchisees who were seeking more time with their families.

Utilizing his vast franchising experience, which included growing Heavenly Ham to more than 230 locations throughout the United States as the brand’s Vice President and principal, he began franchising Pigtails & Crewcuts in 2005.

Because an understanding of parenting was important to the Pigtails & Crewcuts culture, Wade brought parents onto the leadership team. Michelle Holliman, Vice President of Franchise Development, and Theresa Underwood, Vice President of Franchise Support, are both moms with extensive franchise experience. They’ve been instrumental in developing work-life balance as an essential value of the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise opportunity, as well as growing the franchise system.

Offering franchise opportunities for parents comes naturally for us.

Learn more about the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise opportunity!

July 31, 2019 ·

Why Pigtails & Crewcuts was the Perfect Franchise for this Career-Driven New Mom

For years, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise owner Jennifer Tribble and her husband lived a nomadic life as project managers for a large commercial construction company. With every building they helped design and construct, from federal courthouses to football stadiums, they also built up their professional stature – and soon found themselves securing contracts for upwards of $250 million. However, when Jennifer became pregnant with her first child, the Tribbles decided to anchor their roots in Florida and begin laying the foundation for family life. Still, Jennifer never lost her passion for the professional world, and she set her sights on building an empire of her own. With a well-developed eye for profit and potential, along with a love of children, the new mom soon found the perfect franchise brand to launch her first business – Pigtails & Crewcuts.

Why the Niche Kid’s Haircare Franchise Concept Was the Right Move

“One day, a good friend called me up and told me I had to check out this kids’ salon franchise named Pigtails & Crewcuts as a potential business opportunity,” Jennifer said. “My friend wasn’t sure exactly what I was looking for in a business, but she was telling me how every time she went by this salon in her town, there was at least a two-hour wait to get in. I learned more about the brand and business – and the rest is history.” A few months later, in 2013, Jennifer signed on to become a multi-unit owner with Pigtails & Crewcuts, with plans to open three franchises in the Orlando area.

“The opportunity ticked all the boxes I wanted, and it was also a new, niche idea and concept that could really serve the community,” Jennifer said. There was another kids’ salon concept or two in her market, but each one opened and closed within a matter of months. Jennifer’s Pigtails & Crewcuts franchises are the first kids’ salons in the area with staying power. In fact, one of those salons is now the No. 3 Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise location in the country in terms of performance. “Of course, I wanted a very in-demand, innovative concept with strong potential for growth and profitability,” Jennifer said. “But, I also wanted a kid-friendly concept, where I could work with children and have some flexibility to spend time with my own sons.”

A Kid-Friendly Concept that Cuts through the Negativity

Beyond her research indicating the strength of the business concept, the tipping point underscoring Jennifer’s decision to invest in the franchise was much less analytical. It was predicated by an emotional, stressful and negative experience she had when she took her young children to a local barber shop, whose employees were less than accommodating. “A lot of kids have a hard time getting their hair cut because it can be scary for them, and they don’t like sitting still,” Jennifer said. “It’s so much harder for children – and moms – when the stylist isn’t understanding, supportive or patient about it, or just simply doesn’t know how to work with kids.”

Jennifer says the stress and negativity surrounding her personal experience reinvigorated her drive to open the kid-friendly haircut concept while reinforcing her belief that it would truly serve the community. “Every week, we see moms in tears who have taken their children all over town, and had really terrible experiences at salons that don’t specialize in kids’ haircuts,” Jennifer said. “It’s so nice to be that safe haven for people, and to be able to create a positive experience for mothers and children who can’t go anywhere else, or who have been treated poorly at other places.”

Building a Business While Raising a Family

Jennifer has stayed busy with a child-centric personal and professional life, raising two kids while running two kids’ hair salons.

But, with plans to open a third franchise this fall and eyeing possibilities to open even more in the future, Jennifer is also not yet done building her business with Pigtails & Crewcuts. “I really believe that Pigtails & Crewcuts is one of the best franchise opportunities on the market, and its advantages from both a personal and professional standpoint are unsurpassed,” Jennifer said. “Not only is it scalable and profitable with uncapped demand and growth potential, it’s also a business that lets you get out and serve your community, while still spending a lot of time off and with your family. I am happy to keep growing until I can’t anymore.”

To learn more about the Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise opportunity, download our franchise packet today!

October 23, 2017 ·

Is work-life balance achievable? Find the answer with the best franchise opportunities!

Are you stressed at work? Tired at the end of the day? Missing your children? Would you change all this if you could?

Imagine looking forward to work every day and being energized all throughout the day. Imagine having the luxury of seeing your kids as much as you want.

There is a way to achieve all of this and more. How? By finding the best franchise opportunity that allows you to have work-life balance doing something you love.

Today, the best franchise opportunities offer many lifestyle and financial benefits. There are so many different types of franchise businesses that there is a right franchise for you. You only need to define what you want your life to be like. Then you can find the company that offers the type of franchise that can deliver these results.

Start by defining what you want by asking yourself these questions, and be specific with your answers.

What does work-life balance mean to you?
How much time flexibility do you want?
What type of earnings potential is important to you?
What financial resources do you have?
Do you have business or people skills?
Do you want a family oriented business?
What do you love to do?

Answering these questions will help you determine the type of franchise that would be a good fit for you.

Get feedback from family, friends, and trusted advisors as to what skills and strengths you would bring to a business.

When you know what you want, there are plenty of resources to help you learn more about franchising and the options available to you. You can do a lot of the basic research online, but you will also want to talk with people in person to get more details. Interview franchisees and company personnel to learn what working with their business is like and how they will support you.

Each franchise business is different, so be careful and thorough in researching each one. Be sure to meet with a financial advisor and with legal and tax experts who know franchising so you can avoid scams and understand the financial commitments.

The best franchise opportunities can help you achieve the lifestyle you want.

You can have a business and a life! If you are ready to find out what is available to you, contact our franchise experts today.

About Pigtails & Crewcuts
Founded in 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia, Pigtails & Crewcuts is a children’s hair salon franchise dedicated to making haircuts fun and stress-free for children and their parents. With nearly 50 locations across the nation, Pigtails & Crewcuts specializes in quality haircuts for boys and girls of all ages, and also hosts children’s parties. In 2010, Parents.com named Pigtails & Crewcuts one of the Top 10 Chains for Kids’ Birthday Parties. In addition, Pigtails & Crewcuts has been named to the “Franchise 500” list as a top franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine for five consecutive years. To learn more, go to pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Michelle Holliman, Vice President of Franchise Development, 877.752.6800, MHolliman@pigtailsandcrewcuts.com

October 1, 2012 ·

Why these Kids Salon Franchise Owners Say Women Still Can Have It All

By Kate Silver

Can women have it all? It’s a topic that’s generated quite a bit of buzz over the summer, following The Atlantic’s July cover story, “Why Women Still Can’t Have it All.” In the piece, author Anne-Marie Slaughter says that notion of life/family balance is more fantasy than fact in this day and age.

“I still strongly believe that women can ‘have it all’ …’” wrote Slaughter. “But not today, not with the way America’s economy and society are currently structured.”

While Slaughter makes strong points, the piece neglects to explore the world of entrepreneurial women who have left behind jobs that don’t allow for the life balance they crave, and set out on their own.

According to the 2012 “State of Women-Owned Business Report” by American Express Open, more than 8.3 million women-owned businesses in the United States generate more than $1.3 trillion in revenue and employ more than 7.5 million people. Between 1997 and 2012, women-owned firms increased by 54 percent in the United States. That’s one and a half times the national average.

Do the women at the helm of their own businesses have it all? According to a sampling of women business owners at Pigtails & Crewcuts, a kid-centric salon franchise, the resounding answer is, “Absolutely.”

***

Hailey Arthur never expected to be a stay-at-home mom. When her first child was born, she had every intention of returning to her job as a recruiter at Bank of America. She enjoyed her career, and she and her husband relied on both incomes. But then her son suffered a brain injury during birth, and doctors told her that he had cerebral palsy. Faced with a lifetime of therapy and doctors appointments, Arthur decided she needed to quit her job and stay home with her son.

A few years later, in 2007, her twins were born. For Arthur, being home with three children was challenging, to say the least.

“By the time the twins got to be 18 months old, I was certifiably insane,” says Arthur. “I said, ‘I cannot do this! I am not cut out to be a stay-at-home mom!’”

She and her husband, Mike, discussed their options, and decided that they wanted to open Pigtails & Crewcuts, a children’s hair salon franchise in the Blakeney area of their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Today, three years after the salon opened, Arthur spends mornings at Pigtails & Crewcuts and afternoons with her children. She says the business has given her the challenge and outlet that she craved.

“It gives me, Hailey-the-person, more of a purpose than Hailey-the-mom,” she says. “I feel like I have something that is mine—my project and my passion outside of my children. And I think it helps me keep my identity that way.”

For Arthur, having it all is about having a strong support network.

“I think women can have it all if you are doing the right thing. With Pigtails & Crewcuts I have a very supportive network,” she says. “While I feel like I have a great balance, I wouldn’t be able to do it alone.”

For Kendra Keating, opening two Pigtails & Crewcuts in San Diego (eventually she will open a total of five) was a way of keeping close to home. A single mom, Keating was the former CFO of a consulting firm, and in the first year of her daughter’s life, mom and daughter (and nanny) traveled 122 days. As her child approached kindergarten, Keating began searching for a flexible career that would allow her to pick her up from school every day and be involved in homework, parent-teacher meetings, activities and more. As a Pigtails & Crewcuts salon owner, she’s found just that.

“I probably work as much as I would if I were working for somebody else, but I decide when I work, and a lot of it can be done from home,” she says. “I think if you power through, you can do anything you want to do.”

Julie Luna was searching for an opportunity in Omaha, Nebraska that would mean little to no travel. For years, she’d managed an automobile business unit with a Fortune 150 company and was on the road, away from her five daughters, up to 75 percent of the time. After leaving her job, she signed a five-salon deal with Pigtails & Crewcuts, and today, is much more involved in her daughters’ lives and schools. Luna says she’s thrilled to provide an entrepreneurial example for her daughters, who range in age from 6 to 13 (recently married, she also has two stepsons).

“I’ve always taught them it’s great to be a mom, and if that’s your career choice that’s awesome, but you can do anything you want to do,” says Luna. “I think this shows them that yeah, I had a big job with a big company, but now I took a chance and I own something, and it really illustrates how many options are ahead of them.”

For Dalia Alford, owning a Pigtails & Crewcuts in Cedar Park, Texas, has proven to her that she’s a better multi-tasker than she ever knew. A former teacher, Alford quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom to her two children. Soon after, her husband was laid off, and the family decided to invest their savings in a kids’ salon franchise (her husband found another job soon after). Now with a third child and a fourth on the way, Alford can’t picture herself doing anything else.

“I can’t imagine what else would have allowed me to continue doing everything I’m doing without completely losing my mind,” she says. “I definitely have flexibility. I have great hours. And while I’m always available to my staff, I don’t physically have to be here every single second,” she says.

Alford adds that, as far as she’s concerned, woman can do whatever they set their minds to.

“I take issue with the theory that women can’t do everything. I don’t think it’s easy, but women are certainly capable of having it all.”

Learn more about owning a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise by filling out the form below: