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.”
