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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!

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How This Former Stay-at-Home Mom Uses Her Pigtails & Crewcuts Franchise to Give Back

Before Jessica Fullwood became a business owner, she was a stay-at-home mom with four kids and taught dance classes during the week.

She realized she and her husband needed another source of income to continue to support their family.

After seeing how much her daughter enjoyed receiving a haircut and exceptional service at a salon in Disney World, Jessica decided to research children’s haircut franchises.

“When I found Pigtails & Crewcuts, a lightbulb went off,” Jessica said. It was kid-friendly and had the feel of a small, local store.

In 2007, Jessica opened her first Pigtails & Crewcuts in Virginia Beach, VA. In 2015, she opened a second location in Chesapeake. Since then, Jessica hasn’t stopped finding ways to use her business ownership to support her community.

Giving Back Through Business

Jessica takes an active role in her community, from donating money to hosting events in her Pigtails & Crewcuts locations. Giving back to her community is something Jessica is passionate about and believes can go a long way.

“I really believe in the idea of ‘it takes a village’ to raise your children,” Jessica said. “I think if we all give back and help out the communities we live in, our whole society could be better.”

Jessica certainly walks the walk and does so through Pigtails & Crewcuts. For example, she has partnered with organizations battling teen homelessness in Virginia.

“Seeing the faces of homelessness is very enlightening,” Jessica said.

But Jessica doesn’t give back alone. Her rock star team of employees share her enthusiasm for being active in the community. For example, they often come in before opening to provide special, private haircuts to children with special needs.

Life Lessons for this Children’s Haircut Franchise Owner

Using her Pigtails & Crewcuts ownership to give back to her community has been one of Jessica’s favorite parts of being a franchisee.

“It’s taught me everyone’s different,” Jessica said. “I’ve met so many people with different stories, and it’s really grounded me. It’s taught me to be more patient with people and made me a better person.”

What began as an additional revenue stream for her family has developed into a much larger part of her life than Jessica ever thought it would. Not only does being a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee give her another way to support her family, but it also gives her a platform to support her community.

“I came in wanting to bring in a little bit of extra money and be with my children, but I got so much more out of it,” Jessica said. “It makes me feel good. I love working with the children, and we get great support from corporate. It’s just been so much more than I thought.”

Learn more about Jessica’s philanthropic initiatives and how other Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees give back to their community by downloading our eBook here!

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How a Focus on Human Connection Led to Success for This Pigtails & Crewcuts Franchisee

When it came time for Maura Parks’ son with a sensory processing disorder to get a haircut, the experience was a nightmare. Soon after, Maura realized she and her husband needed to find a kid-friendly hair salon for their son.

That’s when Maura found Pigtails & Crewcuts online and fell in love with its family-oriented concept.

Today, Maura is a successful Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee and owner of two salons in the Memphis, Tennessee area (Germantown and East Memphis).

Through her hands-on and empathetic approach to management, Maura has made long-lasting connections with her guests and learned lessons in business firsthand.

Establishing a Human Connection

Maura has two favorite regulars at her Pigtails & Crewcuts locations. They are two young, non-verbal twins. Their mother drives over an hour to bring them through Maura’s doors, and they’ve sometimes needed a therapist present, as well as four stylists at a time to get through their haircuts. But, they get through it.

Recently, the twins came into Maura’s salon and received their haircut with no issues, leaving their mother in tears.

It’s these types of memories that keep Maura motivated.

“We establish real, true relationships with kids and their families,” Maura said. “My proudest moments as an entrepreneur are when I’m able to establish human connections with families.”

Lessons in Business Ownership

A first haircut is a big milestone in someone’s life. For many children, the experience can be frightening. For Maura, it was memorable.

“I still remember the woman who cut my hair when I was a kid,” Maura said. “I remember the way the place looked and the way she treated me.”

Now, as a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee, Maura sees that moment from the perspective of a manager.

Assembling and managing a caring staff is essential for Pigtails & Crewcuts. Maura encounters all different types of situations and scenarios that she and her team are able to accommodate.

To make her guests happy, Maura needs her team to be happy.

“It’s important to me to feel appreciated, so I assume it’s important to other people, too,” Maura said. “If you work with me, you’re going to feel appreciated. We talk things out and focus on the positive things that happened throughout each day.”

Maura takes an active role in her Pigtails & Crewcuts ownership. She’s direct with her employees and uses her past experiences with managers to inform her own managerial style.

“I’m very unorthodox as a manager,” Maura said. “I’ve taken all the things about all the managers I’ve had in my life – good and bad – and implemented what was good and fixed what was bad. My employees know exactly what they’re going to get from me: honesty and empathy.”

Throughout all her time as a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee, Maura has learned one important lesson.

“The issue is always going to work itself out,” Maura said. “No matter how hard, or what gets thrown your way, it will work out. Just take a minute, learn from it, and grow. Over the years, problems I thought were career-ending have all worked out.”

To learn more about Maura’s community outreach, download our eBook here!

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From Foster Care to Cutting Hair: How This Franchisee Found Her Purpose with Pigtails & Crewcuts

Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee Angel Putnam doesn’t have a typical business owner’s beginning.

A child of the foster care system, Angel grew up in several different homes throughout her childhood. Though she had to grow up fast, she’s still a kid at heart.

Angel’s experience with foster care has helped shape her into the business owner she is today, particularly in identifying her purpose for community outreach.

Now a mother of three, Angel owns two Pigtails & Crewcuts salons, one in Greensboro, North Carolina, and another in Winston-Salem.

Picking Pigtails & Crewcuts Franchise

Angel’s first venture into business was a family-friendly café franchise. But, something never quite clicked between Angel and the brand, and when new ownership took over, the franchise began going in a direction Angel didn’t agree with.

“It lost that passion for me,” Angel said. “It lost what was most important to me, which was the family aspect.”

After searching for other family-friendly franchises online, Angel stumbled across Pigtails & Crewcuts. It had everything she wanted: a  kid-centric business with stable growth.

When Angel met with corporate to solidify her interest, she was left more confident than ever that Pigtails & Crewcuts was the right franchise to join.

“It had that family experience I wanted in a franchise,” Angel said. “Yes, it’s a business at the end of the day, but I wanted to know my passion was going to a company that’s just as passionate about their franchisees as they are about their bottom line. I wasn’t just a number. I was a person, and they really cared about making sure Pigtails & Crewcuts was the right investment for both of us.”

Years later, Angel is the owner of two Pigtails & Crewcuts locations. She attributes her success to the North Carolina communities that supported her efforts and a supportive corporate team that truly cares.

“It’s great to have a franchise with the working tools I need to be successful that also allows me to be creative to continue growing in my market,” Angel said.

Finding a Purpose as a Kid’s Haircut Franchise Owner

Before ever considering business ownership, Angel had one purpose inspired by her time in and out of foster homes.

“I knew working with children is what I wanted to do,” Angel said. “I wanted to make a difference in a child’s life.”

As a Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee, Angel does just that. From providing a safe and welcoming first haircut experience for many frightened children to giving parents of children with disabilities peace of mind knowing their child is cared for, Angel’s business ownership is truly about the children. Her own children are even in her salons with her every day, eagerly helping sweep hair and refill the lollipop jar.

Angel’s effect on her community isn’t restricted to her salons. She leverages her two Pigtails & Crewcuts franchises to make an incredible impact on children’s lives in and around her surrounding communities.

To Angel, giving back is simply part of the job.

“It’s my way of continuing to help our community grow and know that we’re forming special memories and making a difference in their lives,” Angel said.

If you want to learn more about Angel’s charitable community outreach, download our eBook here!

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The Ins and Outs of Site Selection for a Kid’s Haircut Franchise

Finding the right location is one of the first and most important steps you’ll take when starting a kid’s haircut franchise. A strong site helps generate high foot traffic and drive sales while setting the stage for inviting interior design that creates a fun, memorable atmosphere for your young clientele.

Because prime real estate is paramount to run a successful kid’s salon, we offer comprehensive site selection support for our Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees. Backed by industry-leading expertise and data-driven insights, our corporate support team helps position franchisees for success from the very start.

Inside Our Comprehensive Site Selection Support

At Pigtails & Crewcuts, our site selection support follows a methodical process of identifying markets, analyzing trade area demographics, and finally, vetting specific sites for franchise locations. We also take a hands-on, collaborative approach to the process, including franchisees’ input and working to understand their preferences and priorities, first and foremost. Before we begin the search or examine specific sites, we meet one-on-one with franchisees to determine which markets they would like to enter.

Westminster Pigtails Salon

“Many franchisees understandably prefer to open their business relatively close to home, making it easier and more convenient for them to be a hands-on owner,” said Wade Brannon, President and CEO of Pigtails & Crewcuts. “Plus, they’re already familiar with the area and community, which is important when starting a new kid’s hair salon business.”

After narrowing down a local market, our real estate support team moves on to the next stage of the site selection process – analyzing area demographics. We use market research software that provides us with this data, such as median household income, population density and an array of other valuable demographic insights.

Carrying out market research around the chosen location is crucial to help ensure there will be demand for the concept,” said Wade. “For instance, among other data points, our kid’s franchise brand performs best in areas with 100,000 or more residents and at least several thousand families with young children, so those are the markets we want to pursue and move forward with.”

Hitting the Ground Running with High-Traffic Areas That Drive Sales

Given favorable demographics that signal strong demand, we then begin the search for a specific site.

“We generally target several different types of locations, based on what has proven successful in similar markets,” Wade said. “These sites are often located in regional shopping centers with big-box anchors, or in local shopping centers with various service and retail businesses. These centers typically have high visibility, which is key for businesses like ours.”

Most importantly, however, the site needs to be located in an area where parents would regularly bring their children.

“We’ve seen a lot of success in neighborhood centers with grocery store-type anchors because parents frequently bring their children with them,” Wade said. “And because most families grocery shop on a weekly basis, these are high-traffic areas that regularly draw in our target demographic.”

In addition to high visibility and foot traffic, the location should also be easily accessible.

“Strong ingress and egress is crucial, and parking is a must,” Wade said. “Particularly in larger shopping centers, it’s important that the salon is just as easily accessible as it is visible.”

Laying the Foundation to Build a Profitable Franchise Business

Guided by years of experience and expertise, we’re able to help franchisees secure solid locations with high visibility, accessibility and foot traffic – at a price point that ensures they’re still able to turn a strong profit.

“Site selection isn’t just about finding the perfect physical location that ticks all the boxes we’re looking for, in terms of visibility, access, and demand,” Wade said. “We also need to make sure the site is just as appealing when it comes to initial purchase price, build-out costs and/or any ongoing expenses, like rent and utilities. No location is perfect, and it’s more important to ensure your overhead is low enough to allow for profitability.”

In order to secure the most competitive pricing, our corporate support team works with local commercial real estate partners to performs comparative research into the targeted location. Informed by the average sale for comparable commercial real estate in the area, franchisees are well-positioned to secure the best possible pricing during lease or contract negotiations. With industry-leading guidance, expertise and insights, we’re able to help franchisees secure the strongest sites, and put them on the path to success in business.

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

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How Kid’s Haircut Franchise Owners Benefit From Our Peer-to-Peer Network

There are many reasons franchising is such a popular way to own a business. It gives first-time entrepreneurs a much safer way to enter the world of business ownership. For veteran entrepreneurs, franchising offers a relatively low-risk investment to add to their portfolio. Owning a franchise also offers the benefit of built-in brand marketing, a loyal customer base, and a proven business model. Not only that, it also gives new franchisees the chance to leverage advice, experience, and expertise from people in their industry, as well as people operating within the exact same business model and brand.

At Pigtails & Crewcuts, our franchisees have the added benefit of our peer-to-peer franchise network to ensure their franchise ownership is as enjoyable and successful as possible.

Strong Community of Kid’s Haircut Franchise Owners

Our peer-to-peer franchise network gives new franchisees the opportunity to ask existing franchisees all the details about running their Pigtails & Crewcuts day-to-day. Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees come from all walks of life, from stay-at-home moms to former sales executives. This provides a diverse and experienced group of business owners for our new franchisees to interact with whenever they need.

pigtails & crewcuts franchisee with staff in kids' haircut franchise

For instance, multi-unit franchise owner Jennifer Tribble is one of many Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees who values the support of our peer-to-peer network tremendously.

My favorite thing about the brand is the community of ownership and having the feedback and support of others. I can’t imagine having to do this by myself.” – Jennifer

Franchise owners are all connected with each other through multiple channels. One of the primary ways they communicate and collaborate is through our private Facebook Group. On a daily basis, owners share experiences that others can draw inspiration from, comment on, or learn from. For example, many will share how they’ve gotten involved in their community with their kid’s hair salon franchise, which other franchisees can implement in their locations. Other times, the Facebook Group can act as a forum to share frustrations and seek solutions, whether it be a human resources or marketing issue. In addition to that digital connection, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees are able to meet face-to-face at a franchise conference every 18 months. These are important opportunities to spend time together with the extended Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise family, a group of like-minded individuals who are all going through similar situations operating their own kid’s hair salons.

Our Network Sets Us Apart

Most successful franchisors offer support to their franchisees, but this usually takes the form of franchise support. While corporate support is incredibly important to us at Pigtails & Crewcuts, we also take pride in providing our franchisees the opportunity to share concerns and solutions among themselves, as well.

Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisee Team

We know that being able to communicate with other kid’s haircut franchise owners, who have likely experienced the same situations as new franchisees, better understand which specific tips would best help new owners. We have the information, but they have firsthand experience. When it comes to business ownership, we know experience is everything. Cutting children’s hair comes with challenges, and running a successful children’s hair salon franchise becomes much easier with the right support in place. And, at Pigtails & Crewcuts, we know our franchisees need strong support in order to be successful. Our peer-to-peer franchise network offers a platform for that support, with plenty of advice and guidance from like-minded business owners like you.

Ready to open a business that’s set for success with our peer-to-peer franchise network? Download our franchise packet today!

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How Much Does it Cost to Open a Kid’s Salon Franchise?

Leading the U.S. beauty segment in market share, it’s no surprise entrepreneurs have been clamoring to take their cut of the $64 billion hair care industry by opening a kid’s salon franchise. And, with parents spending record-level sums on their children, there’s never been a better time to break into the fast-growing segment.

However, starting a kid’s salon business from scratch and building it from the ground up can be an arduous endeavor. From creating a business plan to finding the right real estate and generating awareness about an emerging brand, building a startup business requires a significant investment of time and capital. Not only that, unpredictable costs and unforeseen roadblocks can quickly throw even the most thorough plans off course. That’s why so many aspiring business owners turn to the franchise model when starting their kid’s hair salon franchise.

Kid’s salon franchise brands like Pigtails & Crewcuts provide you with a full framework for success in every facet of your business. Plus, our pre-set, transparent initial investment estimates help ensure you won’t be caught by surprise with additional costs that put you in a precarious financial position later on. Here’s a quick breakdown of the top three upfront costs to open a hair salon, and why our kid’s salon franchise model is the right investment:

1. Real Estate for a Kid’s Salon Franchise

Entrepreneurs that buy an existing hair salon generally expect to set aside $40,000 to $250,000 for the purchase of the physical location. That investment range doubles if they’re planning to build a salon from the ground up. At Pigtails & Crewcuts, we work hard to keep real estate and construction costs as affordable as possible – typically ranging from $15,000 to $90,000. This investment will inevitably vary by site, based on its size, condition, location, the local market, and other factors. However, our corporate support team performs extensive comparative research into local real estate options in order to help secure the most competitive pricing in the local market.

And, because our typical layout features a small footprint – usually between 1,200 and 1,500 square feet – we’re able to cut down on the initial purchase price for the space. This also helps minimize ongoing expenses, like utilities and maintenance, as well as insurance and any rent or lease payments. Beyond pricing negotiations, we also guide franchisees through every step of the site selection process, helping them find the most visible, accessible and high-traffic locations. Leveraging real estate software, we also help ensure strong demand for each location by vetting markets with the most desirable area demographics for our concept. This includes everything from median household income to population density and number of families in the area.

2. Furnishings, Equipment and Decorating

Independent salon owners can expect to spend roughly $47,000 on salon equipment and supplies alone. Styling stations with chairs can easily reach costs upward of $1,000 each, and other equipment and supplies like hair dryers, shampoo, scissors, clippers, and other specialty products account for the remaining expenses. Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees generally spend $18,000 to $27,000 for their entire interior design, furnishings, and decor, in addition to the heavy equipment and styling stations. Costs for hairdryers, washing stations, and other opening supplies are typically only $3,000 to $5,000.

Not only will our corporate team provide you with several site layout and design plans, we also deliver all the supplies and equipment you need to get up and running – for a complete turnkey solution. With pre-established, system-wide brand guidelines, you don’t have to worry about decorating the space yourself or spending thousands of dollars buying your own furnishings and décor.

3. Opening Inventory for a Children’s Hair Salon

Many salon owners choose to include a retail portion in their business, which creates an additional revenue stream. However, without the right guidance, expertise or wholesale buying power, it’s easy to overpay for these products or invest in the wrong categories or brands.

The actual cost of initial inventory will vary widely, but a fully-stocked retail section is often several thousands of dollars. For Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees, initial inventory typically costs $5,000 to $10,000. Driving additional sales per transaction, our retail sections typically account for 10 percent of unit revenue. Backed by our guidance and support in every area of business, Pigtails & Crewcuts franchisees are able to get up and running quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively – and start reaping the rewards of their investment as soon as possible.

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

Visual call to action link for Pigtails & Crewcuts franchise information packet

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As Pigtails & Crewcuts Celebrates 10th Anniversary, Franchise Owner Wade Brannon Shares Tips on How to Succeed in Business

Pigtails & Crewcuts celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. How time flies!

Since opening in 2004, the franchise has grown to more than 35 salons across the country and has been named has been named to the “Franchise 500” list as a top franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine for five consecutive years. In that time, we’ve seen a lot of changes in the industry, while some classic qualities remain as relevant today as ever.

 

In honor of Pigtails & Crewcuts’ 10th anniversary—and my 30 years, total, in the franchise industry since starting with Heavenly Ham in 1984—I’ve been reflecting on the lessons I’ve learned. To help business owners and franchise owners, I’ve put together the following tips.

1. Keep the focus local. Today, customers want to know that their business is benefitting the local economy. Business owners should be involved in their local community, and their business should reflect that culture. People like doing business with people they know, and franchises offer the flexibility to be locally grown, while having a larger network of business service support.

 2. Offer quality products and great service. Some values are timeless, like quality and service. The role of a franchisor is to give franchisees business management skills, suggestions and techniques to help them succeed. That way, each franchise is offering the same high quality products and consistent service.

3. Find a team member to help you keep on top of changing technology. Gone are the days when a business put all of its marketing eggs in print, TV, radio ads and billboards. Today, there are so many different ways to reach customers, with digital and social marketing, that if a business doesn’t put itself out in front of its customers on the latest platforms, it risks being left behind. Business owners should surround themselves with the best and the brightest, who are out there in front of the changes in technology. Keep an ongoing conversation with tech-savvy team members. They’re the ones that bring new ideas, fresh techniques and innovation to the enterprise.

4. Learn to scale operations. One franchise business can earn a solid living, but the goal for many business owners is to open up multiple units. With technology—from accounting software and point of sale systems to instant messaging—it’s easier now, than ever, to run a business without being the face of it. Whether a business owner plans on opening a single unit or five, the steps are the same: bring in the right staff, train them well and create a culture that makes both employees and customers come back.

 5. Make time for face time. It’s so easy to text, email and phone in all communications around a business. But business owners have to be careful of what they say, because it’s all too easy to misunderstand non-verbal communication. If there’s a touchy subject, pick up the phone or make an appointment to talk about it. And don’t just issue directives, have a conversation to explain and gauge reactions.

6. Take a deep breath. In this world of instant gratification and electronic communication, people want and expect things immediately. Don’t give in to that. Business owners need to remember to slow things down. Ponder a question overnight and then talk about it face to face or over the phone after full consideration.

7. Include family in a franchise decision. Starting a business can and will impact the entire family. In the beginning, it takes a lot of time to get the business running before an owner can step back. View any business as a start-up and expect to be exhausted and, at times, frustrated, before it gets easier to run. The ultimate goal of most business owners is to have a flexible schedule and work from home when they wish. With many businesses, that’s certainly attainable, but it takes hard work to get there.

8. Be flexible. As a franchise owner, it’s important to keep the cost of entry affordable while maintaining quality facilities and equipment. Business owners must anticipate their revenue stream and work backwards from there to figure out what they can afford in the realm of expenses, including construction and build out. Be willing to change and modify the package throughout the process.

9. Culture takes time to develop. It’s natural to expect that staff will show up and do everything the way that the business owner wants them to. It’s also a fantasy. Shaping a business doesn’t happen naturally or accidentally, it happens intentionally, and it takes time, patience, communication, discussion and lots of meetings.

10. Team building starts at the top. As a franchisor, Pigtails & Crewcuts’ direct clients are the franchisees. So while they’re working on building culture with staff, the corporate office is working on building culture with the each and every franchise owner. Every 18 months, the businesses come together for a company-wide conference, and throughout the year, they have access to an intranet, where they can share problems and solutions. An advisory board made up of franchise owners is in constant communication with the corporate office to share their needs and expectations, while the leaders at the company work hard to make the franchise owners feel supported and informed. Transparency is also key. All of parties involved in a business should know the strategic plan and how they fit into it.

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Back to School Means Back to the Salon: Pigtails & Crewcuts Highlights Top 4 Kids Hair Disasters that Occur Every Summer

Kids and summer hair disasters go together like sand and the sun. Now, as back-to-school season sets in, parents are making a mad dash to their local salon to get their children’s locks teacher-ready.

With more than 30 salon franchises across the country, Pigtails & Crewcuts has literally seen it all. Parents should know that their local stylist is there to help.

We surveyed our salon owners at Pigtails & Crewcuts and found that the following kid’s hair disasters are the most common:

  1. Sibling Cutlery. Brothers and sisters have a way with scissors, but their way is rarely considered “shear genius.” The stylists at Pigtails & Crewcuts regularly work with hair of all lengths (and angles) to return it to its photo-ready state. (Note: parents, while more skilled than siblings, have also been known to produce similar less-than-ideal haircuts).
  2. Foreign Invasion. While gum is the most common culprit, stylists across the country have seen their share of foreign objects lodged in hair, such as candy, paint, peanut butter, lotion and more. While moms and dads are often quick to hop on the internet to find a solution, this is a situation that’s often best left to the pros.
  3. Jamaican Me Crazy. Kids (and, often, their parents) love getting their hair braided on vacation. But what looked cute for a few days on the island has a way of getting matted and dirty on the mainland. Stylists are happy to help take the “dread” out of dreadlocks and return your child’s hair to its natural state.
  4. Green with Chlorine. As the summer ends and school bells begin ringing, you might notice a holdover from all that time you spent at the pool: green hair. Chlorine and other pool chemicals have a way of leaving a mark. Ask your stylist about special summer shampoos. Also, trimming off the dry and damaged ends makes a world of difference.

Does your family have a hair disaster relief plan? If not, it’s time to get acquainted with your local Pigtails & Crewcuts, where stylists are adept at taking care of business, whether it’s gum, make-up, color, food, scissors or any other common kid-tastrophe—no questions asked. You never know when such services will come in handy.

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Wade Brannon’s 10 Tips for Finding the Perfect Retail Space in a Tenant’s Market

It’s a tenant’s market when it comes to commercial real estate, but it won’t always be that way. According to the Urban Land Institute, recovery in the commercial real estate industry has begun, and will continue into 2013. Leasing, rents and pricing will rise, and the excess of available retail space will begin to decrease. That means that this is one of the best times in history to sign a commercial lease. As the owner of Pigtails & Crewcuts, which has more than 30 locations nationwide, and as the former senior vice president of Heavenly Ham, which had more than 200 locations in the United States before it was sold in 2002, I have advised hundreds of business owners on how to find the best retail space. And I’m telling you, now is the time to do it.

We are seeing rock-bottom prices, incentive packages and a willingness to negotiate like we’ve never seen in the leasing market. Despite those deals, it’s important for business owners to not be impulsive. The key to a successful lease in commercial real estate is research and negotiation. The lease you sign will have the power to make or break your business, so give it the time and attention it deserves.

Here are 10 tips on how to find the ideal retail space in the commercial real estate market.

  1. Location, location, location. To find the perfect location, business owners need to understand who their clients are and where they shop. Try and get into their head and approach each space through their point of view. Are you an impulse business? If so, you could benefit from being in a high-traffic area, where your store can continually market itself to passersby.
  2. Parking, parking, parking. Do not underestimate the value of available parking.
  3. Find a realtor that represents you—not him or herself. You want someone who is going to listen to what you’re looking for and show you all the listings that fit. Not just his or her own listings.
  4. Be honest with yourself about your business. Are you offering such a unique and sought after service that your customers will be willing to drive out of their way for it? If not, find a place centrally located where inconvenience can’t be a viable excuse.
  5. Know your demographics. You can learn a lot by using the resources on the Internet to find out the average income in an area, average cost of homes, nearby school districts, crime rate and more. You’ll want to open your business in a community that is filled with both customers and potential employees. Check with the local chamber of commerce to get a feel for the area’s business climate.
  6. Determine the best fit. Do you think your business will succeed better in a neighborhood center or a shopping mall? What about a small, local center? Would it be better off as a free-standing building? Is the community a good fit with your brand’s image? Find out where successful competitors are located to validate your decision.
  7. Understand your design needs going into it. Will you want a lot of window space, or limited? What are your ceiling requirements? What’s a realistic range when it comes to square footage? What are your door requirements? How about bathroom? Arm yourself with all of this information in the beginning so you don’t need costly renovations down the line.
  8. When looking at spaces, scrutinize what’s there and what’s missing. All spaces are going to have warts. The key is to find the spot with the fewest. For every space you look at, make a pros and cons list. Note things like proximity to complementary businesses, condition of the space—is it first generation or second?—and estimated construction costs.
  9. Know your zoning. Be certain that you will be able to legally operate your business in this location.
  10. Level with your landlord. Before you even start thinking about officially negotiating a lease, find out if the landlord is willing to play ball. Would he or she be open to lowering the rent (or giving you a month or more of free rent), including a tenant allowance, paying for parts of the build-out and offering other incentives? If not, maybe you’ll find another landlord who will.