The Coronavirus pandemic has impacted people and businesses around the world. For franchise owners, the support of a franchisor during these once-in-a-lifetime circumstances makes all the difference.
At Pigtails & Crewcuts, our team is doing all we can to ensure our franchisees are set up for success during and after the COVID-19 outbreak.
“The current situation is unprecedented and caught a lot of people off guard,” said Wade Brannon, Pigtails & Crewcuts CEO. “Our job is to keep our owners poised to come out of this crisis in a good position within their respective markets.”
Here’s how we are supporting our franchisees through this difficult time:
Constant Communication
In addition to email and other modes of communication, having verbal conversations with our franchisees during this time is critical. We are in contact with most owners daily, due to the ever-changing climate. Many franchisees have questions regarding legislation and relief bills being passed, how to communicate with their account holders, landlords, and how to manage staff communication in order to return to full efficiency once this passes. Our team is there to answer any questions our franchisees may have and provide guidance.
As we talk with our franchisees, we are helping them focus their efforts and plan for the future. We know it’s important for our franchisees to make well-informed decisions during this time, so we are sharing helpful information from the International Franchise Association and other sources. If our franchisees have good information, they will make better decisions for their business, staff, and clients.
Marketing Support
Our priority not only now, but at any time, is keeping people safe and keeping people informed. As our franchisees follow government guidance by changing their daily practices or hours of operation, they need to let their clients and community know.
Our team has helped salons update their webpages with temporary hours, closing messages, and links to their social media accounts for updates. In addition, our marketing firm has created material regarding daily cleaning efforts and salon closures for franchisees. They have also built email templates, so the Pigtails & Crewcuts name stays top-of-mind for our customers.
We know more people are on social media platforms while stuck at home, so we are providing tips to our franchisees so they can ensure their salon stays front and center. The tips sent also include graphics and assets provided by our marketing firm and ideas of what types of marketing franchisees could be working on during this time.
Finding Financing Solutions
Of course, one of the primary concerns for our franchise owners is how they will fund their business through this time and start thriving once it is over. That means first and foremost making sure their financial burdens can be met throughout lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders.
To help ease their stress, we are coming up with ways to facilitate funds for our franchisees, including seeking additional funding through small business grants. Owners are also finding creative ways to keep cash flowing into their businesses, such as hosting online auctions.
Staying Positive and Planning for the Future
Throughout this crisis, our team is leading by example. When we talk to our franchisees, we are honest and positive. We are helping our franchisees stay positive and see the light at the end of the tunnel by planning with them, so later all they need to do is put their plan into action.
Before this happened, we talked to franchisees about daily operations, financials, and marketing. Now we are talking about using time wisely and planning, so they can open their salon stronger than ever. For many salon owners, this is an opportunity to use the downtime to address any operational shortcomings they had been facing previously and overhaul their business for the better.
Throughout it all, our team is developing plans of action for our franchise owners so they feel secure through this entire process, from temporary closing through reopening.
“We’ve always considered our system to be one big family,” Wade said. “It’s more important now than ever for us to show our franchisees that we care about them and that we want to see them succeed.”
