Great Clips Targets U.S. Coasts and Canada for Franchise Development in 2021

Great Clips, the hair salon franchise with more than 4,400 units, has pinpointed a number of new locations where the brand can grow healthy new businesses and offer best-in-class franchisee support. The brand is now looking for qualified franchisees in New England, New York and Southern California in the U.S., as well as Winnipeg and Ottawa in Canada.

The Great Clips brand has 40 years in the business, a 13-year streak of positive same-store sales growth and one of the most recognized names in the category. Franchisor Great Clips, Inc. offers unparalleled support and coaching to franchisees in any of the brand’s open markets. According to Beth Nilssen, director of franchise development for Great Clips, Inc., the franchise is looking to open many new locations across the U.S. and Canada.

“In each of our target markets, we’ve determined the demographics are right for Great Clips salons,” said Nilssen. “There is a large market for people looking for affordable haircuts at a place where the whole family feels comfortable.” 

While the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly caused some challenges in the last year, Great Clips prides itself on having been the first convenient hair salon franchise to offer the option for customers to check-in online. And the brand launched an extension to Online Check-In® in 2020: ReadyNext™ text alerts to notify customers when their estimated wait time reaches 15 minutes. These investments in technology have paid off greatly for the brand.

“Our target customer is someone who values convenience – so we’re great for anyone who is looking for a great haircut but wants to experience that in the most convenient way possible,” said Nilssen. “The fact that we’ve developed the technology to make that a top priority of our guest experience speaks volumes.”

Great Clips Canada Opportunities

Great Clips already has more than 150 salons in Canada, but the country of 30 million can support many more, according to Nilssen.

“We have more than 50 salons in the greater Toronto area, so now there’s an opportunity to grow beyond the GTA into Ottawa and into the neighboring province of Manitoba, specifically in the city of Winnipeg,” said Nilssen. “Our brand is up and running in the country, and, following our trusted hub-and-spoke model of franchise expansion, we’re ready to provide Ottawa and Winnipeg franchisees with the kind of support our franchisees have come to expect from the number-one salon brand in the world.”

Great Clips Northeastern U.S. Opportunities

In the state of New York and in the New England region, Great Clips also sees the potential for new salons, as the population-dense region has already proven fertile ground for the successful brand with steady expansion over the last 10 years.

Great Clips Southern California Opportunities

Like New York, Southern California presents a densely populated area full of millions of families that closely fit the demographic of Great Clips customers.

“Certain areas in Southern California are known as hot spots for high-end fashion, but Great Clips offers a break from overpriced salons and gives the customer who is focused on value and convenience exactly what they are looking for in their haircut routine,” said Nilssen. “We know that there are people in each of these markets who value exactly that – and that is what Great Clips salons provide.”

Why Invest in Great Clips Now

Regardless of the territory, Great Clips has one of the most recognizable brand names in the $47 billion salon industry. The brand grows carefully based on a hub-and-spoke model, so its locations are highly sought-after by aspiring franchisees. With the pandemic coming to an end and more in-person retail opportunities opening up, now is the time to get in business with Great Clips.

The total investment to open a Great Clips salon ranges from $136,900 to $259,400. For more information, visit https://www.greatclipsfranchise.com/.

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