From Uni K Waxer to Owner, Entrepreneur Takes Over Iconic East Village Studio

After working her way up from receptionist to waxer, Lovepreet Kaur learned that the Uni K Wax location she worked in was for sale. Due to her strong belief in the brand and unshakable drive to maintain the studio where she had worked for so long, she chose to invest. So, after six years as an employee, she partnered with Manny Singh to become the owner.

Now, Kaur and Singh are celebrating their first year of successful operations, noting excitement about further strengthening the foundation of the East Village, New York, location and longer-term plans to potentially grow to additional studios. 

In addition to the love both Kaur and Singh have for the brand and business model, they both note the importance of the power behind the Uni K Wax name. 

“In business, people can fail, systems can fail and plans can go wrong, but with Uni K, our wax never fails,” Singh said.

With this in mind, the pair is charging forward, working diligently each day to deliver on the Uni K Wax experience clients know and love while carrying on the legacy of Uni K in the East Village.

Kaur and Singh took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Lovepreet Kaur: I was with this studio as a waxer for six years before we bought the franchise. I loved the brand so much, and when the location came up for sale, I knew I had to jump on the opportunity.

Manni Singh: I was with Verizon before this. I had plenty of experience with sales and customer relations in the retail business, and I thought I could use that to help this business grow. So, when Lovepreet took over, I came on board in hopes of using my experience to elevate the business even more.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Kaur: Having worked in the studio for so long before becoming an owner, I felt like I had a good understanding of how things worked. I had worked my way up from a receptionist to a waxer before becoming an owner, so I’ve seen the business from multiple perspectives. I think other people should know how important the brand you choose to invest in is. Uni K Wax is known for its wax, and having a differentiator like that to drive our business is super valuable.

Singh: I also have experience franchising through another company, so I understood how the model works in terms of support and fee structures.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Singh: One of the first things that excited me was that we have something so unique. We have something that other companies just are not offering. When we have that brand and product to offer to our customers, and we are confident that we’re the only ones providing it — that’s exciting.

Kaur: Stepping into the ownership role, given that I had started in the lowest or least experienced position in the studio, is a really meaningful thing for me. I have the experience to understand what we need to work on, and I have seen the customer experience from multiple angles, so I have the perspective and expertise necessary to guide my team. I’m very excited to be bringing this perspective to a leadership position, because I know it will continue to be a great benefit to the studio.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Singh: We want to build strong pillars first. That way, we have something to build on top of. We always want the best customer experience possible — the “wow” factor. From the front desk team to waxers in the back, every single person here should be giving the customer the best service and attention.

Once we’re very confident in this, I could see us expanding into multiple locations down the road.

I could never compromise the customer experience. They had a choice, and they chose us, so we need to follow through. Because of that, growing to multiple studios is less important to me than building a strong foundation and great reputation.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Kaur: We took over because we saw the potential. I started working here in 2017, and it’s really close to my heart. I’ve seen this location before and after COVID and through all other stages. I know it has potential, and I know we can reach our goals. Whatever our clients need, our goal is to have tailored solutions to meet them.

Singh: There is so much history in this studio. Even if the business model wasn’t working, it has sentimental value. Given the foundation and resources Uni K has provided us with and the attention we’re prepared to give it, we’re going to take it to the limit.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Kaur: Just go for it. If it’s something you want to do, you don’t need to think twice. Take the big step! With Uni K specifically, it’s a great brand and great product.

Singh: You must enter a brand or business that is something unique. You need to be able to stand behind your product knowing that you’re offering something amazing. In business, people can fail, systems can fail and plans can go wrong, but with Uni K, our wax never fails. Find a concept that you can trust implicitly due to the strength of the foundation of the brand.

ABOUT UNI K WAX

Uni K Wax, the 34-unit hair removal and waxing franchise, was founded in 1993 by Noemi Grupenmager. Frustrated by inadequate waxing options for her daughters, Grupenmager developed a natural, elastic wax as an alternative to the painful honey wax and paper strips. She also introduced a skin-friendly application and removal technique for faster, more comfortable services. Today, the brand offers a dynamic blend of 160 waxing services — from eyebrow waxing to facial waxing, Brazilian bikini wax and full body wax — for unisex customers.

The Uni K Wax brand began its franchising journey in 2007 and has since expanded to include 33 franchised and one corporate locations in states including Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas. 

In 2023, Grupenmager decided to retire and sell the company. Exaltare Capital Management, a Boston-based private equity firm with a focus on franchise and multi-unit businesses, and Heather Elrod, former Amazing Lash CEO and Managing Partner at Conscious Capital Growth, acquired the Uni K Wax brand. 

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Uni K Wax Studio ranges from $390,135 to $650,345, depending upon the size of the location and the type of market in which it is located. If you sign a Multi-Unit Development Agreement, your Initial Franchise Fee will be reduced to $355,000 for your third Studio and $330,000 for all Studios you agree to develop for 6+.