Great Clips is Expanding its Time-Tested Model Throughout Long Island

The largest hair salon company in the world is looking to get even bigger.

With nearly 3,900 stores and over $1 billion in annual system wide revenue, Great Clips is now taking its time-tested franchise model to the East Coast. In particular, the fast-growing brand has its sights set on Long Island—an area that could be the new home to as many as 50 locations.

To date, there is one Great Clips location in Long Island, and with more than 7.8 million people currently residing in the region, Beth Caron, the director of franchise development at Great Clips, believes that the brand is just getting started in its Northeastern sprawl. In particular, Great Clips is on the hunt for franchisees in Suffolk and Nassau counties to help lead the charge.

According to Caron, Long Island boasts a lot of elements that work in Great Clips’ favor. In addition to its large and dense population, the region’s demographics are a sign of good things to come for the brand, too—that includes strong income levels. There’s also a large number of shopping centers throughout Long Island that offer good visibility and open access—all things that Great Clips franchisees look for when scouting possible locations for a salon.

“Great Clips already has a strong presence throughout Northeast markets—we have salons throughout New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Connecticut and Boston. We already have a good understanding of what customers expect in this region,” Caron said. “We have been very strategic in researching markets to ensure our new franchisees have all the tools and resources they need to succeed, which is why we’re confident in targeting Long Island next.”

Being a cut above the rest of the competition doesn’t hurt either. Great Clips’ success is often attributed to not only a culture that’s rooted in CEO Rhoda Olsen’s emphasis on kindness, but also the brand’s refusal to complicate things—and in a world where just about everything is complicated, that speaks volumes to people looking for a simple haircut. While other salons have added coloring, perms, the latest hair fads and a selective appointment schedule, Great Clips has stayed true to its original roots. And that’s the fact that haircuts will remain at a low cost and customers can always enjoy a very short wait time, if any.

“We know people want a convenient location with convenient hours. They don’t want the added pressure of having to make an appointment and being forced to stick to it. They don’t mind a limited selection of services either, because the prices are moderate,” Caron said. “This model has worked for us, and it hasn’t wavered in 30-plus years. We’re in big cities, small towns—in growing areas and rural areas. We’re everywhere. Everybody that’s willing to pay for a haircut is our potential customer. They’re already getting their haircut somewhere else. Our hope is that when we broaden our presence in Long Island, they’ll make the decision to come to Great Clips.”

To learn more about franchising opportunities with Great Clips, click here.