Memphis Business Journal: 'Great' national retailer prepares to enter Memphis market with up to 40 stores

Minnesota-based franchise concept Great Clips is eyeing Memphis for rapid development. It's uncommon for the 4,200 unit brand to have an untapped major metro market, and because of this, they are looking to bring as many as 40 to the area.

"The best-case scenario is we open all those [40] salons real quick," president of Great Clips Steve Hockett said in an interview with the Memphis Business Journal. "People don't drive 30 or 40 miles to go to a Great Clips, [so] having five or six in Memphis is not what we want. We want to be all over the Memphis market."

According to Hockett, the brand traditionally sees five to seven locations open per year in a new market and has little concern for existing competitors like Supercuts and Fantastic Sams.

"Memphis has people who get their hair cut. There are people in Memphis who like brands. There are people in Memphis who value their time," Hockett said to reporter Jacob Steimer. "We do well in markets similar to Memphis."

Existing Great Clips franchisee Kristy Beliew is helping to spark Memphis development by signing a three-store contract. The Arkansas resident opened the first locations in Jonesboro and is eager to mimic prior success raising brand awareness in a new market.

"Getting people through the door to try us out is the main focus," she said. "[I plan on doing that by] being involved in the community."

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