Multi-Unit Frenchies Franchise Owner All-in to Revolutionize the Nail Care Industry

Frenchies Modern Nail Care, the rapidly expanding nail care franchise, is known for its innovative approach to the nail salon industry. With its unique business model, Frenchies has been attracting franchise owners from various backgrounds, eager to make their mark in the booming nail care sector. One such franchise owner is Nikki Hughes, whose journey from accounting to becoming a successful multi-unit Frenchies franchise owner is nothing short of inspiring.

The Journey to Frenchies

Before diving into the world of franchising, Hughes had a career in accounting. However, her passion lay elsewhere. "The beauty industry is really what I love," Hughes said. “I left the accounting world to raise my family and spent about 10 years as a stay-at-home mom.”

After a decade-long hiatus from the professional world to raise her four children, Hughes began exploring opportunities to re-enter the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was during this time that a visit to a Frenchies salon with her friend changed the trajectory of her career.

“Tiffany Pegues, my business partner, asked me to go get a mani-pedi at Frenchies,” said Hughes. “I was blown away at the cleanliness, the modern branding and the membership program. It was completely different from any nail salon I had ever been to.”

Recognizing the potential of the brand and the absence of a Frenchies salon in Colorado Springs, she began her journey into franchising. After thorough research, consultations with the leadership team and regular visits to the Littleton Frenchies, Hughes and her husband decided to take a leap of faith and sign on with the brand.

When asked about her decision to choose Frenchies, Hughes says there were several reasons, key among them being the brand's commitment to the guest experience cycle.

“If you walk into a traditional express nail salon, they don’t want to know your name — they are about quantity over quality,” she said. “We focus on quality. We are appointment based rather than the typical nail salon model of walk-in and wait, for example, because we really want to focus on taking care of the guest. The experience starts before the guest ever comes in and extends long after they leave with follow up calls and texts. That commitment to providing the best experience allows us to get better and learn from feedback.”

Unlike a typical nail salon, Frenchies guests are treated to a spa-like experience above and beyond what they’ve come to expect. For example, Frenchies does not look, smell or feel like a traditional nail salon. Studios are always light, open and airy, completely devoid of the toxic chemical smell that has become synonymous with nail salons. From stringent disinfection practices to the use of an autoclave and lack of jetted foot tubs, which are known to harbor bacteria, Frenchies nail studios aim to set the standard for cleanliness in nail salons. Frenchies also carefully selects products that are free of the worst toxic chemicals. In fact, the brand does not use acrylics, which have been linked to a plethora of health issues, at all.

Rapid Growth

After signing on with the brand last year, Hughes planned to open her Colorado Springs location at the start of 2023. But, little did she know, the journey was just getting started. An opportunity to take over two existing Frenchies locations presented itself before the first location was even open, and Hughes, recognizing the potential for growth, teamed up with her business partners Clarence and Tiffany Pegues, to acquire them.

“Being able to open multiple locations like that lowered the investment,” said Hughes. “And I am somebody who loves a challenge, so I was excited. When the opportunity arose to purchase two existing locations, Clarence and Tiffany were excited to be onboard because they saw the potential for success. Now, Clarence and I run the day-to-day operations.”

Since taking over ownership and getting all three locations up and running earlier this year, the support from Frenchies has been essential, Hughes says. "They helped us figure it out as we went, allowing us to learn about the industry," she said. “The leadership team really feels like our friends. They’ve taken us under their wing. We want to make sure all our Frenchies locations represent the brand the right way.”

For franchise owners like Hughes, the Frenchies corporate team helps with the studio grand opening plan, monthly marketing content, P&L management, recruiting, hiring and training and more. And once open, Frenchies owners have access to a full suite of tools, such as a full-on roadmap training process and a learning platform where new training courses are regularly uploaded. Franchise owners can also look forward to one-on-one sessions with the leadership team and quarterly state of the business calls.

With the guidance of the Frenchies team, Hughes has achieved remarkable success, starting strong  with over 300 appointments booked even before the official opening of the Colorado Springs location.

A Passion-Driven Endeavour

Today, Hughes' passion for the Frenchies brand and the industry is evident. "I love the industry, I love the brand and I love being an ambassador for the brand," she said. “Some people may buy into a franchise just as an investment, but that is not where my heart is. My husband Anthony and I have talked about the future, and I view this as a long game. We hope to open more locations in the future. Our goal is to take over the world and revolutionize our nail industry by providing a safe, healthy and clean place for employees, customers and everyone on the team.”

Looking ahead, Frenchies Modern Nail Care continues to offer franchise owners like Hughes the opportunity to be a part of a brand that prioritizes cleanliness, customer experience and innovation. Frenchies plans to award 10 franchise units and open three new salons by the end of 2023, and the team has identified several target markets primed for franchise growth, such as Colorado, Texas, Florida, Minnesota and Georgia.

“We are thrilled to welcome Nikki to the Frenchies family and we’re proud of the growth she is already seeing in her community,” said Frenchies Founder Stephanie Coffey. “If you want to be an entrepreneur, be your own boss, lead a team of young professionals and give back to the community all at the same time, this is your opportunity. By joining Frenchies Modern Nail Care, you can participate in revolutionizing a fragmented industry by providing a one-of-a-kind experience to the communities you serve.”

With a total investment ranging between $270,042 to $531,231, aspiring franchise owners can learn more about the opportunity at https://1851franchise.com/frenchies.