Leading European Salon Group Nikita Hair Breaks Into $75 Billion U.S. Hair and Beauty Segment Through Franchising

When Inger Ellen Nicolaisen became a mother at 15, she knew she’d need to be resourceful if she wanted to thrive. A woman of humble beginnings who grew up raising her three brothers in their 300-person village in Norway, Nicolaisen was already bearing a lot of responsibility as the result of her tumultuous home life. Having a child only made her more determined to succeed in providing for her family, accelerating the entrepreneurial drive that would eventually lead her to found Nikita Hair in 1984.

Nicolaisen’s had a number of small business endeavors before beginning her adventure into hair and beauty. In her early twenties, she began working in a hair salon, greeting clients and cleaning the space throughout the day. It was there that she both discovered her passion for the beauty industry.  Nicolaisen quickly learned all about the industry and soon found herself leading business operations, and she set out her own and opened their first salon, Nikita.  Soon enough, Nicolaisen’s business portfolio had grown to five salons throughout Norway, then 10, then 50. By prioritizing quality of service and client experience, Nikita Hair stands out all its own in the salon services space, elevating customer expectations of what their regular haircut and can and should be. Doing so has helped Nikita Hair become one of Europe’s leading salon brands, with over 150 hair salons across Europe. Now, the brand is seeking to capitalize on more than three decades of experience to tap into the $75 billion hair and beauty market in the U.S. through franchising.

With an estimated initial investment ranging from $220,500 - $334,300 including a $43,500 franchise fee, a Nikita Hair franchise presents an extremely cost-effective means of achieving the dream of business ownership in the beauty and salon services space. With its U.S. presence already established with its headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, and forthcoming studios in South Carolina and Cincinnati set to open in 2020, the brand has its sights set on signing agreements for another 15 salons this year, with a focus on the Southeast region. Plus, with wide-open market availability to develop the Nikita Hair brand across the U.S., there’s no better time to join the Nikita Hair family.

“One of the primary reasons we are pursuing growth through franchising on U.S. soil is due to the lack of a dominant national player in the salon space that delivers luxury services at a competitive price point,” said Andrea Lyman, CEO of Nikita Hair.                                        “Our offering goes beyond that of the basic, and traditional budget salon concepts found throughout the U.S. and includes an extensive menu of services such as hair extensions, balayage and more.There’s a consultation aspect to our offering and a genuine degree of care in our work, making us more than just a task our clients cross off of their to-do lists.”

Becoming a trusted advisor to its clients in their quest to look great and feel even better is one of the driving forces of Nikita Hair’s strong culture. The brand has gotten to this point of tremendous opportunity as a direct result of its focus on family and its propensity to invest in people; in fact, of the Nicolaisens’ 14 children, 3 biological and 11 that call her mom, 8 work for the company. 

The brand does more than just talk the talk, too; Nikita Hair takes its commitment to the betterment of its clients and the community by supporting A Hand to Children, a foundation that provides assistance to children in need through food and clothing. For every haircut, Nikita Hair donates a portion of the proceeds to support the organization that Nicolaisen founded.

“We believe in adding value to the lives of our clients and members of our franchise community,” Lyman said. “We seek solutions and believe that anything is possible, and following Inger’s lead, encourage professional and personal development through education with a focus on giving back. We know how important working conditions are, so we maintain a friendly and creative environment in our salons, which not only leads to an engaged and highly skilled employee pool, but also fosters a loyal client base, as well.”

Beyond just prime market availability and a strong company culture that has resulted in longevity and sustained growth on a global scale, the Nikita Hair business opportunity further distinguishes itself due to its signature product line and salon-exclusive treatments that drive sizable revenue for the concept—nearly three times higher than the industry standard, more precisely. The brand’s exclusive Eleni and Chris product line is a key contributor to its success, adding further value to the Nikita Hair concept as a whole.

“The retail element is a strong revenue opportunity for our business partners with the quality of the products fueling this success,” Lyman said. “Inger and her daughter, Christinah developed Eleni and Chris after years of being asked for product recommendations from clients, so they took it upon themselves to develop a high-quality line with Scandinavian ingredients like cloudberries, all with their customers in mind. The results have paid dividends in our strong supply chain and generated strong revenue that has helped fuel the brand’s staying power, something franchisees can benefit greatly from as we grow throughout the U.S.”

Successful Nikita Hair franchisees need not be expert hairstylists; rather, the brand seeks candidates with sufficient management experience and people skills above all. The brand’s established business model, proven methods and ongoing training, education and support help its partners succeed at the highest level. 

“The most important thing we look for in a partner is attitude,” Lyman said. “We want enthusiasm and positivity about the concept—our most successful partners embrace Nikita Hair’s mission to help our clients feel their best and have the entrepreneurial grit to bring the brand to life.”

The estimated initial investment to purchase a Nikita Hair franchise ranges from  $220,500 - $334,300 including a $43,500 franchise fee.  Single-and multi-unit opportunities are available. For more information, visit https://nikitahair.com/nikita-hair-franchise/.