As Pigtails & Crewcuts, the 80-plus unit kids salon that aims to make haircuts enjoyable for everyone involved, marks its 20th anniversary, one name stands out as a driving force behind the brand’s transformation: Michelle Holliman, Vice President of Franchise Development. This year, Holliman is also celebrating her 20th anniversary with the company, a tenure that has been instrumental in shaping the franchise into what it is today.
Holliman began her journey in the franchising world as a receptionist before moving into franchise development roles. Holliman began her franchising career at Heavenly Ham, working alongside Wade Brannon (who is now the CEO of Pigtails & Crewcuts). When the company was acquired, she shifted to work in development roles at brands like Moe’s Southwest Grill and Planet Smoothie. Then, when Brannon acquired Pigtails & Crewcuts in 2005, the two reunited to begin building the franchise program from scratch.
“I started in February 2005, and the first year was all about laying the groundwork — getting the FDD [Franchise Disclosure Document] ready, building the operations manual, establishing vendor relationships and learning how to franchise the concept,” Holliman said. “But by the end of the year, we had awarded our first franchise and began setting the stage for national expansion.”
Over the past two decades, Holliman has guided the brand through economic shifts, industry changes and even a global pandemic. In 2008, when the financial crisis slowed franchise growth, she and the leadership team shifted focus to strengthening operations, supporting franchisees and refining unit economics.
“Our job is to support our franchise owners and help them succeed,” Holliman said. “During the recession, we knew new franchise sales would be tough, so we concentrated on helping our existing owners thrive. That dedication to franchisee success has been a cornerstone of our growth.”
The pandemic brought another major pivot. For years, Pigtails & Crewcuts operated as a walk-in-only business, believing that parents with young children needed the flexibility of unscheduled visits. However, COVID-19 necessitated a switch to appointment-based service — a change that ultimately improved labor efficiency and customer experience.
“It was a shift in mindset, but one that benefited both our franchisees and customers,” Holliman said. “Over 20 years, maintaining this flexibility and open-mindedness throughout the system has been incredibly beneficial.”
Another key part of Holliman’s leadership has been fostering a culture of collaboration between the franchise headquarters and franchise owners. Many of the brand’s innovations, including operational efficiencies and new customer service initiatives, have come directly from franchisee feedback.
“We welcome ideas from our franchise owners. They’re on the front lines every day, and their insights help us evolve,” Holliman said. “Being flexible and open-minded in collaboration with our owners has allowed us to grow while staying true to our core values.”
Holliman is especially proud of Pigtails & Crewcuts’ role as an inclusive, family-friendly space. The brand has made great strides in serving children with sensory sensitivities, providing a welcoming environment for all families.
“As awareness around sensory-friendly experiences grows, we’re continuing to train our franchisees and stylists to better serve kids with autism, OCD or other sensitivities,” Holliman said. “It’s about making every child feel comfortable and making haircuts a positive experience.”
Holliman shared a favorite memory from her 20 years with the brand, recollecting how a Tennessee owner created a safe, welcoming environment for a child’s first haircut.
“A mom came to the Tennessee location expressing that she’d like to get her son’s hair cut, but he wasn’t ready. He had autism and needed to get comfortable in the environment first, and the owner welcomed them to visit weekly and allow the little boy to look around,” Holliman said. “Every week, he would come in to familiarize himself with the environment. The hairstylists would show him the clippers and explain what they sounded and felt like. His mom would ask if he was ready, he’d say ‘No,’ and they’d come back the following week.
“One week, he came in and was speaking to the stylists, saying ‘Hi’ and asking how they were. Then he jumped up into a chair and told his mom, ‘I’m ready to get a haircut!’ The franchise owner was crying, the stylists were crying, mom was crying … And this sweet little boy was just excited for his haircut.”
The commitment of the entire system — from the corporate team to stylists to kids feeling accepted and having great haircut experiences at Pigtails & Crewcuts — is what makes the brand so special, and its ongoing commitment to this culture will continue to drive its success for years to come.
Looking ahead, Holliman sees continued growth for Pigtails & Crewcuts. With a strong foundation, a dedicated franchisee network and a focus on innovation, the brand is poised to expand further while staying true to its mission of providing a fun, stress-free haircut experience for kids.
After 20 years, Holliman remains passionate about helping franchisees achieve success. Her deep knowledge of franchising, combined with her commitment to support and innovation, has helped shape Pigtails & Crewcuts into the strong brand it is today.
“It’s not just about haircuts — it’s about the experience we create for families and the opportunities we provide for franchisees,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit1851franchise.com/pigtailsandcrewcuts.
Pigtails & Crewcuts
SPONSORED
Michelle Holliman, who joined the brand just as it began developing its franchise system, reflects on two decades of evolution and success and shares excitement for the future of the brand.
As Pigtails & Crewcuts, the 80-plus unit kids salon that aims to make haircuts enjoyable for everyone involved, marks its 20th anniversary, one name stands out as a driving force behind the brand’s transformation: Michelle Holliman, Vice President of Franchise Development. This year, Holliman is also celebrating her 20th anniversary with the company, a tenure that has been instrumental in shaping the franchise into what it is today.
Holliman began her journey in the franchising world as a receptionist before moving into franchise development roles. Holliman began her franchising career at Heavenly Ham, working alongside Wade Brannon (who is now the CEO of Pigtails & Crewcuts). When the company was acquired, she shifted to work in development roles at brands like Moe’s Southwest Grill and Planet Smoothie. Then, when Brannon acquired Pigtails & Crewcuts in 2005, the two reunited to begin building the franchise program from scratch.
“I started in February 2005, and the first year was all about laying the groundwork — getting the FDD [Franchise Disclosure Document] ready, building the operations manual, establishing vendor relationships and learning how to franchise the concept,” Holliman said. “But by the end of the year, we had awarded our first franchise and began setting the stage for national expansion.”
Over the past two decades, Holliman has guided the brand through economic shifts, industry changes and even a global pandemic. In 2008, when the financial crisis slowed franchise growth, she and the leadership team shifted focus to strengthening operations, supporting franchisees and refining unit economics.
“Our job is to support our franchise owners and help them succeed,” Holliman said. “During the recession, we knew new franchise sales would be tough, so we concentrated on helping our existing owners thrive. That dedication to franchisee success has been a cornerstone of our growth.”
The pandemic brought another major pivot. For years, Pigtails & Crewcuts operated as a walk-in-only business, believing that parents with young children needed the flexibility of unscheduled visits. However, COVID-19 necessitated a switch to appointment-based service — a change that ultimately improved labor efficiency and customer experience.
“It was a shift in mindset, but one that benefited both our franchisees and customers,” Holliman said. “Over 20 years, maintaining this flexibility and open-mindedness throughout the system has been incredibly beneficial.”
Another key part of Holliman’s leadership has been fostering a culture of collaboration between the franchise headquarters and franchise owners. Many of the brand’s innovations, including operational efficiencies and new customer service initiatives, have come directly from franchisee feedback.
“We welcome ideas from our franchise owners. They’re on the front lines every day, and their insights help us evolve,” Holliman said. “Being flexible and open-minded in collaboration with our owners has allowed us to grow while staying true to our core values.”
Holliman is especially proud of Pigtails & Crewcuts’ role as an inclusive, family-friendly space. The brand has made great strides in serving children with sensory sensitivities, providing a welcoming environment for all families.
“As awareness around sensory-friendly experiences grows, we’re continuing to train our franchisees and stylists to better serve kids with autism, OCD or other sensitivities,” Holliman said. “It’s about making every child feel comfortable and making haircuts a positive experience.”
Holliman shared a favorite memory from her 20 years with the brand, recollecting how a Tennessee owner created a safe, welcoming environment for a child’s first haircut.
“A mom came to the Tennessee location expressing that she’d like to get her son’s hair cut, but he wasn’t ready. He had autism and needed to get comfortable in the environment first, and the owner welcomed them to visit weekly and allow the little boy to look around,” Holliman said. “Every week, he would come in to familiarize himself with the environment. The hairstylists would show him the clippers and explain what they sounded and felt like. His mom would ask if he was ready, he’d say ‘No,’ and they’d come back the following week.
“One week, he came in and was speaking to the stylists, saying ‘Hi’ and asking how they were. Then he jumped up into a chair and told his mom, ‘I’m ready to get a haircut!’ The franchise owner was crying, the stylists were crying, mom was crying … And this sweet little boy was just excited for his haircut.”
The commitment of the entire system — from the corporate team to stylists to kids feeling accepted and having great haircut experiences at Pigtails & Crewcuts — is what makes the brand so special, and its ongoing commitment to this culture will continue to drive its success for years to come.
Looking ahead, Holliman sees continued growth for Pigtails & Crewcuts. With a strong foundation, a dedicated franchisee network and a focus on innovation, the brand is poised to expand further while staying true to its mission of providing a fun, stress-free haircut experience for kids.
After 20 years, Holliman remains passionate about helping franchisees achieve success. Her deep knowledge of franchising, combined with her commitment to support and innovation, has helped shape Pigtails & Crewcuts into the strong brand it is today.
“It’s not just about haircuts — it’s about the experience we create for families and the opportunities we provide for franchisees,” she said. “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built, and I’m excited for what’s to come.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit1851franchise.com/pigtailsandcrewcuts.
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