Gabriel and Josette Cross were familiar with Pigtails & Crewcuts, the kids salon franchise, from their previous community. However, after moving to their new neighborhood, Josette asked the locals for recommendations on where to take her kids for a haircut and was met with mixed responses.

“We loved Pigtails & Crewcuts, and I just kept thinking, ‘Man, I wish we had a Pigtails & Crewcuts here. The community needs it!’” she said. “It had been on my mind for a while. The community kept growing, and I finally told Gabe, ‘We’ve got to do this,’ so we took some time to ponder and ultimately decided to go all-in.”

The Crosses took the time to chat with 1851 Franchise to discuss all of this and more. Here’s what they had to say:

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Gabriel Cross: I'm a commercial pilot; I’ve been in aviation for almost 15 years and in a manager role for eight. We were looking for ways to use our management skills in a new context and both wanted to own a business — and franchising seemed like a good next step.

We knew that Pigtails & Crewcuts was a good company with an established reputation, and it was a great fit for us.

Josette Cross: I was in the hospitality industry for 15 years, and the majority of that time was spent as the assistant general manager for Pappas Restaurants. Then, I became an assistant service manager working for Sewell Lexus. 

After moving to Parker County, I noticed a need for a kids' salon. I asked all the other moms where they were getting their kids’ haircuts, and none of the responses were about kid-specific salons. I had plenty of positive experiences with Pigtails & Crewcuts in our previous community and I just knew I needed to bring it to the area.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Josette: I was drawn to Pigtails & Crewcuts more than I was drawn to franchising as a whole. We loved Pigtails & Crewcuts for our own kids, and I was excited to bring that experience to our current community. I was excited to learn it was a franchise because I knew we would have strong support and guidance along the way.

Gabriel: People should know that patience is the big thing. If you’re getting into a franchise because you want to be open a month or two from now, you’re not going to have a great time. Franchising — and the support that comes with it — streamlines the process, but there’s still a process that you have to follow and execute on.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Josette: Since our first son was born, we’ve been going to Pigtails & Crewcuts. He went there at six months old and I fell in love with it.

Gabriel: The company values of community service and involvement also aligned with our own.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Gabriel: Our big goal, after we get the first location open, is expanding how many locations we have open with Pigtails & Crewcuts. We see a need for more of these salons in other areas.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Josette: Our older son has a speech disability that we found out about when he was pretty young. We decided as a family and as a couple that we needed time with him and to support him. I’ve always been a “go for it” person, and going for this will allow us to have that time that we want while also making an impact in the community. We want time with our community, time with our kids, and to be known as the people who are there and available for our neighbors. 

I also feel a connection between our approach with our son and the Pigtails & Crewcuts approach for kids. We aim to make a safe space for him and give him the time and support he needs to thrive, and there’s a similar approach in the salon. Having sensory-friendly items in the salon — things that aren’t too loud or too flashy — is very important. That’s something we have to pay extra attention to, and in a world where he didn’t have his disability, I never would’ve learned about that. 

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Josette: We learned a long time ago that you have to trust and follow the process, and the same is true in the franchise process.

About Pigtails & Crewcuts: 

Pigtails & Crewcuts is a kid’s hair salon franchise designed with family in mind. Franchising since 2005, it has become a premier destination for children’s hairstyling and a stress-free experience for parents. Pigtails & Crewcuts provides a range of hair care services for boys and girls aged zero to 12, and offers a custom line of child-friendly hair products, hair accessories, toys, and gifts. Each salon is a fun, engaging space where children can feel comfortable and enjoy their haircuts, complete with activities, event areas and a family-friendly atmosphere. With over 80 locations across more than 20 states, Pigtails & Crewcuts is continuously expanding and establishing itself as a leading franchise in the growing niche market of children’s hair care. To learn more about Pigtails & Crewcuts or to find a salon near you, please visit www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Pigtails & Crewcuts, please visit www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com.