When Heather Arnold walked into a Pigtails & Crewcuts salon looking for a place to get her son’s hair cut, she had no idea she was about to find her next career. After more than a decade in the corporate world, commuting long hours and struggling with mom guilt, she knew she wanted something different — something that gave her more time with her family while still allowing her to build a successful future.

In early 2020, Arnold and her husband opened their first Pigtails & Crewcuts location in Clermont, Florida. Just weeks later, everything shut down. Then, in May, right before they were able to reopen, she gave birth to their second child. Juggling a newborn, a toddler and a new business in the middle of a pandemic wasn’t easy, but Arnold pushed through. She used the downtime to strengthen her team, focus on operations and set herself up for long-term success. Now, four years later, she’s preparing to open her second location in Davenport, proving that resilience, the right support system and a passion for what you do can turn even the toughest challenges into a thriving business.

1851 Franchise spoke to Arnold about her franchise journey and plans for the future. Here’s what she 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?

Heather Arnold: Many years ago, I worked in corporate for an energy company as a mid-level manager. My office was about an hour away, so my commute was long — an hour there, an hour back. I did that for over a decade, about 12 years.

When my husband and I started a family, I struggled with mom guilt. I had to put my son in day care at just 3 1/2 months old and return to work. Because of my commute, I missed the mornings with him, and by the time I got home, he was ready for bed. I wanted more flexibility, but my company didn’t offer remote work options. So, I decided to leave.

At the same time, my husband and I started discussing business ownership. We wanted something structured — franchising seemed like a safe entry point since neither of us had experience running a business from scratch.

Fast forward about a year. My little one needed a haircut. I Googled a place and found Pigtails & Crewcuts. We went in, and I noticed a sign about franchise opportunities. That got the wheels turning. We reached out to [Vice President of Franchise Development] Michelle [Holliman], [Franchise Development Coordinator] Hannah [Swanson] and others at the corporate office. We loved what we heard and decided to move forward.

1851: When did you open your Pigtails & Crewcuts salon? 

Arnold: We’re opening our second location now. Our first location, in Clermont, Florida, opened in February 2020. We had to close in March but were able to reopen in May 2020.

To make things even more interesting, we opened three days before I had my second child, so I couldn’t even be there for the reopening. It was a wild time.

Now, we’re about to open our second location in Davenport, Florida, which is set to open this summer.

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?

Arnold: I didn’t have a lot of information about franchising before we started considering other options. I knew I didn’t want to stay in the corporate world — I didn’t want to be locked into an eight-to-five or nine-to-five job anymore. I was ready to try something new, but I didn’t know much about franchising. I just thought it might be an easier starting point than opening a business from scratch and hoping it succeeded.

We worked with a franchise broker for a few months, well before I left my corporate job. That process helped us understand more about franchising — things like costs and what you get out of it. We didn’t find the right fit through that method, but it gave us some foundational knowledge. It wasn’t until we started talking to Pigtails & Crewcuts that I really understood how involved they were and what kind of support they provided. That level of support was a major reason we decided to move forward with them.

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

Arnold: I’ve always loved children. I was an education major before switching to business in college, and I worked in preschools and babysat for years. My corporate job was the complete opposite — it was in energy, which was very boring for me. So, I was excited to get back into something involving kids.

What really stood out to me about Pigtails & Crewcuts was the support from the corporate team. A lot of franchises let you buy in, use the name, and then you’re on your own — they collect their fees, but the ongoing support is minimal. With Pigtails & Crewcuts, it was different. They are there for you three months in, three years in — even 10 years down the line. We still use their resources regularly. That level of involvement and support was a huge factor in our decision.

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

Arnold: Of course, financial success is always a goal, but for me, success means keeping the brand focused and ensuring everything we do aligns with Pigtails & Crewcuts’ branding. We want our customers to love us and be happy with every visit. I also want my employees to be happy.

One of the biggest things I emphasize is work-life balance. I do everything I can to help my team get the right schedule, take time off when needed and support each other. That teamwork and flexibility were a major reason I left my corporate job, and I want to create a positive culture for my employees.

Growth-wise, we’re opening a second location. Our Clermont salon is in Lake County, and our new Davenport location will be in Polk County, so they serve different communities. Interestingly, we already have customers from Davenport visiting our Clermont location, so we’ll have a built-in customer base when we open. It’s funny to think we already have regulars before even opening, but it’s exciting.

1851: Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?

Arnold: I think we’re one of the few salons that opened right before, during or just after the COVID boom. Everything we went through was completely different from most of the other salons in the system. We came out strong, and I believe there’s not much that can bring you down if you just keep pushing forward. We could have taken it as a sign to quit, but instead, we used that time to market, strengthen our team, hire and train. That downtime ended up working to our advantage.

It also helped that we’re in Florida, where there were fewer restrictions, so we could get back to business faster. We had a tough start, but we came through it successfully. At the end of the day, challenges will happen, it’s all about how you handle them and keep moving forward.

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

Arnold: Do your research. Take the time to really understand the brand before signing on. Find something that speaks to you. If you don’t care about what the company does or what it stands for, there’s no point in doing it. I wouldn’t buy into something that doesn’t interest me at all because this is something you’ll be doing every day. You’ll be in it day in and day out, so it’s important to choose a brand that aligns with you. Otherwise, you might end up disliking what you’ve invested in.

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.