Pigtails & Crewcuts

When&nbsp;<a href="https://pigtailsandcrewcuts.com/geneva-il/kids-haircuts/pigtails-amp-crewcuts-geneva-ils-newest-childrens-hair-salon/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pigtails-crewcuts-sensory-friendly-salon-gonzalez-2728843" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marylou Gonzalez</a> and her husband, Juan, were searching for the right business to own, they never expected their personal experience as parents to lead them to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pigtails-crewcuts-sensory-friendly-salon-gonzalez-2728843" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a>, the kid’s hair salon franchise.As a former elementary and special education teacher, Marylou put her career on hold to raise and homeschool her children. But finding a comfortable, child-friendly place for haircuts proved difficult for their son, who has sensory sensitivities. The themed chairs, TVs and fun atmosphere of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a> transformed the experience for him — but the nearest salon was 45 minutes away.That’s when they decided to bring Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts to their own community.Now, three years later, they’ve expanded into a second location, continuing their mission to make haircuts fun, welcoming, and inclusive for all families.1851 spoke with Marylou to learn more about her background, her franchising journey with Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts and her plans for the future:&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Marylou Gonzalez: I was an elementary and special education educator, and my husband is a District Operations Manager. I put my career on hold to raise and homeschool our children, but my husband always dreamed of owning a business.Over the years, we tossed around different ideas, and he did a lot of research. But the idea of opening a kid’s hair salon came from personal experience — out of necessity.Our son has sensory sensitivities, and haircuts were always a struggle. The fun, child-focused atmosphere of Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts — themed chairs, TVs, toys — made a huge difference for him. But we had to drive 45 minutes just to get him a haircut.We finally decided to take the leap and open one ourselves. There are so many families - like ours - who find kids' haircuts challenging for different reasons. We wanted to create a place where kids feel truly seen, parents feel understood, and everyone feels cared for.We also put together an amazing team that shares our mission and is passionate about working with kids. On top of that, we partnered with an amazing local occupational therapist, who trained our stylists to make haircuts easier for children with sensory challenges.Now, I’m beginning the process to officially certify our salon as a sensory-safe salon.1851: What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Marylou: Franchising allowed us to open a business with the added benefit of a framework and support.As first-time business owners, we needed guidance, and we knew we would excel with a support system in place.1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Marylou: We wanted to fill a gap in the community and create a space that felt truly inclusive&nbsp; for all families. That was really important to us.What sold us on Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts was the people. From the very beginning, we felt an immediate connection with the leadership team. It was clear that they cared about their franchisees, and we could see that they had a strong business model and solid support team in place.Now, after being with Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts for three years, we’ve built a strong network with other owners. We constantly share advice and best practices, and support each other. It’s an amazing community of franchisees.Their mission also aligned with our own values — to make haircuts fun, memorable and inclusive for all families.1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?Marylou: We are excited to continue serving our community and offering a safe and welcoming space for all families.As for growth, we recently purchased a second salon in Brookfield, Wisconsin. It needed some work, but we’re using everything we’ve learned from our first location to turn it around. Right now, we are focused on building a strong and passionate team.1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?Marylou: Sometimes, people choose a franchise thinking it will be easy because there’s a framework. But owning a business — even a franchise — is hard work. That said, it’s also incredibly rewarding.For us, the biggest reward is seeing the impact we have on families — especially those with kids who struggle with haircuts and often feel overlooked in the salon space. The pride comes from seeing happy customers and creating a space where families feel welcome and cared for. Every small win feels personal, and that’s what makes owning a business so special.Do your research and choose a company that aligns with your goals and values. That’s why Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts was the perfect fit for us, and we couldn’t be happier with our decision.About Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts:&nbsp;Pigtails &amp; 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 &amp; 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 &amp; 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 &amp; Crewcuts or to find a salon near you, please visit www.pigtailsandcrewcuts.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=pigtails-crewcuts-sensory-friendly-salon-gonzalez-2728843" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

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Pigtails & Crewcuts: A Sensory-Friendly Salon for Kids

1851 Franchise

A passion for inclusion and a desire to serve families led Marylou and Juan Gonzalez to bring the sensory-friendly salon experience to Geneva, Illinois.

How This Mother Turned a Personal Challenge Into a Franchise Success Story With Pigtails & Crewcuts

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In Happy Valley, Arizona,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/a-safe-haven-for-kids-haircuts-yvette-stumpf-marks-four-years-of-pigtails-crewcuts-in-phoenix-arizona-2729794">Yvette Stumpf</a>, a franchisee with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a>, the 85-plus unit kids salon franchise, is turning an ordinary haircut experience into a learning and community engagement opportunity. Stumpf, who earned an education degree before starting her family, came to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a> after spending time as a stay-at-home mom. As she has grown her business, she’s blended her own passion for learning and reading with her care for her community and the families in it.“I’ve always been an advocate for education; I think that ignorance is not bliss,” she said. “It benefits everyone to be educated. I like Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts because it’s a part of the community with the mom-and-pop type feeling, and one of my goals was to give back. That’s always been near and dear to my heart. With these two things in mind, the Little Free Library was the perfect idea. I’m in a great little shopping center, and people from neighboring establishments come check out the book selection, too.”When Stumpf started the Little Free Library, she built it with her kids’ own used books. Over time, though, those have been “checked out,” and the community has kept the Little Free Library alive.“I didn’t do this because it draws people back to the salon,” she said. “I did it because it makes the community more kid-friendly and more family-oriented. It’s being utilized.”<h2>A Lifelong Advocate for Education</h2>Stumpf’s passion for reading goes back to her own childhood. With a Colombian mother and Hungarian father, she grew up in a multilingual household."I speak three languages, and it was English that helped me move forward," she said. "When I was younger, my parents didn't help me separate all three languages. When you speak the other two, you don’t use pronouns. You just conjugate the verb. School for me was beneficial because English explained the pronouns, and reading was a big component to figure it all out."As a child, reading felt like a chore for Stumpf because she was navigating the language learning aspect in addition to trying to understand the story itself, but over time, she came to love “reading to read.” Encouraging her own children to read for pleasure showed Stumpf a new side of things.“My kids love books so much,” she said. “Reading is one of their ‘fun things’ to do. We go to the bookstore, and I can’t say no to books!”This informed her current understanding of how kids approach reading, and it was a key driver for her not only to establish the Little Free Library but also to incorporate the Yoto Player, a screen-free audio player, into the salon experience.&nbsp;“A lot of parents don’t want their kids to have phones, iPads or TVs now,” she said. “With the Yoto Player, a kid can hear a story and use their imagination to visualize what’s happening. It’s also a helpful tool for the kids who have a sensory need. With the Yoto Player, they’re able to sit there and focus on the story. Maybe it’s the vibration of the box or the voice of a specific reader, but they love these stories.”“I think the books and Yoto Player are a natural fit for kids — especially all the different kinds of kids,” she continued. “We have the hardcover books with sensory elements, and the Yoto Player as an auditory option for kids who have different sensory needs. Some kids like visuals, some use their imaginations and some like to be read to. It’s about mixing it up so we can serve everyone.”<h2>The Little Free Library as a Shared Community Investment</h2>Stumpf spurred the literacy push in her salon and community, but its continued success has been driven by the passion and contributions of the entire community.To stock the Little Free Library initially, she drew on her own family’s collection of children’s books, but the response from her team and community was immediate.“Even our stylists were getting excited about the books,” she said. “There are beautifully illustrated books that the kids get really excited about. We had clients who got so engaged with the Little Free Library that they were just glowing and so happy about these books. It’s awesome.”Over time, co-tenants at the shopping center have gotten involved in the effort, too. For example, there is a Bricks &amp; Minifigs location in the same center, and they have contributed Lego books to the Little Free Library.“That helps because our neighbors are encouraging reading, too,” she said. A couple of people locally have pitched in, and it’s been so worth it.”<h2>Purpose Beyond Profit</h2>The Little Free Library and Yoto Player may have brought more attention to Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts of Happy Valley, but Stumpf said that was never the point. For her, giving back is simply part of how she wants the salon to show up in the community.“We like giving back. It benefits us, but to me, it’s not a monetary benefit,” she said. “In the long term, it’ll be great for the kids. It’s something for the mind and the heart.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.">https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.</a>&nbsp;

Photo of Yvette Stumpf, Pigtails & Crewcuts of Happy Valley franchise owner

Yvette Stumpf brings literacy into her Happy Valley, Arizona, kids salon with a Yoto Player and a Little Free Library outside the shop.

Pigtails & Crewcuts Franchise Owner Champions Children’s Literacy in Salon and Beyond

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<a href="https://www.pigtailsandcrewcutsfranchise.com/">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts</a>, the children’s hair salon franchise, is targeting Miami and the rest of the Southeast Florida market for franchise development. Currently, the franchise has a strong presence in Central Florida, but no existing locations in the southern part of the state.&nbsp;“Our existing Florida locations are doing fantastic, so there’s a lot of validation,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-holliman-2132313/">Michelle Holliman</a>, Vice President of Franchise Development. “All of southern Florida is still available, and they have great demographics. We’ve been doing market analysis and we see a lot of kids and population growth, and the median and average household incomes really match our target audience.”&nbsp;Florida's population has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/article_4c96744e-c143-11ef-829c-bb17727f2977.html">grown by over 8% since 2020</a>, with Southeast Florida being the most densely populated region in the state,&nbsp;<a href="https://floridadep.gov/southeast">home to more than 7 million people</a>, about one-third of Florida's total population. Almost 30% of households in&nbsp;<a href="https://statisticalatlas.com/county/Florida/Miami-Dade-County/Household-Types">Miami-Dade County</a> alone have children under the age of 18.&nbsp;“You have so many different types of families in Southeast Florida. There’s so much diversity in different types of hair and the opportunity to be able to cut children's hair in that market is fantastic,” Holliman said. “This would be great not only for our haircuts, but also for our other services, like ear piercing. We do a lot of different things that would match the market.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info">Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts’</a> existing Florida owners have been successful, and most have expanded. For example, Warin Epstein has grown to five units in Central Florida, while&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hmarnold2018/">Heather Arnold</a>, who started with one location in Clermont, added a second in Davenport last year.&nbsp;“The franchise system has been a very important part of our growth,” Epstein said. “From branding to operational tools, the support provided by the corporate team helps us daily. Having access to established systems, vendor relationships and marketing resources is the exact reason we looked to get into the franchise space and not go it alone.”The franchise encourages prospective Florida owners to talk to these franchisees themselves to get a real idea of what it's like.&nbsp;“They do a fantastic job not only explaining their experience of what it took for them to open their own business, but also what kind of support they get,” Holliman said. “I tell my franchise prospects, I want them to give you the good, the bad and the ugly of what it means to own a business.”<h3>Why Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts Succeeds No Matter Where It Goes</h3>One of the best things about opening a children’s hair salon is that demand never goes away. No matter the situation, kids need haircuts.&nbsp;“You might go six to eight weeks to get a haircut, but you need a haircut,” Holliman said. “It’s a service that any family needs. We make the experience worthwhile. That's why our customers love coming to Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts. Getting a haircut might be scary for their child, or their child might have sensory sensitivities. We make them feel more comfortable. And that's the beauty of our brand.”Pigtails &amp; Crewcuts wants to ensure it's offering that experience in markets it believes would be a great fit. Southeast Florida is wide open, and there’s plenty of room for single or multi-unit operators to reach as many families as possible in areas like Miami, St. Pete, Tampa, Sarasota, Naples and more.&nbsp;To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts">https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts</a>.

The franchise has already seen success in other parts of the Sunshine State. Now, it is looking to expand in southern areas like Miami, where there are no locations yet and plenty of opportunity.

Pigtails & Crewcuts Sees Southeast Florida as a Strong Market for Kids Hair Salon Franchise Development

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How This Mother Turned a Personal Challenge Into a Franchise Success Story With Pigtails & Crewcuts

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