Pigtails & Crewcuts, the 85-plus-unit kids’ salon franchise, is growing in Florida and has named the Tampa region as a priority market. The brand recently awarded a franchise in Odessa, Florida, to Rachel Breejen and her husband, Matt, adding to an existing location in Valrico and creating a foundation for further growth across the region.
“Once I started exploring this industry more seriously, I looked into several different children’s salon concepts. Pigtails & Crewcuts immediately stood out,” Rachel said. “Their branding and overall look felt clean, professional and thoughtfully designed.”
Pigtails & Crewcuts has been steadily growing in Florida, and the Odessa location is a natural extension of what the brand is already seeing throughout the state.
“We’re so proud of Florida because the salons are doing well and we have fantastic owners,” said Michelle Holliman, Vice President of Franchise Development. “With the recent awarding in Odessa and our location in Valrico, Tampa felt like a natural area for us to continue expanding.”
As Pigtails & Crewcuts evaluated its next development opportunities in Florida, Tampa stood out because of its continued population growth and family-oriented demographics. The region includes a number of growing residential communities, along with new schools, grocery stores and other businesses that follow expanding populations.
“There is a strong and growing base of families in Tampa, from longtime residents who are now raising families of their own to newcomers choosing Tampa as the place to put down roots.”
The opportunity also extends beyond a single salon. Pigtails & Crewcuts sees potential throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, including areas such as St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor. That could give franchisees interested in growing beyond one location room to build a larger presence in the region.
“When we look at markets, we want to understand whether it is only a single-unit opportunity or whether a franchisee could potentially expand,” Holliman said. “Tampa was exciting because when you look at the entire area, there is opportunity for more than one location.”
The brand’s latest Tampa-area franchisee is also an example of the type of owner Pigtails & Crewcuts hopes to attract as it expands. Rachel spent 15 years in talent acquisition and recruiting, building teams and helping other people find new career opportunities. After becoming a mother in 2020, however, her priorities began to shift. Burnout eventually led her to take several months away from work and consider what she wanted the next phase of her career to look like.
“I realized it was an opportunity to completely pivot — to make a meaningful change in my life and take ownership of my future,” Rachel said. “I wanted a career path that allowed me to build something of my own, have flexibility for my personal life and still grow professionally. As a mom, that balance matters to me.”
The idea of a children’s salon was particularly relevant to Rachel because she could see the need in her own community. Her 6-year-old daughter falls directly within Pigtails & Crewcuts’ core customer base, and the closest kid-focused salon was about 25 minutes away and required appointments. Meanwhile, new neighborhoods, schools and daycares were continuing to open around her.
Holliman said Rachel’s experience as both a working professional and a mom made her a strong fit for the franchise.
“She has young kids, and she was a working mom looking for more than the corporate world,” Holliman said. “She understands the need and the importance of giving your children the best experience. She really gets it, and that’s what made us compatible.”
Like many prospective franchisees, Rachel initially assumed owning a salon would require experience cutting hair. Instead, she discovered that her role would be focused on hiring, leadership and operating the business while licensed professionals provide the salon services.
“The first question people ask when I tell them about this new venture is, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you did hair,’ or, ‘Are you going to cosmetology school?’” Rachel said. “It’s been eye-opening to learn that you don’t have to be an expert in a specific trade to start a business — you just need the drive, the passion and the willingness to learn.”
Her experience with Pigtails & Crewcuts also changed some of the assumptions she previously had about franchising. Rachel had largely associated franchises with major restaurant brands and thought owners paid for a recognizable name but were otherwise left to build the business themselves. Instead, she found support with branding, marketing, financial guidance and operational processes, along with a team she connected with during the discovery process.
Odessa is one piece of a larger Florida development strategy for Pigtails & Crewcuts. The brand is also evaluating opportunities in South Florida while continuing to look for franchisees who can expand its footprint throughout the Tampa region. With a growing population, an expanding base of families and room for additional salons, Pigtails & Crewcuts sees the region as a market where the right owners can build alongside the brand.
“There’s opportunity now,” Holliman said. “We feel like the Tampa market has that opportunity for anybody who’s interested. Once someone understands who we are, what the brand is and what the market can offer, they can determine whether this is the right investment for them and their family.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.
Pigtails & Crewcuts
SPONSORED
With a new franchisee preparing to open in Odessa, Pigtails & Crewcuts sees room for additional salons throughout the Tampa region as Florida continues to be a strong market for the brand.
Pigtails & Crewcuts, the 85-plus-unit kids’ salon franchise, is growing in Florida and has named the Tampa region as a priority market. The brand recently awarded a franchise in Odessa, Florida, to Rachel Breejen and her husband, Matt, adding to an existing location in Valrico and creating a foundation for further growth across the region.
“Once I started exploring this industry more seriously, I looked into several different children’s salon concepts. Pigtails & Crewcuts immediately stood out,” Rachel said. “Their branding and overall look felt clean, professional and thoughtfully designed.”
Pigtails & Crewcuts has been steadily growing in Florida, and the Odessa location is a natural extension of what the brand is already seeing throughout the state.
“We’re so proud of Florida because the salons are doing well and we have fantastic owners,” said Michelle Holliman, Vice President of Franchise Development. “With the recent awarding in Odessa and our location in Valrico, Tampa felt like a natural area for us to continue expanding.”
As Pigtails & Crewcuts evaluated its next development opportunities in Florida, Tampa stood out because of its continued population growth and family-oriented demographics. The region includes a number of growing residential communities, along with new schools, grocery stores and other businesses that follow expanding populations.
“There is a strong and growing base of families in Tampa, from longtime residents who are now raising families of their own to newcomers choosing Tampa as the place to put down roots.”
The opportunity also extends beyond a single salon. Pigtails & Crewcuts sees potential throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, including areas such as St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor. That could give franchisees interested in growing beyond one location room to build a larger presence in the region.
“When we look at markets, we want to understand whether it is only a single-unit opportunity or whether a franchisee could potentially expand,” Holliman said. “Tampa was exciting because when you look at the entire area, there is opportunity for more than one location.”
The brand’s latest Tampa-area franchisee is also an example of the type of owner Pigtails & Crewcuts hopes to attract as it expands. Rachel spent 15 years in talent acquisition and recruiting, building teams and helping other people find new career opportunities. After becoming a mother in 2020, however, her priorities began to shift. Burnout eventually led her to take several months away from work and consider what she wanted the next phase of her career to look like.
“I realized it was an opportunity to completely pivot — to make a meaningful change in my life and take ownership of my future,” Rachel said. “I wanted a career path that allowed me to build something of my own, have flexibility for my personal life and still grow professionally. As a mom, that balance matters to me.”
The idea of a children’s salon was particularly relevant to Rachel because she could see the need in her own community. Her 6-year-old daughter falls directly within Pigtails & Crewcuts’ core customer base, and the closest kid-focused salon was about 25 minutes away and required appointments. Meanwhile, new neighborhoods, schools and daycares were continuing to open around her.
Holliman said Rachel’s experience as both a working professional and a mom made her a strong fit for the franchise.
“She has young kids, and she was a working mom looking for more than the corporate world,” Holliman said. “She understands the need and the importance of giving your children the best experience. She really gets it, and that’s what made us compatible.”
Like many prospective franchisees, Rachel initially assumed owning a salon would require experience cutting hair. Instead, she discovered that her role would be focused on hiring, leadership and operating the business while licensed professionals provide the salon services.
“The first question people ask when I tell them about this new venture is, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you did hair,’ or, ‘Are you going to cosmetology school?’” Rachel said. “It’s been eye-opening to learn that you don’t have to be an expert in a specific trade to start a business — you just need the drive, the passion and the willingness to learn.”
Her experience with Pigtails & Crewcuts also changed some of the assumptions she previously had about franchising. Rachel had largely associated franchises with major restaurant brands and thought owners paid for a recognizable name but were otherwise left to build the business themselves. Instead, she found support with branding, marketing, financial guidance and operational processes, along with a team she connected with during the discovery process.
Odessa is one piece of a larger Florida development strategy for Pigtails & Crewcuts. The brand is also evaluating opportunities in South Florida while continuing to look for franchisees who can expand its footprint throughout the Tampa region. With a growing population, an expanding base of families and room for additional salons, Pigtails & Crewcuts sees the region as a market where the right owners can build alongside the brand.
“There’s opportunity now,” Holliman said. “We feel like the Tampa market has that opportunity for anybody who’s interested. Once someone understands who we are, what the brand is and what the market can offer, they can determine whether this is the right investment for them and their family.”
To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts.
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