Top Franchise Development Executives of 2024: Michelle Holliman, VP of Franchise Development, Pigtails & Crewcuts

With nearly 30 years in the industry, Michelle Holliman has extensive experience when it comes to building franchise brands. She began her career at Heavenly Ham, where she developed a passion for guiding entrepreneurs through the franchise discovery process. Now, as vice president of franchise development at Pigtails & Crewcuts, Holliman is committed to growing the children’s hair salon brand across the U.S. through thoughtful and sustainable expansion.

1851 Franchise spoke with Holliman to learn more about her story, as well as to learn about some common mistakes she sees franchisors making in today’s industry.

1851 Franchise: Tell us about your brand.

Michelle Holliman: Pigtails & Crewcuts is a children’s hair salon franchise headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.  We have over 80 locations in 25 states with a lot of room to grow in the continental U.S.  Our company mission is to provide haircutting services and haircare products that create a fun and memorable experience for children and parents alike.

1851: How did you get into franchising? 

Holliman: I’ve been in the franchise industry for almost 30 years. After college, I started working for a franchise company called Heavenly Ham. It was a spiral sliced specialty meat company, and Wade Brannon was one of the original principals.  I loved leading entrepreneurs through their discovery and helping them understand whether our concept was the right investment for them. Heavenly Ham was acquired by Honey Baked Ham Co. and after several years with Honey Baked, I left and worked for Raving Brands and their sister company, Innovative Brands (at the time it was the parent company of Moe’s Southwest Grill, Planet Smoothie, Shane’s Ribshack, etc.). Wade acquired Pigtails & Crewcuts in 2004 and called me. He wanted to “get the band back together.” Since then we’ve been working on Pigtails & Crewcuts with some amazing people and are excited to continue this journey.

1851: Are there any keys to consistent franchise growth? 

Holliman: Consistent franchise growth is essential for all franchise brands. Not only is unit growth important, but so is financial growth with your franchise owners. When franchisees have a strong EBITDA [earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization], it helps validate the business. This validation allows existing owners to open additional units and assist with franchise development. I also add the importance of franchise support from your franchise company. Having the proper franchise support will enable faster success than companies with mediocre support.

1851: What are the biggest hurdles to successful franchise growth right now? 

Holliman: I believe where the economy is going is a big hurdle right now. Interest rates in business loans could create angst for potential franchisees. However, Pigtails & Crewcuts is fortunate because our brand is a low investment and has excellent validation. Being a kids' hair salon allows our brand to be recession resilient. Our concept is sustainable. Haircuts are always needed, and parents will always spend money on their children.

1851: Are there any common mistakes you see franchisors making when trying to grow? 

Holliman: The biggest mistake for franchisors trying to expand is growing too fast and being unable to support their franchise owners. At Pigtails & Crewcuts, our number one priority is supporting our franchisees. We grew organically from inception and have ensured our franchise owners receive the support they need for a successful business. We know prioritizing support over anything else will turn into unit growth; luckily, this has been proven.

1851: What is your number one goal at the moment?

Holliman: Our number one goal is to continue offering excellent franchise support and customer service at the local level. We take pride in our reputation and core values, which are to work with integrity and respect; build positive relationships; be fun, enthusiastic and compassionate; deliver consistent quality and give back to your community.

To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit https://1851franchise.com/pigtails-and-crewcuts/info.

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