Todd and Melissa Bains are no strangers to building a business. Having built one of the largest luxury pet resorts in Texas from the ground up and owning multiple massage and spa experience franchise locations, the Bains know what it takes to be successful entrepreneurs. This year they added Sport Clips Haircuts to their list of investments.  

Their entrepreneur journey began in 2009.  After years of being a stay at home mom, Melissa reentered the work force as a realtor. At the time, Todd worked as sales manager at a large family-owned car dealership. However, with a large auto industry bailout and looming economic uncertainty, the Bains decided it was time to take control of their financial future and turned to business ownership.  

Working side by side, the pair built what would become a very successful luxury pet resort. They grew their business to a point where they started to consider what the next level looked like.  “After several years of hard work, the pet resort became self-sustaining, and we were ready to step away from the day-to-day operations,” explains Todd.   

The Bains decided to look beyond the pet care industry. Melissa says, “With a business of that nature, you always have something under your care. It’s a 24 hour a day business. We knew we wanted something less demanding that required less sweat equity on our part.”  

Todd adds, “We also did want not want to have to reinvent the wheel, so franchising was an ideal fit.”  

Having ruled out another business in pet care, they also ruled out the food industry. “We decided food was not for us. We did not want to have to always be in the store and we also didn’t want all the extra costs and waste that drain profits fast,” says Todd.  

As the Bains examined their options in franchising, they narrowed their search down to two brands within the service industry, Sport Clips and a massage and spa franchise. “Sport Clips really stood out to us. The culture and values of this brand really spoke to us. We like how they give back to the community,” Melissa states. “Unfortunately, our market was closed. The other franchise had immediate opportunities available, so we moved in the other direction knowing we would be back.”  

The Bains went on to become multi-unit owners with the massage and spa brand, but their desire to invest in Sport Clips never left. Melissa explains, “Sport Clips really sets the standard for what a franchise should do for its franchisees. Everything is laid out for their franchisees. The framework to be successful is all there. We just had to wait for our opportunity.”  

Todd adds, “We appreciate the fact that Sport Clips is family-owned and not bringing in private equity. We have seen firsthand how those things can really change the climate of a brand.”  

Another reason the Bains were eager to join Sport Clips’ is the brand’s semi-absentee business model, which aligned well with their lifestyle. “Having flexibility is really important to us. Aside from our other businesses, we love to spend time with our family. We want to be present in the lives of our grandchildren, so we needed an investment that would allow us to generate revenue without us having to be there all the time,” says Todd.   

When the opportunity came to get into one of Sport Clips’ more mature markets, the Bains jumped at the chance. “We had been waiting for our chance to buy a Sport Clips store for a few years. We kept our ear to the ground and listened for any hint of one of the New Mexico owners wanting to sell,” recalls Melissa.   

In July 2019, after several years of waiting, the Bains purchased the Sport Clips store in Hobbs, New Mexico, as well as two more licenses.  Todd says, “We hit the ground running. We have an experienced manager who transferred to the store. Sarah has been an important part of the great numbers we have been seeing. We are off to a great start and looking forward to scaling our business.”  

Melissa adds, “Right now we are focusing on building a strong foundation and being intentional about creating a positive and encouraging store culture. Putting in the time and effort to show you care about your team goes a long way. That is really at the heart of the brand’s culture.”  

The Bains’ patience and persistence are paying off, and they are on their way to building a business that is creating more freedom and flexibility in their lives. They are also building a family legacy. Todd says, “We are looking forward to bringing our son into the business. The hair industry tends to be recession proof, and haircuts can’t be outsourced. Sport Clips has proven it can stand the test of time. We feel confident we can pass it on to him without worrying about the future economy.”  

Learn more about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity

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 “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” 

-Zig Ziglar 

These words are the foundation of how Jerry Eulentrop, Sport Clips Haircuts’ director of Franchise Development, approaches each interaction he has with a franchise candidate. “I want to help candidates get what they want and assist them in determining if Sport Clips is the right franchising vehicle for them on their road to freedom, flexibility and long-term stability,” he says.   

Eulentrop has been in franchise development for almost three decades. His impressive resume includes 14 years with The UPS Store and the last seven years with Sport Clips, two brands consistently ranked near the top of the annual Entrepreneur Franchise 500® rankings.  

Eulentrop’s extensive experience gives him the unique ability to answer candidate questions about franchising in general, as well as specifics about Sport Clips. He says, “My hope is they better understand what makes a particular franchise opportunity a good fit, and why. It has to be a mutual fit.”  

This means taking into consideration a candidate’s experience, present situation and future goals, and matching that to a franchise opportunity with a compatible business model, culture, values and ultimately potential return on investment.  

“I don’t want to see them struggle in a model that doesn’t fit their financial and lifestyle goals. That isn’t what is right for them, and that isn’t what is right for the brand,” he explains.  

Working in franchise development has been very rewarding for Eulentrop. “I work hard to earn the right to be a trusted advisor to candidates. Many are looking for transitional entrepreneurship opportunities,” he explains. “If they are in a corporate environment, they are often experiencing burnout, seeing layoffs or some other sort of storm clouds. They are often looking for an exit strategy that allows them to keep their day job in the short run while they ramp up a business that ultimately gives them an opportunity to leave corporate America.” 

He goes on to say, “They want to build something that helps them achieve financial freedom, lifestyle flexibility and stability. One of the best parts of my job is to see people who have come to Sport Clips for those reasons, and getting the call from them the day they quit their corporate job.  It’s amazing to see those goals come to fruition.”  

When interacting with franchise candidates, Eulentrop uses a “trust but verify” approach. “Right off the bat I tell candidates in our first conversation, ‘I hope to gain your trust through this process, but in the meantime, you should verify what I tell you.’ I let them know they will get all their questions answered, and I can help by providing resources to facilitate that, but I will not be the one to directly answer all their questions.”  

The first step is to ensure candidates have a clear picture of what they want. He says, “They need to define their goals, both mid-term and long-term, and understand what getting there looks like. This also means having a clear picture of their roles and responsibilities to make sure the business fulfills its potential.”   

He continues, “While Sport Clips is a ‘manager-managed’ model our franchisees have regular, active engagement with their business. They need to determine if the salon environment is something they will enjoy. It is a very different environment and is a people-first business model. They must be comfortable managing and growing people.” 

With so many tools and resources available to the Sport Clips franchisee, it ultimately comes down to following a system. Eulentrop says, “This is of utmost importance. The Sport Clips system is customer and time-tested, and it comes down to whether you can follow a proven model and system. Likewise, a candidate in the Sport Clips discovery process also needs to demonstrate they can follow the process from application and qualification through to approval. Candidates who come in with a defined timeline probably won’t be a good fit for the business model. It is important to have patience in the process.” 

Sport Clips’ discovery process is one of the most rigorous in franchising and known to turn down a fair number of candidates even up to the final stages. Eulentrop explains, “The proof is in the pudding; the brand’s high continuity rate shows they know who will succeed with the Sport Clips model.” 

When it comes to Discovery Day, Eulentrop has seen some brands treat their Discovery Days as a dog and pony show. But with Sport Clips, Discovery Day is about filling in the final pieces. “It allows the candidate to meet the leadership team and for both parties to see if they are a good fit for each other,” he states. “It is important for a candidate to know who they will be working with. This is usually where the final decision is made.”  

Helping people achieve their goals of diversification, a stronger retirement, and more personal and financial freedom, has been rewarding for Eulentrop. He concludes, “Seeing a person who came to this process burned out from their corporate job, wanting to build something for themselves and their family, actually be able to quit their day job and grow their business, that is very rewarding. And with Sport Clips, I get to see it a lot.” 

Be your own boss with Sport Clips today!

For in-depth details about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity, download our Free Franchise Opportunity Report. You can also learn more by visiting our research pages!

Sport Clips Haircuts Team Leader Richard Buxbaum decided early on investing in the right team members would be the key to propel his business forward. “In the beginning, it’s tempting to cut corners, especially when it comes to staffing, but once you do that, you cut yourself short. In the long run, having the right people in place and truly caring about them makes all the difference,” he says. Keep reading to see what the life of a Sport Clips team leader and multi unit franchise owner details!

With a growth mindset, Buxbaum invested in an area manager right away. Richard Buxbaum explains, “When I first became a team leader, I took over two existing stores and knew I would open at least three more. I knew I needed to leverage Sport Clips’ effective manager- led business model in order to grow at the pace I wanted.”  

Buxbaum’s decision to hire an area manager with only two stores operating, whereas most team leaders wait until they have a few more stores opened, was motivated by his plans to maintain his core work as a real estate broker and developer. “I enjoy my work in commercial real estate and plan to keep my core career going, so I knew I needed this key player in place,” he explains.   

With the help of his area manager, Buxbaum has been able to leverage his time for maximum impact. “I spend about 10 to 15 hours a week going over the books and touching base with my area manager and managers,” he explains. “I also visit the stores for personal face time and to make myself available to the team. I want to show my support and keep communication open, but I also don’t want to helicopter, that doesn’t empower.” 

He continues, “Technology has played a huge part in helping everyone stay on the same page. Sport Clips uses some of the best in the industry.”  

Buxbaum credits Sport Clips’ infrastructure as setting the foundation for success. “The support and resources available to team leaders are broad and strong, and the values and team culture truly set the brand apart from the others,” he states. “High-quality stylists and manager candidates are attracted to this brand because of the development opportunities available to them.”  

As Buxbaum has grown his business, he has found the semi-absentee business model has aligned with his leadership and management skills. “Success as a team requires a people-first mentality. You must be in this business for the people,” says Buxbaum. “Relationships take time and presence to build. This is not for people who are not willing to invest in that way.  

“Creating a positive environment and team culture is so important and takes intention. Some of the ways we do that is by recognizing birthdays and individual accomplishments. I also like to host parties for my teams.” 

Buxbaum’s journey to owning five stores took time. “This business model is not a get rich quick scheme. It took me until about the fourth of fifth year to really hit my stride, which is what I had expected.” 

He concludes, “My goal is to perhaps expand to six or seven stores. This is where I feel is my sweet spot. I feel I’ve struck a really nice balance and am enjoying that. Stick to the model, it really does work!”  

Join the Sport Clips franchise family today!

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Hildamay Cruz and her parents immigrated to the United States from Cuba when Cruz was a young girl. They started out in this country with very little, and upon their first Christmas in their new country, six-year-old Cruz received a pair of roller skates from a local adopt-a-family Christmas program.  

This past December, the Council Bluffs, Iowa Sport Clips Haircuts team participated in a similar program. Cruz, the store’s manager, still remembers what those roller skates meant to her as a kid, and feels fortunate to now be able to give back. 

 “When I found out our store would be adopting a family, I became very emotional. It felt like my life had come full circle. I am so grateful. I really feel that with hard work, you can turn the tables,” says Cruz.  

No stranger to hard work, Cruz has come a long way since receiving those roller skates. She started her first job at only 14 years old, while also enrolling in her high school’s cosmetology program. At age 17, after completing high school, she went on to work as a stylist at a full-service salon.  

One day, after discussing how much she enjoyed doing men’s cuts, a friend encouraged Cruz to apply with Sport Clips, leaders in the men’s hair care industry. “Immediately, I could tell Sport Clips was a great fit for me,” she explains. “I love the culture and values of the company. It is well structured, and a stylist can start making money right away.”  

The flexibility offered was also important to Cruz. “Because I can make my own schedule, I am also able to attend school full-time, something that has always been a dream of mine,” she states. 

Cruz started at the reception desk and quickly advanced to a stylist role. Team leaders Dan and Angie Roberts saw her potential and encouraged Cruz to apply to become a manager.  “The Roberts have been so supportive. They saw me as a leader even before I saw myself as one, and helped me to grow professionally.”  

Developing team members is a keystone of Sport Clips’ effective manager-led business model.  An empowered and motivated manager almost always leads to success for a store. Under Cruz’s management, her store quickly became the top performer in the entire state of Iowa. 

Communication is key to Cruz’s effectiveness as a successful manager. “A positive store culture is everything,” she says. “You have to show your team you care about them and appreciate their hard work. You also have to take the time to learn what their individual goals are and help them grow toward those.”  

Cruz’s career with Sport Clips has put her on a path to accomplish many of her goals.  “I never imagined I would be where I am today, let alone at only 24 years old,” she states. “My husband and I are both full-time college students, and because of the stability my income provides, we haven’t taken out any school loans. We were even able to pay off my car two years ahead of schedule and put a down payment on a house.”  

Most importantly for Cruz, her career has positioned her to take care of others. She recently bought her parents plane tickets to visit family in Cuba.  “This is something they haven’t been able to do, and it is an amazing feeling to be able to do that for them after they have done so much for me,” Cruz says.  

When asked what the future holds for this dynamic store manager, Cruz says, “Personally, my husband and I are looking forward to doing some more traveling as well. We have already been to France, Italy, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Mexico. Professionally, I think earning my degree in communications will help me be an even more effective team member and manager. There are so many incredible opportunities for career development with this brand. 

“I feel very fortunate to be a part of Sport Clips, with its culture of giving. I was especially reminded of it this last Christmas when our store participated in the Adopt-A-Family event. It feels incredible to give back.”  

Learn more about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity

For in-depth details about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity, download our Free Franchise Opportunity Report. You can also learn more by visiting our research pages!

Dedicated to franchisee success, Sport Clips Haircuts offers its team leaders extensive ongoing support from the Operational Support Team. Recently, Sport Clips added value to its support in the northeast market with the addition of Patti Carr as vice president of Operations. 

Joining the team in August, Carr brings expansive expertise in operational support and almost three decades of experience across multiple franchise brands. Along with a team of six coaches, comprised of five technical coaches and one operational coach, Carr helps team leaders in the northeast implement the brand’s winning formula and maximize their revenue.  

After a store has completed its first six months with the grand opening support team, support does not end there. “Sport Clips provides team leaders with support that is ongoing and in perpetuity,” explains Carr. “My team brings another layer of support after the store has gone through the grand opening process, and stays with them, offering individualized and comprehensive operational support.” 

Meeting with team leaders in their market, Carr says, “I do a thorough business review and visit the stores, talking with managers and team members. It’s about seeking to understand and see where they could use some help operationally and financially. From there, we follow up with team leaders with an action plan.”  

In addition to providing highly individualized support, the team performs regular success checks and offers classes for team leaders and their managers on a monthly basis. They also provide a variety of resources and tools, including weekly webinars. 

Five of the coaches on Carr’s team are professionally certified technical stylists. “Stylists are the most important part of this business. We want to give them the tools and resources to provide an MVP experience. We are able to work one-on-one with stylists, as well as provide monthly classes for their continued development,” explains Carr.   

With so many years of working closely with franchisees, Carr understands what goes into creating a successful store. “Follow the system. It’s tried and true, and it works. Beyond that, you also must be able to recruit and retain quality team members,” she states. “Store culture is important to retention. Keep them motivated and keep communication open. People don’t just stay for the money, they stay when they feel valued and appreciated.”  

With a dynamic and expert support system in place, the northeast is poised for tremendous growth. Carr explains, “This is an emerging market for Sport Clips with the potential for exponential growth. Brand awareness continues to grow. There are exciting opportunities for someone to come in and scale.”   

Carr has worked with a variety of other franchise brands, so she has a unique perspective on what it takes to become a franchisee with Sport Clips. “The selection process used to vet potential franchise candidates is unlike any I have seen in franchising. Being so dedicated to franchisee success, the process is about really exploring whether this is a good fit, both ways. Sport Clips takes the time to educate candidates. Transparency is important.”  

Carr concludes, “This is a great company to be a part of. The culture at Sport Clips sets this brand apart. The team is incredible to work with. Everything I was told about the brand has shown to be true.”  

Learn more about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity

For in-depth details about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity, download our Free Franchise Opportunity Report. You can also learn more by visiting our research pages!

How Sport Clips Haircuts Came to Define Their Values 

At Sport Clips Haircuts, three simple rules sum up what it means to have the Heart of a Champion.  

• Do what’s right 
• Do your best 
• Treat others the way they want to be treated 

These principles sum up how Sport Clips communicates with its team leaders, how team leaders are expected to interact with their team, and how team members are expected to interact with clients. They are the foundation that has helped to shape the brand’s team culture.  

The three rules are an adaptation from legendary College Football Hall of Fame coach Lou Holtz’s “Do Right” rules. Holtz spent 33 years bringing groups of college athletes together and molding them into championship football teams. He is credited with turning fledgling football programs around and is the only college football coach to lead six different programs to bowl games.  

Known for his high standards and straightforwardness, Holtz’s practical approach to coaching is applicable beyond the field, in both life and business. In addition to his football teams, Holtz taught this value system to his own children, and brought it to organizations and audiences as a motivational speaker. In these simple rules, Holtz says, is the formula to help anyone reach their true potential.  

Early on Gordon Logan, founder and CEO of Sport Clips Haircuts, understood the importance of defining an organization’s value system. “Values are a guidepost to always keep in mind when making difficult decisions, when doing the right thing may not be the easiest choice,” he explains.   

Holtz’s message resonated with Logan, who found alignment with the coach’s insight. He says, “We were using Coach Lou Holtz’s ‘Do Right’ videos in our local training even before we started Sport Clips, since his values were and are consistent with ours. His book, ‘Winning Every Day’ is great, we even keep copies of it in our reference library for our team members.” 

Soon after Sport Clips was started, Logan wrote to the coach, asking for permission to use his materials in the company’s training. Logan recalls, “Coach Holtz wrote back and graciously gave us permission to do so. His encouraging letter meant a lot to us: We had it framed and it’s still hanging in the conference room to this day.”   

Over the years, Holtz has been generous with his support for Sport Clips.  “When we opened our first store in Columbia, SC, he was the head coach at University of South Carolina; we asked if he could give us an autographed jersey or helmet. He responded that he would do better than that, he would be our first client,” recalls Logan.  

“He came out to the store one morning right before our grand opening. He even took the time to speak with the local TV station that was there. We told him there was no charge and he said, ‘The way I work is that if I don’t pay, I don’t come back.’ So, he paid!” 

Holtz also has provided words of wisdom for team leaders. “Coach Holtz spoke to our Huddle in 2003, when we celebrated 100 stores, and again in 2008. He is a great storyteller, he captures a room’s attention,” says Logan.  

Defining Sport Clips’ value system with an adaptation of Holtz’s rules captures the essence of how the brand operates. Logan explains, “These three values combined with three key questions – Can I trust you? Are you committed to excellence? Do you care about me? –  are a great guide to life and how to run a business, how to be a good person and a good coach.  Trust, caring and striving to be the best are qualities everyone can relate to.  They are so natural and logical, they are easy to remember and implement.” 

Logan concludes, “Great companies have a clearly stated set of values, and these have served us well over the years. Good values enable us to hire and retain the quality people we need to deliver our championship client experience and help us create a positive environment where everyone is valued and developed, so they can reach their potential.” 

Staying true to these values has helped position the Sport Clips as a leader in the haircare industry, as well as in franchising. Sport Clips is committed to our team leaders’ success by providing comprehensive training and support programs. If you have a Heart of a Champion and want to learn more about joining the Sport Clips team, schedule a conversation here.  

It is an honor and privilege to work for Sport Clips, a leader in the haircare industry. Every day we are guided by these three simple rules and every team member has the Heart of a Champion.  If you are looking to start a business, you should seriously consider a Sport Clips franchise.  #itsgoodtobeanowner #companyculture #peoplefirst #franchising 

For Paul and Linda Bibeau, putting people first is their principal business philosophy. With five high performing Sport Clips Haircuts stores, the Bibeaus are leaders in their market. They credit their success as team leaders to the retention of quality team members.   

“Stylist retention results in client loyalty. You can get as many people in the door as you want, but if you don’t deliver on the MVP championship experience, they won’t come back,” says Paul.   

This lesson is one they learned the hard way with their first store, eight years ago. By applying what they learned the first time around helped shorten the learning curve as they opened their subsequent stores, even when store number two was a little off the beaten path, having less than ideal visibility.  

 Recalling their first store, Paul says, “Getting people into the store when we first opened was the easy part. The problem was they weren’t returning. We weren’t delivering that championship experience.”  

With that, the Bibeaus went back to the basics. This meant following the Sport Clips system. Linda says, “We knew we needed to get our four walls right, so we consulted the Playbook, Sport Clips’ step by step guide for grand openings. We really feel lucky to have such a resource available to us. Everything is entirely laid out for you.” Paul adds, “The information is so well organized and documented. Speaking to franchisees with other brands, we see just how exceptional Sport Clips’ support is.”  

After refocusing and hiring the right manager, the Bibeaus saw a significant turn-around in that store’s performance.  Paul says, “Having good people in place made all the difference. We now take great care when it comes to picking our managers because they are so important to the store.” 

But it is not necessarily managing experience that they look for when filling a position, explains Paul, “We will often choose someone for a manager position that has no managing experience. It is very important to us to hire from within. We look for someone who has a passion and a willingness to learn, we find that more important than experience. They need to have bought into the Sport Clips system and culture. Everything else falls into place if they have that buy in.”  

The team leaders’ experience shows that stylists are eager to buy into the brand’s team culture. Paul says, “Many of the stylists who have come to us from other brands tell us just how different Sport Clips is. They will tell us they had never even met the owners of the other stores they worked out. This left them feeling they were just working for a business, there was no relationship there.” 

 Linda continues, “It comes back to people first. People want to work for a boss that shows they care. It’s the little things that mean a lot, like acknowledging them when they do well, remembering their birthdays. We pop into the stores just to say hi and check in. They are happy to see us.”   

The Bibeaus have also found that in a competitive industry that often times lacks a defined career path, stylists are attracted to the career development opportunities working for Sport Clips provides them. Paul says, “When we hire someone new, we are thinking long term. Many of our team members have been with us five, and even ten years. We make it a point to promote our managers from within. With five stores, we are able to move team members between stores when needed. And if we see they might have a great opportunity with another team leader, we are happy for them to reach their goals. They also have other opportunities, such as area managers and coaches. We are invested in their success, wherever that takes them.” 

Through their genuine care of their team members, the Bibeaus have achieved a high retention rate in their stores. Paul and Linda will tell you it is because of the investment in relationship they have made. Paul says, “You have to take the time to understand each stylist’s personal and professional goals, and what motivates them”. You really need to know what is going on in their lives. This only comes through relationship.”  

Linda adds, “Along with setting goals and celebrating wins, we also want to be available to them when something isn’t working. We will work together to fix the situation. There has to be a relationship there first for them to feel comfortable doing that.”  

The team leaders also found out the same principle of relationship applies to their clients as well. Linda says,” Issues with clients are unavoidable and a by-product of dealing with people. We always follow up as soon as possible when an issue arises. We make it a point to personally email the client. A lot of times it is just a misunderstanding, and having that personal contact by an owner who shows they care about their experience is all that is needed.”  

With relationship being central to the Sport Clips culture, many team leaders tea, are husband and wife. When asked how the Bibeaus have made their business partnership work so well, Paul says, “We are in agreement of our respective roles. It helps to know each other’s strengths and skills and how they complement the other person’s. Linda is the people-person, she always has coupons to pass out. She is very involved in our community and she has done a great deal to spread brand awareness. I, on the other hand, am more comfortable getting into the inflatable mascot costume, Sporty.”  

Having made Sport Clips a family affair, the Bibeaus have used their individual strengths and strong leadership skills to mold various personalities into a successful and cohesive team. By earning the respect of their team through hard work and involvement, the team leaders have created a team culture that retains stylists, develops managers and encourages relationship. This has garnered client loyalty and driven recurring revenue, positioning their stores as top performers in their market.  

Paul concludes, “If you follow the system, you will be successful. This means having good people in place who will also follow the system. And once you have those people, hang on to them by helping them reach their goals.”  

Learn more about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity

For in-depth details about the Sport Clips franchise opportunity, download our Free Franchise Opportunity Report. You can also learn more by visiting our research pages!

Mark and Jan Mansfield know what it means to pioneer an emerging brand. They invested in Sport Clips Haircuts nearly two decades ago at a time when the brand had only 26 stores. Their first store as franchisees was one of only three stores in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. “No one knew who we were since the Sport Clips concept was so new at the time,” recalls Jan.  

After their third store opened in 2003, bringing their market’s total up to 12, the Mansfields made a decision. They became area developers, committing to grow their market and help others find the same financial stability and personal freedoms they did with the Sport Clips business model.  

Today, the Mansfields have helped open more than 100 stores in their thriving Dallas/Fort Worth market, one of the brand’s strongest, and it is still growing. The couple’s hard work and commitment to helping team leaders (franchisees) grow embodies the values of the Sport Clips brand.  

Both graduates of Texas Tech University, Jan and Mark Mandfield began their careers in industries very different from where they are today. Jan was an elementary school teacher, but when the couple had their first child, she became a stay-at-home mom. Mark worked for an oil company and was required to travel extensively between Dallas and Houston.  

On one of his trips to Houston, in need of a haircut, Mark walked into the department store near his hotel and asked a young woman at the jewelry counter if she had any recommendations on where to go. Mark recalls, “She got really amped up and told me to go to Sport Clips. I have honestly never seen someone get so excited about a haircut. She was so enthusiastic and went on about what a great place it was and how her boyfriend just loved it. I decided to try it out.” 

After trying out the MVP Experience for himself, he says, “She was right, it was a great experience. I thought about how there was nothing like this concept in our area. It really stayed with me.”   

About two years later, they saw an advertisement looking for Sport Clips franchisees in their market, and the Mansfields began to consider investing. Mark says, “With a growing family, Jan and I wanted to build something for the future that would create more financial stability and flexibility in our lifestyle.” 

He continues, “We thought the Sport Clips’ concept was great and decided to look into the opportunity. After many conversations with Jean Booth, who was the entire franchise department at the time, and our own due diligence, we made the decision to become team leaders.”   

In May of 1999, the Mansfields opened their first store. Initially Mark was going to run the business himself, but Jan’s aptitude for people management led her to take over the operations side. It has been a business partnership that has been successful ever since. Jan comments, “How stores perform really comes down to the people who are in place. Once we found the right managers, things took off.” 

“Back then the brand was still new, and the team was small,” recalls Jan. “Jean Booth did marketing, Nancy Vandiver and Kerin Haney were the coaches. That was it. It was all hands-on deck. I even remember Gordon (Logan), founder and CEO of Sport Clips, with a drill, putting together a salon chair, helping with the build out. “  

Mark adds, “We have seen firsthand how substantially the support has been expanded as the brand has grown. There is now a wealth of resources available to team leaders. It was important to leadership that the business never outran the support.”  

With the expansion of support, the Mansfields have seen team leaders maximizing their revenues as a result. Mark says, “I remember it used to be such a huge deal for even just one store to reach a certain amount in weekly sales. Once, Gordon did a contest, where the first store to reach this certain amount would get a trip. But now, at least 400 stores hit that mark every week. It has been incredible to watch this growth.”  

Over the past two decades, the Mansfields say they are reminded of the tremendous growth every year at the annual Sport Clips gathering known as the National Huddle. “We used to have the Huddles on a small boat or in a little room. We knew everyone. Now the Huddles are these big events with over 3,000 attendees,” comments Jan. “But even with all this growth, the values have stayed the same. That has been a key to the brand’s success. Gordon kept the focus on what was important, and that never changed.”  

When discussing how the brand has grown throughout the years, for the Mansfields, the growth is interwoven with their family’s growth. Mark says, “Our youngest was a newborn when we opened our first store. Our three kids have grown up in this business. Our girls worked in the store as teenagers, helping with marketing and coordinating. Our son, Ben, has done work with our contractor, helping with store buildout and with our summer marketing program. We are working on bringing him into the business more and more.” 

Also interwoven in their memories are those of the Logan family as well. “I remember seeing Edward, the founder’s son and now Sport Clips’ president, in 8th grade intently looking over store plans, really soaking it all in and trying to understand it all,” recalls Jan.  

Mark adds a memory as well, “There was one Huddle on a dinner boat cruise, Gordon was standing in front of a food table that was draped with a table cloth, and I see a little hand reach out from underneath and grab Gordon’s leg. It was his daughter Caroline, sitting underneath the table with a book and a flashlight.”  

He continues, “Gordon has set a good example on how to bring your children into the business. This last year we attended Sport Clips’ first meeting discussing second generation business ownership. Our initial goal in joining a franchise system was to build a business, we have been able to do that as well as build a family legacy.”  

Mark and Jan have been successful team leaders and have helped many others achieve their own success. Offering their seasoned advice to new team leaders, they have this to say, “We have been blessed with great team leaders and coaches. Building a good team is important. You also have to stick to the systems and policies in place. People ask us how we have been able to be so successful, and we say, ‘We just do what we are told to do!’” 

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A hallmark of a mature and healthy franchise system is the presence of a franchise advisory council. Made up of franchisee representatives, these councils act as a formal channel of communication between a franchisor and its franchisees. Creating a two-way street of communication, the council’s main objective is to foster productive dialogue and amplify franchisee voices.  

Sport Clips Haircuts strongly believes one of its greatest resources lies in its people, and teamwork is at the foundation of its core values.  Working closely with its Team Leader Advisory Council (TLAC), the brand is committed to using the council’s valuable input and insight when making decisions that impact the system and its future. Shared knowledge and experience are advantages of being part of a franchise system.  Sport Clips is leveraging this advantage for the benefit of its team leaders.  

The TLAC is made up of seven team leader representatives. Team leaders in each of Sport Clips’ five geographic regions elect a representative. Each serves a two-year term, and the different regions’ elections are staggered.  One member is appointed by Sport Clips’ leadership and the final member is elected by the TLAC committee itself. The appointed positions are one-year terms. At least one of the representatives needs to have three or fewer stores. The council is set up this way to provide a wide cross section of team leaders that is also dynamic, to allow everyone in the system to feel represented and heard.  

Joe Klimek, acting president of the Area Developer Advisory Council, works closely with the TLAC to help consolidate information they receive from their markets, identify best practices, and provide the area developer perspective to the dialogue. He says, “Leadership has done an exceptional job expanding TLAC over the years. Gordon saw the value of this council early on and as new markets were added, so were council spots. Each market is so unique, so having representation be regional was important.”  

Wayne Freeman, a team leader in the Midwest with 16 stores, currently serves as the chairperson for TLAC. “The council helps everyone, from the team leaders to the area developers to leadership, all get on the same page. Together, we determine priorities and discuss important decisions about the direction of new concepts, products and programs. Sport Clips also seeks our input on where we see opportunities for improvement. I appreciate that I can be a direct voice for my fellow team leaders,” says Freeman.   

Team leader success is a top priority for Sport Clips, and TLAC provides a forum to help understand more about its franchisees’ needs and creating enhanced programs and services. Freeman elaborates, “Sport Clips listens to what barriers to success team leaders are encountering and works to find ways to help overcome them. For example, many team leaders needed easier access to QuickBooks, and Sport Clips responded.”  

Sport Clips also uses the council as a test market for new ideas and concepts and to participate in strategic planning. “When the new point of sale system was introduced, the Team Leader Advisory Council was asked to test it out and provide feedback to help optimize it. We were also able to ask questions and get a good understanding of the benefits of the upgraded system. We then were able to pass that understanding on to our network. When a new system is implemented, it is helpful to understand the why behind it, and as a council we explored that in depth before it was rolled out.” 

Team leaders are a direct link to clients and what is going on within the four walls of the stores. Sport Clips recognizes its ability to provide invaluable industry observations, insight as to what the competition is doing, and offer suggestions on how to maintain the brand’s position as an industry leader, as well as safeguarding brand integrity. The role of the TLAC is to maintain open communication, affecting positive change that benefits both the brand and team leaders. Freeman concludes, “I encourage every team leader, especially new ones, to create an open and frequent dialogue with their TLAC representatives. We really want a good cross section of representation in our discussions, and this can only happen if more people get involved. We are all in this together. The more communication and feedback we have, the more effective we can be, especially as the system continues to grow.”  

Klimek agrees, “I urge team leaders to get to know their representative and communicate frequently with them. They are a tremendous resource, and team leaders should never hesitate to reach out to them.”  

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Sport Clips is committed to fostering and improving relations with team leaders. The Team Leader Advisory Council acts as an additional support system, providing a second tier of information and recommendations, and it is one of the many reasons it is good to be an owner. To continue the conversation about how Sport Clips supports team leader success, please fill out our inquiry form, and visit our research pages!

Begona Simon has been an entrepreneur in the service industry for almost 30 years. Before becoming Sport Clips franchisees, she and her husband, Eugenio, owned five gas station franchises and three Body Brite body hair removal franchises in the Mexico City area. Nine years ago, they made the decision to leave Mexico and move their young family to South Texas in pursuit of a safer environment for their four children. 

Once in South Texas, they opened an independent gas station. They soon found it difficult not being part of a larger chain, and converted the business into a laundromat, which proved to be a successful decision.  Having made South Texas their permanent home, the Simons began to look for opportunities to further diversify their investments. They knew a service industry franchise model would fit their existing infrastructure and help them with their goal of bringing their four children into the family business.   

“Being from a different country, we find franchising to be an excellent choice,” says Begona. “Being part of a support system helps with the learning curve that comes with doing business in a different culture.”   

In addition to managing their other businesses and large family, Begona is an avid marathon runner, having run in many of the world’s major marathon races. With their family commitments, Eugenio’s weekly travel to Mexico City to support their other businesses, and Begona’s training schedule, flexibility and personal freedom were necessities in their next investment.   

Begona comments, “The semi-absentee business model really appealed to me. The Sport Clips Haircuts business model allows me to keep all my other commitments.”  

Their experience as franchise owners gave them an understanding of how quality of service makes all the difference in a business. Sport Clips’ commitment to creating a top-notch customer experience, each and every time, was initially what attracted the Simons to the brand.   

Begona says, “My husband and three boys love going to Sport Clips. They all look forward to going there, and consider it a time to relax and treat themselves.”  

Considering how much the men in the family enjoyed their Sport Clips experience, and seeing the high demand for a salon geared toward the male client, they began to look closer at becoming Sport Clips owners.   

“The selection process was incredibly helpful. It is designed in a way to make sure the candidate does their homework. They guide you through the process and make sure you understand the business model and what you are getting into. The information is very research driven and Discovery Day answered so many questions for me,” Begona says.   

After completing their due diligence and evaluating their personal and financial goals, the Simons realized Sport Clips was the right choice for them, and signed on as Team Leaders in the South Texas area. Currently, they are in the real estate selection process for their first store, with two more locations to soon follow.   

With goals to grow beyond those initial three licenses, Begona adds, “Sport Clips makes multi-unit ownership a priority. We like that the highly scalable business model offers unlimited growth potential, and we plan to include our entire family in the business.”   

Sport Clips’ highly scalable, semi-absentee business model is what makes it an ideal fit for entrepreneurs who are looking for an investment they can grow, while keeping their other commitments.   

Begona & Eugenio Simon have thrived with Sport Clip in Texas, you should too!

Interested in finding out how being a Sport Clips owner can help you reach your personal and financial goals? Click here for more information. Want some more information? Read our research pages here!