For Immediate Release
MINNEAPOLIS, -- Great Clips, Inc., the largest no-appointment hair salon brand in North America, is rapidly expanding its footprint with today's announcement that Toronto is now open for franchise sales. More than 200 salons are projected for the greater Toronto area and 15 new salons are expected to open by the end of 2009.
Great Clips plans to expand throughout the "Golden Horseshoe,"
including the cities of Toronto, Niagara Falls, St. Catharines,
Burlington, Guelph, Brampton, Mississauga, Newmarket, Markham, and
Oshawa, among others. Currently, Great Clips operates one
salon in Oakville at 2525 Prince Michael Drive in the Shoppes at
Dundas and announced today the Grand Opening of their second salon
in Aurora on September 13, 2008.
The Aurora salon will be located at 91 1st Commerce Drive in the
Smart Centre. Additional salon openings are slated between
now and mid-2009 in Oshawa, Stouffville, Markham,
Mississauga and Brampton. With more than 200 salons projected in
the future, this will result in approximately 2,000 full-time and
part-time jobs for hair care professionals in the greater Toronto
area.
Great Clips' Toronto launch is part of an aggressive growth
strategy, which includes expanding in existing markets while
entering new cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company
currently operates more than 50 salons in the western Canadian
provinces, with plans to focus on expanding its presence in the
eastern provinces. In total, Great Clips plans to open more
than 300 salons globally in 2008 and 2009.
"As the Great Clips brand continues to develop throughout North
America, we're now looking for business professionals in and around
Toronto seeking a moderate-risk, steady growth business with strong
cash flow and a relatively low investment requirement. Most
of our franchisees keep their professional job while building their
Great Clips business on the side," said Rob Goggins, vice president
of franchise development, Great Clips, Inc. "This business concept
has proven to be recession resistant, simple and enjoys steady
growth.
After just five years, our average franchisee owns five to six
salons. Entrepreneurs will be hard pressed to find a better
business model that meets all of these criteria."
Great Clips offers franchisees a cash-based business with no
receivables and manager-run locations. According to Goggins,
its 26-year positive track record is due in part to the extensive
local support provided to franchisees, such as local corporate
support staff and an area training center. No haircare
experience is required for potential franchisees, who should
possess strong people management skills, a personal net worth
starting at $300,000 and
liquid assets of at least $40,000, as well as a business management
background.
"As we've already done in the western provinces, we look forward to
bringing affordable, quality haircuts in a comfortable, friendly
salon to the greater Toronto area and to being an integral part of
the community," added Goggins.
In its 26 years, Great Clips has grown from four salons, the first
sprouting up aside the University of Minnesota campus, to more than
2,700 dotting the landscapes in Canada and the United States.
In 2008, Entrepreneur magazine ranked Great Clips, Inc. No. 1 in
the haircare category of its "Franchise 500" list and 19th overall
among more than 3,000 franchise
concepts.
About Great Clips
Great Clips, Inc., headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., is North
America's largest franchisor under one brand in the $55
billion-a-year hair care industry. Established in 1982, Great Clips
perfected a system for delivering competitively priced, high
quality haircuts to men, women and children in a no-appointment
atmosphere. The company began franchising in 1983, and today,
nearly 2,700 Great Clips salons operate in more than 130 markets
across the U.S. and Canada. Great Clips salons are open evenings
and weekends.
