Beauty and the Bucks

Beauty and the Bucks

Personal-service providers are here to stay

by Alesia Visconti, Certified Franchise Consultant

Not too long ago, a facial was considered self-indulgent. But over time we learned the important connection between mind and body. We’ve also come to understand the role that personal services play in mindfulness,encouraging people to revel in the moment, to temporarily hit the brakes on today’s go-go-go pace.Beauty and wellness have joined forces to help us all live healthier lives, de-stress, and well… turn out business owners. One reason savvy people invest in businesses that deal in personal services—haircuts, massages, nail care, etc.—is that they can’t be accomplished online.

Spas, perhaps the most high-profile concept in beauty franchises, have become a blend of both worlds—going beyond pampering to helping clients primarily seeking pain relief, stress reduction, and an overall wellness benefit. The consumer need is significant: A majority of Americans suffer from back pain, other muscle pain, and routine stress, which are the primary reasons people seek their first massage.

A COOL WAY TO GO

Cryotherapy brands provide noninvasive cold therapy, which focuses on athletic recovery, pain management, and overall health, beauty and wellness. These brands offer versatile antiaging methods to treat localized fat, reduce cellulite, and tone and tighten the skin.

Hair-care franchises are a great choice for semi-absent owners. In a $70 billion industry, you can surely find your ideal fit. Blow-dry bars often have a no-cut, no-color model that’s simple yet proven. With strong training and support, brands like Blo Blow Dry Bar attract new owners as they supply a membership-based concept that equates to recurring revenue. Great Clips is built on a platform of flexibility with walk-in, no-appointment haircut services. Diesel Barbershop caters to the male population, a modern-day version of the vintage corner barbershop, and appeals to what today’s customers want in a haircut experience: part barbershop, part old-school record store, and part arcade.

Even brands that we think of as pure beauty, such as lash-extension studios, do more than make their patrons gorgeous. Feeling at one’s best inspires confidence and a sense of well-being to women of all ages. Deka Lash is dedicated to developing unique products as well as providing a special experience. The Lash Lounge prides itself on being an “express beauty service” with a low-cost entry and few employees.

There are also numerous changes in the nail-care arena, and Frenchies Modern Nail Care is one of the few franchises in the nearly $10 billion nail salon industry. Because Frenchies’ key concept is natural nail care, the salons have no chemical smells or noisy tools.

THE CHANGING INDUSTRY

So many things have changed in the beauty and wellness category that if you think you know it based on old-school thoughts, you should probably revisit the space. In that light, here’s something that may surprise you: Many men are jumping on the bandwagon of owning a franchise in the beauty space. However, if you examine the business side of it, you can easily see why. With many of the options turning a great ROI and offering more semi-absent business models than other sectors, there’s nothing quite as “beautiful” or providing as much “well-being” as a healthy, thriving franchise kicking off plenty of profits for the owner.

Alesia Visconti, CFC, and her expert team of franchise consultants are passionate about helping others achieve their dreams of business ownership through franchising. Visconti has 20-plus years helping others find career bliss. She is the CEO of FranServe Inc, the world’s largest franchise consulting & expansion organization. Her motto in life is “work hard, play hard, help others, repeat.” Alesia is a self-proclaimed nerd and loves all things “superhero.” For more information, visit www.franserve.com. Reach Visconti at avisconti@franserve.com