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A national hair-salon chain that targets men and boys by offering haircuts in a sports-themed setting this week opens its first Minnesota location in Coon Rapids.
Sport Clips Inc. is a modern twist on the old-time barber shop, where guys could talk sports. Stores feature a 50-inch plasma television in the waiting area and smaller TVs at each cutting station -- all tuned to ESPN or local sporting events -- so guys don't have to worry about missing the big game while getting a quick trim.
"When the Vikings are on Sunday afternoon and you really want to watch the game, you can come in and watch it at our place," said Bob Chelberg, Sport Clips' local area developer.
Sport Clips, which has more than 500 locations in 35 states, expects to grow to 70 stores in the Twin Cities within seven years. Chelberg, who previously was a franchisee for CD Warehouse and Disc-Go-Round, plans to open five to 10 Sport Clips locations within three years, and he has signed up six other franchisees, each of whom will open at least three stores during the same period. Another six to eight franchisees could be added.
Georgetown, Texas-based Sport Clips has more than 500 locations in 35 states. Entrepreneur magazine ranked the concept 74th on its 2008 Franchise 500 and 39th on its list of fastest-growing franchises.
Haircuts at Sport Clips cost an average of $14 for boys and $17 for men, slightly more than at other national chains. Sport Clips stores, which usually have eight to 13 employees, promote the "MVP Haircut," which includes a haircut, hot towel treatment, massaging shampoo and a neck and shoulder massage for $21.
Sport Clips, however, will encounter stiff competition for customers, stylists and real estate in Minnesota. Two of the nation's largest salon operators, Regis Corp. and Great Clips Inc., are both based in Edina and have numerous locations in this market. National chains, such as Cost Cutters and Fantastic Sams, also have strong presences here.
The key to winning that battle will be providing fast, high-quality haircuts, said Jeff Elgin, CEO of Eden Prairie-based franchise consulting firm FranChoice Inc. and former director of franchise development for Great Clips.
"If you've got good quality stylists and you've got enough of them so that wait times are short, you're going to do well no matter what your brand is," he said. Focusing on men should help Sport Clips keep its wait times down, because men's haircuts typically take far less time than women's haircuts, Elgin said. A stylist might be able to do four or five men's haircuts in the same time as two or three women's haircuts.
Hair-care franchises also tend to be more recession-proof than franchise concepts such as coffee shops and restaurants, Elgin said.
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