Snip-its News - Boston Herald, "Snip-its goal: Kids' haircuts turn shear fun"

Boston Herald, "Snip-its goal: Kids' haircuts turn shear fun"

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Rebecca Zola wasn't looking for a new business when she took her 10-month-old son in for a haircut. She was just looking for a place that he would like.

She found both at Snip-its, a hair salon tailored to children.

At the time, Zola was content working in human resources at Partners HealthCare System Inc. Her husband was expanding his pack- and-ship business.

The Snip-its experience changed everything. Zola's son was delighted by the colorful decor, the special videos that played while his hair was cut and the prize he got afterwards. Zola wanted to have that experience closer to her home in North Attleboro.

She and her husband decided to buy into the franchise and set up shop in space they had intended for another shipping store.

This is exactly what Snip-its founder Joanna Meiseles had in mind when she decided to franchise her children's haircut salons rather than open more of her own.

"I felt that stores with owner operators who had invested their life savings and were passionate would do better than company-owned stores," she said.

Meiseles launched Snip-its in 1995 out of frustration with not being able to find a salon that would cater to her own children. By 2000, she had five stores. She sold the first franchise three years ago.

The hardest part, she said, was putting all the procedures and practices down in writing. She ended up with an 800-page manual.

Some stores are doing very well, while others are struggling, Meiseles admits. But she believes the franchise is on the verge of phenomenal growth.

"We're at the tail end of our awkward phase," she said. "We're almost to the point where we can grow faster. You can expand very quickly once you've set up the programs and processes."

Today, there are 54 stores open throughout the country. Meiseles expects to have more than 500 within the next seven years.

The Zolas chose to buy into the franchise because of the strength of the concept and the infrastructure, Rebecca Zola said.

"We couldn't replicate it on our own," she said.

The couple loved it so much, they bought one of the original company stores in Canton and will soon open another in Rhode Island.

Despite having a ready-made concept in hand, it's not easy. There are still long hours and the usual headaches of running a company.

"You are basically living your business - you can never call in sick," Zola said.

It's not an instant money maker. There is an upfront investment and ongoing royalties have to be paid.

There are also the constraints of being in a franchise that dictates particular business practices. Some things don't work in all locations.

On balance, Zola said she thinks she made a good decision.

"The advantage is we love what we do," she said. "It's exciting working with these kids and seeing how happy they are when they come to Snip-its."

While Meiseles continues to build her company, she is also moving into an advisory role, looking to help others starting out in business. She recently started a blog called the Great Working Mom Adventure.

"I wanted to share with other women, moms, anyone who shares the same constraints," she said. "It's been a lot of fun to write it down."