Recently, Jamey and Kristen Nosler had a decision to make as franchise
owners. With
four fast food franchise locations, remaining with the well-known restaurant brand would require
a significant financial investment in required technology upgrades and
renovations. They began to look closely at what they could expect to get
out of continuing their current path, both on a personal as well as financial level.
The Noslers did not feel confident they would get a good return on such
a significant investment. Noticing a shift with the fast food brand, Jamey
comments, “These major mandated changes began to put a strain on
the franchisee/franchisor relationship within the entire system. I personally
started to feel micromanaged and more like an employee rather than a franchisee.
A lot of other owners felt the same way and consequently were leaving
the brand.”
Aside from internal brand strife, the fast food industry as a whole has
many other challenges a franchise owner has to navigate. Jamey says, “In
fast food it is normal to have an entirely new staff crew every six months.
Turn-over is really expensive. When you add that to all the other costs
that come with a fast food restaurant, your margins aren’t great.”
After considering all those factors, the Noslers decided it was time to
transition out of the fast food industry. They were introduced to the
Sport Clips Haircuts offering through a family friend, a successful multi-unit
owner with Sport Clips Haircuts. They saw alignment with their goals and
those of the brand immediately.
Knowing they wanted to invest in another franchise, Jamey says, “Being
successful in a franchise comes down to following the system. Sport Clips
has a proven business model. It is simple yet effective and highly scalable.
That is a welcome change from all that goes into running a fast food franchise.
We feel confident investing in this brand.”
The idea of investing in
the hair care industry was very appealing, especially when the Noslers compared it to the fast
food industry they were leaving behind. They are well positioned to compare
both industries. Before becoming fast food restaurant franchise owners,
Jamey worked nearly 15 years in store management for that brand. Kristen
has 21 years as a licensed cosmetologist and five years of experience
owning her own salon. Knowing first-hand what went into the operations
of both models, the choice was clear.
A top priority for the pair was being able to work together. Sport Clips
has many husband and wife team leaders. Oftentimes, one partner will be
the primary operator and focus on marketing and operations and the other
will focus on financial management, data analytics, and reporting.
Jamey had previously taken a central role in their fast food restaurants.
While Kristen had some back-office duties, most of her time was dedicated
to raising their son. Now, as their son is older, Kristen was ready to
expand her role. As Sport Clips team leaders, Kristen will step into the
primary operator role, while Jamey will focus on the backend.
The Noslers found the brand’s management structure to be a good fit
for their skill sets. Jamey explains “After years of working in
the fast food industry I learned I really enjoy training and helping people
grow, personally and professionally. Kristen’s background in cosmetology
will help her relate well to stylists. Your team is your biggest asset.
Kristen and I are looking forward to building our team of managers and
stylists. Sport Clips’ core value of people first provides a strong
foundation for this.”
Jamey and Kristen will be opening their first store next month and have
plans to acquire a second store later this year. Jamey says, “Sport
Clips is a great fit for us. It will give us more flexibility with our
time and we are excited about building something together.”
For more information on how Sport Clips can help you achieve your goals
of freedom, flexibility and financial stability,
click here.
