Eight Salons Planned For Area

Fantastic Sams is trying to cut its way into Fairfield County and grow its share of a $60 billion industry.

The Boston-based affordable hair salon franchise with almost 1,300 venues nationwide plans to develop eight salons in the Stamford area as part of its goal to open more than 50 locations a year in the United States. The company's only current Connecticut salon is in Groton.

"While many brands protected their spending in 2009, we continued to market, spend and grow our brand," Scott Colabuono, Fantastic Sams' chief executive officer, said in a statement. "Even during this down-turned economy, there is opportunity." Colabuono said revenue at many Fantastic Sams franchises increased 10 percent over the past year.

Fantastic Sams, which was founded in 1974 in Memphis, Tenn., by hairstylist Sam Ross, opened 54 locations last year, and is on schedule to open more than 50 more venues by the end of this year, the company said.

Fantastic Sams offers development agreements involving three, five or 10 full-service hair salons to prospective franchisees, which must have a minimum of $60,000 in liquid assets and a net worth of at least $250,000. Franchise costs, which include training, equipment fees and initial advertising, range from $115,000 to $228,600.

The average time to open the salons is nine months to a year, during which time Fantastic Sams will help identify potential sites.

Franchisees pay a weekly royalty and advertising fee to Fantastic Sams, which provides staff recruitment and training, guidance on salon operation and access to its proprietary hair-care products.

Fantastic Sam's locations must try to beat the low prices offered by other well-established competitors, such as Supercuts and Cost Cutters, but their services are always in demand, said Steve Dubin, president of the New England Franchise Association.

"Almost everyone needs a haircut," he said.

The hair salon franchise also provides a turn-key business solution for stylists who lack the acumen in starting shops on their own, Dubin said.

"Super Cuts and Fantastic Sams are examples of franchises that have very good operational plan and are able to keep high customer volumes," he said.

The economic downturn may have resulted in slightly decreased revenue for hair salons as many middle-class consumers are getting haircuts less frequently to save money, Dubin said. High-end salons have not experienced lower sales as many affluent consumers have been less affected by the recession, he said.

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