Fantastic Sams salon franchise owner says there's never been a better time to invest in the 40-year-old brand

You might call Jennifer Metzger a Fantastic Sams superfan. She recently purchased 19 Fantastic Sams salon franchises in Southern California and in the Central Coast region. That might sound like a lot of salons to take on at once, but Jennifer is determined to grow her small empire of salons by adding up to 10 more - and she hopes to do it sooner rather than later.

Jennifer's been around the Fantastic Sams brand for many years as a stylist, co-owner of a single salon, salon manager and regional educator. She decided to dive into multi-unit ownership because she's inspired by Linda Chadwick, who until recently was President and Chief Operating Officer of Fantastic Sams. In April 2015, Linda was named President and Chief Executive Officer of Dessange Group North America, our parent company. She will continue to lead the Fantastic Sams brand, but with even more influence, and Jennifer couldn't be more thrilled.

"Fantastic Sams has always had great salons, but now, under Linda's leadership, there's a great opportunity to be the very best we can be," Jennifer says. "If you buy a Fantastic Sams franchise now, you"�re in on the ground floor of the evolution of an iconic brand. The redesign of Fantastic Sams is very exciting, and it's just something I knew I had to be a part of." Jennifer also bought her salons because she's sure they will give her a clear pathway to quality retirement. Her daughter, a Fantastic Sams stylist and salon manager, is also positioned for a bright future with the brand.

We asked Jennifer to tell us more about why she's so pumped up about Fantastic Sams.

Tell me about your history with Fantastic Sams salon franchise.

I started out as a stylist 35 years ago at a Fantastic Sams. Within about two years, I entered a partnership with the owner for about seven years. Then my daughter became very ill, and I stopped being a franchisee for a while. When she got better - and I was ready to get back into the industry - I had very little confidence because I'd been out of the job market for awhile. I called the owner I had previously worked with and asked him if I could work a chair as a stylist. His answer was no, and I was devastated. About 20 minutes later I got a call from the Fantastic Sams regional organization; they wanted to talk to me about taking a position as an educator.

I did become an educator for the company, which meant I worked with other owners. I was eventually recruited by a multi-salon owner to be their general manager, and I grew their company to 15 salons. Then I worked for regional again. When Linda Chadwick came on board and I realized the direction the company was going, I knew I needed to be an owner again. Once I saw Linda's vision, I just couldn't wait.

What is it about Linda's vision that excites you? Linda's leadership is growing Fantastic Sams in a stronger and different way. Everything is about the owners and growing the brand. She truly cares about the franchisees; she's invested in looking at what the franchisee is doing. She's making the brand more relevant. Her energy is contagious. I literally told her, "Wow, what a time to be an owner!" Fantastic Sams is already a successful, 40-year-old company, and now it's going to come to life in an even more exciting way. This is true not only at the regional level, where we get great support, but at the national level. Linda is very results-oriented. She's not just going to talk about goals; she's going to try to make sure those goals are met. She has a vision, and she actually lets you see it.

What kind of support did you get when you decided to buy 19 salons? I was taken back by how supportive everyone has been - at all levels. It's not that I didn't expect it, but there still was an excitement to it that everyone felt. I can call anyone and say, "Hey, can I get your help with this?" They always say, "Sure, when do you need it?" I can't tell you how excited I am.

What is your typical day like? This job is all about making sure we are taking our salons to the next level. I spend part of my day analyzing the numbers. I talk to the people in the salons who need my support, and I work on putting an education plan and my action plan together. A few minutes ago I texted an educator and said, "Hey, can we work on getting my managers in the master colorist program?" One of the best things about it for me is the flexibility. I don't have to punch a timecard; I can run the business when I want to. Yes, I need to be there when it opens, but if I want to do something during the day I can. That's become very important to me, because I want to spend time with my grandkids. Flexibility means I can do what I need to do after hours when the salons are closed. I can go on vacation if I want to. This is a business that allows for that.

What does it take to run a successful salon? The biggest thing is making sure we are running the salons by the system. That's where you get the maximum profitability. The system works - it's not broken, and it doesn't need me or anyone else to change it. My job is to go into the salons and make sure everyone - from the managers to the staff - understands the importance of sticking to the system and giving the best customer service and consultations.

The Fantastic Sams hair salon franchise is a convenient, full-service salon that provides an array of services suitable for everyone - all at affordable prices. We were the first nationally franchised unisex salon, and we've been growing strong for 40 years.

The Fantastic Sams hair salon franchise is a convenient, full-service salon that provides an array of services suitable for everyone - all at affordable prices. We were the first nationally franchised unisex salon, and we've been growing strong for 40 years.

What type of person is right for this kind of opportunity with Fantastic Sams? Those who can stick to the system. Fantastic Sams isn't good for the owner who's interested in buying it for the name and then running it their own way.

It's also important to be able to work with stylists. Buying the brand is a great opportunity, especially now because there's so much going on. If you buy now you're in on the ground floor of the evolution of an iconic brand. The redesign of this brand is just going to be so exciting.

How do you think Fantastic Sams fits into your life plan and financial future? I'm at the age when I have to start thinking about retirement. It's getting closer, and before this decision to buy Fantastic Sams franchises, my husband and I didn't have a big plan. This is absolutely the career that will allow me to retire the way I want to retire.

I raised my children with the Fantastic Sams brand. I went to work there as a stylist and moved on to various positions. I was able to raise my children, own a home, and then become an owner. More importantly, my daughter now also works in the brand. She works in and manages the salon, and she also sees the passion. I think that's huge. My daughter came to work for Fantastic Sams because of what it had to offer as a stylist, and it's allowing her to raise her children with a promising future.

So Fantastic Sams stands out for stylists with education and training? Yes, the education, and the opportunity for advancement, and the fact that stylists can make a good living. When people ask if you have a hard time getting good stylists, the answer is always no. Stylists can make a career working for the brand, so they stay.

What is it about the training at Fantastic Sams that stands out? It's not just what you learn in beauty school. Fantastic Sams isn't about making the stylists cut hair fast. We're about taking a stylist and turning them into a full-service salon stylist. We teach - and are on top of - the latest trends. We are always moving forward, and that's huge. Stylists are interested in keeping up with the trends so that they can serve the guests.

Fantastic Sams offers stylists training to get to the next level. We train them in the full spectrum of offerings - color, waxing, and all the extra services. On top of the technical salon skills Fantastic Sams teaches, you learn how to build your business as a stylist. You learn what to do to keep guests keep coming back to you.

I hired a stylist recently who came from a chain that does a lot of fast haircuts. She wanted to do more for her customers, and she is really happy because no one at Fantastic Sams is going to pressure her to do haircuts in six minutes. We want her to slow down and take the best care of the guest.

What would you tell a potential franchisee? It may sound silly, but I'd tell them they are buying into a system that is strong and that works. I'd tell them to listen to the people who are guiding them.

Fantastic Sams is an opportunity for anyone. It can help to have business experience, but if you want to become an entrepreneur you can learn many of those skills. A lot of franchises out there are expensive, and Fantastic Sams is affordable by comparison. When you learn the system with one salon, you can grow and nothing stops you.

Where do you see Fantastic Sam's in the next few years? Fantastic Sams is already a recognized and respected brand, but I see it becoming even more of a household name - a full-service salon where you feel like you're getting the value of a high-priced salon. From the owner's side, I see that Fantastic Sams will be a place where the sky's the limit. If you want to own a salon for extra income, you can, and if you want to grow with the job and own several salons, you can.

Why do you like the salon franchise industry? At Fantastic Sams you can definitely work on your business, and you don't have to work in it every day. A lot of franchises aren't like that.

Our industry is all about loyalty - our stylists are loyal, and our guests are loyal. You build that trust with your customers every single day, and your retention rate only gets higher. There's joy and excitement in a salon. Your stylists have a lot of passion about what they do, and as an owner you get to be a part of all that creativity. You get to see the guests leaving and feeling great about themselves.

We are a national franchise, but we also have the feel of a mom-and-pop salon. People get to know us, and we become a part of the fabric of a community. There are a lot of Fantastic Sams salons where every guest is known by name. There is so much power in that!

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