Franchising is one of the reasons the Salon Services group has grown to become one of Europe’s top names in professional hair and beauty supplies and equipment.

And the success of the company’s franchising programme, which is led by director Morag Burns, has just been recognised by one of Scotland’s leading newspapers, The Herald.

Salon Services was placed top of the newspaper’s ranking of Scotland’s 10 leading franchises in the latest issue of its business supplement Best of Business.

Part of the supplement was devoted to highlighting the success of Scottish companies that have grown into national and in some cases international franchises. The Herald business editor Ian McConnell describes Salon Services as “a shining example of a home-grown offering taking on the world.”

A crucial decision taken in 1994 to franchise new outlets opened up the way for Salon Services to expand at an even faster rate than before.

Now, 20 per cent of all the Salon Services and Sassi stores that have been established are operated by franchisees. The first Salon Services opened about 35 years ago in Glasgow. Over 100 more franchised and company-owned modern outlets have since opened – all over the UK and in the Irish Republic, Germany, Norway, and Spain.

“We thought franchising was a good way of expanding the business, of giving us increased distribution, of providing synergy, and of getting our name out there without having to use our own personnel and funds,”
says Morag.

She adds: “We have set up stores which we feel are good opportunities for good business-people to get out there and work for themselves, but not by themselves. We assist in every phase of the franchise process, including site identification, lease guarantees, store design and layout, computer systems, stock control, etc.

”I think it has been successful because we are a well-recognised name and brand. We can buy at much better prices than anyone else because of our purchasing power within the industry.”

From a start-up team of four, Salon Services now has a staff of more than 400 people, annual turnover exceeds £50m, and almost two-thirds of the branches are outside Scotland.

For more about franchising with Salon Services click here