There is an e-mail account set up for former TLs, or those looking to deveope a course of action.

It is @gmail.com.

[del]

[Editor's note: We don't publish email addresses or contact information in comments for several reasons. If you would like to have emails forwarded to you, contact unhappyfranchisee[at]gmail.com. You will have to provide proof of identity.]

I bought into Sport Clips and finally started to make a real profit.
If you really know Gordon then you probably know the rest of the story. Kill or be killed! He will take what he wants and nobody is left standing to tell the truth. Eventually somebody will find a way to speak up because they have nothing left to lose!

http://www.unhappyfranchisee.com/curves-robert-lays-story/

You wrote that people “thought they were buying an ATM with their investment.”

They thought they were buying a business that required 10 hours a week of their time and would produce positive cashflow. That’s what SCI sells. In most cases that is NOT reality.

You write that you have “superior work ethic to most of you.”

You have absolutely no idea how hard some people have worked at this business only to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Anger and arrogance are not pretty.

You write that you “look forward to purchasing your stores for a song and bringing them to profitability.” Send out a blanket e-mail and let all the owners know this. You’ll be deluged with folks eager to get out from under their financial burden. Since you’re from Illinois, maybe you should track down “worksforus” who seems to think that a 4K a week store is successful.

You refer to “our brand.” That’s hilarious. There is NO SC brand.

You say that “we want you out of the system.” Unless the “we” includes Gordon Logan, it doesn’t matter in the least. I heard that Clete was leaving. Without his moderating influence, Logan will really show what a bully he is. Logan just wants people who will buy MUDAs and open stores, and who will rollover at his every whim.

Your funniest line is your last sentence.

If you were even remotely a “real entrepreneur” you wouldn’t be boasting about opening more stores and paying more fees to SCI. You’d be building your own network of independent salons. You say you don’t agree with much of what corporate does, yet you want to open more locations? LOL.

I am opening my third store with many more to follow because I worked hard and put the burden of being successful on myself not corporate. The truth is that all off these disgruntled franchisees thought they were buying an ATM with their investment, newsflash for all of you, that type of investment does not exist. You don’t turn on the sign and start making money, it takes hard work and dedication.

I don’t agree with much of what corporate does and have had several clashes regarding: Nascar, training fees, incompetent mngt. and in the Illinois market cannibalism. But, I’m a free market capitalist with a superior work ethic to most of you and that is why I will continue to succeed whether I’m competing with great clips or another SportClips. I look forward to purchasing your stores for a song and bringing them to profitability.

You hur t our brand, we want you out of the system, be gone. Perhaps most of you should enter corporate America where laziness and passing blame to others is rewarded. Leave SportClips to the real entrepreneurs.

SC, and many people who post here, try to blame the franchisees for failure. That maybe a factor, but doesn’t explain the many stores that don’t succeed.

The men only focus targets the market with the least amount of loyalty and at the low end of the average sale.

The buildouts are much too expensive. Guys like the TVs and the absence of chemicals, but they could care less about many of the costly SC elements.

Regarding the fees, the Ad Fund is a costly blackhole. I never talked to a single franchisee who thought it was used well. I hear that they really don’t like what is happening with it now. Plus Logan attempted to increase the fee even though the franchise agreement didn’t provide for an increase.

In the majority of markets there is no brand awareness. A former VP pushed for marketing analysis which proved that there was a manjor problem with branding and advertising. Logan fired him for trying to make things better by focusing on the problem.

Yes, the other mens only franchises are struggling.

The push from SC has been to open more stores. They have not focused on making existing stores successful. In fact, they don’t seem to care that the number of closures is increasing. There has also been a focus on selling multiple units, even though the majority of the licenses don’t result in store openings.

Cut through it all, and the problem rests with the founder. He should have stepped aside when Clete Brewer bought in. Now I understand that he has chased him off too.

SC is in a death spiral. Logan needs to stop blaming and start fixing, or better yet, he needs to walk away and let a competent management team take charge.

Also, if Jeff Guinn really is doing well, it would be valuable to know what he’s doing – or if it’s his market, lack of competition, operation, etc.

Reading back through the comments, I can’t find a lot of explanation as to why these stores are failing, and why they might be profitable in some markets and not others. While many don’t like Gordan Logan, that doesn’t explain the failures.

Is the men-only focus too limiting? Too low an average sale?
Are the buildouts too expensive? Franchise fees, royalties, etc. too high?
Not enough brand awareness, advertising?
Why does it work in Texas?
There are other men-only hair franchises (Bishops, Roosters, Knockouts). Are they all struggling, too?