Blog

• 05 June 2023
• Team Member Spotlight

How three Sport Clips Haircuts stylists charted their career paths to become franchisees

Sport Clips Haircuts has worked to establish itself as a reliable choice for men’s haircuts nationwide. Recent, independent research shows Sport Clips holds a place in the minds of the stylist community as having a positive work environment fostered by store leadership. For some franchisees, owning a store and managing a team of stylists comes second nature because they got their start as stylists or barbers themselves. 

Amanda Mazzone, owner of three Sport Clips locations in New Jersey, has been with the franchise since she was 22 years old, when she started out as a coordinator with dreams of becoming a stylist. Mazzone was drawn to this work as a child because she saw other stylists carrying themselves with incredible confidence. “I loved who they were as people,” she said. Mazzone brought this people focused approach to her management style, where she prioritizes building relationships and treating employees and clients with kindness. The perspective gained through experience as a stylist provides substantial benefits when it comes to leading a team. It paid off for Mazzone recently when she was recognized at Sport Clips’ National Huddle as a Team Leader (Franchisee) of the Year. 

Coming into the franchise as a stylist or barber has its advantages “because you know what you are doing” according to Almaz Haile, who began her journey with Sport Clips in 2000 as a stylist. “The stylists always say to me, ‘You understand us better’,” Haile said. Management positions require an ability to multitask and think on your feet, skills that Haile learned through working as both as a stylist and manager. 

“I’ve seen other shops where they don’t care about their employees, but with Sport Clips, the way we focus on the culture of the store and how we focus on the team members, that mentality helps drive us to how successful it has been in every state,” said Gregory Zotian, who also began as a barber to gain experience before owning his own stores. Zotian says Sport Clips is unique because it focuses on cultivating the specialized in-store experience, elevating it above a simple haircut. 

“Working within the Sport Clips franchise as a stylist allows potential future owners to focus on cultivating the client experience instead of spending time on some of the elemental concerns solo store owners have,” said Jim Atkinson, Sport Clips vice president of franchise development. “We have finely tuned operations and systems in place, and we believe Sport Clips and our franchise owners  do more for stylists than any other franchise…from on-going, in-person training to team member recognition and 24/7 assistance and counseling services to human resources and a brand marketing team, the Sport Clips franchise provides stylists who want to become store owners the support that allows them to devote their time where it matters: their team members and clients.”  

The biggest pieces of advice all three stylists/barbers turned owners have for others looking to follow in their footsteps and make the career leap to become franchisees? 

1. Work Hard - “I tell them the grass is greener here because we make it green,” Haile said, speaking to the importance of putting in effort to get yourself where you want to go. “It doesn’t happen overnight, but with hard work you can get there.” 
2. Ask Questions - Zotian said, “The way I made the leap from stylist to owner was to ask a lot of questions. When you want to own your business, you can never ask too many questions. Make sure you take the time and understand the business before taking on a big change in your life.”
3. Be Confident - Mazzone said, “I was a stylist for two years and a manager for eight before making the jump. I did not inherit my stores, I had to earn them and that was scary. But don't let anyone doubt your abilities. Be positive and determined.” 

For any stylist or barber interested in becoming a franchisee, Sport Clips provides the resources and support to pursue a rewarding, lifelong career. To learn more, visit our research pages here or make a request for more information today.