Salons by JC’s virtual franchise owner conference kicked off this week. The annual conference celebrates the achievements of the company as a whole and acknowledges those franchisees who stand out in the salon suite industry. The distinct honor of Franchisee of the Year was bestowed upon John and Mindy Ratcliff. They began their relationship with the salon suite dynasty in 2013.
Welcome to the Salons by JC Franchise
“I looked at several different concepts before signing on with the Salons by JC Franchise,” stated John Ratcliff. After visiting a couple of Salons by JC locations and speaking with the beauty professionals he discovered how happy they were to be there. “Once I met Jack, Cecil, and Steve, I knew that these folks were people that I wanted to partner with”. They opened their first location in Round Rock, Texas in 2014. The second location opened in Austin, Texas in 2017 and they acquired 3 locations within the franchise system in the Houston, Texas area in 2019 and 2020.
Franchisees of the Year, Mindy and John Ratcliff
The Empowerment of Being a Franchise Owner
Being a franchisee changed the lives of both John and Mindy with the successful opening of their Round Rock location. “I went from being a stay-at-home Mom to embarking on a new career”, stated Mindy. “This industry empowers a large number of women and helps them become a successful and vibrant part of the business world”. As Mindy was making her mark learning about daily operations and marketing for her businesses, John felt confident enough to leave his full-time job at the end of 2016. “Just like the suite owners, I am so grateful to be my own boss and set my own hours. I haven’t looked back since”, stated an elated John. An added bonus for the Ratcliff’s is watching their salon suite owners become independent just like they did when they invested in the salon suite franchise.
Salons by JC Round Rock
Advice as You Grow Your Locations
As a Salons by JC franchise owner you are encouraged to grow your enterprise by expanding your salon suite portfolio. John and Mindy started off with one location in 2014 and in seven years have increased that number to 5 salon suite locations in Texas. As they developed and acquired their locations, one constant remained – being present. “Being present at your current location during build-out and leasing of the second location is vital. The salon suite owners want to know that you are still there for them and won’t be abandoning them as you get ready to open up the next location,” stated Mindy. The hiring of a rockstar concierge is key to keeping Salons by JC distinct in the salon suite industry. “Having a concierge that runs the show making sure you are touring well and people are excited about the location makes a huge difference,” stated Mindy.
Austin Lakeline was the first buildout that featured the new Salons by JC look
When they acquired the 3 locations in the Houston area in 2019 and 2020 they created a plan to make sure the transition was an easy one for all involved. “The first thing that John and I did was have a meeting with the suite owners. We let them know that rent wasn’t going up and we listened to them and their needs. The little things that they needed to be done to be successful in the industry,” stated Mindy. Within the first 4 weeks of ownership, they had knocked out all the things on their list that needed to be done at each salon. Focus then shifted to the concierges and making sure each was well trained and up to date with everything that was available to them from the corporate office. Mindy visits the Houston locations monthly and is in constant communication with her team of concierges daily checking in on them making sure everything is running smoothly.
Words of Wisdom from the Franchisee of the Year
If they could do it all over again what are some things team Ratcliff would change to make it easier on themselves? “Plan for it! Being a first-time franchisee is more work than you think, but the rewards are worth it,” states Mindy. John adds, “ Don’t be afraid to ask questions and know that your hard work will pay off!” They also added that being a part of the Salons by JC franchise system has been the key to their success because you are able to interact with the other franchisees, ask questions, bounce ideas off of each other, and not have to recreate the wheel. Mindy also added, “If I were to do it all over again, I would have spent more time visiting each location, talking with the suite owners finding out what they like in their suites and what they would change. Looking at all the options for design and functionality closely.” This research was key to the success of the expansion of the Ratcliff territories and helped in building out the new Salons by JC locations.
Pearland Parkway location
John and Mindy are currently planning on location number 6 that will be coming to the Austin area in 2022. Congratulations to John and Mindy Ratcliff for being named the 2020 Franchisee of the Year. We look forward to your many more years of success at Salons by JC.
About Salons by JC
In 1997, Jack Griffey and Cecil Miller began their journey to transform the beauty industry one salon suite at a time. Like most young entrepreneurs, they started out with a big idea but had to learn how to start and run a business from scratch. After much perseverance and hard work, they opened Salons by JC in Dallas, Texas in 1998, welcoming beauty and wellness specialists who were ready to break free from the traditional salon model. The company has since moved its headquarters from Dallas to San Antonio, where it continues to grow through franchising. Today, Salons by JC has over 100 nationwide and in Canada and are looking to develop 200 over the next several years. For more information about franchising click here.
Blog written by:
Marlene Romo Flores
Salons by JC Franchise Marketing Manager
