For anyone exploring how to start a franchise or looking for the best franchises to own, there’s one factor that often separates the top performers: CONSISTENCY.
When managing multiple locations, delivering a consistent customer experience is both the challenge and the goal. In a walk-in salon model like Great Clips, customers don’t think about which location they’re visiting—they expect the same quality of service or product every time. And when that consistency slips, so does trust.
That’s why smart operators—especially those buying a franchise business or wanting to open a franchise for the first time—look for systems and tools that make consistency scalable.
In the Great Clips system, one of the most powerful tools franchisees use to make that happen is Clip Notes®.
From handwritten notes to a franchise-wide system
Clip Notes has been part of the Great Clips brand for decades.
“Back in the 1990s, we started using simple ‘notes,’ so stylists could see what a customer liked and keep their haircut consistent from visit to visit,” says Michelle Sack, Great Clips Vice President of Learning and Development. “Customers loved the idea—and they wanted every stylist to use them. That’s when we decided to make Clip Notes customer-facing.”
What began as a behind-the-scenes tool has grown into something stylists, customers, and franchisees rely on today.
What customers notice—and teams rely on
Great Clips franchisee Brent Brickman, who operates 18 salons in the Pacific Northwest, says Clip Notes is an integral part of his salons’ daily operations. “Customers tell us that Clip Notes is visible proof that we care about their preferences.”
In Brent’s salons, new stylists learn to use Clip Notes on day one through hands-on training. They’re taught to read through the notes, confirm each customer’s preferences during the consultation, and use that information to personalize the haircut.
Brent says stylists save time and deliver more accurate cuts. The result: greater consistency and better service without compromising speed.
A marketing tool hiding in plain sight
Clip Notes is often featured across Great Clips national marketing efforts, but its impact is felt most in the chair.
“Research shows more than half of customers who know about Clip Notes say it increases their likelihood to return,” says Lisa Hake, Great Clips Vice President of Marketing and Communications. But she says the most powerful introduction still happens in the salon.
“When stylists actively introduce and explain Clip Notes to every customer, it strengthens confidence in the haircut,” Lisa explains, “ultimately driving customer loyalty and repeat visits.”
One system, thousands of teams, same result Consistency matters—especially when running a multi-unit franchised business. Tools like Clip Notes help Great Clips franchisees keep things running smoothly, so customers get the same great experience no matter who’s behind the chair.
Curious how it all comes together? Let’s talk. I’m happy to walk through what support looks like and how the system helps franchisees get off to a strong start. Just reach out when the time feels right.
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Beth Nilssen
Director of Franchise Development | Great Clips, Inc. 800-947-1143 | [email protected]
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