Equal-Access Success

Where the kid is always right.

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are nearly 40 million kids in this country under age 10, most of whom need haircuts several times a year. A few independent children's salons have emerged to satisfy this need, but Lauderhill, Florida-based Kids Super Salon is one of the first to franchise the concept.

Carlos Fluxa, 35, owner and president of Kids Super Salon, monitored the hairdressing industry via his wife (and vice president), Sheryl Fluxa, 35, a stylist for 16 years. Carlos noticed there were few kid-targeted salon franchise systems, so in 1994, he opened his first Kids Super Salon in Sunrise, Florida, with the intention to franchise at some point.

Last October, the Sunrise location became a franchise, and the company is now seeking franchisees nationwide to join it.

Hairdressing experience isn't required--in-depth training and an operations manual guide the inexperienced. And franchisees can look forward to smiles on young customers' faces as they get haircuts while perched atop station chairs shaped like their favorite animals. Kids can also watch TV or play interactive games. "They're pampered through the whole process. And parents enjoy that because it gives them time to get haircuts, too" says Carlos, whose salons also service the over-10 set.

The Fluxas are growing Kids Super Salon at their own pace, but Carlos contends, "We're confident that in the future, we'll be the leader in the children's segment of this industry."

This article was originally published in the March 1999 print edition of Entrepreneur with the headline: Equal-Access Success.