Salon Franchises Cut into Atlanta Market

"Be your own boss" salons continue Atlanta expansion 

San Antonio, Texas-based Salons by JC plans to open a number of new locations in metro Atlanta as it continues to expand on the east coast.  

I've discovered plans for at least two additional locations in metro Atlanta including midtown and Buford.  Salons by JC locations recently opened in Sandy Springs and  in Alpharetta.  

In midtown, Salons by JC plans to open at Ansley Mall while in Buford, the salon chain will open on Buford Drive near the Mall of Georgia.  

Salon's by JC's motto, displayed below, encourages independent thinking and entrepreneurship.  

"Our culture at Salons by JC is to become your own chief creative officer. You control your look, you control your style, you control your business."

Salons by JC is not alone in the "be your own boss" salon space.  Columbus, Ohio-based Salon Lofts, Denver-based Sola Salon Studios and Dunwoody-based Salon Studios are also expanding in and around Atlanta.  

In each case the larger space rents out smaller "lofts" or "studios" to independent stylists giving them the opportunity to grow their business without the need for their own salon.  This model seems great for both sides, but I worry about the number of similar businesses and their proximity to each other.  

Salon Lofts recently opened at Cherokee Plaza, its third to open in the market.  Another four stores are slated to open in midtown, Roswell (2) and Johns Creek next year.  The midtown location will open in a former RiteAid / Eckerd at Ansley Square, adjacent to Ansley Mall where Salons by JC will open.  

Sola Salon Studios (branded as Sola Salons in Atlanta) has seven locations in metro Atlanta with an eighth in Augusta.  The Atlanta locations are in Acworth, Alpharetta, Duluth, East Cobb, Kennesaw, Sandy Springs and Snellville.   

Salon Studios recently opened a new location in a portion of the former Tower Records in Buckhead Place, next to LA Fitness.  The chain has three other locations in Roswell, Duluth and Dunwoody. 

All four concepts offer hair styling and cut services while Salon Lofts and Salons by JC offer massage services as well.  Waxing, tanning, makeup and nail services are available at select locations of the four concepts.  

Only recently did I realize just how many of these similar concepts there were and how many were coming to metro Atlanta.  It will be interesting to see how they fare given the flexibility they offer small business owners.  Established chains like Supercuts and Massage Envy, as well as independent nail and hair salons should take note and perhaps expand their services offered.