A Beauty Business That Stands the Test of Time

Fantastic Sams’ franchise opportunity combines the support of a well-established company with the independence of being self-employed.

After spending 15 years in high tech sales, Anna Marie Beech was searching for exactly that sort of flexibility when she discovered the Fantastic Sams franchise program. “I had to travel a lot in my previous business and when I was pregnant with my youngest children – twin girls, I knew it would be hard for me to keep doing it… I really wanted to spend more time with my family and not travel so I started looking at businesses where I could have flexibility,” Beech recalled. Beech signed on as a franchisee with Fantastic Sams in November, 2001 and opened her first salon in April, 2003. She currently owns two locations.

In addition to her desire to spend more time with her family, the beauty industry and stability of Fantastic Sams appealed to Beech. “The hair business is a very creative and exciting industry. It also is not something that would move to the Internet. I also liked that Fantastic Sams was a 25 + Year Corporation. Also, with its pricing structure it is geared towards families and also tends to do well in challenging economic times as we are currently experiencing,” Beech explained.

The Rewards of Running a Home and a Business

“Like any working mother it’s a little hectic…” Beech says of a typical day in her house. “I am lucky now that all four of my children are in school, so that helps.  After getting the children off, I begin doing work in my home office or out visiting the salons. I try to be home to get my kids off the bus and then start playing taxi driver to various activities. After dinner and bed time, I typically do another 1-2 hours of work nightly.”

Although her days are busy, being self employed has many advantages, “…it is my own business and I have flexibility… I don’t have to answer to anyone so if I have a personal family matter to attend to I can schedule around it,” Beech said. 

Empowering her employees allows Beech to focus on the business aspects, “I primarily work from a home office as I have the ability to dial in to my POS (point of sale) systems and I also visit my salons weekly…you really want to have good management in place …and therefore you do not have to be there (at the salons) as much. I currently have 14 employees many of whom have been with me since I opened.” Beech said.

A Beauty Business that Supports Your Success

Prior to opening, “You attend a one week intensive salon fundamentals course where you really learn the full operations of opening the salon. This is supplemented with…additional training and support. Your stylists also receive two weeks of full training prior to opening,” Beech explained. “Fantastic Sams has regional offices with support staff for you to contact on any issues or help needed.  Also provided is a training center with monthly ongoing training… monthly manager and owners meetings.” Beech added.

Along with the benefits of her new lifestyle, Beech enjoys the competitive advantages of being a Fantastic Sams business owner, “You have a proven name behind you along with national marketing, access to great training and national products and brands,” she said.

“I think anything involved in the beauty industry is great for women. Having good people skills, management and customer service skill is also very important. I would definitely recommend this to other women,” Beech concluded.