Great Clips
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Hair salon franchise |
| Founded | September 22, 1982 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
| Founder | Steve Lemmon, David Rubenzer |
| Headquarters | Bloomington, Minnesota , United States |
Area served | United States, Canada |
Key people | Ray Barton (Chairman of the Board), Rhoda Olsen (Vice-chair of the Board), Steve Hockett (Chief Executive Officer), Rob Goggins (President) |
| Products | Haircuts and haircare services |
Number of employees | 30,000+ (2023) |
| Website | www |
Great Clips, Inc. is a prominent American hair salon franchise with a presence exceeding 4,530 locations throughout the United States and Canada. The company’s central office is situated in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb near Minneapolis. In 2013, Great Clips reported total system-wide revenues amounting to $1.03 billion.
History
The inaugural Great Clips salon, initially called Super Clips, launched on September 22, 1982, close to the University of Minnesota campus. The brand quickly expanded by emphasizing straightforward, affordable haircuts, opening three salons within its first three months.
Founders Steve Lemmon and David Rubenzer enlisted Ray Barton in early 1983 to oversee franchising and growth efforts. The first franchise location debuted on July 16, 1983, in Brooklyn Center, MN. Expansion gained momentum as franchised salons grew from 150 in 1988 to 1,000 by 1997, eventually reaching 2,500 by 2006. Early franchisees, the Ledebuhr family, celebrated the opening of the chain’s 3,000th salon in 2011.
In 1984, Rhoda Olsen (née Barton) joined as a training consultant and advanced to vice president of human resources by 1987. That year also saw Barton named president. By 1997, he secured majority ownership after purchasing his partners’ shares.
After a tenure of 28 years as CEO, Barton stepped down in 2011; Rhoda Olsen was promoted to CEO while Charlie Simpson assumed the role of company president. Steve Hockett replaced Simpson as president in 2014.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Great Clips introduced enhanced health and safety measures across all salons in July 2020.
Facts and figures
Operating more than 4,100 salons throughout North America, Great Clips employs upwards of 30,000 stylists. The company’s reported revenue for 2013 was $1.03 billion, underscoring its substantial position within the haircare market.
Leadership (2025)
| Ray Barton | Chairman of the Board |
| Rhoda Olsen | Vice-chair of the Board |
| Steve Hockett | Chief Executive Officer |
| Rob Goggins | President |
| Yvonne Mercer | Chief Operating Officer |
| Rachelle Johnson | Chief Financial Officer |
| Sara Yatchak | Vice President of Operations |
| Lisa Hake | Vice President of Marketing and Communications |
| Adam Husemann | Vice President of Expansion |
| Jared Nypen | Vice President of Talent |
| Michelle Sack | Vice President of Learning and Development |
| Kerry Bundy | Vice President of Legal, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
| Kevin Barnd | Vice President Of Business Technology Services |
Business model
Great Clips’ operational philosophy revolves around walk-in salons that provide budget-friendly haircuts without appointments or unnecessary frills. This streamlined business structure minimizes both initial investment and franchise expenses, allowing for competitive pricing and consistent expansion over many years. As President Rob Goggins describes it, the model is "not flashy or sexy," yet remains a dependable foundation for success. By catering to a wide demographic with an affordable franchise concept offering strong growth prospects, Great Clips has demonstrated resilience during economic downturns as customers maintain spending on grooming services regardless of market conditions.
Online Check-In
In 2011, Great Clips introduced the industry's pioneering real-time online check-in application, allowing clients to monitor wait times and secure a spot on the waiting list prior to arriving. This app has been downloaded over 5 million times and is utilized by approximately one-fifth of the customer base. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, user interaction with the app surged threefold as patrons preferred to wait remotely. Surveys conducted among franchisees indicated usage rates nearing 70%, with some salons staffed by receptionists reporting figures as high as 85%.
Clip Notes
Great Clips launched Clip Notes® in 2014 to record customer information such as visit regularity, favored salon locations, and hairstyle preferences, facilitating a consistent experience across various branches.
Charity
Since 1997, Great Clips has organized an annual charity golf event supporting Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, raising $245,000 in 2013 alone. Salons throughout the United States and Canada participate in the Miracle Balloon campaign every October to benefit Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. In 2014, the company introduced Clips of Kindness, a program offering complimentary clipper haircuts to cancer patients undergoing treatment.
Sponsorships
Great Clips partners with several professional sports franchises including the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Minnesota Wild, reinforcing its association with leading Minnesota-based teams.
The company has maintained involvement in motorsports sponsorship since 2001, particularly within NASCAR and the World of Outlaws Series. Initial collaborations featured support for Atkins Motorsports with Minnesota native driver Christian Elder and later Mark Green. Great Clips backed Kasey Kahne during his inaugural full NASCAR Busch Series campaign, establishing a notable presence alongside drivers like A. J. Foyt IV, Chase Pistone, and Tyler Walker. Between 2007 and 2011, sponsorship extended to Jason Leffler with Turner Motorsports before renewing ties with Kahne in 2012 across Cup and Nationwide Series teams such as Hendrick Motorsports and JR Motorsports. By 2014, efforts concentrated solely on part-time Cup Series sponsorship of Kahne until 2017, after which Great Clips redirected focus towards Minnesota-centric sports to enhance local market engagement.
Additionally, Great Clips co-sponsors Clay Millican’s top fuel dragster competing in NHRA events, maintaining a footprint across varied motorsport disciplines.