Supercuts

Supercuts
Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Hair salon franchise
Founded	1975 in Albany, California, United States
Founder	Geoffrey M. Rappaport, Frank E. Emmett
Headquarters	Minneapolis, United States
Area served	United States, Canada (Ontario and New Brunswick), United Kingdom
Parent	Regis Corporation
Website	www.supercuts.com

Overview

Supercuts operates as a hair salon franchise with over 2,400 outlets throughout the United States, Canada—including the provinces of Ontario and New Brunswick—and the United Kingdom. Established in 1975 within the San Francisco Bay Area by Geoffrey M. Rappaport and Frank E. Emmett, its inaugural salon opened in Albany, California. Currently, the corporate headquarters are situated in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Supercuts functions as a fully owned subsidiary under the umbrella of Regis Corporation, which also manages other salon brands such as Regis Salons, Mia & Maxx, MasterCuts, Cost Cutters, SmartStyle, and First Choice Haircutters across the U.S. and Canada.

In the United Kingdom, Supercuts salons are operated by the Bushell Investment Group—a private family office based in the U.K. that specializes in investments within small to medium-sized enterprises—under a franchise arrangement with Regis Corporation.

History

Supercuts was established in 1975 in Albany, California, by Frank Emmett and Geoffrey Rappaport. The franchise model was introduced four years later. The business provided more affordable options compared to high-end salons while serving as an alternative to traditional neighborhood barbershops. A key element of the brand’s marketing was its offering of unisex haircuts without the necessity for appointments. Basic haircut prices started at $6, with additional services clearly priced, distinguishing it from typical beauty salons of the period. The founders created a unique haircutting method and trained their stylists to complete cuts rapidly. Additionally, stylists received hourly wages along with benefits, which helped attract recent graduates from cosmetology schools.

By the mid-1980s, Supercuts had expanded to hundreds of franchise locations across 39 states. In 1987, the founders sold the company for $21.4 million to a venture capital group led by David Lipson, who later took Supercuts public in 1991. Following this transition, Lipson focused on increasing corporate-owned outlets and reacquiring franchises. Between 1991 and 1995, revenue surged from $32 million to $100.8 million, while system-wide sales rose from $190 million to $295 million.

Despite this growth, by 1995 Supercuts faced challenges. Rapid expansion into New York had stretched resources thin, and the company’s stock price had nearly dropped by half since 1993. That year, Supercuts reported a loss of $7.1 million. Allegations against Lipson included tax evasion, earnings manipulation, and other misconduct, resulting in his removal as CEO and chairman in early 1996. Subsequently, he confronted insider trading accusations.

In July 1996, Regis Corporation purchased Supercuts for $120 million. At that time, the chain operated roughly 1,150 locations.

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