Snip-its News - INC.com Blog - "Mapping Your Business Idea", by Joanna Meiseles

INC.com Blog - "Mapping Your Business Idea", by Joanna Meiseles

For Further Information Contact Us or call (877) SNIP-ITS

Sometimes the best business concepts come from the simplest ideas. You don't have to be a scientist with a brilliant invention or have an MBA with a complex business model in mind--maybe you're just a mom like me looking for a better way to get your kid's hair cut.

It all started when I took my oldest son for his first haircut at about 1 1/2 years old. There should be a better way to reach out to kids who get their first or tenth haircut. There should be a salon that is specialized just for kids. And just like that, I mapped out the idea in my mind. Just like pediatric doctors and pediatric dentists, why is it so hard to find a pediatric hair salon? After a heartbreaking experience with my son, I set out to find out why there were no salons for children and what it would take to create one.

The first thing I did was interview as many people as I could to find out what the positives and the negatives about the current options. After talking to hundreds of moms, kids, and stylists, I came up with my first business platform -- the Snip-Its Triangle of Success. Like a three-legged stool, the triangle cannot stand alone unless all three sides are supported. For Snip-Its, the three sides are the parents, the children, and the stylists. I figured if I could make all three sides happy, I would have a thriving business. I still say to all my franchisees to remember the Triangle of Success, and no matter what challenges they face, they will be successful.

Afterwards, I set out to research all currently available options for kids. As I looked in all the nooks and crannies around the country, I actually found quite a few salons just for kids. Most were "mom and pop" salons with just one location. What I discovered made me incredibly optimistic about my prospects for Snip-its. Without exception, the salons I visited were sub-standard. They were small and dingy, with limited entertainment for the kids, and all of them were filthy. In fact, I took my son to one salon in California where the stylist gave him a bucket of toys to play with while she cut his hair. The bucket had so much cut hair at the bottom; the toys were completely covered with hair and gunk. Of course, my son took out the first toy and put it right into his mouth. I was horrified! Returning to the parent side of the Triangle, Snip-Its absolutely had to be clean and sanitary! The reason that salon and others like it made me so optimistic is that they were all incredibly busy! The kids were lined up out the door for haircuts and slimy toys! If you can run a successful salon under those conditions, imagine what could happen if you actually did a good job? I knew I was onto something big!

And that is how I turned a simple idea into a nationwide franchise with Snip-Its. My business is innovative and provides a service that will always have demand by parents and kids alike. Once you have an idea for a new business, try to map it out in your mind first and don't be afraid to do your research, you might just be pleasantly surprised in what you find!