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Sports-themed shop makes haircut clients ‘feel a little pampered’
Sport Clips Manager Alli Rahn trims the hair of Anthony Domerchie of Green Oaks. Domerchie said he frequents the chain locally and in Florida.
up close
Business Name: Sport Clips
Address: 878 Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville (in the Cambridge Plaza near Gino’s East)
Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays
Contact: Alli Rahn, manager
Phone: (224) 433-6840
Updated: August 20, 2012 10:51AM
LIBERTYVILLE — Those who enjoy a little ESPN with their shampoo and cut are streaming into the new Sport Clips in Libertyville.
The sports-themed shop at 878 Milwaukee Ave. features a 56-inch flat screen in the waiting area, and four 32-inch flat screens throughout its eight stylist stations, where black gym lockers stand in for product closets.
“The TVs play ESPN 24-7,” said Erik Feldhaus of Lake Forest, who, along with his wife, Wendy, co-owns the new salon that caters primarily to men and boys. The shop opened June 22, and, during a recent visit, had a bustling waiting room.
With its red and black décor and large Cubs and Sox logos on the walls, Sport Clips has a niche appeal. But it also offers convenient services at reasonable prices, the Feldhauses and customer Anthony Domerchie said.
Domerchie, of Green Oaks, visited the new Sport Clips for a haircut. He’s a fan of the chain, he said, noting that he regularly visits a Sport Clips in Florida.
“It’s the same hair cut every time,” he said. “It’s convenient and it’s fast.”
“He’s getting an all-over hair cut, off the ears, off the collar,” said shop manager and stylist Alli Rahn of Gurnee, turning toward Domerchie. “We’re going to make you look like George Clooney.”
MVP upgrade
Because he was new to the location, Domerchie also was slated to receive the MVP upgrade at no additional cost to his $18 haircut, a savings of $6. MVP treatment includes a cut, shampoo, conditioning treatment, facial massage with hot towel and scalp massage, and regularly costs $24.
“We want [clients] to feel the energy, to feel welcome and also to feel a little pampered,” said Wendy Feldhaus, 49. “Men actually like that a lot.”
The pampering can begin at the shampoo bowl, where each of the chairs is equipped to deliver a massage.
Erik Feldhaus, 44, who also is a wealth adviser for Harris Bank working at Libertyville and other area branches, said he researched franchise investments for nine months before settling on Sport Clips. He owns five licenses, and still seeks locations for the next four shops.
“It’s a very well-run franchise,” he said.
Wendy Feldhaus is involved in the operations and marketing end of the business, while Erik has keyed on site development and maintained his full-time bank job.
According to www.sportclips.com, the franchises do not require day-to-day involvement of the owners. Hiring a quality manager is key. The site also boasts that Sport Clips is on the Small Business Administration Top 25 franchisor list for loan payment performance.
In addition, The Wall Street Journal Center for Entrepreneurs named Sport Clips to its Top 25 high performers for prospective franchisees, who must have at least $300,000 in assets, with $100,000 liquid, according to sportclips.com.
The Feldhauses said they are pleased with the new business and happy with the location for their flagship store.
“There are about 4,000 kids under the age of 18 here in Libertyville,” Erik Feldhaus said. “The majority of them play sports, so the concept is pretty universally well-received.”
“It seems like a good match,” Wendy Feldhaus said.
The Feldhauses live in Lake Forest with their 16-year-old daughter, Kallie, and 14-year-old son, Nik.
