One question for you: "Are women really different from men? You bet they are! And when it comes to the types of businesses women run, this is really apparent. Franchises are a natural for women, as they provide systems and support for the gender who is unafraid to ask for it! But within this large offering, which really appeal to the specific skill sets that women possess?
Curves for Women is by far the biggest success story of all time in the world of franchising...they are even in the Guinness Book of World Records! They grew to over 10,000 locations worldwide in less than 10 years. The reason? This was a concept built upon women helping women. More specifically, this concept was particularly geared towards BABY BOOMER women helping women in their same age bracket! Curves was as much about the social experience as it was about the workout. It appealed to women "of a certain age" who had most likely never even entered a gym before! Here they found a support, non-threatening environment filled with women just like themselves. They could make friends & work up a sweat for less then $30 a month!
The majority of Curves franchisees were women-no surprise! The surprise just might be that many of these women purchased the franchise for many of the same reasons that their members joined! They worked daily in an environment that was friendly & envigorating. The membership was something that they could easily sell to their friends, as the price is the same for all; Curves guidelines were very specific about implementing the price structure.
So, you had a job, made some friends and were able to grow a business!
Why all the emphasis on Curves? My belief is that the key components that made Curves such a success are the ones that appeal to the average woman who dreams of owning a business. The barrier to entry was low (franchises started under $20,000 when the concept first began), and cash flow was generally positive in the first month or two.
What other concepts stand out as the next likely Curves? Let's look at the marketplace for that answer. Baby boomers are the population to serve. This is generation represents the largest segement of the U.S. population in history. Find something that sells to this crowd, and your potential for a huge win is obvious! We've all heard the phrase, "Fifty is the new 30!". Spoken, certainly, by baby boomers who refuse to grow old. So what businesses will appeal to an aging population that fit the mode of helping others,creating a positive environment and don't require half a million dollars to get started? Read on!
Anti-aging franchises have hit the market in a big way in the past few years. You can now find multiple "medical spas" in almost every city that cater to every imaginable cosmetic need. Sonamedspa, started by the former CEO of Mailboxes, Etc., is one such offering. Here you can have everything from hair removal to Botox treatments.
Another health & wellness concept that has hit the market in a big way is the advent of massage membership franchises. This type of offering has taken the monthly membership fee/recurring revenue model and introduced it into the day spa market. Here, members pay a set monthly fee and, in turn, receive a one hour massage each month. These concepts take care to differentiate themselves from the 'day spa' market, as their desire is to appeal equally to both men and women. Massage Envy was the first mover into this market, beginning franchising several years ago. Others have followed, with much lower investment required, although no clear market leader has emerged. Among them is Zen Massage, Massage Heights and a new entry into the market with significantly lower up front costs, My Massage People.
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