Great Clips
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA North American hair-salon franchise known for convenient, no-appointment haircuts at accessible prices.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Great Clips is an American hair-salon brand operating primarily through franchised locations in the United States and Canada. The chain is built around a deliberately simple proposition: customers can obtain routine haircuts without making an appointment, generally at a lower price than full-service salons. Its salons typically emphasize convenience, standardized operating procedures, broad neighborhood coverage, and efficient service rather than luxury décor or extensive salon treatments. The business began in 1982 near the University of Minnesota campus. The first location operated under the name Super Clips and opened on September 22 of that year. The concept gained traction quickly, with three salons opening within roughly three months. Steve Lemmon and David Rubenzer then brought in Ray Barton to lead expansion and franchising. The first franchised location opened in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on July 16, 1983, establishing the franchise-centered model that became central to the brand’s growth. Great Clips expanded from 150 franchised salons in 1988 to 1,000 by 1997. Its 2,500th salon opened in 2006, and the 3,000th followed in 2011. Reference material describes the company as having more than 4,100 salons, while the Wikipedia reference describes more than 4,530 locations across the United States and Canada; the exact total varies by reporting date and source. The system has also been described as employing more than 30,000 stylists through its salon network. Because the salons are franchised, staffing, local ownership, and day-to-day operations can vary by location even though the brand supplies common systems, training, marketing, and service standards. The brand’s operating model relies on relatively lean salon investments and standardized processes. Its no-appointment format allows customers to enter a salon or use the company’s digital check-in system to join a wait list remotely. The emphasis on basic haircuts and operational efficiency has helped Great Clips compete in the value-oriented segment of the personal-care market. The model is also positioned as comparatively resilient because consumers continue to purchase routine grooming services across different economic conditions. Technology has supported the convenience proposition. In 2011, Great Clips introduced online check-in, described in the reference material as an early real-time check-in application in the salon industry. Customers can review estimated wait times and add themselves to a salon’s queue before arriving. In 2014, the company introduced Clip Notes, a customer-information tool intended to help salons record visit frequency, preferred locations, and haircut preferences so that service can be delivered more consistently across visits and locations. Great Clips has also developed a substantial community and sports-marketing presence. Its charitable activities have included an annual golf tournament benefiting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, participation in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ Miracle Balloon campaign, and the Clips of Kindness program, which provided free clipper cuts for people receiving cancer treatment. The brand has sponsored professional sports organizations and participated in NASCAR and other motorsports programs, although the reference material indicates that it shifted away from motorsports after the 2017 season to concentrate on Minnesota-based sports. Leadership has evolved from founder-led management to professionalized executive administration. Ray Barton became president in 1987 and later became majority shareholder after buying out partners Steve Lemmon, David Rubenzer, and Jeff Elgin in 1997. Rhoda Olsen, who joined the company as a training consultant in 1984 and became a full-time human-resources executive in 1987, succeeded Barton as chief executive in 2011 after his 28-year tenure. Charlie Simpson became president at that time, followed by Steve Hockett in 2014. Great Clips remains an active private franchise system headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota.
History
Great Clips originated in Minnesota in 1982 as a low-cost, high-convenience haircut concept. Steve Lemmon and David Rubenzer opened the first salon near the University of Minnesota campus on September 22, initially using the Super Clips name. The first three salons opened over a short period and demonstrated that a simplified salon format could attract customers seeking routine haircuts without the cost, formality, or advance planning associated with many full-service salons. In early 1983, Lemmon and Rubenzer recruited Ray Barton to help lead expansion and franchising. The first franchised salon opened in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, on July 16, 1983. Franchising allowed the brand to expand with local operators while maintaining common branding, operating procedures, training, and marketing. The network reached 150 franchised salons in 1988 and 1,000 by 1997. A further milestone came in 2006, when the 2,500th salon opened, followed by the 3,000th in 2011. Management was formalized as the company grew. Ray Barton became president in 1987. Rhoda Olsen, his sister, had joined Great Clips in 1984 as a part-time training consultant and developed training materials and programs for franchisees and stylists. She moved full-time to the company in 1987 as vice president of human resources and later became president in 1998. In 1997, Barton bought out Lemmon, Rubenzer, and Jeff Elgin, making him the majority shareholder. After 28 years as chief executive officer, Barton stepped down in 2011 and promoted Rhoda Olsen to succeed him. Charlie Simpson, previously an executive vice president, became president. Simpson retired in 2014 and was succeeded by Steve Hockett. The leadership transition preserved the company’s emphasis on franchise support, standardized training, and efficient, value-oriented operations. Great Clips’ principal service proposition has remained stable: no-appointment or walk-in haircuts delivered through a large network of neighborhood salons. Its business model has been described as intentionally plain and operationally disciplined rather than premium or image-driven. Lower investment and operating costs at the franchise level support accessible pricing and broad geographic expansion. The model has also been presented as relatively durable during economic downturns because basic grooming remains a recurring consumer need. The company added digital tools as customer expectations changed. Online Check-In launched in 2011, enabling customers to see estimated waits and join a salon’s list remotely. The service became particularly relevant during the COVID-19 period, when customers could wait away from crowded salon interiors or in their vehicles. In 2014, Clip Notes was introduced to record information such as visit frequency, preferred salon, and haircut preferences. These tools were designed to make the network’s decentralized franchise system feel more consistent to customers. Community involvement has been another continuing element of the brand. Since 1997, Great Clips has hosted an annual charity golf tournament benefiting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. Salons in the United States and Canada have participated in the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ Miracle Balloon fundraising campaign, and the company introduced Clips of Kindness in 2014 to provide free clipper cuts for people undergoing cancer treatment. The brand has also used sports sponsorships to build regional and national awareness. It has sponsored teams including the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Minnesota Wild, and participated in NASCAR and other motorsports activities beginning in 2001. Its motorsports sponsorships included drivers and teams in stock-car racing and a co-sponsorship connected with NHRA driver Clay Millican. Following the 2017 season, Great Clips left the motorsports program and concentrated more heavily on Minnesota-based sports properties. Great Clips is headquartered in Bloomington, Minnesota, and operates as a private franchise network in the United States and Canada. Published location counts differ by date and source, but reference materials describe a network exceeding 4,100 salons and, in another account, more than 4,530 locations. The company therefore represents one of the largest haircut-focused salon systems in North America, with its identity centered on convenience, value, accessibility, and repeatable franchise operations.
- 2020
Expanded COVID-19 salon safety measures announced
[1]The company announced additional measures intended to reduce COVID-19 transmission in its salons.
- 2014
Clip Notes and Clips of Kindness introduced
[1]Great Clips introduced Clip Notes for customer-service continuity and launched Clips of Kindness to provide free clipper cuts for cancer-treatment patients.
- 2014
Steve Hockett becomes president
[1]Steve Hockett succeeded Charlie Simpson as president after Simpson’s retirement.
- 2011
Online Check-In launches
[1]Great Clips introduced a digital service for checking wait times and joining salon queues remotely.
- 2011
Leadership passes to Rhoda Olsen
[1]Ray Barton stepped down as chief executive after 28 years, with Rhoda Olsen succeeding him; Charlie Simpson became president.
- 2011
3,000th salon opens
[1]The Ledebuhr franchise group opened the chain’s 3,000th salon.
- 2006
2,500th salon opens
[1]The chain opened its 2,500th salon.
- 1997
Ray Barton becomes majority shareholder
[1]Barton bought out Steve Lemmon, David Rubenzer, and Jeff Elgin.
- 1997
Annual charity golf tournament begins
[1]Great Clips began hosting an annual golf event supporting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota.
- 1988
Network reaches 150 franchised salons
[1]The expanding franchise system reached 150 locations.
Products and positioning
Accessible, convenient, standardized, no-frills haircare for routine grooming needs, with a strong emphasis on walk-in availability and franchise scalability.
Haircare service · 1982
Haircuts
Haircuts are Great Clips’ core offering and the foundation of its value-oriented salon model. Services are designed for routine grooming and are generally available through walk-in visits or the company’s digital check-in system rather than advance appointments. The standardized, no-frills format is intended to provide predictable service across a large franchise network.
Haircare service
Clipper cuts
Clipper cuts are a major practical service within the brand’s haircut-focused portfolio. They support short hairstyles and other routine grooming needs and are also connected with the company’s Clips of Kindness charitable initiative, which provided free clipper cuts for patients undergoing cancer treatments.
Digital customer service · 2011
Online Check-In
Online Check-In is Great Clips’ digital queue-management service. Customers can view an estimated wait and add their names to a salon’s wait list before arriving. The tool extends the brand’s convenience proposition and became especially useful when customers sought to minimize time spent waiting inside salons during the COVID-19 period.
Customer-service technology · 2014
Clip Notes
Clip Notes is a customer-information system introduced to help participating salons maintain continuity across visits. The reference material identifies information such as visit frequency, preferred salon, and haircut preference as examples of data tracked through the system. Its purpose is to support more consistent service across a geographically distributed franchise network.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Clips of Kindness
United States · Canada
The company-wide initiative provided free clipper cuts for patients receiving cancer treatments.
Outcome. Charitable service program
- 2001NASCAR and motorsports sponsorship program
United States
Great Clips began sponsoring NASCAR and other motorsports, supporting multiple teams and drivers over subsequent seasons, including Kasey Kahne, Brad Sweet, Jason Leffler, and others.
Outcome. Motorsports sponsorship continued through 2017 before the brand redirected attention toward Minnesota-based sports
- 1997Annual Charity Golf Tournament
United States
Great Clips began an annual golf tournament benefiting Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. The event became a recurring community initiative; reference material reports that it raised $245,000 in 2013.
Outcome. Recurring charitable fundraising event
- Miracle Balloon campaign
United States · Canada
Participating Great Clips salons raise money during October for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through the sale or promotion of Miracle Balloons.
Outcome. Annual charitable fundraising activity
- Professional sports sponsorships
United States
Great Clips has sponsored professional sports properties including the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, and Minnesota Wild, supporting regional brand awareness alongside its salon network.
Outcome. Ongoing or periodically renewed sports-marketing activity
Brand decisions
2020
Expand salon safety measures during COVID-19OtherBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic created health and operational risks for close-contact personal-care services.
Action taken
Great Clips announced expanded safety measures intended to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in salons.
Aftermath
The measures complemented increased use of digital check-in and remote waiting practices.
2017
Shift sponsorship focus away from motorsportsStrategyBackground
Great Clips had sponsored NASCAR and other motorsports since 2001, including programs associated with Kasey Kahne and other drivers.
Action taken
After the 2017 season, the brand ended its motorsports involvement and concentrated sponsorship resources on Minnesota-based sports.
Aftermath
The decision narrowed the company’s sports-marketing focus toward regional properties more closely connected with its Minnesota base.
2014
Introduce Clip NotesProduct launchBackground
A large franchise network can make it difficult to preserve customer preferences and service continuity across different locations.
Action taken
Great Clips introduced Clip Notes to record selected customer details, including visit frequency, preferred salon, and haircut preferences.
Aftermath
The system was intended to make service more consistent across salons and repeat visits.
2011
Launch Online Check-InProduct launchBackground
The walk-in model offered convenience but could require customers to spend time waiting at a salon.
Action taken
Great Clips launched a real-time digital check-in service that displayed wait information and allowed customers to join a salon queue before arrival.
Aftermath
The service became a central convenience feature and was particularly useful when customers preferred to wait outside the salon during the COVID-19 period.
1983
Adopt a franchise-led expansion modelStrategyBackground
After the initial company-operated salons showed demand for the simplified haircut concept, the founders sought to expand beyond the original locations.
Action taken
Great Clips opened its first franchised salon in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, creating the basis for a large network of locally operated salons.
Aftermath
Franchising became the company’s principal growth mechanism, supporting expansion from 150 franchised salons in 1988 to more than 1,000 by 1997.
Sources2 sources
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