Slam-dunk Business idea
In the early 1990s, Gordon Logan recognized the huge potential, and relative lack of competition, in the men's and boys’ haircut market. He wanted to create a place where guys could take care of one of life’s necessities – a haircut – and say “This is my kind of place; I feel comfortable here” when they walked in the door. Assembling a group of passionate industry professionals, Gordon and his team worked together to develop the unique Sport Clips Haircuts concept we know today. While the Sport Clips logo and store design have changed since the first location opened in Austin, Texas in 1993, Gordon’s goal, and Sport Clips’ mission - to provide a “championship haircut experience in an exciting sports environment” - remains the same.
Prior to founding Sport Clips, Gordon served as an Aircraft Commander in the U.S. Air Force, after which he worked as a financial planning and control consultant with Price Waterhouse & Co. in Houston, Texas. He is a graduate of MIT and The Wharton School of Business, at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a retired CPA in the State of Texas. Gordon later owned and operated salons throughout Texas, an experience which proved to be invaluable in his journey toward creating one of the most successful haircut franchises in the nation.
Game plan for growth
Soon after the first Sport Clips opened Austin, Texas in 1993, Sport Clips expanded into Houston and Dallas, and, based further expansion plans on where Southwest Airlines flew to keep travel expenses at a minimum. It took five years to open the first 50 stores, and by 2007, Sport Clips celebrated the opening of its 400th and 500th store in the same year. In 2012, the franchise expanded into Canada and in 2018, hit another milestone with the opening of its 1,800th location.
Today, Sport Clips is proud to be the only national hair care franchise with locations in all 50 states in the U.S., with more than 1,850 open in the U.S. and Canada. When you ask Gordon if he knew Sport Clips would be one of the fastest-growing franchise systems today, he’ll answer you, “Yes, I just didn’t think it would take this long!”
Teamwork with heart
At the heart of Sport Clips’ culture is its values system, which was inspired by the same core values Coach Lou Holtz used to build championship football teams: "Do Your Best. Do What's Right. Treat Others the Way They Want to Be Treated.” Gordon and his family put these values to action in 2013 when they pledged to donate $1 million to Georgetown, Texas-area nonprofits, where Sport Clips, Inc. is based, and have been recognized for their philanthropic work with numerous programs including Habitat for Humanity, R.O.C.K. (Ride on Center for Kids), Field of Honor presented by Georgetown Rotary Club, and the Boys and Girls Club of Georgetown.
As a veteran, Gordon has also made it his mission to support the military. He has received the VFW’s famed “Citizenship Award”, and since 2007, Sport Clips stores across the nation have worked together to raise $11.4 Million for the VFW Foundation through its annual “Help A Hero” fundraiser, which has provided scholarships for nearly 2,400 veterans and active duty service men and women who are transitioning to civilian careers. Sport Clips, nationally and at the local-level, is also a proud supporter of the American Red Cross Blood Services, Dream Flights, St. Baldrick's Foundation, the Aleethia Foundation, Honor Flight Austin, Gratitude Initiative and others.