Today we’d like to introduce you to Doug Porter.
Doug, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I first got introduced to San Diego in 1980 when I was stationed at NAS North Island in the Navy. After spending the next five years here (when not at sea!), I moved to Chicago to take a job in marketing and advertising. After 20 years of non-stop travel and always a deadline (much of it on our McDonald’s business), I decided to follow my heart and become CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities in the Chicagoland area. What a fantastic job to be able to help so many families with sick children – it gave me a great perspective and made me appreciate the good health of my family and I enjoyed.
Retiring in 2015 and always yearning for the great climate and sights of San Diego, my wife, Ann, and I moved back to Coronado where we set up home. Being bored rather easily ( I was not cut out to play golf sven days a week), I investigated several business franchise concepts and settled on Sport Clips. I had several friends in the business in Chicago and envied their lifestyle and respected their business acumen.
We now have six Sport Clips locations, all in the San Diego area and are pleased with the business. While I’m certainly not qualified to cut hair or anything else in the store, I focus on our culture, hiring great people with the right skills and attitude, and helping them grow professionally and personally. It is rewarding to work and we also enjoy giving back to the community whether it is donating haircuts at the Ronald McDonald House in San Diego, sponsoring healthy lifestyle activities like a Little League team or Sportsplex in Santee and Poway. Every day brings something new but always interesting and challenging to grow a business in today’s retail climate!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Hiring is our toughest challenge with low unemployment and the high cost of cosmetology schooling and the number of required hours to get a cosmetologist license, finding great people is the challenge at the moment.
Tell us more about the business.
Sport Clips is a salon that focuses on men’s and boys haircuts. We are known for our MVP treatment which includes a scalp massaging shampoo, hot towel and neck/shoulder massage. There’s always sports on Tv and a great, relaxed environment where you leave looking great and feeling good. I’m proud of our team and their attitudes toward serving clients – we strive to provide each and every customer a Championship Haircut Experience. Much more than just a cut!
Also, I believe our involvement in the communities in which we work sets us apart. Whether supporting a charity a higher education program or a community team, we have a holistic view of what makes a good business.
And we are big supporters of military – active duty, retired and veterans. We raise thousands of dollars every year for VFW scholarships (part of our corporate program) and provide the military and our first responders 15% off in recognition of their service! It is great to watch the stores grow because of our focus on doing business the right way.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I’m not a big believer in “luck” per se. I believe in working hard and putting yourself in a position to win – you may not always benefit from something you chose to do, but more times than not, you always get a lot more back then you give. Reach out and tackle the challenges that every day brings and just always give it 100% and do your best.
Pricing:
- We offer a value haircut at about $24 and offer military and first responders 15% off in recognition of their service to our country and local communities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sportclips.com/store-locator
- Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
No credits necessary – all done internally
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