How These Frenchies Franchisees are Making a Difference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Dayton, Ohio

Frenchies Modern Nail Care, the nail care franchise with 24 locations across the country, gives franchisees from different backgrounds the opportunity to tap into the growing nail salon industry through a highly innovative business model. Two of these franchisees are Amit Shah and Toni Careccia who are the owners of Frenchies locations in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Washington Township, Ohio.

Shah comes from a background in strategy and finance, while Careccia has a history with salon development. When combined, the pair’s complementary skills make for a strong Frenchies franchise team. The duo’s journey with the brand began when Shah began looking for entrepreneurship opportunities. In his search, he came across Frenchies.

“What I liked most about Frenchies was that it was in an industry that was ripe for disruption,” said Shah. “And when I thought about opportunities, I wanted something that was recession resistant and had nice customer lifetime value versus customer acquisition costs. With Frenchies, it's pretty clear that there's a strong product fit for our services in the market. There was also a spot in the market that was unfulfilled, so there was an unmet need.”

Shah brought Careccia on board, who was instantly aligned with Frenchies founders Guy and Stephanie Coffey’s heart for people. When going into business, Careccia wanted to do something that would be able to make a difference in people’s lives.

“When we went to training in Colorado, that solidified it for me,” she said. “Everyone has such positive energy. It is a really great thing to see the people who started this company and brand have good hearts.”

Shah noted that the emphasis on the guest experience is what differentiates Frenchies and ultimately what sets them up for success. When guests walk into Frenchies, they are treated to a luxurious, spa-like atmosphere without the toxic chemical odors that are typically associated with acrylic nail services. The brand adheres to a “We Love Clean” philosophy, which means it implements strict disinfection practices and autoclave usage, and avoids bacteria-breeding jetted foot tubs.

“People have had to put up with bad nail salons for decades because they didn’t have any other option,” said Guy. “So, we are doing it the right way. Clean, natural and healthy.”

Like all Frenchies franchise owners, Shah and Careccia also have access to a full suite of support tools, such as a full-on roadmap training process and a learning platform where new training courses are regularly uploaded. The corporate team also helps franchise owners with studio grand opening plans, monthly marketing calendars, P&L management, recruiting, hiring and training.

Frenchies aims to offer customers an “affordable luxury.” It does this by offering a higher-end experience minus the steep prices that come with high-end spas.

“I’m passionate about people and everything that we do,” said Careccia. “I think Frenchies' model touches all senses which come together to make them feel really good. I love to connect with people and figure out what makes them tick, so they can feel good about themselves.”

This also goes for the people that Shah and Careccia employ. When deciding to open a nail salon, Shah told Careccia that he wanted to do something that would help single moms and their families with economic mobility by providing opportunities that would allow them to be able to buy houses and cars. And they’ve done just that. Since starting operations with Frenchies, several employees have gone on to be able to buy homes and other necessities that they couldn’t afford before starting at the salon.

“Being able to guide and develop others is our heartbeat. We believe in this. We believe in them, and they know it.” said Careccia.

Shah added that the team’s philosophy is that “We have to grow to give our people more next level opportunities.” The franchisees plan to continue growing in target markets and hope to open around 10 or 12 studios in the next four years.