Item 1. Business
Item 1. Business
General:
Regis Corporation franchises and owns hair care salons. The Company is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the ticker symbol "RGS." Unless the context otherwise provides, when we refer to the "Company," "we," "our," or "us," we are referring to Regis Corporation, the Registrant, together with its subsidiaries.
As of June 30, 2025, the Company franchised or owned 3,941 locations, primarily in North America. The Company's locations consist of 3,647 franchised salons and 294 company-owned salons. Each of the Company's salon concepts generally offer similar salon products and services.
The major services supplied by the salons are haircutting and styling (including shampooing and conditioning) and hair coloring. Salons also sell a variety of hair care and other beauty products. We earn royalty revenue based on service and product sales at our franchise locations and earn revenue for services and products sold at our company-owned salons. Salons operate primarily under the trade names of Supercuts, SmartStyle, Cost Cutters, First Choice Haircutters and Roosters and they generally serve the value category within the industry. Salons are primarily located in strip center locations and Walmart Supercenters.
The Company reports its operations in two operating segments: franchise and company-owned. Service revenues comprise approximately 94% of total company-owned salon revenues.
Financial information about our segments and geographic areas for fiscal years 2025, 2024, and 2023 are included in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, of this Form 10-K.
Industry Overview:
The hair salon market is highly fragmented, with the vast majority of locations independently owned and operated. In nearly every area in which the Company has a salon, there are competitors offering similar hair care services and products at similar prices. The Company faces competition from chains, such as Great Clips, Fantastic Sams, Sport Clips and Ulta Beauty, independently owned salons, in-home hair services, booth rentals and blow dry bars. The Company also faces competition from other franchise organizations outside of the hair salon industry in attracting new franchisees.
At the individual salon level, barriers to entry are low; however, barriers exist for chains to expand nationally due to the need to establish systems and infrastructure, the ability to recruit franchisees, experienced field and salon management and stylists, and to lease quality sites. The principal factors of competition in the hair care category are quality and consistency of the guest experience, the ability to attract, retain, and train stylists, technology, convenience, location, and price. The Company continually strives to improve its performance in each of these areas and to create additional points of brand differentiation versus the competition.
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General. We provide our franchisees and company-owned salons with a comprehensive system of business training, stylist education, site approval, professional marketing, promotion, and advertising programs, and other forms of ongoing support designed to help franchisees build successful businesses. Historically, we signed the salon lease and then subleased the space to our franchisees.
In December 2024, the Company acquired Super C Group, LLC, doing business as Alline Salon Group (Alline), bringing a portfolio of 314 salons across the Supercuts, Cost Cutters and Holiday Hair brands back under Regis (the Alline Acquisition). Although the Company's main focus remains supporting and driving franchisee sales and profitability, this transaction marks a major milestone in shaping and best positioning the Company for growth and value creation moving forward.
Standards of Operations. The Company does not control the day-to-day operations of its franchisees, including employment, benefits and wage determination, prices charged for products and services, business hours, personnel management, and capital expenditure decisions. However, the franchise agreements afford certain rights to the Company, such as the right to approve locations, suppliers, and the sale of a franchise. Additionally, franchisees are required to conform to the Company's established operational policies and procedures relating to quality of service, training, salon design, and decor and trademark usage. The Company's field personnel make periodic visits to franchised salons to ensure they are operating in conformity with the standards for each franchising program. All the rights afforded to the Company with regard to franchised operations allow the Company to protect its brands, but do not allow the Company to control day-to-day franchise operations or make decisions that have a significant impact on the success of the franchised salons. The Company's franchise agreements do not give the Company any right, ability or potential to determine or otherwise influence any terms and/or conditions of employment of franchisees' employees (except for those, if any, that are specifically related to quality of service, training, salon design, decor and trademark usage), including, but not limited to, franchisees' employees' wages and benefits, hours of work, scheduling, leave programs, seniority rights, promotional or transfer opportunities, layoff/recall arrangements, grievance and dispute resolution procedures, and/or discipline and discharge.
Franchise Terms. Pursuant to a franchise agreement with the Company, each franchisee pays an initial fee for each store and ongoing royalties to the Company. In addition, for most brands, the Company collects advertising funds from franchisees and administers the funds on behalf of the brands. Franchisees are responsible for the costs of leasehold improvements, furniture, fixtures, equipment, supplies, inventory, payroll costs and certain other items, including initial working capital. The majority of franchise agreements provide the Company a right of first refusal if the store is to be sold and the franchisee must obtain the Company's approval in all instances where there is a sale of a franchise location.
Additional information regarding each of the major franchised brands is listed below:
Supercuts
Supercuts franchise agreements have a perpetual term, subject to termination of the underlying lease agreement or termination of the franchise agreement by either the Company or the franchisee. All new franchisees enter into development agreements, which give them the right to enter into a defined number of franchise agreements. These franchise agreements are site specific. The development agreement provides limited territorial protection for the stores developed under those franchise agreements. Older franchisees have grandfathered expansion rights, which allow them to develop stores outside of development agreements and provide them with greater territorial protections in their markets. The Company has a comprehensive impact policy that resolves potential conflicts among Supercuts franchisees and/or the Company's Supercuts locations regarding proposed store sites.
SmartStyle and Cost Cutters in Walmart Supercenters
The majority of existing SmartStyle and Cost Cutters franchise agreements for salons located in Walmart Supercenters have a five-year term with a two or five-year option to renew. The franchise agreements are site specific.
Cost Cutters (not located in Walmart Supercenters), First Choice Haircutters, Magicuts and Roosters Men’s Grooming Center (Portfolio Brands)
The majority of existing Cost Cutters franchise agreements have a 15-year term with a 15-year option to renew (at the option of the franchisee), while the majority of First Choice Haircutters franchise agreements have a 10-year term with a five-year option to renew. The majority of Magicuts franchise agreements have a term equal to the greater of five years or the current initial term of the lease agreement with an option to renew for two additional five-year periods. The current franchise agreement is site specific. Franchisees may enter into development agreements with the Company, which provide limited territorial protection. Roosters franchise agreements have a 10-year term with a 10-year option to renew (at the option of the franchisee). New franchisees enter into a franchise agreement concurrently with the opening of their first store, along with a development agreement with the right to open two additional locations.
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Franchisee Training. The Company provides new franchisees with training, focusing on the various aspects of salon management, including operations, management training, marketing fundamentals and controls. Existing franchisees receive training, counseling, and information from the Company on a regular basis. The Company provides franchise salon managers and stylists with access to technical training resources.
Guests. Among other factors, consistent delivery of an exceptional guest experience, haircut quality, convenience, competitive pricing, salon location, inviting salon appearance and atmosphere, comprehensive retail assortments, and engagement through technology all drive guest traffic and improve guest retention.
Guest Experience. Our portfolio of salon concepts enables our guests to select different service scheduling options based upon their preference. We believe the ability to serve walk-in appointments and minimize guest wait times are essential elements in delivering an efficient guest experience. Our mobile applications and online check-in capabilities allow us to capitalize on our guests' desire for convenience by allowing for future check-ins with optional stylist selection, and offering predicted wait times for guests who wish to walk in. Our franchisees continue to focus on stylist staffing and retention, optimizing schedules, balancing variable labor hours with guest traffic, and managing guest wait times. Our franchise salons are located in high-traffic strip centers and Walmart Supercenters with guest parking and easy access to offer guests a variety of convenient ways to fulfill their beauty needs.
Stylists. Our Company depends on the stylists in our system to help deliver great guest experiences. We believe in the importance of the ongoing development of stylists' craft. We aim to be an industry leader in stylist training, including the utilization of both live and digital training. We believe stylists deliver a superior experience for guests when they are well-trained technically and through years of experience. We employ trainers who provide new hire training for stylists joining the Company and train franchisee trainers. We supplement internal training with targeted vendor training and external trainers that bring specialized expertise to stylists in our system. We utilize training materials to help all levels of field employees navigate the operation of a salon and essential elements of guest service training within the context of brand positions.
Affordability. The Company strives to offer an exceptional value for its services. In the value category, our guests expect outstanding service at competitive prices. These expectations are met with the average service price of transactions ranging from $25 to $36. Pricing decisions are considered on a salon-level basis and are established based on local conditions. Our franchisees control all pricing at their locations.
Retail Assortments. Salons sell nationally recognized hair care and beauty products. The top selling brands within the Company’s retail assortment include: L'Oreal Professional Brands and John Paul Mitchell. Stylists are compensated and regularly trained to sell hair care and beauty products to their guests. Additionally, guests are encouraged to purchase products after stylists demonstrate their efficacy by using them in the styling of our guests' hair.
Marketing. Our marketing is brand specific and funded primarily from contractual contributions, based on sales, to the brand's cooperative advertising funds. These funds are used largely in support of advertising and other efforts to increase guest traffic to our salons, grow online booking usage, and improve overall awareness of and affinity for our brands. A portion of our marketing funds are used in support of stylist recruitment and training to grow the number of active stylists in our system.
Technology. In fiscal year 2022, we sold our proprietary back-office salon management system, Opensalon ® Pro to a third party, Soham Inc. (Zenoti). See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8, of this Form 10-K. As of August 2024, all our salons transitioned to the Zenoti salon technology platform. We also use mobile applications to allow guests to view wait times and interact in other ways with salons.
Salon Support. Our corporate headquarters is referred to as Salon Support. We take a service-oriented mentality to best support our franchisees and oversee our company-owned locations. Salon Support and our associated priorities are aligned with our brands to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the service we provide. Salon Support is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota while allowing for hybrid and remote work.
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Salon Concepts:
The Company's salon concepts focus on providing high-quality hair care services and professional hair care products. Descriptions of the Company's salon concepts are listed below:
Supercuts. Supercuts salons provide consistent, high-quality hair care services and professional hair care products to guests at convenient times and locations at value prices. This concept appeals to men, women, and children. The Company has 1,711 franchised and 100 company-owned Supercuts locations throughout North America.
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores. SmartStyle and Cost Cutters salons offer a full range of custom styling, cutting, and hair coloring, as well as professional hair care products and are currently located in Walmart Supercenters. This concept has primarily a "walk-in" guest base with value pricing. The Company has 1,049 franchised SmartStyle and Cost Cutters salons located in Walmart Supercenter locations throughout North America.
Portfolio Brands. Portfolio Brands salons are made up of acquired regional salon groups operating under the primary concepts of Cost Cutters, First Choice Haircutters, Roosters, Hair Masters, Magicuts and Holiday Hair, as well as other concept names. Most concepts offer a full range of custom hairstyling, cutting and coloring services, as well as professional hair care products. The Company has 816 franchised and 194 company-owned Portfolio Brands locations throughout North America.
International Salons. The Company's International salons are locations operating in the United Kingdom, primarily under the Supercuts and Regis concepts. These salons offer similar levels of service as our North American salons. Salons are usually located in prominent high-traffic locations and offer a full range of custom hairstyling, cutting and coloring services, as well as professional hair care products. The Company has 71 franchised international locations. Canadian and Puerto Rican salons are included in the North American salon totals.
The tables below set forth the number of system-wide locations (franchised and company-owned) and activity within the various salon concepts.
System-wide location counts
Fiscal Years
2025 2024 2023
FRANCHISE SALONS:
Supercuts 1,711 1,946 2,082
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores 1,049 1,232 1,388
Portfolio Brands 816 1,117 1,223
Total North American salons 3,576 4,295 4,693
Total International salons 71 96 102
Total franchise salons 3,647 4,391 4,795
as a percent of total franchise and company-owned salons 92.5 % 99.6 % 98.6 %
COMPANY-OWNED SALONS:
Supercuts 100 3 7
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores — 8 48
Portfolio Brands 194 6 13
Total company-owned salons 294 17 68
as a percent of total franchise and company-owned salons 7.5 % 0.4 % 1.4 %
Total franchise and company-owned salons 3,941 4,408 4,863
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Constructed locations (net of relocations)
Fiscal Years
2025 2024 2023
FRANCHISE SALONS:
Supercuts 12 9 11
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores 6 — —
Portfolio Brands — 5 4
Total North American salons 18 14 15
Total International salons — 1 —
Total franchise salons 18 15 15
COMPANY-OWNED SALONS:
Supercuts — — —
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores — — —
Portfolio Brands — — 1
Total company-owned salons — — 1
Closed locations
Fiscal Years
2025 2024 2023
FRANCHISE SALONS:
Supercuts (139) (145) (196)
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores (189) (166) (258)
Portfolio Brands (95) (111) (123)
Total North American salons (423) (422) (577)
Total International salons (25) (7) (39)
Total franchise salons (448) (429) (616)
COMPANY-OWNED SALONS:
Supercuts (11) (3) (11)
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores (8) (30) (1)
Portfolio Brands (18) (8) (25)
Total company-owned salons (37) (41) (37)
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Conversions (including net franchisee transactions)
Fiscal Years
2025 2024 2023
FRANCHISE SALONS:
Supercuts (108) 1 3
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores — 10 —
Portfolio Brands (206) (1) (2)
Total franchise salons (314) 10 1
COMPANY-OWNED SALONS:
Supercuts 108 (1) —
SmartStyle/Cost Cutters in Walmart stores — (10) —
Portfolio Brands 206 1 (1)
Total company-owned salons (1) 314 (10) (1)
_____________________________________________________________________________
(1) Total company-owned salons for fiscal year 2025 includes salons acquired through the Alline Acquisition.
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Affiliated Ownership Interest:
The Company previously maintained a non-controlling 55.1% ownership interest in Empire Education Group, Inc. (EEG), which was accounted for as an equity method investment. EEG operates accredited cosmetology schools. In May 2024, the Company sold its stake in EEG to the controlling owner. The sale did not have a significant impact on the Company's operations or financial position. When the Company held a majority ownership interest in EEG it was a co-signatory to the Title IV program participation agreements of the EEG schools with the Department of Education. As a co-signatory to the Title IV program participation agreements, the Department of Education could hold the Company responsible for EEG's Title IV program liabilities. In connection with the sale, Regis is no longer a co-signatory to the Title IV program participation agreements of the EEG schools with the Department of Education.
Corporate Trademarks:
The Company holds numerous trademarks, both in the United States and in many foreign countries. The most recognized trademarks are "SmartStyle ® ," "Supercuts ® ," "Regis Salons ® ," "Cost Cutters ® ," "First Choice Haircutters ® ," "Roosters ® " and "Magicuts ® ."
Human Capital Management:
Our Culture
We are committed to our purpose of Unleashing the Beauty of Potential , which is supported by our four core values:
Foster Trust. Create powerful relationships by acting with empathy and integrity.
Create Community. Connect and collaborate with all your partners. Share the challenges as much as you celebrate the wins.
Be Brave . Dream big and courageously challenge the status quo.
Own It. You are empowered. Take responsibility and own your role and your results.
These values support a collaborative and inclusive culture that is critical to the success and growth of our Company.
Our People
As of June 30, 2025, the Company employed 1,777 employees. The Company offers flexible work arrangements such as hybrid and remote work.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Company promotes diversity of thoughts, backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. As of June 30, 2025, 94% of the Company's entire workforce are women and 6% are men. Additionally, 58% of the Company's leadership positions are held by women.
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Families First
Over one hundred years ago, the Company began as a family business and its support of families continues today. It offers up to 16 weeks of parental leave, including adoption, up to 12 of which are paid, so that parents have time to focus on their newest family members. It also offers flexible work arrangements, including full-time telecommuting. Additionally, the Company offers flexible paid time off, which allows employees to control their time away from work based on individual needs, not years of service.
Other Compensation and Benefits
The Company also takes care of its people by offering competitive compensation and benefits packages that are designed to support the total well-being and promote the full potential of our employees and their families. These include short- and long-term incentive packages, an employee stock purchase plan, retirement plans, health, dental, and vision benefits, basic life insurance, long-term disability coverage, and wellness and employee assistance programs. The Company analyzes market trends and monitors its own compensation practices to attract, retain, and promote employees and reduce turnover and associated costs. In addition, its short- and long-term incentive plans are aligned with its core values and key business objectives, which are intended to motivate strong performance.
Corporate Responsibility
The Company will not do business with organizations that employ or condone unfair labor practices. Instead, it partners with companies who share its commitment to ethical business conduct and fair labor practices. The Company also specifically condemns human trafficking and abuse of child labor.
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Governmental Regulations:
The Company is subject to various federal, state, local and provincial laws affecting its business, as well as a variety of regulatory provisions relating to the conduct of its beauty-related business, including health and safety. We monitor state and local regulations carefully to ensure the safety of our stylists and guests.
In the United States, the Company's franchise operations are subject to the Federal Trade Commission's Trade Regulation Rule on Franchising (the FTC Rule) and to state laws and administrative regulations that regulate various aspects of franchise operations and sales. The Company's franchises are offered to franchisees by means of a disclosure document containing specified disclosures in accordance with the FTC Rule and the laws and regulations of certain states. The Company has registered its offering of franchises with the regulatory authorities of those states in which it offers franchises and where registration is required. State laws that regulate the franchisee/franchisor relationship presently exist in a substantial number of states and, in certain cases, apply substantive standards to this relationship. Such laws may, for example, require that the franchisor deal with the franchisee in good faith, prohibit interference with the right of free association among franchisees, and limit termination of franchisees without payment of reasonable compensation. The Company believes that the current trend is for government regulation of franchising to increase over time. However, such laws have not had, and the Company does not expect such laws to have, a significant effect on the Company's operations.
In Canada, the Company's franchise operations are subject to franchise laws and regulations in the provinces of Ontario, Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia. The offering of franchises in Canada occurs by way of a disclosure document, which contains certain disclosures required by the applicable provincial laws. The provincial franchise laws and regulations primarily focus on disclosure requirements, although each requires certain relationship requirements, such as a duty of fair dealing and the right of franchisees to associate and organize with other franchisees.
The Company believes it is operating in substantial compliance with applicable laws and regulations governing all its operations.
Financial Information about Foreign and North American Operations
Financial information about foreign and North American operations is incorporated herein by reference to Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in Part II, Item 7 and segment information in Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K.
Available Information
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (Exchange Act). The Company therefore files periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). All our reports, proxy and information statements and other information are available on the SEC's internet site ( www.sec.gov ).
Financial and other information can be accessed in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.regiscorp.com . The Company makes available, free of charge, copies of its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after filing such material electronically or otherwise furnishing it to the SEC.
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Information about our Executive Officers:
On June 20, 2025, Matthew Doctor, the President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors (the "Board") of the Company notified the Board that he would resign his positions, effective June 30, 2025. Upon receiving such notice, the Board appointed Jim Lain, the Company’s Executive Vice President, Brand Operations - Supercuts and Cost Cutters, to serve as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2025, after which Mr. Doctor continued to provide services to the Company as a part-time employee through August 31, 2025, pursuant to a Resignation and Transition Letter Agreement between the Company and Mr. Doctor. The Board has commenced a comprehensive search for a permanent successor.
Information relating to the Executive Officers of the Company follows:
Name Age Position
Michelle DeVore 41 Senior Vice President, Head of Marketing
Michael Ferranti 42 Executive Vice President, Brand Operations - SmartStyle, First Choice Hair, Roosters, and Portfolio Brands
Jim Lain 61 Executive Vice President, Brand Operations - Supercuts and Cost Cutters; Interim President and Chief Executive Officer
James Suarez 50 Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Education
Kersten Zupfer 50 Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Michelle DeVore was appointed to Head of Marketing in August 2022. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. DeVore was Vice President, Customer Experience at European Wax Center, a chain of hair removal salons, from November 2019 to August 2022. Prior to European Wax Center, Ms. DeVore served as a consultant at StudioMDV, LLC, an advertising services company, from March 2019 to August 2022, as Vice President E-commerce Marketing at Aerus, LLC, an air and surface purification manufacturer, from October 2017 to March 2019, and she directed digital transformation and growth in a variety of roles and as a consultant focused on brand strategy, digital innovation and e-commerce.
Michael Ferranti was appointed to Executive Vice President, Brand Operations - SmartStyle, First Choice Hair, Roosters, and Portfolio Brands in August 2024. He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer from December 2021 to August 2024, and as Senior Vice President, People and Culture from March 2021 to December 2021. Before joining the Company, Mr. Ferranti was Head of M&A and Franchising for Subway Restaurants U.S. and Canada, a restaurant brand, from September 2020 to March 2021. Prior to Subway Restaurants, he served as Global Head of Development, HR, IT, Chief Administrative Officer at Le Pain Quotidien, a bakery café chain, from October 2018 to November 2019. Earlier in his career, he held a variety of leadership roles with KraftHeinz and Restaurant Brands International.
The Board appointed Jim Lain, the Company’s Executive Vice President, Brand Operations - Supercuts and Cost Cutters, to serve as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2025. Mr. Lain has served as Executive Vice President, Brand Operations - Supercuts and Cost Cutters since August 2024 and continues to fill that role in addition to his responsibilities as Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. Previously, Mr. Lain served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from December 2021 to August 2024. Prior to which, he served as President of SmartStyle from June 2021 to December 2021 and President of Portfolio Brands from December 2020 to June 2021. Mr. Lain served as a consultant to the Company from July 2020 to December 2020 and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer from November 2013 to July 2020.
James Suarez was appointed to Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Education in August 2023. As part of that role, Mr. Suarez assumed leadership of the company-owned salons acquired through the Alline Acquisition in December 2024. Prior to his promotion to Executive Vice President, Merchandising and Education, Mr. Suarez had 26 years of combined salon operations and education experience at the Company, including Senior Vice President of Merchandising and Education from March 2022 to August 2023, Vice President of Merchandising and Education from October 2021 to February 2022 and as Vice President of Education from August 2017 to October 2021.
Kersten Zupfer was appointed to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in November 2019. Beginning in August 2024, Ms. Zupfer has responsibility for People, Legal, and Real Estate functions. For more than 13 years before her promotion to Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Zupfer served in accounting and finance roles of increasing leadership at the Company. Ms. Zupfer served as Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer from November 2017 to November 2019, prior to which she served as Vice President, Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer from December 2014 to November 2017.
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