Sugaring is quickly becoming the preferred hair removal treatment, which is pushing expansion of these specialty salons into all areas of the country. The sugaring process utilizes all-natural ingredients, which should grow in popularity as consumers increasingly prioritize product transparency and prefer non-toxic organic procedures. Most sugaring clinics provide other services, such as facials or spray tanning, and sell their own labeled skincare products. Sugaring salons are still a relatively new concept for national expansion, but that is about to change. The frontrunners looking for new sites in multiple states include Sugaring NYC, Sugared + Bronzed and Sugar Sugar.
These tenants boost all-day foot traffic, as the service requires repeat visits every four to six weeks for its higher end clientele — about 80% to 90% being females from the Gen Z to Gen X demographic. Most sugaring clinics offer membership programs that further encourage customers to frequent the establishments on a regular basis. Sugaring salons tend to be in higher-end neighborhood strip malls or power centers, especially in close proximity to a college. The retail center should have a large number of daily errand brand tenancy, such as grocers, convenience stores or fitness centers, as well as non-competing beauty-oriented retailers, such as cosmetics shops or hair and nail salons.
The Sugaring NYC franchise expects to open between 30 and 40 new units per year for the foreseeable future. All 50 states are being considered for expansion. Look for Western markets to continue to see growth, such as California, as well as new states for the brand such as Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. Ohio is also slated to receive its first unit in early 2024. Continued growth is also anticipated to take place throughout Texas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey.
Sugaring NYC seeks inline spaces in the 1,200- to 1,500-s.f. range, primarily within suburban strip malls in major metros, but also in urban retail street-front units on major retail corridors. Sites near colleges are ideal. Preferred co-tenants include nationally recognized leading service brands in the health/beauty/food sector, such as 24 Hour Fitness, Sephora and Whole Foods Market. Sugaring NYC, which provides its sugaring services in a pink-themed boutique setting, also offers lash treatments, as well as tanning booths. The salons, which have membership options, sell their own branded products, such as serums and foam cleansers.
Sugared + Bronzed expects to open new company-owned salons at a rate of approximately 25 new studios per year over the next two years at least. Immediate growth will take place in Miami, with Florida being a new state for the brand, and continued expansion will take place in Houston, New York City and California, with Long Beach expecting a new unit in February. Future growth is anticipated to occur in more Southern California locations, with the San Diego metro potentially being on Sugared + Bronzed’s radar, and even possibly Northern California territories such as Roseville, Santa Clara, Marin County, Walnut Creek and the upscale districts in San Francisco. Other areas rumored to be in Sugared + Bronzed’s sights include Scottsdale, Ariz., Denver, the Washington, D.C., metro, Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., Boston and possibly neighborhoods in New Jersey.
Preferred sites for Sugared + Bronzed are inline or end cap units between 1,100 and 2,000 s.f., primarily on retail street-front spaces, including the ground floor of mixed-use buildings, as well as upscale power centers and grocery-anchored centers. Neighborhoods in major metros with great walkability are especially targeted.
Co-tenants should include higher-end beauty retailers such as Bluemercury, as well as more upscale grocery stores such as Trader Joe’s. Sugared + Bronzed, which also provides custom air brush tans, offers memberships, as well as its own branded beauty products such as sunscreens and moisturizers.
The Sugar Sugar franchise has steady growth goals, planning for up to 10 new stores in 2024, up to 15 in 2025, up to 25 in 2026, up to 35 in 2027, and 40+ per year in 2028 and beyond. Areas targeted for immediate growth include Florida, especially from Flagler County down through South Miami, as well as Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The Eastern Seaboard will also be targeted, including an emphasis on the regions of New Jersey that are closest to the border of Pennsylvania, near Philadelphia. Farther into the future, expect more Western markets to be targeted, especially throughout Colorado and California.
Sugar Sugar prefers space between 950 and 1,550 s.f., with units in the 1,100- to 1,200-s.f. range being the sweet spot. Sugar Sugar especially seeks inline or end cap spaces in strip malls, grocery-anchored centers and power centers with great street visibility and high traffic count numbers. The average household income for any potential site’s parameters should be at least $75K/year. Co-tenants should include more upscale-oriented grocers, including Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, Publix and H-E-B. Personal care tenants also work well, such as Massage Envy, Club Pilates or Orangetheory Fitness, as well as yoga studios, blow-out bars and nail salons. Sugar Sugar, which also provides organic airbrush spray tans and vegan facials, has boutiques complete with Instagram-ready selfie backdrops and sells its own proprietary all-natural skincare products.
