Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue III, 2017 | Page 74

RECONNECT
BY KERRY PIPES
Life’s Short, Grow Fast!
G
Grant Simon is doing exactly that with 3 brands in 6 states
rant Simon is no stranger to
these pages. We first profiled
him in 2008 and then again in
early 2014, when he had grown
to 39 Great Clips salons, 11 T-Mobile
stores, and 1 Smoothie King. He told us
then and he told us again recently, “I love
growth, and I don’t see our expansion
slowing down anytime soon.” He means
it, too. He currently operates 144 units
across those three brands.
Simon says his partnerships and in-
frastructure have been key to his success.
“Without the formation of our man-
agement company, LSGF Management
(Life’s Short Grow Fast) to provide the
infrastructure and back office support for
the brands, the goal of adding 45 more
units in 2017 would be a dream and not
a reality,” he says. Because of this rate of
growth, he says, it became critical for him
to begin working on the business rather
than in it.
units from 20 in 2013 to more than 100
by the end of 2017. “Lou provides over
25 years of retail operational experience,
making him a perfect fit to lead the T-
Mobile day-to-day operations while LSGF
manages finance, HR, real estate, and
other foundational aspects of the busi-
ness,” says Simon.
He’s also been busy adding Great Clips
salons. “The truly exciting measurement
NAME: Grant Simon
TITLE: CEO
COMPANY: LSGF Management
NO. OF UNITS: 88 T-Mobile, 52
Great Clips, 4 Smoothie King
AGE: 52
For T-Mobile, Simon joined forces
with Lou Provost. He says the move al-
lowed them to grow at a blistering pace,
entering more markets and increasing
FAMILY: Sophie 17, Rebecca 22
YEARS IN FRANCHISING: 23
YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: 23
PERSONAL
First job: Dishwasher. I was paid in cash because I
was too young to legally work. I walked home after
work at 1 a.m. I can’t believe my parents let me
do that.
Formative influences/events: My father al-
ways worked for himself and had excellent business
acumen. He taught me how to negotiate, manage,
and take chances while controlling risk. My mother
taught me about integrity, honesty, and tolerance.
home, office, and gym are all within 5 miles of
each other.
Hardest lesson learned: When my growth
started accelerating, I did not have the people in
place to support it. Resources were stretched thin and
I suffered operationally across the entire company.
From that I have learned to invest in people and tech-
nology well ahead of anticipated growth. Guilty pleasure: Buttercream frosted cake.
Key accomplishments: Raising two great happy
and successful kids. Work week: Between 50 and 80 hours. I always
try to spend time with my family and friends. I love
what I do, so it does not seem like work to me.
Biggest current challenge: Finding the best
technologies to help us continue to automate pro-
cesses. Exercise/workout: I work out regularly and
enjoy a variety of sports including running, cycling,
tennis, and racquetball.
Next big goal: Double the size of our company in
the next 5 years. Best advice you ever got: Don’t live above
your means.
First turning point in your career: Forming
LSGF Management, which has allowed us to acceler-
ate our growth. What’s your passion in business? I have
a constant drive to move the business forward and
grow while helping others around me grow and
succeed.
Best business decision: Teaming up with operat-
ing partners who have skill sets that balance mine
72
and who share my same drive, ambition, and values
in business.
MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE III, 2017
How do you balance life and work? My
Favorite books: Good to Great by Jim Collins;
Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman.
Favorite movie: “Big.”
What do most people not know about
you? For 17 years, my business partner Greg and I
have been going to the Taco Mac bar every Monday
night to talk business, politics, and life.
Pet peeve: Not doing something you tell me you
are going to do.
What did you want to be when you grew
up? Out of college I found my dream job as a stock-
broker. Then I found it was 100 percent commission,
and at 22 I didn’t know anyone to sell stocks to.
Last vacation: Southeast Asia with my daughters.
Person I’d most like to have lunch with:
My mother. And I do, once a month.