 Meet Linda & Scott Sharkey The Couple Behind Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids!  Scott & Linda Sharkey are the husband-and-wife team who turned a simple idea into the largest kids’ salon franchise in the world. Their journey is a testament to entrepreneurial vision, hard work, and a passion for making kids smile. Today, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids boasts over 175+ locations worldwide with another 48 under construction, and is ranked among the top 5% of all franchises globally – but it all began with two very different backstories and one shared dream.
A Dynamic Duo with Diverse Backgrounds Linda Sharkey began her career in the fast-paced world of advertising, honing her creative and business skills at top agencies like Saatchi & Saatchi and Grey Advertising. This marketing savvy would later prove invaluable in crafting a kid-friendly brand. Scott Sharkey, meanwhile, grew up immersed in entrepreneurship – he was raised working in his family’s business from a young age. In fact, Scott helped blaze trails in technology as part of one of the original companies to invent and print barcodes back in the 1980s. His early innovation (they eventually sold that business in 2000) instilled in him a knack for spotting opportunities and building something new. Despite their different backgrounds, the Sharkey’s shared an important common value: family. By the early 2000s, they had started a family of their own and were living in Connecticut. Little did they know that a routine family chore was about to spark their next big venture. From Barcode Innovation to a Haircut Epiphany The idea for Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids was born out of a relatable parenting challenge. Every time Scott and Linda took their own kids for haircuts, the experience was uninviting and stressful. The salons were bland, the kids were bored or scared – and the parents were not having fun either. “They always felt there should be something better,” an opportunity to take the drudgery out of kids’ haircuts. Linda’s marketing instincts and Scott’s entrepreneurial eye saw a gap in the market: why not create a place where haircuts are fun for kids and stress-free for parents? In 2003, acting on that vision, they opened the very first Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids in Greenwich, Connecticut. Their concept was simple yet groundbreaking: a kids’ salon that does not just offer haircuts, but turns the whole experience into a playful adventure. Linda drew on her advertising know-how to make sure the concept would click – she even organized focus groups with local parents and kids to fine-tune the idea. The result was a salon environment unlike any other. Bright colors and whimsical décor set a cheerful tone. Little ones could sit in fun fantasy chairs (think a Barbie Jeep, a fire truck, or a Lightning McQueen race car) while watching their favorite cartoons, and older kids had their own cool perks like Xbox gaming stations and a private “tween lounge” for glam styling parties. From the beginning, the Sharkey’s’ motto was essentially, “We don’t sell a haircut, we sell an experience.” By making kids excited to get a trim – and making parents’ lives easier – Scott and Linda set out to transform a chore into a celebration. Early Challenges and a Leap of Faith When the Sharkey’s started that first salon, their ambitions were modest. “We began with the notion of opening a single hair salon for kids,” Scott recalls of those early days. Neither had run a retail salon before, and the concept of a kids-only salon was still novel. In the beginning, there were plenty of challenges: finding the right location, convincing skeptics that a children’s salon could thrive, and ensuring every child who walked through the door had a great time (no easy feat when haircuts often cause tears!). Scott and Linda poured their hearts into creating a warm, safe space. They personally hired and trained staff who loved children, and they often worked side-by-side with their team – Linda using her customer service savvy from advertising, and Scott applying his hands-on business experience. The Sharkey’s hard work paid off when families quickly fell in love with the concept. What was supposed to be a one-off location became an instant hit in the community . The salon was buzzing with kids excited for haircuts (imagine that!), and grateful parents spread the word that Sharkey’s made the experience easy and fun. But success brought a new challenge: demand. Customers from other towns started asking when a Sharkey’s would open near them, and even visitors on vacation wanted to know how they could bring the concept home. Scott and Linda suddenly found themselves fielding inquiries about franchising. Turning their small business into a franchise company was a leap they hadn’t initially planned – it meant learning a whole new side of business, from operations manuals to franchise law. Yet, with typical Sharkey grit, they embraced the challenge. As Scott puts it, they built Sharkey’s to be “a unique salon that is prompt for on-the-go parents, fun and entertaining for children, and reasonably priced for their wallets” – a formula that could work anywhere. By 2004, just a year after opening, the Sharkey’s opened a second and third salon to keep up with demand. In 2005, they sold their very first Sharkey’s franchise. This husband-and-wife team went from running a single shop to overseeing a growing franchise family. Those early years were not without hiccups – scaling up meant maintaining quality and consistency across locations, and the Sharkey’s were determined to protect the magic that made Sharkey’s special. They remained very hands-on: they kept one corporate-owned salon in their hometown of Westport, CT as a testing ground for new ideas and training center for franchisees. Through every challenge, Scott and Linda’s guiding light was the same as day one: make every haircut an unforgettable experience for kids and a stress-free outing for parents. Growing into a Global Franchise Fueled by the Sharkey’s’ passion and a solid business model, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids took off. From that single Connecticut salon, it blossomed into a global franchise in just a few short years. By the late 2000s, Sharkey’s had spread across the United States and even into Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. In fact, Franchise Times magazine named Sharkey’s the fastest-growing children’s hair salon franchise as early as 2008. The growth has not slowed since. As of today, Sharkey’s has over 170 salons open worldwide (with dozens more in development), including locations not just across the U.S. but in countries like Canada, the U.K., and beyond. There’s even a Sharkey’s vocational training school in Israel, underscoring the brand’s international reach. What’s remarkable is that the Sharkey’s achieved this expansion while maintaining the family-oriented culture of their brand. Each new franchisee is not just a business partner – they become part of the Sharkey’s family. Scott and Linda emphasize a “passive ownership” model for franchisees, encouraging them to keep their day jobs if they want and run the salons as an investment. The idea is that the business should be simple to operate and fun to own. And it is – Sharkey’s franchisees benefit from multiple revenue streams (haircuts, kids’ birthday parties, retail products, etc.) and a recession-resistant concept (after all, kids always need haircuts, rain, or shine). This smart approach helped Sharkey’s not only grow fast, but grow with stability. Even economic downturns did not slow the brand – parents still brought their children in for the reliable joy of a Sharkey’s haircut. As a result, Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids has consistently racked up awards year after year, and its explosive growth trajectory has placed it firmly in the upper echelon of franchise businesses (its Franchise 500 ranking climbed 80% in just three years leading up to 2024). The once tiny Connecticut salon has become a franchising powerhouse, with Sharkey’s now proudly sitting in the top 5% of franchises worldwide in terms of size and success. What Makes Sharkey’s Stand Out How did a kids’ hair salon franchise achieve such heights? The answer lies in what makes Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids truly special. Scott and Linda understood from the start that Sharkey’s isn’t just selling haircuts – it’s selling an experience. Every Sharkey’s salon is designed to delight children and pamper parents. For the kids: it’s like walking into a mini theme park. They can choose to sit in a sparkly pink Barbie Jeep, a police cruiser, a fire engine, or even a Lightning McQueen race car while getting their hair trimmed. They are handed a remote to watch Netflix or cartoons on a personal screen, or they can play the latest Xbox games in the older kids’ gaming stations. Each haircut comes with all the extras – a wash, a blow-dry, a “mini-cure” (mini manicure) for the girls, temporary Sharkey tattoos, balloons, lollipops – you name it. For parents: Sharkey’s is a dream come true. Appointments are prompt and convenient, the shops are clean and safe, and the staff knows how to keep kids happy and still. No more bribing your toddler to sit still, no more tantrums over tangled hair – Sharkey’s handles it all with a smile. The salons even have a Tween Lounge where pre-teens can feel grown-up and host “Glamour Parties” for birthdays, so Sharkey’s grows with your child. This unequaled entertainment factor and attention to customer experience is what truly sets Sharkey’s apart from any competitors. Unlike other children’s haircut places that might cater only to toddlers or only to boys, Sharkey’s welcomes all kids aged 0-14 (and even Mom or Dad can get a trim if they want!). By catering to a wide age range and both boys and girls, Sharkey’s keeps families coming back for years – a little boy who got his first haircut in one of those cute car chairs can stick with Sharkey’s through his tween years playing video games during haircuts. This unique approach leads to industry-leading customer retention. Parents do not just come once; they become loyal fans, and they tell their friends. Franchise owners see this loyalty in the numbers – many Sharkey’s salons enjoy repeat clientele and even serve second-generation customers now! The brand’s consistency and fun reputation also earned it trust and accolades in the franchise world. Sharkey’s has been the recipient, year over year, franchise awards across the country, and it is regularly featured in top franchise rankings. As CEO Scott Sharkey likes to say, Sharkey’s success is measured “in smiles as well as profits.” When a business model delivers financial success and genuine joy, it is bound to stand out. By keeping their concept family-focused, fun-centric, and innovative, the Sharkey’s built a franchise that’s not only financially thriving but also beloved by communities everywhere. A Journey of Family, Fun, and Fulfillment For Scott and Linda Sharkey, the past two decades have been a whirlwind – from opening that first little salon while raising their own young children, to traveling the world to support new franchise locations. It’s been more than just a business venture; it’s a family journey. They have watched their three children grow up alongside the business (in fact, the Sharkey’s joke that Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids was the “fourth baby” in the family). Some of their most cherished memories involve all five of them at the salon, with the kids “test-driving” those fun styling chairs or giving Mom and Dad feedback on the latest in-salon video games! As the Sharkey’s’ children grew, so did Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids – and both have turned into something truly remarkable. Looking back, Scott and Linda often reflect on what Sharkey’s means to them. They took a leap of faith together as a couple, and it led to an adventure that has touched families around the globe. They are proud that their salons have become places where “every day offers the chance to make a positive impact on a child’s life.” Seeing a child leave with a big smile (and sometimes not wanting to leave because they are having so much fun!) is the real reward for them. It’s not just the kids who are smiling – parents walk out relieved and happy, and franchise owners get to smile too, knowing they are part of something special. Through hard work and big hearts, Scott and Linda Sharkey created more than a successful franchise – they created a community. Franchisees frequently refer to the Sharkey’s as friends and mentors, noting how dedicated Scott and Linda are to every salon’s success and to treating everyone like family. The Sharkey’s have also woven philanthropy into their journey, from supporting children’s hospitals to local charities, giving back to the communities that embraced their dream. After 20+ years, Scott and Linda remain as hands-on and passionate as ever. You can still find them at their original Westport salon some days, chatting with customers or testing out a new idea to make the experience even better. Their story proves that with a great idea and a lot of heart, a small family business can grow into something worldwide. And despite all the growth, the mission has stayed the same: “Creating smiles, achieving success – one haircut at a time.” Warm, inspiring, and immensely proud of what they have built, Scott and Linda Sharkey continue to lead Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids with the energy they had on day one. Their journey from barcodes to kids’ haircuts shows that when you blend innovation with family values, magic happens. And as they like to remind anyone who will listen, this success isn’t just measured in dollars – it’s measured in the countless smiling faces of children bouncing out of Sharkey’s salons, happy and confident, with parents in tow. That is the legacy the Sharkey’s are building, and it’s one cut above the rest. Sources: Scott & Linda Sharkey interview (South OC Moms, Moms Network) February-2025 SharkeysFranchisingCompany.com
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