#SAFranchiseFriday featuring Sorbet

BACKGROUND
The Sorbet beauty salon and nail bar concept was created in response to a need for an up-market chain of branded beauty salons. The concept was brought to fruition in 2005 with the opening of the first Sorbet salon in Johannesburg. The offering has since been extended to include five different concepts, namely, Sorbet Salons, Sorbet Nail Bars, Sorbet Drybars, Candi & Co, and Sorbet Man. Today, with close to 190 salons in major city centres across the country, as well as four stores in the UK, the brand is well-established and popular.

THE CONCEPT 
Sorbet salons deliver an updated version of the traditional beauty salon. Catering to today’s busy lifestyle, price, quality and efficient convenience are embraced as vital elements of product and service delivery. Sorbet guests enjoy the ‘Total Guest Experience’ that goes beyond mere service delivery and forms the crux of the unique Sorbet culture and philosophy — The Soul of Sorbet.

Facials, massages, grooming, waxing, and hair and nail treatments are amongst the services available across the different formats. Salons also stock a large retail offering which includes professional skin care ranges such as Dermalogica, Environ and the Sorbet skin-care range. Nail care products also form part of the extensive retail range.

To cater for working guests, Sorbet salons operate at extended hours during the week as well as on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Sorbet salons are conveniently situated in high traffic shopping centres.

The number of staff required to operate a Sorbet franchise will depend on the services offered at each establishment.

FRANCHISOR SUPPORT
Sorbet subscribes to a philosophy and culture that places people before profits. The success of the franchisor is dependent on the success of the franchisees who, in turn, are expected to look after their citizens and guests in order to achieve the goals of the brand. Servant leadership is another important aspect of the Sorbet culture.

Initial franchisee training incorporates all the operational and administrative aspects of successful salon management, while suppliers provide product-specific training that ensures franchisees and their citizens are knowledgeable about every product range.
As the largest retailer of Dermalogica and Environ skin care products in the country, Sorbet franchisees benefit from the collective buying power of the group, enjoying trade prices and terms better than those available to independent salons.

FRANCHISEE PROFILE
Applicant franchisees need not be a beauty therapist, nail technician or hair stylist. Instead, a business background, strong people skills and a true appreciation for real customer service will serve the franchisee well. Sorbet franchises must be owner managed.

SNAPSHOT

HISTORY
Founder: Ian Fuhr
Year founded: 2005
Area of origin: Johannesburg, Gauteng
CEO: Ian Fuhr

NETWORK
1st SA franchise opened: 2009
Number of SA outlets: 190

FRANCHISE AGREEMENT
Management fee: 6.5% of turnover
Marketing fee: Available on request
Agreement term: 5 Years
Renewal term: 5 Years

FINANCIALS
* Amounts quoted are VAT exclusive
Establishment cost: Refer to website
Franchise joining fee: R125 000
Working capital required: Available on request
Total average set-up cost: Available on request
Average monthly turnover: Available on request
Achievable gross margins: Available on request

WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Contact Brenda Schneiderman on +27 11 202 7940 or brenda@sorbet.co.za
www.sorbet.co.za