Wellington has acquired the development rights in Southern Nevada for Sport Clips, which has five stores operating in the area. Fisher says that Wellington Franchising Systems plans to open approximately 30 Sport Clips stores in Clark, Nye and Lincoln counties at the rate of at least five in the first year and 10 per year after that.

Wellington will be responsible for recruiting and training new franchisees in addition to locating sites throughout Southern Nevada. Sport Clips stores range in size from 1,000 sf to 1,500 sf, and the chain typically signs a five-year lease with one five-year option to renew. Wellington is also an area developer for Sport Clips in Southern California, where the chain is planning 125 stores at the rate of about 10 to 15 per year.

Sport Clips features televisions tuned to sports shows so that customers can watch sports while getting their hair cut, having their neck and shoulder massaged or opting for other services, such as shampoo massages and steamed towels. The idea behind the 11-year-old chain, which operates shops in 32 states, is to provide what it calls "MVP treatment" for customers.

The hair care stores also feature a sports-themed décor including jerseys, pennants, lockers and sports memorabilia for sale. Fisher says that Sport Clips, which was founded in 1995, saw an opening in the market for a concept that specialized in the hair care needs of men because most of the hair salon industry focuses primarily on women.