When Juanda Roberts found herself spending 24 hours doing her daughter’s hair, she didn’t just see a problem, she recognized a business opportunity. With her background in technology consulting and a degree in computer science from Spelman College, Roberts approached the challenge with both analytical precision and creative vision. The result was Princess Hair Pizzazz, a luxury children’s hair salon that has expanded to four locations across Metro Atlanta in just five years.
Strategic foundations for rapid growth
Roberts’s approach to business development reflects her technology background. “You can’t execute or create anything that you haven’t defined,” she emphasizes. Her first step was crafting a comprehensive business plan that outlined three core brand pillars: luxury environment, exceptional service, and quality products. This clarity of vision has guided every aspect of the business’s expansion.
The strategy proved successful as Princess Hair Pizzazz opened locations in Cascade, Cumberland, Stonecrest, and most recently, Stockbridge. Each expansion was carefully planned to maintain the brand’s high standards while serving distinct community needs.
The mathematics of salon success
Understanding the financial lifecycle of a salon business was crucial to Roberts’s expansion strategy. She explains the progression: “First, you may be losing money, then it’s getting to where it’s paying for itself, then it’s getting to the profits where you are making money.” This realistic approach to business phases helped her make informed decisions about timing each new location’s opening.
Roberts emphasizes the importance of having adequate capital reserves, noting that new business owners should be prepared to operate without profit for the first year. This financial wisdom proved particularly valuable when COVID-19 hit just as the business was becoming profitable.
Building systems for scalability
To maintain consistency across locations, Roberts implemented several key systems:
Management teams at each location act as local leaders, ensuring brand standards while fostering community connections. Quarterly events bring together staff from all locations, maintaining company culture during expansion. Regular maintenance schedules keep facilities at luxury standards, with repainting every two to three years and prompt equipment replacement.
Innovation in customer experience
Roberts revolutionized the children’s salon experience by addressing pain points other businesses overlooked. While competitors charged “brat fees” for challenging clients, Princess Hair Pizzazz focused on creating a welcoming environment for all children. The salon’s success in this approach demonstrates how understanding and addressing customer needs can drive business growth.
Employee development as growth strategy
A crucial element of the company’s expansion has been its focus on employee development. Roberts created career paths that allow stylists to move into management roles, ensuring a pipeline of qualified leaders for new locations. “They’re running the frontline operations of my business so that I can focus on growth strategy,” she explains.
This approach has produced multiple benefits: loyal employees, consistent service quality, and a ready pool of talent for expansion. The company’s reputation for employee development has also made it easier to attract new talent as it grows.
Financial strategy and timing
Roberts maintained her corporate position for four years while building Princess Hair Pizzazz, working on the salon during nights and weekends. This conservative approach provided financial stability during the crucial early growth phase. “If I wouldn’t have done that, I would not have survived Covid,” she reflects.
Her advice to entrepreneurs considering expansion includes careful consideration of brick-and-mortar costs. “A lot of people don’t think about those brick and mortars cost multiple thousands of dollars every single month,” she cautions, advocating for phased growth based on solid financial planning.
Market differentiation in expansion
Each new location was chosen not just for its demographic potential but for its ability to fill a market gap. Roberts observed that many upscale services were absent from certain Atlanta communities, creating an opportunity to provide luxury experiences in underserved areas.
This strategic positioning has allowed Princess Hair Pizzazz to capture a unique market position: providing high-end services in communities that traditionally lacked such options, while maintaining the quality standards of more affluent areas.
Future growth and sustainability
Looking ahead, Roberts continues to focus on sustainable growth that doesn’t compromise quality. Her expansion strategy includes careful market analysis, thorough staff training, and maintaining the company’s culture of excellence across all locations.
The success of Princess Hair Pizzazz demonstrates how combining strategic business planning with genuine community need can create a scalable enterprise. Roberts’s journey from corporate executive to successful entrepreneur offers valuable lessons for anyone looking to grow a service-based business while maintaining high standards and social impact.
Her story shows that rapid expansion is possible when built on a foundation of careful planning, strong systems, and unwavering commitment to quality. As Princess Hair Pizzazz continues to grow, it stands as a model for how to scale a business without sacrificing the very qualities that made it successful in the first place.
