My Sit Sit Story: Founder Edition

Don’t ask me why, but I’ve always had the idea of a modern kids' salon in the back of my mind. It was just one of those concepts, where you look around and ask, “Why is nobody doing this?” However, it wasn’t until I had twin girls (and no reliable salon for them to go to) that I realized I could be that somebody.

In 2007, an opportunity in the market presented itself, and I wanted to be the one to build it. We opened our first location in West Linn, Oregon and year one was met with major success. If you thought the kids looked happy coming out of the salon, you should’ve seen the parents. As a mother and business owner, it was gratifying to give families in our community such memorable experiences.

Everything felt aligned. Until it didn’t.

I have a background in sales, but no business plan could have prepared me for what was to come in 2008—a national recession. I vividly recall standing by the phone in our empty salon—waiting for a ring, praying for a walk-in. We devised countless ways to increase traffic and revenue, but the results were discouraging. I’ve never wanted to quit something so badly. But from past experience, I knew that failure is part of the process. We would come out of this stronger—and that hope kept me going.

And we did. 22 salons (in 12 states) stronger, as of this year.

I firmly believe we owe this success to our dedicated staff and passionate franchise team who share in our vision to transform the salon visit into a cherished tradition for families. Second best to our haircuts is our standard for customer service. As a team, we pride ourselves on meticulous attention to detail, our unwavering commitment to authenticity, and our loyal community of parents and caregivers who value our blend of innovation with timeless, retro charm. Many families come to the events and parties we throw. Some stop in, with their now college kids, just to say hi. We’re that tight-knit with our clients.

This next phase is incredibly exciting. Of course, we want to bring Sit Still Salon for Kids to as many communities as we can. But as kid salons become more elevated and the market continues to evolve, it’s my goal to share everything this wonderful and wild journey has taught me. Namely, to equip beauty students, new stylists, and those already established, with the business skills and haircare knowledge that aren’t always taught in beauty school. Because that’s why we’re here—to invest in the growth and happiness of all of our people, from our biggest teams to our littlest clients.

— Nhu Vo | Founder Sit Still Kids