Lash franchise Mync is making its United States debut this year under the name LashKind.
Blo Blow Dry Bar acquired the six-unit, Canada-based Mync (pronounced “mink”) last fall. The brand was founded by Nathalie Smith. Vancouver-founded Blo, a hairstyling and blowout franchise, has around 140 stores open in the United States and Canada.
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Mync’s Canadian studios will remain under the same name, while all U.S. locations will be called LashKind. “It’s essentially the same model, taking everything that’s been so successful with Mync and just packaging it up under a different brand name,” Blo CEO Vanessa Yakobson said.
LashKind’s first U.S. franchisee is Lynn Maggio-Fleer, who already has a Blo salon in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Her LashKind store will be just a few doors down from Blo. LashKind also has agreements signed for the Miami and Dallas markets, Yakobson said.
“We’re targeting everywhere,” Yakobson said. “We’ve got wide open territory. This is such a popular service category that’s growing in demand.”
Despite the name, the brand puts “equal emphasis on brow shaping, brow lamination, lash lifts—those services as well,” unlike some competitors, Yakobson said. “With us, it’s going to be part of our model.”
Yakobson anticipates opening 100 LashKind units in the next three to four years.
When looking for new franchisees, the ability to deliver great customer service is a must, Yakobson said.
“LashKind is all about a fun, social environment and vibe,” she said. “So, we want people who really appreciate from a customer perspective the value that that brings. … We’re looking for people who really appreciate delivering that exceptional guest experience.”
The brand uses a reoccurring revenue model through a membership program. The Mync membership in Canada includes two lash fills each month, with the option to add on other services at a discounted rate. Mync also offers brow membership options.
Brow and lash services bring in a wide array of customers across the gender spectrum, Yakobson said, from high school students to a more mature audience.
“For the owner, having those customers, securing their loyalty through the membership program, means you’ve got a steady, predictable revenue stream, which is great,” she said.
The total investment required to open a LashKind franchise ranges from $214,480 to $299,122.
LashKind is “piggybacking” off Blo’s infrastructure, which gives franchisees more resources from Blo’s success, she said. “As a new LashKind franchisee, you’ll have access to this wonderful community of amazing Blo franchisees who are such great mentors and support to one another,” she said.
“In fact, our first bunch of our LashKind franchisees are actually Blo franchisees who’ve been so thrilled with the success they’ve had with Blo,” Yakobson said. “And they’re so appreciative of the support that they have from the corporate team and all the resources and coaching and tools that we provide. They are really excited to be expanding their portfolios with this model.”