Franchisee of the year - Hairhouse Warehouse

It's difficult to imagine the moment. A Melbourne High School Class Captain, A-grade student, studying commerce at Deakin University fronts his family and announces he's dropping out to sweep floors. Everyone probably got a good laugh out of that until someone noticed that Emad wasn't smiling. Today, Emad Nayef is Australian Franchisee of the Year and sweeping the floor with competitors. There had to be a story there somewhere.

Emad Nayef was born to Lebanese migrant parents who were proud of his academic achievements and confident in his future, until he dropped out of uni to sweep floors and make coffee at a Hair House Warehouse franchise.

"They didn't take it calmly," says Nayef, "Not even my brothers took it calmly. The family was chaotically disappointed."

But commerce student Emad had his path firmly mapped. He had become obsessed with the Hair House Warehouse business model and wanted the 'inside' from the bottom up.

"Don't think that time wasn't education," he says, "Sweeping floors and taking coffee orders is a brilliant way to find out how a business works in practice and learn from its successes and mistakes. I was after my own franchise but took it softly-softly."

They must cram a lot into the first part of that commerce course. Eight years later, Emad has four Hair House Warehouse franchises turning over more than $5 million, with six more in his sights. He's an example of a young, intelligent person seeing franchising as the future in business, choosing his system, and going for it – getting his education on the ground rather than in lecture halls.

It's a trend. Franchising used to be the province of the fifty years set, however the demographic is spreading as older people feel younger and work later into their lives, and younger people are getting in. Emad had his first store within three years, in 2001, has added three to his empire since, and acts as both role model and a training guide for the system.

Emad says, "Success in business means hard work, honesty, energy and a lot of taking advice from other successful people. No matter how much you think you know there is always someone wiser. It was a huge step leaving the security of university and a 'safe' career, but I knew I was going to learn more by watching and listening to people working in a business I knew I wanted."

Emad's family has overcome its disappointment. All work in the business in one capacity or another. And as fellow franchisees, Emad now has the company of several friends who have moved into the system too.

"It's great to see so many young people willing to take on this challenge. And part of my role as a business owner is to encourage my employees to understand that they could be in my shoes in a few years, if it's something they want strongly enough," said Emad.

Founded in 1993, Hair House Warehouse franchises offer one-stop, high quality hairdressing, beauty, waxing, body piercing and tanning services.

23/07/2007

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