Mobley brothers shift from movie rentals to haircuts franchise

No strangers to running franchises, brothers Jim and Billy Mobley are fairly confident that the Internet won’t be offering haircuts anytime soon. So their shift from running Blockbuster video rental stores to opening Fantastic Sams Hair Salons franchises—the first was a Sulphur location in June 2011; a fourth will open in Central this December—is a safe career segue, the Mobleys figure. While online move-watching habits have nearly vanquished the brick-and-mortar video rental business, the brothers still operate two Blockbusters in Opelousas and Eunice, respectively; formerly they owned as many as five. But the Central natives see more growth potential in the haircut business. “Our plans are probably to get up to 10 or 12 Fantastic Sams stores,” Jim Mobley says. Those future openings could include two in Lafayette and one in the Lake Charles area, he says. Besides their Sulphur store, the Mobleys have two Fantastic Sams operating: one each in Zachary and Crowley. “They have a good name, and they have a lot of education and support for the brand,” Jim Mobley says of the franchise. “And we like that.” Frank Reda, a Fantastic Sams regional owner and manager, says a franchising fee is $25,000. However, he also advises franchisees to have at least $60,000 set aside for opening costs, supplies, products and early operating costs. However, Reda says convenient parking and location visibility—plus the luck of opening with a great staff—can turn a Fantastic Sams profitable in a very short time. “It’s very helpful to have a big-box [store] next to you,” Reda says. —Adam Pearson