History of Sally Beauty Supply
Sally Beauty Supply is one the leading retailers of professional beauty supplies in the world. With locations spanning the globe, it is likely you have seen one in your area. Built from the ground up, the story of Sally Beauty Supply is a testament to what hard work and a vision can accomplish.
The Beginnings
The first Sally Beauty Supply opened in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1964. The original store was for registered beauticians only. This store was bought five years later by Alberto-Culver. In 1972, Michael Renzulli was hired on the lead the company. Within 10 years, the company began expanding, having 25 stores open by 1978.
Expanding Through the 1980s
The 1980s provided a period of explosive growth for Sally Beauty Supply, both domestically and internationally. After moving its headquarters to Denton, Texas, in 1982, Sally Beauty Supply opened over 100 stores across the U.S. The next year, Sally Beauty Supply launched its own equipment division, under the name of Sally Quickship Equipment.
Laying the groundwork for the professional-only distribution chain, Sally Beauty acquired Victory Beauty Systems in 1985. By 1987, Sally Beauty Supply had opened 500 stores in the U.S. The same year, the company gained access to the international market, by purchasing Ogee stores in the U.K.
Going Global in the 1990s
With U.S. growth booming, Sally Beauty expanded its global markets to Japan, Germany and Canada. In 1991, just four years after opening the 500th store in the U.S., Sally Beauty celebrated the opening of its 1000th store. Two years later, sales for Sally Beauty Supply reached $500 million.
By 1996, Sally Beauty had opened 1500 stores and was growing by three stores per day. Beauty Systems Group was also founded this year, by combining the acquired stores of R.M. Barnum Beauty Supply, Victory Beauty Supply, Miller & Gould Beauty Supply and F.H. Loeffler. Beauty Systems Group established a professionals-only division of Sally Beauty Supply. By 1998, Sally Beauty Holdings was operating 1800 stores and had $1 billion in sales to its name.
The 1990s also marked the start of Sally Beauty’s fundraising efforts for Breast Cancer research and the City of Hope. By 1996, Sally had contributed over $1.5 million dollars to cause. Sally Beauty also started the SallyCares program, supporting Breast Cancer research at the City of Hope, and the Shelter Program, offering help and services to the victims of domestic violence. Sally Beauty also became a major contributor in promoting cosmetology careers.
The 21st Century and Beyond
Sally Beauty continued to expand through the 2000s, opening stores in Mexico, Belgium, France, Spain and South America. By 2001, there were 2300 Sally Beauty stores worldwide, with an additional 100 stores to come by 2004. In 2010, Sally Beauty opened its 4000th store. Sally Beauty also acquired a wholesale supplier, Sinelco Group. This strengthened their foothold in the European market and provided a way for Sally Beauty to supply products to countries it does not have physical locations in.
With the increase in stores came an increase in both earnings and fundraising. In 2003, Sally Beauty contributed $1 million in scholarships and grants for the merchandising and journalism departments of the University of North Texas and Texas Women’s University Foundation. They also began construction of a new world headquarters facility in Denton, Texas. By the time the new facility was ready, in 2005, Sally Beauty had raised more than $3 million for City of Hope.
The 2000s also included many changes and additions to the company. In 2000, Sally Beauty magazine was launched, providing information to subscribers about the latest products and trends in the cosmetic industries. A year later, in 2001, the Sally Beauty website is debuted, making this information accessible to anyone with Internet access. In 2006, Sally Beauty Holdings became a freestanding company traded on the New York Stock Exchange. This year also marked the start of Gary Winterhalter as President and CEO.
As of 2010, Sally Beauty has gone from one store in New Orleans to over 4000 stores around the world with estimated annual revenue of $2.6 billion.It has grown to be the largest global provider of professional beauty supplies in the world.