March is Women’s History Month.  In honor of that, here is some fascinating franchise history!  

Did you know that we have the LONG hair of Martha Matilda Harper to thank for modern retail franchising?

True!

Here’s the scoop: Martha, born in 1857, became a domestic servant at age 7. Her last employer was a physician.  He taught her about scientific principles and hair health. She inherited his hair tonic formula when he died.

Hard-working and thrifty, she saved enough money to produce the hair tonic and left domestic service. She came to Rochester, NY from Canada and opened her first hair salon in 1888.

She used her life savings of $360.

This is what I LOVE about the story: 

She hired former domestic servants to work in her salon. Then the first 100 franchises were only awarded to poor women like her.

Another interesting factoid:  Martha invented the reclining shampoo chair which is used by salons worldwide now.

Martha was a pioneer not only in the hair industry but also in franchising.  

Here’s to women helping women and making history in the process!