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The Branded Perspective | The Business of Beauty: My Journey Into Franchising with Blo


Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time hiring for my franchise, Blo Blow Dry Bar in NYC's Financial District. And in every interview, I share a little backstory:

✨ How long we’ve been around: coming up on 5 years!
📍 Who I am: a little about where I live & what I do
💻 How I work: mostly virtual, thanks to my other career in marketing
🧠 What I’m looking for: be responsible, act like an adult, and leave the drama at the door

Naturally, the next question is:
"Why this business?"

It’s a great question — and like any good blowout, the answer has layers: personal, practical, and a little idealistic.

1️⃣ A Long-Held Dream 🌸 (Minus the Pollen)

Back in my corporate days, we’d do visualization exercises at team retreats. Every single time, I’d picture the same thing: me, closing the door to my own shop at the end of the day.

For a while, I thought that shop might be a flower store. I love the joy and beauty flowers bring… but my allergies had other plans.

Still, the dream stuck: to create a space filled with good energy, creativity, and beauty. Just with fewer sneezes.

2️⃣ A Strategic Start 🚫🥡

When I decided to take the leap into entrepreneurship, I knew I wanted something smart and streamlined. That meant:
✔️ Service-based
✔️ Low inventory
✔️ Minimal waste

I didn’t want to be stressed over spoilage or storage — I wanted to focus on people, experiences, and creating a business that felt joyful.

3️⃣ The Franchise Factor 🧠💼

In my marketing career, I’ve helped build and grow brands from the ground up — from brand identity and voice to logos and launch campaigns.

But when it came to this chapter, I didn’t want to repeat what I already knew. I wanted to learn different things: operations, hiring, accounting, compliance — all the real-world, unsexy-but-essential stuff that goes into running a business.

A franchise gave me that sweet spot: structure, support, and the freedom to make it mine.

Larkin & I - The Day We Picked Up the Keys!

4️⃣ The Feel-Good Factor 💖✨

This is the part that lights me up the most: helping people feel better than when they walked in.

A blowout might seem like a small thing, but we’ve all had that moment — hair on point, mood elevated, energy shifted. That tiny transformation changes your whole day.

Plus? It’s just a fun place to be. Great music, friendly faces, real connection. It’s beauty, but it’s also community.

No, it wasn’t a lifelong dream to own a blow dry bar. But it was a dream to own a place where people felt good. And Blo fits that dream in ways I never expected.

Brooke & I - Hello Gorgeous!

💬 What I’ve Learned (So Far)

Let’s be real: it hasn’t all been glossy finishes and perfect curls.

🌹 Those rose-colored glasses? Not always so rosey.
📱 2am texts from staff? Been there.
📉 Shady landlords, unpredictable staffing, and tough months? Yep, those too.

But I’ve learned where I add the most value. In the early days, I worked in the back room — juggling my CMO role while observing the salon’s rhythm. I needed to be there every day.

Now, I know when to step in and when to stay out of the way. My job is to keep the vibe alive, the business on track, and the team supported.

And through it all, I still love helping a nervous wedding party organizer breathe a little easier. Because those little moments? They add up to something big.

🛍️ Final Thought for Fellow Entrepreneurs

If you’re considering a franchise, a beauty business, or any small biz:
👉 Know your why
👉 Trust your instincts
👉 Set your boundaries early (seriously — no one needs 2am texts)
👉 Find joy in the small wins

And above all — build something that reflects you. Blo does that for me.

Want to come see us?

Blo Blow Dry Bar - NYC Financial District

105 Nassau Street (Corner of Nassau & Ann Streets - right down from the Fulton Street Stop!)

Booking Site

Some of the looks we specialize in:


About the Author


Sara L. Gable is a marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience building beloved brands and driving business growth.  She served as Chief Marketing Officer at a startup wine company and has led initiatives for household brands including Samuel Adams, Heinz, and Colgate. Known for her creative instincts and data-driven approach, Sara brings a unique blend of entrepreneurial energy and big-brand discipline to every project.

Learn more at The Art of Marketing.



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