Organic, Eco-Conscious Wellness and Beauty Franchise Opens First Texas Location
Ose Parlee has had a diverse corporate career working in technology, business management and financial services. “I love problem-solving and my corporate career gives me the avenue to work on a variety of interesting engagements that keep me intellectually stimulated,” she says. “But I have always dreamed of having my own business and giving back to the community.”
She and husband Chris Parlee (pictured with their children, below), who live in North Texas, also wanted to diversify their investments, “and a franchise seemed like a good addition to our portfolio.” A franchise consultant assisted Ose in narrowing the choices to health, wellness and beauty franchises, and conversations with a number of franchisors helped her zero in on sugaringLA, a leader in sugaring hair removal, which is an innovative method that uses a paste of organic sugar, lemon and water for more effective and long-lasting results.
SugaringLA stood out for three major reasons:
- Its organic, non-toxic hair removal products and services, including sugaringLA’s proprietary sugar paste, which is plant-based, free of harmful chemicals, and full of benefits including antioxidants and anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities.
- The simple business model, which was especially appealing to Ose as a first-time franchise owner.
- The financial viability and growth projections for the hair removal market, valued at over $5 billion, and sugaring in particular, as consumers grow increasingly conscious of the adverse effects of chemicals on the skin and demand eco-conscious and healthy alternatives.
“When I heard the sugaring story, and met Danielle Correia, sugaringLA founder, the entire mission of the brand immediately resonated with me,” Ose says. “No other franchise could compare to the care, support and community impact that sugaringLA provided.”
The Parlees’ location at The Shops of Legacy East in Plano, Texas, is the first sugaringLA franchise to open in Texas. They plan to expand to multiple locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and other nearby areas. “SugaringLA is ideal for scaling because it disrupts the hair removal industry by providing a more efficient, healthier, vegan, eco-friendly, longer-lasting option that does not cost more,” Ose says. “The sugaringLA process involves only three ingredients – organic sugar, lemon and water – so it’s gentler on the skin with no risks of burning from hot wax or laser. In the short time we have been open, we have seen clients with years of waxing come in because of the toll waxing had taken on their skin, and they were seeking an alternative that would not leave them with red, inflamed skin.”
An Eco-Conscious Beauty Franchise
Ose says sugaringLA’s eco-conscious values have special meaning for her. “As a mother, my goal is to leave the world better than I left it, so that my kids don’t have to clean up the mess. SugaringLA, with its eco-conscious mission, is one way I can contribute to that goal.”
The brand’s organic, non-toxic ingredients also are important for health reasons, says Ose, a “lupus warrior” for more than two decades. She explains that after giving birth to her second child, she was diagnosed with stage 4 lupus nephritis, a complication of systemic lupus that occurs with the body’s immune system mistakenly attacking the kidneys, resulting in inflammation and organ damage. Ose was unresponsive to the immunosuppressive therapy and steroids prescribed by doctors, who then recommended more aggressive chemotherapy to completely flush out her immune system.
“Instead, I did a ton of research and went on an autoimmune protocol diet – strictly unprocessed foods that do not cause any inflammation,” she ways. “I also replaced all potentially toxic chemicals from my lifestyle with only natural organic products. With this lifestyle change, I went into remission seven months later and have not regressed ever since. I even went on to have a third child with no complications or additional lupus flares.”
Ose says her experience with health challenges has had a profound impact. “I continue to try to live a clean lifestyle and am very conscious of anything I put on or inside my body,” she says. “This is why I got excited when I finally found a hair removal solution that is focused on being completely organic, hypo-allergenic, clean and safe – sugaringLA.”
Team Support
Another factor Ose considered in choosing a franchise opportunity was the support she would receive from the franchisor and the ease she’d have in running the business. She did not want the business to take time away from her family and her full-time career at a major financial services company. As a semi-absentee owner, she hired a studio manager with industry experience. “Do not underestimate the importance of a great manager who shares your vision and the mission of the brand,” she says.
Ose also was impressed with the support from the sugaringLA corporate team and the brand’s partnership with Franworth, a franchise incubator and accelerator that offers comprehensive support enabling franchisors to deliver enhanced marketing strategies, a streamlined onboarding process and mentorship from the home office team so they can provide top-tier support for franchisees.
In training at the Franworth corporate office in Michigan, she says, “I got to see the full team at work in their respective areas of expertise from inventory management to technology support and marketing. Meeting the people behind the scenes who were all working so hard to make sure I succeed was very reassuring and validating that I was not on this journey by myself.”
She recalls the thrill of meeting Andrea Rivera, sugaringLA’s president, for the first time at her new studio. “Andrea sprang into action and immediately got into resolution mode for a few open items we needed. I got to see her amazing problem-solving live, as she worked with me toward an optimal outcome.”
Modeling Entrepreneurship
In addition to the support from Franworth and sugaringLA, Ose says her daughter’s positive attitude has been invaluable in launching the beauty franchise. “My daughter is my biggest cheerleader for everything I do. When I start getting stumped over anything, my daughter has had this slogan for me: ‘You designed actual computers, Mummy. This is nothing! You can do it.’ Seeing my daughter watch me cut the ribbon at our grand opening ceremony and experience this accomplishment with me was very fulfilling. I was so proud to show her by my example – not just tell her – that she can do anything she sets her mind to.”
About sugaringLA
With a proprietary hair removal method that is effective, less painful and environmentally sustainable, sugaringLA is pioneering an emerging category in the hair removal sector. The wellness brand has awarded 37 new units in less than a year after it began franchising in 2023. For more information about sugaringLA franchise opportunities, visit sugaringla.com/franchise.
About Franworth
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Franworth builds, incubates and grows franchise brands through mentorship, education and best-in-class support empowering entrepreneurs and creating brighter futures. With over 450 years of combined franchise experience, the Franworth team has been recognized with the highest honors in franchising and for repeatedly scaling brands using a franchise model. Franworth’s portfolio of Beloved Brands includes MilkShake Factory®, sugaringLA®, MosquitoNix®, HealthSource America’s Chiropractor®, and Degree Wellness®.
