Note: All Great Clips® salons are owned and operated by independent franchisees, who are exclusively responsible for all employment-related matters at their respective salons. Incentives and benefits are determined by franchisees and vary by location; those described in this article may not be available at the Great Clips salon(s) in your area. 

When Tami arrived at work on March 4, she expected to have a meeting with Kim, the franchisee who owns and operates the Minnesota salons where Tami serves as a general manager. Instead, she was escorted to iFLY, where she experienced the adrenaline rush and excitement of indoor skydiving. Tami also got a $1,000 bonus to put toward her upcoming vacation in Hawaii. 

Meet the Bucket List Challenge 

Tami’s experience was part of the Bucket List Challenge, an initiative sponsored by Great Clips franchisees and salons in the Minneapolis/St. Paul market. “It’s such a cool idea! Salon team members are encouraged to share their “bucket list” wishes on our social media channels, and through in-salon methods like backroom flyers and conversations with salon managers,” Tami said, adding, “I have always wanted to try skydiving but didn’t want to shoot out of a plane. So, I posted iFLY as my bucket list wish, because it would be more of a controlled environment.” 

The Bucket List Challenge first kicked off under the leadership of Great Clips franchisee Robbie Massie, in partnership with a Minneapolis video production company. “It started as a way for Minneapolis/St. Paul Great Clips® salons to launch our new social media channels while showcasing our salon culture,” Robbie said. “It’s turned into a real-life demonstration of how much our market values and supports stylists, by making their dreams come true.” 

According to Robbie, the aim is to fulfill four bucket list wishes every year. Some of the most memorable wishes granted so far include taking a stylist dog sledding, driving a stylist to Iowa for a special tattoo, and helping a stylist fulfill her dream of jumping out of a plane. 

Bonuses and Tips 

“We also gave Tami the $1,000 for her trip because she means the world to me and I would do anything for her,” Kim said. “Tami has been with Great Clips for 34 years. I wanted her to go on a few special excursions in Hawaii on me.” 

This is Tami’s second trip to Hawaii, fully paid for by her Great Clips tip card. “I cut hair for about 20 hours per week,” Tami said. “I save all my tips on my tip card, until I cash them out for big purchases.” 

“In recent years, my tip card funds have been able to fully pay for two trips to Hawaii for my husband and me, plus a ’65 classic Mustang for my husband. I also bought a ’94 convertible Mustang as a mid-life crisis gift to myself,” Tami said, laughing. 

Great Teams Thrive in Great Salons 

“In our market, we have strong, supportive teams of stylists, managers, general managers, and franchisees who work closely together to create positive salon environments,” Robbie said. “We stay actively involved in our salons and prioritize building a culture that’s both supportive and fun.”  

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All Great Clips® salons are independently owned and operated by third party franchisees. Franchisees, not Great Clips, Inc., are responsible for all hiring and personnel matters at their individual salons.