Founder Files Manicure Business Under ‘Guys’

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Dudes across the country will now have their very own man cave-like space to get a manicure and pedicure.

Hollywood nail salon Hammer & Nails, which targets male customers, announced that it sold 183 franchise licenses in eight states last month. And it will be opening four locations in the next six months, including one in Folsom.

Founder Michael Elliot said the interest has been overwhelming.

“I walked away from a successful career as a screenwriter to do something foreign to me,” Elliot said. “And to be at this point where we’re on our way to being the next great men’s brand – I’m pinching myself. It’s cool.”

Elliot’s screenwriting credits include 2002 film “Brown Sugar” and 2010’s “Just Wright.”

Franchisee Michael Fluegge signed on to sell and open 83 franchise locations in Florida, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. Fluegge said he became interested in the concept after Elliot’s appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2014.

Elliot said customers can expect the new locations to offer the same look and services as its original Hollywood shop, including oversized leather chairs with personal TVs and headphones. Services range from a basic $23 manicure to a $120 “Jack Hammer” package, which includes a hand and foot treatment featuring a custom Tennessee whiskey and brown sugar scrub.

The idea, said Elliot, was to make the idea of nail treatments more appealing to men – particularly those who would never think to visit a nail salon.

“If I could create a place for a guy who would never set foot in a nail salon, I could be inventing a market as opposed to catering to one,” he said. “That was in my mind.”

Hammer & Nails expects to have 250 locations across the country by 2021.

Fan Club

Pop culture and video-game fans can now expect to receive even more goodies from subscription box company Loot Crate.

The L.A. e-commerce firm launched an apparel-focused monthly crate called Loot Wear last month. Stuart Felkner, brand manager at the company, said offering apparel is a way to help build its nerd culture community.

“Apparel allows those that identify with specific characters or brands to express their fandom,” Felkner said in a statement. “So, we’re very excited to introduce Loot Wear to our growing subscriber base across the world.”

Customers will get access to limited-edition items featuring branded items from Marvel, World of WarCraft, Star Trek, and Ghostbusters.

Customers can choose from five different monthly Loot Wear subscriptions: Loot Socks offers two pairs of socks for $10; Loot Tee includes one T-shirt for $9; Loot Wearables features one premium apparel item for $15; Loot for Her offers apparel and accessories for women at $15; and Loot Undies for men at $15.

The company was co-founded in 2012 by Matthew Arevalo and Chris Davis and has more than 600,000 monthly subscribers in 35 countries. Loot Crate generated more than $100 million in sales last year and raised $18.5 million in Series A funding in June led by Santa Monica’s Upfront Ventures with participation from Breakwater Investment Management, Time Inc., Robert Downey Jr.’s Downey Ventures, M13, and Sterling.VC.

At Your Service

Coffee shop Prinkipia Coffee & Tea Room and fast-fashion retailer Cotton On will both open this month at shopping center Shops at Montebello, with beauty salon Brow Arc Dry Bar launching next month. Fast-fashion giant H&M also opened a 21,000-square-foot store at the center last month. … Eyewear label Ray-Ban opened a shop at the Americana at Brand in Glendale last month. … Interior designer and former TLC reality star Nadia Geller moved her downtown store Nadia Geller Designs and Market to 1308 Factory Place in the Arts District last month. … Enze, a Mediterranean-style retail shop, opened a 1,200-square-foot space on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice this month. The women’s clothing and accessories store will also offer shoppers a tea and coffee bar as well as an alfresco lounge area.

Revolving Doors

Santa Monica skin care and cosmetics brand Beautycounter has made a slew of hires: Anthony Prudhomme has joined as chief financial officer, having previously served in the same role at Jafra Cosmetics International. Robert Steere has joined as head of operations from his post as vice president of operations at skin care brand Dermalogica. Xavier Ormancey was hired as head of product development, previously serving as head of research and development at Paris cosmetics company Yves Rocher. And Raj Chand joined as sourcing manager, previously working at nutrition firms Nutrilite and Shaklee.

Staff reporter Subrina Hudson can be reached at [email protected] or (323) 549-5225, ext. 251.

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