Sport Clips Haircuts Testimonial: Western PA & Northeast OH

After three decades in sales and management, Al Rodriguez decided it was time for a new chapter. He wanted to build something lasting and his own. “I did what was right. I did my best. I didn’t get treated the way I wanted to be treated,” he said. That moment pushed him to look for a different path.

When the opportunity came, Al used his commission check to buy five Sport Clips Haircuts licenses. “I wanted a business I could work on and not in,” he said. During the first two years, he kept his full-time job while running his stores on nights and weekends.

Learning the System

What started as five stores has grown to 36 locations across Western Pennsylvania and Northeast Ohio. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years now,” Al said. “We’ve grown substantially since then.”

He gives credit to following the system exactly as it was designed. “We just started doing it by the book,” he said. “That’s what propelled our success.”

Early on, Al focused on getting the basics right in every store. “Sometimes it’s as easy as changing light bulbs,” he said. “It’s hard to cut hair in the dark. If clients walk in every four weeks and see bulbs out, they think no one cares.”

As the business grew, his role shifted from fixing problems himself to developing others to lead. “I decided that I was going to lean on the managers and really follow the system,” he said. “They get to do the thing they love to do, and we take care of the back office.”

Investing in People

Over the years, many of Al’s managers have grown from entry-level roles into leadership positions. “So many of our managers started as a coordinator,” he said. “They’ve been able to display our values over time.”

Some of those employees have been with him since his first store. “These are hairstylists who are still part of my organization,” he said. “It’s been so rewarding to see the people we’ve been able to impact.”

For Al, that kind of loyalty shows what is possible in the Sport Clips system. “We just try to create an environment where people can make mistakes, learn from them, and move forward,” he said. “When you give people the right opportunity, they soar.”

Family and Legacy

Al’s son AJ now helps lead the business, overseeing IT, finance, marketing, and new store development. “It’s rewarding every day to work next to your son,” Al said. “He works hard, he’s well respected, and he’s learned every facet of the business.”

What began as a plan to pay for his children’s education has become something much bigger. “Generational wealth is huge,” he said. “I grew up one of seven kids in a divorced family on welfare. I grew up with nothing. Maybe that’s why I’ve been willing to risk more than most.”

Sharing What Works

Today, Al often talks with other Sport Clips owners about what he’s learned. “We get together and talk about what’s working and what’s not,” he said. “It’s all about helping each other improve and keeping the system strong.”

He believes that the brand’s consistency is what sets it apart. “The training, the materials, the quality, it’s all above average,” Al said. “You can always go back to the basics when something slips. That’s the key.”

Continuing the Journey

After 20 years in business, Al still looks for ways to grow and improve. “I’m learning how to be a CEO,” he said. “I come up with ideas, listen, and do research. I’m not interrupted by the day to day. I own my calendar now. I get to do what I want to do.”

He takes pride in the people who have grown alongside him and in the family business that continues to expand. “I’m blessed,” he said. “To see how far everyone has come, and to see my son leading the next phase, that’s what makes it all worth it.”