Every salon opening has its own story, molded by the franchise owners as well as the company they work with. At Glo, there’s always a new, inspiring story around the corner.
Today, we’re going to take an in-depth look at the newest Glo franchise to hit Florida: a new Palm Harbor location spearheaded by Mallory DeStefano and Sterling Birdsong. Let’s see what they have to say about their journey as franchise owners.
How many Glo locations do you currently have, and what are your future plans?
Sterling: I currently own one Glo Tanning location. My goal is to grow within the Glo franchise, opening or acquiring additional locations. I believe the sky is the limit, and I never set limits on what I can achieve.
Mallory: We currently have one location, with visions to grow as big as we can. I don’t believe there is such a thing as putting a limit on how many so if it’s 5 or it is 10, we are totally down for that!
I would truly love to be able to help fellow cosmetologists who are ready to be done doing hair, but don’t want to leave the industry. The opportunity it has given me is so much more than just being an operator and if we can do that for other stylists I just know it would fulfill my heart.
What is your favorite thing about Glo?
Sterling: What I love most about Glo is the unmatched quality. Being the premium option in any industry consistently leads to success. I truly believe we offer a superior product compared to our competitors, which makes it both exciting and rewarding to sell.
Mallory: My Favorite thing about Glo? Oh gosh, I could write a whole summary on just that. Number one favorite thing, hearing how much our guests love the services, the aesthetic, the cleanliness, the idea of what we offer and the staff. Of course, then, going hand in hand with that is being able to see their results and celebrate those wins with them.
What inspired you to become a franchisee?
Sterling: I’ve always aspired to be a business owner. After earning a degree in Entrepreneurship from Saint Leo University, I began a career in banking, helping small business owners secure financing.
As an SBA lender, I worked with many different businesses, but Glo stood out because of the strong financial performance I observed. Meeting Onyi reinforced my decision—his leadership and vision made me confident that Glo was the right opportunity.
Mallory: My inspiration to be a bigger part of Glo came when I was Salon Leader at the Tampa location. I have been in the beauty industry at that time for 16 years, so I knew I loved the industry and I also knew I did not want to do hair forever.
It was kind of a no brainer for me because I do truly get the best of all the worlds, I get to lead, I am still helping people feel and look beautiful, the opportunity to continue to grow is there and I know I do not have to stand behind the chair in the same spot for 12 hours.
How has your community responded to your Glo location since opening?
Sterling: The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’re focused on further raising awareness by participating in local events and becoming more active within the community.
Mallory: The community has been so kind and super excited about us being there. The amount of great feedback on the location and all the details has been truly one of a kind and I am beyond proud to say we are part of the Palm Harbor Community.
What advice would you give to someone considering opening a Glo Tanning franchise?
Sterling: My advice is to have a solid plan for daily operations. Someone needs to be hands-on and actively involved in the salon during the early stages of the business. Passive investment isn’t realistic, so if you’re not planning to work full-time, you’ll need a partner who will. Glo’s partnership program, which pairs operators with investors, is a fantastic solution that benefits everyone involved.
Mallory: I would say DO IT and I would tell them to be open to pivoting and when something may not work lean on your support team and come up with a solution that will work for you and your team. As with any new endeavor, there will be lessons learned and keeping your head up and redirecting when needed is not a horrible thing.
What goals do you have for your location this year, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Sterling: Our immediate goal is to reach 500 members; we’re currently at about 110. To achieve this, we’ve launched a direct mail campaign, increased our ad spend on Meta platforms, and added road signage. We’re also introducing Spa Parties and participating in more local events to boost awareness and engagement.
How has being part of the Glo Tanning franchise network impacted you personally and professionally?
Sterling: Although I’m still early in my journey as a Glo franchisee, I’ve been impressed by the supportive network of Glo owners. It has also positively impacted my lending business, allowing me to fund more Glo projects. On a personal level, working with Onyi and the Glo team has been an invaluable learning experience. From site selection to build-out and grand opening, their support has been instrumental every step of the way.
Mallory: Oh! Being a part of Glo on this level has taught me literally so much. Who knew you had to check your email 100000 times a day? And did you know there is a way to always respond to all of them?
I have learned how to be a better business owner, a different form of time management, how to pivot so quickly and come up with quick solutions. This journey is just beginning, so I know there are so many more ways it will impact my life, but right now it’s been all for the better and nothing but positive both personally and professionally.
