Uni K Wax names Jarred Fajerski CEO

Uni K Wax said on August 31 that it had named Jarred Fajerski chief executive officer, putting a franchise-growth executive in charge as the body-waxing chain expands its studio base. The appointment was announced in a company release distributed by PR Newswire. Uni K Wax described Fajerski as bringing more than 25 years of experience in franchise growth, boutique wellness scaling, mergers and acquisitions, and private-equity transactions. (prnewswire.com) The company said he is taking over during a phase in which it has nearly 40 open studios and 31 more in development across nine markets and seven states. ### Who is Jarred Fajerski, and why did Uni K Wax hire him now? (unikwaxfranchise.com) Jarred Fajerski most recently served as former CEO of SSG, or Stratus Clean Services Group, where Uni K Wax said he managed more than 1,000 units and $56 million in sales. The company said that tenure helped take the brand to a No. 21 U.S. ranking and record growth. Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spas was another stop highlighted in the release. Uni K Wax said Fajerski had served there as chief of stores and helped scale the chain from 140 locations to more than 500 through two private-equity transactions. The release also said he holds an MBA from the University of Pittsburgh and a bachelor’s degree from St. (prnewswire.com) Francis University. Omar Simmons, managing partner of Exaltare Capital Management and a Uni K Wax board member, said in the release that Fajerski was “exactly the leader this brand needs at this moment.” Simmons said the company wanted an executive with experience in scaling service brands and supporting franchisees through expansion. (prnewswire.com) ### How big is Uni K Wax’s current footprint? Uni K Wax said Fajerski is joining during what it called a major expansion phase. The company put its current footprint at nearly 40 open studios and 31 in development, for a total of 71 locations across nine markets and seven states. (prnewswire.com) The company’s consumer site separately says customers have booked 9.7 million waxes, while its franchise site pitches Uni K Wax as a participant in an $11 billion waxing industry. Those figures appear in current company marketing materials and help show how the brand is presenting itself to both customers and prospective franchise operators. (de.advfn.com) ### What business is the company trying to build from here? Uni K Wax said in the release that it is known for its proprietary Elasti K Wax product and that growth is not limited to opening new franchised locations. The company said it is also expanding through a pipeline of independent studio conversions. (de.advfn.com) The franchise website says the brand is actively recruiting new operators. The site describes Uni K Wax as offering a “proven system,” “industry-first innovations,” and support for franchisees, while a locations page says franchise offers are made through a franchise disclosure process. ### Who owns the brand’s history, and how recent is its franchise push? (unikwax.com) Noemi Grupenmager founded the Uni K Wax concept after opening the first studio in South Beach, Florida, in April 1993, according to franchise industry data site FranPass. FranPass says Uni K Wax Franchising LLC, the current franchisor, was organized in March 2023 and began offering studio franchises in June 2023 after acquiring the system from a predecessor entity. (de.advfn.com) That timeline helps place Fajerski’s appointment in a newer phase of the company’s franchise buildout. The current release and franchise materials both center on expansion, studio development and operator recruitment rather than a consumer product launch. (unikwaxfranchise.com) ### What comes next after the CEO appointment? August 31 is the date on Uni K Wax’s release naming Fajerski, and the company’s franchise site continues to direct prospective operators into its disclosure and recruitment process. Uni K Wax said its next steps include opening studios already in development and pursuing additional growth through independent studio conversions across its existing and new markets. (franpass.com) (prnewswire.com)