Polski
Franchise on the Rise: Beauty Salons and Virtual Reality Are Taking Over the World
This week's franchise headlines from around the world highlight two very different but equally compelling growth stories. On one hand, the beauty industry is turning to a tried-and-tested franchise model to speed up its expansion beyond the home market. On the other, location-based entertainment built around virtual reality is growing at a pace that would have sounded like science fiction not long ago. Let's take a look at what's happening abroad and why it's worth following from the perspective of the Polish franchise market.
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01 · Beauty & Franchising
Duck & Dry Bets on Franchising, Aiming for 60 Salons Across the UK
British blow-dry salon brand Duck & Dry has announced an ambitious plan to open as many as 60 locations over the next five years [1]. Notably, the company isn't abandoning company-owned salons altogether, but is combining that model with franchising to build a hybrid network. A key part of the strategy is a partnership with Hero Brands, a company that specializes in developing franchise networks and recruiting operators [1]. It's this collaboration that will allow Duck & Dry to take its franchise model beyond London for the first time on such a scale, after the brand's strongest presence to date was concentrated there [1].
This case points to a clear trend: beauty brands that spent years growing mainly through company-owned locations are increasingly turning to franchising as a way to expand faster and more capital-efficiently. Partnering with a specialized franchise partner helps reduce the risk tied to recruiting operators and standardizing new locations — a lesson that applies just as well to the Polish market, where the beauty services sector still has plenty of room for consolidation under franchise banners.
02 · VR Entertainment
Sandbox VR Keeps Up the Pace — Another Club Opens in North Carolina
While the beauty industry is only just learning to scale through franchising, location-based VR entertainment has been doing so for a while now, and on a global scale. Sandbox VR, a chain of virtual reality clubs, opened a new location in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 18 [2]. The new club was launched in partnership with a local franchisee, Nextgen Virtual LLC, and is already the brand's second venue in the state, following its earlier debut in Winston-Salem [2].
The scale at which Sandbox VR operates is impressive: the company reported surpassing $300 million in cumulative revenue and now runs more than 90 locations across five continents [2]. This shows that franchised VR entertainment is no longer a niche curiosity but has become a real, scalable business capable of competing with classic entertainment formats and escape rooms. For Poland's entertainment segment, it's a signal worth paying close attention to — especially since demand for experiences, not just products or services, is also growing at home.
03
Two Different Segments, One Common Denominator
Both the Duck & Dry and Sandbox VR stories show that franchising remains one of the most effective tools for scaling a business, whether we're talking about a hair salon or a VR club. In both cases, the key is finding the right operating partner and consistently upholding brand standards while staying open to local market specifics.
If these topics caught your interest, the best place to discuss them live with operators, franchisors, and advisors is Franczyza Expo – Międzynarodowe Targi Sprawdzonego Modelu Biznesowego. Be sure to follow future editions and see how similar expansion models — from beauty to VR entertainment — can be implemented in the Polish market.
Invitation
Duck & Dry shows how a beauty brand is shifting to franchise-based scaling, while Sandbox VR proves that VR entertainment can grow globally under the same model. Want to see how similar expansion strategies can be implemented in the Polish market? Visit Franczyza Expo – Międzynarodowe Targi Sprawdzonego Modelu Biznesowego and talk to operators and advisors from the beauty, fitness, entertainment and other industries.
Franczyza Expo 2026Footnotes
[1] Franchising.com — https://www.franchising.com/news/20260916_duck__dry_targets_60_uk_locations_in_major_franchise_expansion.html[2] Franchising.com / PR Newswire — https://www.franchising.com/news/20260916_sandbox_vr_continues_to_expand_in_north_carolina_with_a_new_venue_in_charlo.html