Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For the first quarter of fiscal 2026, consolidated same-store sales increased by 0.9%, driven by pricing actions and improved execution at the salon level [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first fiscal quarter was $8 million, up from $7.6 million a year ago, reflecting a $400,000 improvement [4][14] - Total first quarter revenue was $59 million, an increase of 28% or $12.9 million compared to the prior year [11] - GAAP operating income increased to $5.9 million, up from $2.1 million in the year-ago quarter [13] - The company generated $2.3 million in positive operating cash flow, a $3.6 million improvement versus last year's first quarter [4][16] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same-store sales for Supercuts were up 2.5% for the first fiscal quarter, with loyalty program participation growing from 36% to 40% [4] - Adjusted EBITDA for the franchise segment was $6.4 million, a decrease of $1.6 million compared to the prior year quarter [15] - Adjusted EBITDA for the company-owned salon segment improved by $1.9 million year-over-year to $1.6 million for the quarter [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a net decrease of 757 franchise locations compared to the previous year, with approximately 300 related to the Align salons that converted from franchise to company-owned [12] - The performance gap between closed stores and top-performing units was approximately $350,000, indicating strong potential within the system [12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on the holistic transformation of the Supercuts brand and optimizing sales and profitability in its company-owned salon portfolio [3] - Key initiatives include enhancing operational performance, reinforcing brand leadership, and driving technology and digital acceleration across the business [8] - The company is piloting brand-specific initiatives to strengthen performance across its portfolio [8] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the progress made in improving profitability and generating positive cash flow [9] - The company anticipates a meaningful increase in unrestricted cash generated from core operations compared to fiscal year 2025 [17] - Management is encouraged by the signals that their actions are taking hold, indicating a positive trajectory for the company [10] Other Important Information - The company expects G&A expenses to be in the range of $40 million to $43 million for the year, including G&A associated with the Align transaction [37] - As of September 30, 2025, the company had $25.5 million of available liquidity and outstanding debt of $124.8 million [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you provide more details about pricing actions and their impact on traffic? - Management indicated that franchisees have begun to take further pricing actions based on competitive pricing surveys, with no significant changes in traffic trends observed [23][24] Question: Can you talk about traffic trends at Supercuts and Smart Style? - Management noted continued improvements in traffic at Supercuts, while acknowledging opportunities for improvement at Smart Style [26] Question: Regarding store closures, should we expect a reduction in closures this year? - Management confirmed that closures are expected to be reduced by half compared to previous years, with no guidance on specific numbers [31] Question: Can you provide insight into G&A for this year? - Management expects G&A to be in the range of $40 million to $43 million, including G&A associated with the Align transaction [37] Question: What is the status of the CEO search? - Management indicated that a decision on the CEO search is expected in the coming months, with the interim CEO actively engaged in the process [42]