Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q1 fiscal 2026, total revenue was $59 million, an increase of 28% or $12.9 million compared to the prior year, primarily driven by increased revenue from company-owned salons and a same-store sales increase of 0.9% [10][11] - Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $8 million, up from $7.6 million a year ago, reflecting a 4.3% improvement [14] - Operating income increased by 177%, reaching $5.9 million compared to $2.1 million in the year-ago quarter [10][12] - 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 increased by 2.5% in Q1, with loyalty program participation growing from 36% to 40% [4][5] - Adjusted EBITDA for the franchise segment was $6.4 million, a decrease of $1.6 million compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower royalties and fees [15] - Adjusted EBITDA for the company-owned salon segment improved by $1.9 million year-over-year to $1.6 million, driven by an increased number of company-owned salons [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 of these related to the Align salons that converted from franchise to company-owned [11] - The performance gap between closed stores and top-performing units was approximately $350,000, indicating strong potential within the system [11] 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][4] - Key initiatives include enhancing operational performance, reinforcing brand leadership, and driving technology and digital acceleration across the business [7][8] - The company plans to pilot new digital interactions on its website and app to improve guest experience [5] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the progress made in improving profitability and generating positive cash flow, indicating a solid start to fiscal 2026 [8][21] - The company anticipates a meaningful increase in unrestricted cash generated from core operations compared to fiscal year 2025, supported by operational strength and a full year of acquired company-owned salon results [17][18] Other Important Information - The company has $25.5 million of available liquidity, including $16.6 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents [19] - The board is evaluating prospects for a permanent CEO, with a decision expected in the coming months [40] 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 pricing actions based on a competitive pricing survey, with no significant changes in traffic trends observed across the country [22][23] Question: Can you talk about traffic trends at Supercuts and Smart Style? - Management noted improvements in traffic at Supercuts, while acknowledging opportunities for growth in the Smart Style brand [25] 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 54 locations closed in Q1 [30] 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 [35] Question: What is the status of the CEO search? - Management is currently in an interim role, with the board evaluating prospects and a decision expected in the coming months [40]