Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - For Q2 fiscal 2026, the company reported total revenue of $57.1 million, a 22.3% increase or $10.4 million compared to the prior year, primarily driven by increased revenue from company-owned salons due to the Alline acquisition [12] - Adjusted EBITDA for Q2 was $8 million, an increase of $900,000 year-over-year, reflecting improved G&A discipline and contributions from the company-owned salon portfolio [2][15] - GAAP operating income increased by 13% to $6.2 million compared to $5.5 million in the year-ago quarter, driven by contributions from company-owned salons and cost management [11][13] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Supercuts achieved same-store sales growth of 2% year-to-date, while consolidated same-store sales increased by 0.4% [3][4] - The company-owned salon segment reported a sales growth of 4.3% for Q2, benefiting from the Alline acquisition [4] - Franchise segment adjusted EBITDA was $6.2 million, a decrease of $173,000 compared to the prior year, primarily due to lower royalties and non-cash fees [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company experienced a net decrease of 374 franchise locations compared to the previous year, with closures primarily involving underperforming stores [12][13] - The gap in sales between underperforming stores and top-performing units was approximately $350,000, indicating potential for profitability enhancement [13] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on building a more durable and disciplined organization, emphasizing cash generation, financial performance, and long-term value creation [2] - Key strategic priorities include stabilizing traffic, increasing franchisee adoption and compliance, and enhancing customer digital interaction through technology [4][9] - The company is leveraging AI for labor optimization and improving operational efficiency across its brands [8][26] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management acknowledged traffic as a significant challenge impacting top-line performance, with a focus on sustainable improvements [3][9] - The company is encouraged by progress in profitability, cash generation, and organizational focus, which supports confidence in future growth [9][22] - Management is actively exploring refinancing options for existing debt as part of their financial strategy [21] Other Important Information - The company generated $1.5 million of unrestricted cash from operations in Q2, reflecting improved cash management [3] - As of December 31, 2025, the company had $27.4 million in available liquidity, including $18.4 million in unrestricted cash [19][20] Q&A Session Summary Question: What initiatives are in place to improve performance at Alline stores? - Management highlighted three components: refinement of the pay plan, pricing adjustments, and labor optimization using AI to better align staffing with sales patterns [24][25][26] Question: Can you confirm the reduction in store closures compared to last fiscal year? - Management confirmed that closures are expected to be about 50% lower than the previous fiscal year, indicating a positive trend [29][30][32] Question: What insights are being gained from potential replacement lenders regarding refinancing? - Management stated that initial conversations are ongoing, but specific rates or terms cannot be disclosed at this time [35] Question: What strategies are being implemented to drive foot traffic and customer retention? - Management emphasized the importance of loyalty programs, customer acquisition strategies, and data analysis to enhance customer retention and engagement [36][37] Question: Are there plans to add Cost Cutters locations? - Management indicated that while there isn't a broad effort to add locations, some conversions from existing businesses are occurring [39][40] Question: Why is loyalty adoption lagging in SmartStyle and Cost Cutters? - Management noted that loyalty programs were implemented later in these brands, but growth is being observed [41][42]