The Gents Place signs six-unit franchise development deal in Houston, Texas

The Gents Place has signed a six-unit franchise development agreement to expand into Houston, Texas.

New franchisee Jeff Stocks plans to open a store in River Oaks later this year. This will be the company's first store in the Houston area. 

Stocks also plans to target other communities in and around Houston, including Galleria, City Centre, Washington / Heights, Katy and Rice / West University.

This deal is part of The Gents Place’s expansion strategy to grow the brand's presence throughout the state and beyond.

It has a goal of opening 150 clubs in the next five years.

The Gents Place's founder and president Ben Davis said: "The concept is rapidly growing in Texas with locations in Dallas, Frisco, and Southlake. We are beyond thrilled to be expanding the brand's presence further throughout the state to include the Houston market.

"Jeff's business leadership, experience and acumen made him the perfect candidate to develop the market beginning with these six locations and capitalizing on the growing trend for men's grooming in the area."

Stocks comes with more than three decades of entrepreneurial background to The Gents Place. Most recently, he worked as the chief financial officer of a Houston-based industrial services company.

Stocks added: "What appealed to me most about The Gents Place was how they have so perfectly tapped into this very underserved market, male grooming, a growing and thriving $5 billion plus industry.

"The brand's innovative views on business, service, and leadership are what ultimately sealed the deal for me. I'm confident that the gentlemen who live and work in the Houston area are going to be as passionate about this concept as I am. The Gents Place strives be a part of each and every one of their clients' success stories."

Besides offering men's grooming services, The Gents Place is a purveyor of products from all over the world including its proprietary Rascal line, Truefitt & Hill, and Lakme.

Currently, the company has three lifestyle clubs in Dallas, Southlake, and Frisco of Texas; a site in Leawood, Kansas; and in-development sites in Chicago and Austin.

The company is looking for qualified franchisees in markets such as Texas, Georgia, Florida, California, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia.

Prospective single and multi-unit franchisees need to have a minimum net worth of $400,000 and liquid assets of at least $175,000, as well as business, management, or marketing experience.