Nick Bertagna had been selling medical supplies in Ohio for 20 years when the company he was working for was sold to a large corporation. Once a small family company, the business changed into a less friendly version of itself and, after five years, offered him a severance package. The generous year-long severance package gave Bertagna the time to get out of the corporate grind and work toward fulfilling his goal of owning a business. By Kelsi Trinidad
A Stronghold on the Midwest
Nick Bertagna had been selling medical supplies in Ohio for 20 years when the company he was working for was sold to a large corporation. Once a small family company, the business changed into a less friendly version of itself and, after five years, offered him a severance package. The generous year-long severance package gave Bertagna the time to get out of the corporate grind and work toward fulfilling his goal of owning a business. He immediately started looking into franchising and found Hammer & Nails.
Hammer & Nails is a luxury grooming lounge designed for men, offering a stress-free, one-of-a-kind experience. A trendsetter in the industry, the personal care brand is unlike any other, and it fit Bertagna’s criteria of having a unique concept, being first to market and providing a service or product that had recurring sales. He had never seen a company tackle men’s grooming and self-care the way that this brand does.
Hammer & Nail’s locations are handsomely designed, and services – such as haircuts, shaves and hand and foot care – are served with a side of whiskey. However, it was the company’s membership model that really drew in Bertagna. The recurring monthly membership fee allows franchisees to receive reliable revenue through dedicated guests.
Bertagna bought the franchise rights and opened his Westerville, Ohio, shop in February 2020. As his guest count grew, he began to receive requests to buy franchises in the Midwest. Now, Bertagna is the head of franchising for Ohio, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee and Kentucky. He’s also expanded his own locations to New Albany and Lewis Center, Ohio. In 2024, he hopes to open a shop in Detroit, sell licenses in his new territory of Nashville and launch at least one more shop.
“The most gratifying part is being able to come in and enjoy the vibe and know that this is something that’s fun, enjoyable and something that I like to do, which is, for a lack of better words, pampering myself,” said Bertagna.
Kelsi Trinidad