A press release crossed my desk from IRH Capital, "a leader in franchise finance," headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, just north of Chicago off Lake Michigan.

The headline read, "IRH CAPITAL, GREAT CLIPS: 1,000 STORES STRONG, 10 GREAT YEARS." I looked at it, read it again, and then once more for full measure. If the Chicago Cubs were to win a World Series its magnitude would pale in comparison to IRH Capital financing a thousand stores in ten years. It took me a minute to catch my breath.

I think it's safe to go out on a limb here and assume that Great Clips would not be the largest single-brand franchise in North America without the tens of millions in financing dollars that IRH Capital has provided our franchise owners over the last decade.

And let me add that we've been immensely fortunate that our 2007 Vendor of the Year Award recipient has stepped up to the plate with quality service, specialized programs, and aggressive rates for our owners.

For Keith Rabin, managing member, and Gretchen Blake, director of business development, "vendor" doesn't apply. They are major-league members of our Great Clips team.

I asked Gretchen to comment on our relationship and she quite humbly said, "It has been my pleasure to work with Great Clips over the past 10 years. From the franchisees to the corporate staff, I encounter professionalism and respect. This milestone warrants gratitude and celebration. It should be another fantastic year for Great Clips and I am thankful to be a part of it."

IRH Capital is celebrating with a series of promotions throughout 2010. The first event took place when Houston, Texas, franchisee, Carl Smith, opened his new salon January 16. Carl and his staff received a Chicago-style pizza party to mark the 1,000 milestone.

I'm sure there will be many more celebrations this year when you consider the array of products IRH Capital offers new and existing franchisees: new unit builds, refinancing of corporate debt, acquisitions, new/used equipment, and remodels.

Congratulations Keith and Gretchen and to everyone at IRH Capital. We look forward to another great year working with you and, as you say, "continuing to grow together."