# Drybar: Alli Webb

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2017-01-09
- Length: 32m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb

## Summary

Alli Webb, founder of Drybar, explains how she pivoted from a mobile blow-dry service to a national chain of 70 salons by identifying a gap in the market for dedicated blow-out experiences. She details the early validation process, the design of the first Brentwood location with architect Josh Heitler, and the strategic decision to franchise to scale rapidly while maintaining brand control. Webb also discusses the operational challenges of growing from a one-person hustle to a company with 3,000 stylists and the importance of hiring experts to fill her knowledge gaps in retail management.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb#t=0) Introduction: Alli Webb and Drybar
- [1:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb#t=88) Webb's Career Path and Mobile Business Validation
- [11:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb#t=660) Funding and Designing the First Salon
- [18:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb#t=1131) Launch, Daily Candy Feature, and Early Operations
- [20:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb#t=1240) Scaling, Franchising, and Leadership Evolution

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Drybar (company)
- John Sahog (other)
- Rogers and Cowan (company)
- Peach Head (other)
- Josh Heitler (other)
- Daily Candy (other)
- Artifone (company)
- Instrument One (product)

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## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-01-09-drybar-alli-webb. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.