The Franchise/Business Ownership bug is catching!!!!
Years ago I had helped Scott Matchette get into a telecommunications consulting franchise. When I happened to run into his wife Aimee at a local chamber networking event, I learned that she too had become a franchise owner. She was so excited about her new massage franchise that I invited her for a cup of coffee so I could learn more and share her entrepreneurial journey with you.
Congratulations Aimee, and welcome to the world of entrepreneurship!
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 Aimee Matchette  | |
Aimee is a CPA and had worked for a big six accounting firm and a large Fortune 500 industrial companybefore settling in at a smaller accounting firm that specialized in small businesses. She enjoyed consulting with these companies and helping them with the financial side of their business. But Aimee came to realize that the accounting profession isn't always family friendly and lacked the flexibility she needed. Between November and April her life was all about work. Being a wife and mother of two, Aimee sometimes found herself working while her husband and kids were on vacation without her. Something was wrong with that picture!
She really enjoyed working with small businesses and had learned a lot from her experiences with them and felt the calling to be one of them. She felt it was time to chart her own course and design her work life around the needs of her family.
After Scott bought his franchise, his father got into franchise consulting and offered to help Aimee research possibilities. Aimee wanted something where she could use her financial skills, yet offered flexibility so she didn't have to be involved in the business every minute of every day. She also wanted to build a team and grow her business to something substantial. She preferred to deal with everyday people rather than businesses. In her exploration, she looked at a fitness business for kids, a business for smoothies and a massage business. When she met the management from Elements Therapeutic Massage, she knew she had found what she was looking for.
Aimee liked the idea that Elements was a newer franchise in the growing membership based massage category. She was in tune with their wellness message of providing pain and tension relief, stress reduction or simply to have one relax and feel their best. Aimee was not a massage therapist, nor did she want to be one. She would hire the massage therapists so she could work on the business, not in it. This would allow Aimee the flexibility she was seeking so she could spend more time with her family.
But Aimee's goal was not to just run a business. She also wanted to utilize her CPA and business building skills to help others achieve their self-employment dreams. So, Aimee bought the development rights for Elements in Wisconsin so she could help other aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their goals. As an area developer, Aimee will be involved in the recruitment, training and support of new Elements owners in Wisconsin and will be able to help mold their future and share in their success.
Because of the recession, Aimee decided to concentrate on running ther Elements Therapeutic Massage franchise before expanding and recruiting new franchisees. She wanted to be able to use her store as an example of the potential.
Today Aimee has 18 employees including a full time manager and a marketing intern. She's juggling family and business while her business continues to grow. She's on the board of the local business improvement district helping others as well. In Aimee's words; "It's been great being connected to the small business community and putting on local events. I enjoy the continuous learning. There's glamour and hardship in being a business owner, but the whole package is so exciting. I'm excited for the challenges everyday and the flexibility. This experience has met my expectations and beyond."
Aimee's next goal is to help others open their Elements Therapeutic Massage franchise in Wisconsin. I'm going to try to give her a helping hand with that.
If you or a friend or relative live within the metro Milwaukee area and are experiencing back or muscle pain, tension, stress or simply want to treat yourself to a relaxing wellness experience, please call Elements Therapeutic Massage of Whitefish Bay, WI at 414-332-3260 for an appointment. Consider signing up for a membership so you can have a monthly massage at a reduced rate. You'll be glad you did.
Aimee caught the "bug" from her husband and realized that her job wasn't congruent with her life. She used this dissatisfaction as a catalyst to explore her alternative career options. She came to realize that the business one chooses should be the vehicle to the life you want, not be your life. I tell this to my clients almost everyday. She's now juggling her business and her family and enjoying every minute. And I bet there's a relaxing massage once in a while in there too. Who wouldn't enjoy that!
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