Idolize Shows Franchisees Continued Support Throughout the Opening Process

When awarding its first franchise, Idolize Brows and Beauty chose a familiar face for its owner. Purwa Shah, a longtime manager at Idolize's company-owned location at the Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina, launched the brand’s first-ever franchised location in July 2018. Shah’s Idolize spa, also in Raleigh, opened its doors for business about nine months after she signed her franchise agreement. Shah said her journey through the opening process was smooth, structured and successful thanks to the support she received from Idolize’s team every step of the way.

Prior to getting involved on the ownership side of the brand, Shah worked at Idolize for eight years. A licensed esthetician, Shah was first introduced to Idolize Brows and Beauty in 2010 through a client who told her she should go check out what the place at the mall had to offer.

“I was in search of a full-time job with competitive pay and when I interviewed with Idolize, I found not only that but a brand I could really connect with,” Shah said. “I’ve been working with the company since.”

At the time of her hiring, Idolize was in its second year of operation and was still primarily known for its eyebrow threading services. Shah was able to take her small client base with her to Idolize and continued building a substantial flow of additional customers as Idolize’s spa service offerings multiplied. As she watched the brand grow into the in-demand spa service it is today, Shah became a manager to get more involved in the business side of the brand.

“Getting to work with [Idolize founder] Mo Pandoria more was awesome,” Shah said. “Our high-quality services, emphasis on customer service and positive customer feedback were much better than other competing companies. One of the brand’s biggest identifiers is the deliverables. Whatever Idolize says, it sells,” Shah added.

Due to its strong business model, Idolize was experiencing steady growth through company owned locations. In the latter half of 2017, Pandoria decided it was time to franchise the Idolize brand and Shah was ready to rise to the occasion. It made financial sense for both parties to turn to one another to open a new spa in Raleigh, so Shah signed her franchise agreement and the opening process began. “The Idolize team helped me with everything from signing to opening, both mentally and physically,” Shah said. “They supported me at every turn.”

“Between assessing potential spa locations for an entire day, negotiating and signing my lease agreement and helping me acquire the correct county permits, I couldn’t have navigated the complexities of the construction process without Idolize’s expertise, “Shah explained. She also noted the brand assisted in assembling her staff, price hunted to find the best value in the product ordering process and helped select furniture and fulfill other aesthetic needs for her location.

“Our ideal franchisees are motivated professionals who are eager to succeed,” Pandoria said. “Purwa fit that build as someone who could jump into a business and put in the time and effort to make it rewarding. Her familiarity with the brand and beauty industry experience were an added bonus,” he added.

Shah has been able to leverage that experience into immediate success at her Idolize spa. In her opening months, she has experienced a steady influx of customers who have all provided great feedback about Idolize’s services. “I was so surprised and grateful for how smooth setup went,” she said, crediting that preparation for her quickly blossoming business. “I’ve been an employee, and now I’m the boss. I can’t explain how happy it makes me to see people connect with our brand and hear customers talk about how beautiful the spa is,” Shah said.