Image Studios

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Evanston RoundTable: IMAGE Studios Coming to Downtown Evanston, Illinois, in Albion Retail Space

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IMAGE Studios Celebrates Record Growth in 2025 With 35 Openings and 50 Units Awarded

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Franchise Brokers-Turned-Owners Invest in IMAGE Studios, Build Thriving Community of Independent Beauty Professionals

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How a Former Sherwin-Williams VP Found His Next Chapter with an IMAGE Studios Franchise

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IMAGE Studios Targets Houston, Noting Extensive Expansion Potential 

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After almost two decades at Sherwin-Williams,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lonnie-mcgowen-jr">Lonnie McGowen</a> had built a highly successful corporate career, including becoming the company’s first African American male vice president. But along with the title and responsibility came 80-hour workweeks, constant travel and a growing realization that something important was slipping away.“I was tired, I was worn out, but I was just doing what I knew to do, which is to push forward,” McGowen said.&nbsp;When his wife, a nurse working night shifts in Dallas, told him she rarely saw him anymore, it became a turning point. McGowen began searching for a path that would allow him to maintain financial success while reclaiming time and a sense of personal ownership.That search eventually led him to franchise ownership with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imagestudiosfranchise.com/">IMAGE Studios</a> in Dallas, a move that also reframed how he thinks about leadership and business.<h2>From Student-Athlete to Corporate Executive</h2>Born in Texas and raised partly in California, McGowen learned early lessons about discipline and leadership as a student-athlete at San Francisco State University, where he served as basketball team captain during his final two seasons.“That’s where I learned how to compete and really cut my teeth on leadership,” he said.After graduating with a degree in business management, McGowen joined Sherwin-Williams as a management trainee in an entry-level role. Over the next 17 years, he steadily advanced through sales, human resources and executive leadership positions, relocating multiple times as the company tapped him for larger responsibilities.At the height of his corporate career, McGowen served as vice president of human resources for Sherwin-Williams’ Southwestern Division, a $2 billion operation where he helped oversee more than 8,000 employees. He also established the company’s first African American network group and partnered with the CEO on national initiatives.“It really gave me a worldwide experience at a high level,” McGowen said.Still, the pace eventually became unsustainable.<h2>A New Opportunity</h2>In December 2019, McGowen and Sherwin-Williams mutually parted ways. He and his wife planned to flip homes, launching an LLC and preparing to pursue real estate investing. Two months later, COVID-19 shut everything down.“I’m right back to square one and now I’m thinking, ‘What did I do?’” McGowen said.&nbsp;A connection with a franchise broker soon introduced him to the salon suite concept and, specifically,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios/info">IMAGE Studios</a>. After meeting the corporate team and learning more about the brand, McGowen was sold.“I fell in love with the concept,” he said. “It kind of saved my life really, in a sense, that I was able to find something quickly … but really it gave me financial freedom and freedom in my time.”<h2>Why IMAGE Studios Stood Out</h2>McGowen evaluated several franchise categories, including gyms, restaurants and large legacy brands. What set IMAGE Studios apart was a combination of market fundamentals, design quality and corporate culture.“Dallas is a powerhouse when it comes to beauty,” he said, pointing to the number of major beauty companies headquartered in the area. He was also drawn to the physical environment of IMAGE Studios locations.“The aesthetic of the buildout for IMAGE Studios is so different than any other organization,” McGowen said. “All the glass and just the upscale quality of material that they use to build out — I knew that was something I wanted to associate myself with.”Equally important was the people. McGowen immediately felt welcomed and supported, noting that the team was very receptive to new ideas. This helped IMAGE Studios feel less like a leap into the unknown and more like a strategic next chapter.<h2>Applying Corporate Leadership to Franchise Ownership</h2>McGowen says he uses his corporate experience every day as a franchise owner, especially when it comes to culture.“One of the things I learned about corporate America, particularly at Sherwin-Williams, is that they preach culture,” he said. “Culture is not easy. It takes a lot of work. It starts from the top down.”Rather than simply leasing suites to anyone interested, McGowen personally meets with prospective beauty professionals to understand their goals, communication style and values.“If they’re going to disrupt the culture, then I don’t want them,” he said. “But if they’re going to add to it and I feel like they’re just overall a decent person and I can tell that they love their craft and they love their clients and their customers, then my guess is they’re going to treat their colleagues the same.”McGowen says building a strong, trustworthy team has allowed him to step away with confidence. It has also made it easier to enjoy time off and take vacations, knowing the business runs smoothly in his absence.<h2>Training and Infrastructure that Reduce Risk</h2>For McGowen, IMAGE Studios’ structured training program was another major differentiator.“Before you step a foot out in opening your business, we’re going to take you through a 12-week module course,” he said. “For me, that was huge because I wanted to understand what I was doing before I start doing it.”The training covers everything from culture and recruiting to touring prospective tenants, selecting vendors and managing the buildout process. Franchisees also validate with existing owners who have already opened studios.That level of preparation resonated with an executive accustomed to data, systems and repeatable processes.“You’re not going through it by yourself,” McGowen said.<h2>A Message to Other Executives</h2>McGowen believes franchising, and IMAGE Studios specifically, can be a strong fit for corporate leaders ready to reinvest their experience into ownership.“First, understand what your priorities are,” he said. “What is it that you want for you and your family, and then align that with the goals and priorities of the franchise?”For him, the priority was freedom. Today, he’s enjoying slower mornings, meaningful relationships with his studio professionals and the satisfaction of building something that’s truly his.To find out more information on the costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.">https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.</a>&nbsp;

After almost two decades in corporate leadership, Lonnie McGowen found a new path to ownership, flexibility and long-term growth through IMAGE Studios’ salon suite model.

<a href="https://www.imagestudiosfranchise.com/">IMAGE Studios</a> is best known for its thoughtfully designed salon suites that allow beauty, health, and wellness professionals to operate independently. In 2026, the brand is expanding that focus with the launch of&nbsp;<a href="https://imagestudios360.com/image-pro-academy/">IMAGE Pro Academy</a>, a new education and support platform created to help professionals strengthen their business skills and grow with confidence.IMAGE Pro Academy represents the next evolution of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios/info">IMAGE Studios’</a> long-standing approach to business and marketing education. Built directly from feedback gathered from professionals across the system, the program reflects a deeper investment in education, accessibility and long-term success.<h2>Building an Ecosystem, Not Just Studio Space</h2>According to Director of Education&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjameslandis/">Matthew Landis</a>, IMAGE Pro Academy is about far more than adding a few new courses. It’s about reshaping how IMAGE Studios supports professionals throughout their entire journey.“IMAGE Pro Academy is the next evolution of our business and marketing education for our Pros,” Landis said. “We do a lot of surveys, we listen to their pain points and challenges, and we restructured this program to meet those needs.”The result is a centralized learning ecosystem that brings together live courses, master classes, on-demand education, and downloadable tools. Rather than requiring professionals to search across multiple platforms, everything will live within a single learning management system designed for ease of use and flexibility.<h2>Education Designed for Every Type of Professional</h2>A key differentiator of IMAGE Pro Academy is its focus on business fundamentals rather than skills-based training. IMAGE Studios intentionally avoids teaching technical services like hair cutting or esthetics, choosing instead to focus on the universal challenges faced by solo entrepreneurs.“We have never focused on any specific skill set,” Landis said. “It's geared towards business owners, solo entrepreneurs, and creative people who just happen to be artisans and service providers.”That approach ensures the content applies equally to professionals in hair, skin care, tattoos, brows, wellness and other beauty services. Even within a single category like hair, Landis noted, professionals specialize in vastly different services, making a one-size-fits-all technical approach ineffective.<h2>More Access, More Formats, More Flexibility</h2>Feedback from IMAGE Studios professionals showed that busy schedules and limited awareness often kept people from participating. To address that, IMAGE Pro Academy adds more classes and offers several ways to take part, making it easier for professionals to fit learning into their schedules.Professionals will have access to an on-demand, self-guided learning library featuring short, focused video modules — typically around three minutes long — paired with worksheets, case studies and practical exercises.“People want shorter, more concise content,” Landis said. “We’re busy, we have so many distractions, so in our self-guided learning modules, it's my goal to keep the content down.”This multi-format structure allows professionals to learn in ways that suit their individual styles, whether they prefer listening, reading, analyzing or hands-on activities.<h2>Support for the Hardest Conversations</h2>Beyond numbers and strategy, IMAGE Pro Academy also addresses some of the most emotionally challenging parts of running a beauty business, from raising prices to letting go of clients who are no longer the right fit.“There is a lot of emotion that goes into it because what we do is a very intimate experience,” Landis said. “We have very close relationships with our clients, and so sometimes the money part of it can feel complicated.”To support professionals through these moments, IMAGE Studios offers free, confidential 30-minute coaching sessions with Landis, who is a certified coach with decades of industry experience.<h2>Practical Tools That Drive Real Business Decisions</h2>Another strength of IMAGE Pro Academy is the set of business tools available to professionals. These resources help take the guesswork out of pricing, finances and operational decisions.Among the most widely used tools is IMAGE Studios’ Raising Prices Calculator, which helps professionals take emotion out of pricing decisions and approach them strategically.Additional tools include pro formas, break-even worksheets, budget templates, compound interest calculators and waste-tracking worksheets, all designed to help professionals run healthier, more sustainable businesses.<h2>Why IMAGE Pro Academy Matters to Franchise Owners</h2>IMAGE Pro Academy is also a strategic advantage for franchise owners.“The more engaged a pro is, the more likely they are to renew their lease, refer a friend and make more money,” Landis said.&nbsp;The brand has also seen a clear correlation between owner engagement with education programs and higher opening occupancy rates. Professionals who take even one class are more likely to continue participating, creating stronger, more connected studio communities.Importantly, access to IMAGE Pro Academy begins early. Professionals can start taking courses as soon as they reserve a suite, even before a location opens, helping them prepare for day one and stay engaged during the build-out phase.“We want people to be successful on day one,” Landis said. “We don’t want them to wait until they have the key.”<h2>Growing Alongside the Brand</h2>As IMAGE Studios continues to expand nationwide, IMAGE Pro Academy is growing right alongside it. The platform will also feature master classes led by respected industry voices, bringing fresh perspectives from across the beauty and wellness space.With the launch of IMAGE Pro Academy, the franchise reinforces its position as more than a salon suite provider. It’s building a complete ecosystem of education, tools and support, empowering beauty, health, and wellness entrepreneurs to grow stronger businesses and helping franchise owners build more successful studios in every market they serve.To find out more information on the costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.">https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.</a>&nbsp;

IMAGE Studios Introduces IMAGE Pro Academy to Support Entrepreneurs in 2026

The new training program is designed to help studio owners sharpen business skills, grow with confidence and build stronger, more sustainable businesses.

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<a href="https://www.imagestudiosfranchise.com/">IMAGE Studios</a>, the salon suites franchise with more than 120 units, is expected to open a new Evanston, Illinois, location this summer. Located at 1450 Sherman Avenue, the space will cater to beauty and wellness professionals seeking private suites. While&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios/info">IMAGE Studios</a> support hairstylists and barbers, key users of the salon suite model, it also welcomes a diverse range of other service providers.“We don’t just cater to traditional hair stylists, barbers or colorists,” the franchise owner told the&nbsp;<a href="https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/02/20/image-studios-coming-to-downtown-evanston-in-albion-retail-space/">RoundTable</a>. “We can accommodate other wellness professionals — such as injectors who perform Botox or filler treatments, hormone therapy providers, physical therapists or massage therapists.”The location at the Albion will offer easy access for professionals and their clients, with nearby public transportation and a parking garage.&nbsp;“It’s comparable to Chicago and the urban environment and the downtown business exposure,” the owner said, “but still a little bit more accessible than sometimes how Chicago can be.”While the owner is still preparing to launch, the&nbsp;<a href="https://imagestudios360.com/evanston-il/">local website</a> is live, and event details will be shared closer to the grand opening date.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://evanstonroundtable.com/2026/02/20/image-studios-coming-to-downtown-evanston-in-albion-retail-space/">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios">https://1851franchise.com/image-studios</a>.&nbsp;

The modern salon suites franchise is expected to open at 1450 Sherman Avenue this summer, offering beauty and wellness professionals a flexible, private space to build and grow their businesses.

After over a decade spent in the franchise industry,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-mulks-bb585b2b/">Tim</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-mulks-6810209/">Lisa Mulks</a> had a sophisticated understanding of the franchise “machine.” As franchise brokers, the Mulks interacted with hundreds of brands across multiple industries, including the salon suites space. As market availability became increasingly limited with legacy salon suites brands, the pair got connected with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.imagestudiosfranchise.com/">IMAGE Studios</a>, the 130-plus-unit luxury salon suites franchise.“As Lisa and I placed multiple different clients in different companies, it was an industry where everyone would come back to us and say, ‘Wow, it’s been an amazing investment. It’s a great lifestyle business," Tim said. “We started thinking, ‘Well, maybe we should really start looking at this for ourselves!’”Through a deep dive into the industry and a review of multiple brands, the pair found that the salon suites model checked all of the boxes: low to no employees, no inventory, no manufacturing and no cash handling.“We were looking at the business model as one that would be simple to operate with reasonable returns and low failure rates, and as we kept digging deeper and deeper, we were finding&nbsp;no failures within the different companies,” Tim said.<h2>A Model Built for Success</h2>After choosing the industry, the Mulks then had to choose their brand, and it had to be one that would align with their expectations for operational support. After a careful evaluation of the landscape,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios/info">IMAGE Studios</a> rose to the top as the clear winner.“We vetted all the brands that we knew of pretty deeply, and the minute we started engaging with IMAGE Studios, we thought, ‘Wow, these guys are cutting edge,’” Lisa said. “They had foresight in the industry that we hadn’t seen before. After going to Discovery Day, there was no question that this was the brand we wanted to be a part of.”“When we visited IMAGE, we had already visited all the competitors,” Tim added. “So we had an understanding of the feel when you walked into them. The first time we walked into an IMAGE Studios, we were in Salt Lake City doing Discovery Day, and it was an immediate change of vibe. You had that ‘wow’ factor that you didn’t have in any of the other places.”The brand’s aesthetics were a key differentiator as they resonated with the Mulks personally and represented an attractive selling point to potential tenants, which boosted their confidence in their ability to fill and maintain occupancy in their suites.Beyond the physical appearance of the locations, the Mulks recognized IMAGE Studios’ robust support system. For two professionals who had built careers helping others understand the “why” and “how” of franchise brands and franchise success, this was incredibly important. IMAGE Studios’ internal culture and operational support were the last pieces of the puzzle.<h2>The Mentorship Approach: Helping Businesses Grow</h2>Transitioning from franchise brokerage to franchise ownership required some adjustments, but the Mulks were able to carry their professional values and skills with them.Previously, the pair helped franchise brands expand with the right franchisees, and they helped potential franchisees identify the right opportunity for their growth. While the model is slightly different as IMAGE Studios owners, they’re still helping entrepreneurs grow.“We get filled up by helping people with their own business,” Lisa said. “When we get the comments like, ‘Oh my gosh, I love it here!’ or ‘You guys care,’ or ‘I’ve made more money than ever,’ from our pros, that’s very rewarding for us.”In addition to their own mentorship, the Mulks protect this supportive, success-driven environment by being incredibly selective about who they bring into the community. Building a positive culture by growing with fellow entrepreneurs who are equally committed to excellence creates a thriving ecosystem and ultimately drives a positive feedback loop.<h2>Exceeding Expectations and Continued Growth</h2>This approach, combined with the Mulks’ overall commitment to their business, pushed them to exceed expectations early on.During the due diligence process, the pair decided they would need to develop three total units to meet their personal income goals, but the development of just their first two locations in Reno and Sparks, Nevada, has already allowed them to surpass their targets.In addition to the financial performance, IMAGE Studios franchise ownership has provided the Mulks with a major lifestyle upgrade. Now, they have the freedom and flexibility to travel and enjoy free time without being tied to the daily operations of the business.For anyone considering the industry, Tim’s message is simple: “If it treats you as well as it’s treated us, you will be extremely happy with it. It has exceeded our expectations.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios">https://1851franchise.com/image-studios</a>.&nbsp;

Leveraging over 10 years of experience as brokers, Tim and Lisa Mulks transitioned to ownership to build their own high-performing investment while supporting local entrepreneurs.

<a href="https://www.imagestudiosfranchise.com/">IMAGE Studios</a> has been named one of the country’s top franchise brands earning the No. 265 spot in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500">Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 ranking</a>.&nbsp;The list remains one of franchising’s most competitive benchmarks.&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios/info">IMAGE Studios</a> moved up 79 spots from 2025. The rise was supported by gains in unit growth, financial stability, franchisee support, operations, marketing and brand strength.Founder and CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasontylerolsen/">Jason Olsen</a> called the recognition a meaningful milestone for the brand and its franchisees. “This ranking reflects the strength of our model, the dedication of our franchise owners and our commitment to building a brand that supports long-term success,” he said&nbsp;<a href="https://imagestudios360.com/image-studios-named-among-the-top-franchises-in-entrepreneur-magazines-franchise-500-ranking/">in a press release</a>.&nbsp;IMAGE Studios spent 2025 opening new studios, entering priority markets and sustaining strong performance across the system. Alongside that growth, the brand introduced new education and support initiatives aimed at helping IMAGE Pros and franchisees succeed long term.Entrepreneur evaluates franchises based on more than 150 data points, including costs, fees, growth, size, brand strength and financial performance. IMAGE Studios’ inclusion and significant rise in the ranking underscore its growing momentum and position as a leading franchise opportunity.Read the press release&nbsp;<a href="https://imagestudios360.com/image-studios-named-among-the-top-franchises-in-entrepreneur-magazines-franchise-500-ranking/">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/image-studios">https://1851franchise.com/image-studios</a>.

IMAGE Studios Named to Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500

The salon suite franchise earned the No. 265 position, reflecting strong growth, system stability and rising momentum across the beauty and wellness industry.

IMAGE Studios Named to Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 

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