After almost two decades at Sherwin-Williams, Lonnie McGowen 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.
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 IMAGE Studios in Dallas, a move that also reframed how he thinks about leadership and business.
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.
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.
A connection with a franchise broker soon introduced him to the salon suite concept and, specifically, IMAGE Studios. 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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 https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.
Image Studios
SPONSORED
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.
After almost two decades at Sherwin-Williams, Lonnie McGowen 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.
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 IMAGE Studios in Dallas, a move that also reframed how he thinks about leadership and business.
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.
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.
A connection with a franchise broker soon introduced him to the salon suite concept and, specifically, IMAGE Studios. 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.”
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.
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.
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.
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 https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.
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