After over a decade spent in the franchise industry, Tim and Lisa Mulks 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 IMAGE Studios, 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 no failures within the different companies,” Tim said.
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, IMAGE Studios 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.
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.
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 https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.
Image Studios
SPONSORED
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.
After over a decade spent in the franchise industry, Tim and Lisa Mulks 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 IMAGE Studios, 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 no failures within the different companies,” Tim said.
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, IMAGE Studios 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.
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.
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 https://1851franchise.com/image-studios.
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