Young Ones to Watch: Harriet Mills, Founder and CEO of Wine & Design

Harriet Mills, 38, will soon celebrate the 10th anniversary of Wine & Design, a paint-and-sip concept that thinks—and drinks—outside of the box. Back in 2010, Mills saw that the market for paint-and-sip concepts was largely untapped; this ultimately led her to take a leap of faith and open Wine & Design. Since the decision to franchise in 2011, Mills has grown Wine & Design to over 80 locations in 19 states, all providing guests an experience to flex their artistic muscles—with a glass of their favorite vino in hand. 

In an interview with 1851 Franchise, Mills reflects on her decision to begin franchising Wine & Design and on the success of the company and offers advice to other young up-and-comers in the industry.

1851: What initially drew you to franchising?  

Mills: Honestly, when I first got started, I had no clue how to franchise; I thought you could only franchise huge companies like McDonald’s. So when my main artist approached me about wanting to open their own studio, I was kind of in panic mode. She couldn’t be my competition because she signed a non-competition clause and I didn’t want her to leave the company, so that’s when I really began thinking about expansion. We looked into a licensing agreement and then realized franchising was the way to go. Our decision to franchise really stemmed from having a successful first location and employees who were passionate about what we were doing. 

1851: Where do you see the most opportunity in franchising and why are you excited about the future of the industry?

Mills: There is opportunity in the franchising industry because franchising itself is already a “business-in-a-box.” People want to work and they want to be creative, so franchising is a great way to get them on their feet right away. People don’t have to start from scratch with a franchise, so it’s already an advantage. Additionally, a lot of the mistakes have already been figured out, so it’s much easier to get up and running. 

As far as Wine & Design goes, it’s a low-cost investment compared with other franchises in the country. We are art for wellness—and wellness is the future. People want to be healthy and get their minds right and I think with art and the Wine & Design franchise, there really is no limit. 

1851: What advice do you have for other young up-and-comers in the space? 

Mills: Well, I sort of did the whole franchising thing backward and learned from a lot of trial and error, so I would tell them to do their homework. They need to figure out exactly how franchising works. I think if you are interested in franchising, you should go to an IFA [International Franchise Association] event. There, you can learn from the experts on how the process works. I would also say to pay attention to your competitors—if someone is running a similar business, make sure you are doing it better.

1851: What advice would you give your younger self? 

Mills: I would tell myself to find a mentor right away. I found a great mentor last year, but we had already been in business for 10 years, so I just wish I found her sooner. Anyone that’s a mentor, business coach or life coach, who can show you the ropes and help you through things is a great asset for any business. 

1851: Who is someone you look to for inspiration?

Mills: My husband inspires me. He’s an entrepreneur himself and has been a go-getter forever. He is positive, always has the right thing to say and I am very grateful to have someone like him.