1851

At only 37, Shama Patel has already developed two popular concepts within the wellness segment: <a href="http://www.airfitnow.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-shama-patel-of-air-and-clean-your-dirty-face-2711896" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">AIR®</a> aerial fitness studio and <a href="https://www.cleanyourdirtyface.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-shama-patel-of-air-and-clean-your-dirty-face-2711896" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Clean Your Dirty Face®</a> skincare company and&nbsp; facial spa. Collectively, both AIR® aerial fitness studio and Clean Your Dirty Face® now boast 15 locations open with more in the pipeline and opportunities for expansion nationwide. 1851 spoke with Patel on how she got her start in the industry, the role women will play in the future of franchising and advice she has for other young entrepreneurs in the space.&nbsp;1851: What initially drew you to franchising?&nbsp;&nbsp;Patel: I was a young attorney in Chicago and left my firm to pursue entrepreneurship. I loved fitness and wellness, so I opened an R&amp;D lab in Charlotte, North Carolina with an SBA loan. There, I developed and explored different fitness concepts, and balanced that with a cooking kitchen where I hired local culinary students and chefs from popular Charlotte restaurants to lead healthy cooking classes.&nbsp;The idea was that in order to see results in fitness, you had to learn how to consume a clean diet too. Why not introduce that education in a fun, hands-on way? At that R&amp;D lab, AIR® Aerial Fitness was born.&nbsp;&nbsp;My dad was a structural engineer by trade, so he helped me design a one-point rigging system that would support up to 2,000 lbs. of dynamic weight load. We were able to develop athletic classes where we used the hammock as both a resistance training band and a tool to support body weight at virtually any angle. Thereafter, in September 2013, I took a chance and moved back to Chicago to open my first freestanding AIR® in Chicago’s Lincoln Park.&nbsp;&nbsp;The studios began multiplying and we were the first branded aerial fitness studio to hit the market. In 2015, a natural next step for me was to open a clean beauty facial bar since facials and fitness sit under the same wellness umbrella.&nbsp; You’re not going to see skincare results unless you analyze your life from a 360 perspective. Seeing results doesn’t just mean getting facials or using clean beauty skincare products, it also means consuming a clean diet and holding yourself responsible in other aspects of your life outside of our wellness businesses. That is how my <a href="https://www.cleanyourdirtyface.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-shama-patel-of-air-and-clean-your-dirty-face-2711896" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Clean Your Dirty Face®</a> skincare company and facial bar came about.&nbsp;I started franchising because it allows you to partner with individuals who care about the business just as much as you do.&nbsp; That passion, care, and vested interest in making sure the business is successful is so crucial when looking for the right partner to represent and grow your brands.&nbsp;1851: Where do you see the most opportunity in franchising and why are you excited about the future of the industry?&nbsp;&nbsp;Patel: I think that at some point or another, a lot of people—especially women—consider leaving their corporate careers and starting their own business. The reality is that most first-time businesses fail, and you could lose all of your life savings relatively quickly.&nbsp;&nbsp;Franchising is a safe alternative to dive into entrepreneurship, and get the flexibility of owning your own business because it allows you to partner with individuals who have walked your path and will keep you from making mistakes. With a company like ours, it also allows our franchisees to find mentorship within our other owners for additional support. For us, we believe in selecting the right franchise partner from the outset so that we can grow our brands quickly, but with quality.&nbsp;&nbsp;1851: What advice do you have for other young entrepreneurs in the space?&nbsp;Patel: Don’t just come up with a concept and hope that it’s going to work. To build something out of nothing, you have to understand your clients’ habits, likes, dislikes—and basically everything—from a 360 perspective so that you can design your concept around that person. There are business concepts that are smoke and mirrors, and then there are ones that will last. Designing around your client usually leads to concepts that will last.&nbsp;1851: What advice would you give your younger self?&nbsp;&nbsp;Patel: Listen more, talk less.&nbsp;1851: Who is someone you look to for inspiration?&nbsp;Patel: Carrie Dorr, the founder of <a href="https://www.purebarre.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=young-ones-to-watch-shama-patel-of-air-and-clean-your-dirty-face-2711896" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pure Barre</a>. In my book, she’s the woman who pioneered boutique fitness and actually inspired me to start my own journey in 2011.&nbsp;

Young Ones To Watch: Shama Patel of AIR® and Clean Your Dirty Face®

1851 Franchise

This serial entrepreneur is at the forefront of two blazing-hot franchise segments right now: eco-friendly beauty and boutique fitness. 

young-ones-to-watch-shama-patel-of-air-and-clean-your-dirty-face

Home Halo

Home Halo’s 160-Step Launch Process: Setting Franchisees Up for Success

home-halo-franchise-launch-process

VA Reimbursement: A Unique Opportunity for Home Halo Franchisees

va-reimbursement-a-unique-opportunity-for-home-halo-franchisees

Home Halo’s "Frank" Method: Coaching Franchisees to Greatness

home-halos-frank-method-coaching-franchisees-to-greatness

home-halo-dan-deak-personal-journey-headshot

Dan Deak's Personal Journey: From Caring Son to Home Halo CEO

dan-deaks-personal-journey-from-caring-son-to-home-halo-ceo

10 Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Home Halo Franchise

10-reasons-why-you-should-invest-in-a-home-halo-franchise

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Dave’s Hot Chicken Sold to Roark Capital in $1 Billion Deal to Fuel Global Expansion

daves-hot-chicken-sold-to-roark-capital-in-1-billion-deal-to-fuel-global-expansion

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Homebuyers Keep Buying — And That’s Good News for Home Service Franchises

homebuyers-keep-buying-and-thats-good-news-for-home-service-franchises

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers - 1851 Franchise

AI Could Push Unemployment to 20% — Fueling a Surge in First-Time Franchise Buyers

ai-unemployment-impact-white-collar-job-loss

How To Sell Just One Franchise: What You’ll Learn at FranCamp NJ 2025

how-to-sell-just-one-franchise-what-youll-learn-at-francamp-nj-2025

House Passes Tax Relief Package With Key Benefits for Small Businesses and Franchises

house-passes-small-business-tax-relief-bill-2025

How Car Sales Taught Buddy's Home Furnishings’ Mitchell Lee the Secrets of Franchise Development

how-car-sales-taught-buddys-home-furnishings-mitchell-lee-the-secrets-of-franchise-development

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-positioning-image

Bouncing Into Business: How Busy Bee Jumpers Is Building the First National Bounce House Franchise

franchise-opportunity-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise

busy-bee-jumpers-consumer-positioning-image-kids-jumping-bounce-house

Delivering Fun With a Smile: How Busy Bee Jumpers Earns 5-Star Raves From Families Across New England

busy-bee-jumpers-party-rentals

Pink's Window Services - Franchise Deep Dive - 1851 Franchise

Pink’s Window Services Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

pinks-window-services-franchise-deep-dive

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

What You Need To Know About Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities

what-you-need-to-know-about-low-cost-franchise-opportunities

Sola Salons Franchisee Grows Salon Freedom Into a Multi-State Powerhouse 

sola-salons-franchisee-grows-salon-freedom-into-a-multi-state-powerhouse

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville 

Dan Yangas Brings Family Flooring Legacy Full Circle With Footprints Floors Franchise in Naperville, Illinois

dan-yangas-brings-family-flooring-legacy-full-circle-with-footprints-floors-franchise-in-naperville-illinois

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Sean Phelan & Caring Transitions logo

From Tech to Transitions: Why This Caring Transitions Franchisee Left the Corporate World To Help Families Navigate Life’s Hardest Moves

sean-phelan-caring-transitions-franchise-austin

Young Ones To Watch: Shama Patel of AIR® and Clean Your Dirty Face®

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS