Every Franchise Partner has an "aha" moment where they realize it's time to make a change. For WOW 1 DAY PAINTING owner Kenyon Jones, this happened when the pandemic hit. With all the uncertainty, one thing became clear to him: it was time to control his own destiny. Read on to find out about his journey into entrepreneurship and how WOW 1 DAY PAINTING stood out to him among the rest.
Q: What made you want to own a business?
I had been doing accounting for the last 20+ years and was definitely looking for a change. What really got me started was that I wanted more control of my own schedule. With the pandemic, it really hit hard that anyone can be replaced or downsized. For that reason, I wanted more control of my destiny.
Q: Why now - what was it that made you take the leap?
My main motivation for starting a business now is that I'm more financially stable, so it really felt like it was a great time to explore this opportunity. I was at the right age to make a change -- ten years ago, I would have been too nervous to take a leap like this. But the pandemic made me realize that nothing is a guarantee.
Q: In your opinion, what are the benefits of joining a franchise system?
First off, the culture. The culture at WOW 1 DAY PAINTING is amazing: I received so much feedback from other Franchise Partners who were so welcoming, willing to share their knowledge and ready to answer any question. I remember thinking to myself, "If this is just a sample of the people in the community, this is an amazing fit for me!" Also, when you start a business you're not going to know everything; having a network at your fingertips to which you can ask questions and get feedback is so essential.
Q: Why WOW 1 DAY PAINTING, what made this the right fit?
When I was researching, I noticed that Brian also started 1-800-GOT-JUNK?. I remember noticing how high 1-800-GOT-JUNK? was ranking among franchises, and it gave me the confidence that I was buying into a system that worked. Also, Adam Winnett (the Franchise Development Manager for WOW 1 DAY PAINTING) wasn't trying to sell me on the franchise -- he gave me information to make my own decision, and it really didn't feel like a sales pitch.
Q: What are you most looking forward to about being a business owner?
For me it really comes down to getting into the community, hiring local people and paying a good starting salary. I really do hope that we can give people a livable wage, that's important to me. I feel like as a new business owner I have a responsibility to help support my community.
Q: What are your passions / interests / hobbies...what makes you happiest and motivates you?
Some passions of mine are football -- I'm a huge Dallas Cowboys fan -- and basketball. I also love landscaping, particularly seeing something go from trash to beautiful -- it can be incredibly rewarding.
Q: Tell us about your territory, what makes it unique?
Chattanooga is a beautiful, scenic city: there's mountains, lakes, and one of the largest rivers in the East. We're surrounded by the great outdoors, so it's a huge tourist area with lots to do in the great outdoors.
Q: How has the virtual element of the process been - the fact you haven't been able to visit the Junktion etc.?
I actually think it's been rewarding! I've been able to learn hands-on by going to Franchise Partners and seeing them in the field. The system allows us to partner with a newer and veteran Franchise Partner, and they've been really amazing. Especially with the newer partner, they're going through the same challenges so we got to learn together.
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