women owned business – Page 3 – America's Color Consultants

November 27, 2019

Why Hire a Color Consultant – A Cautionary Tale

Fall is a very busy time of year for my business: lots of people are sprucing up their homes for the holidays. My appointment schedule is booked two weeks out, which I note to potential new clients when they call.

Recently, I had an appointment with a new client. The day before our appointment, she called to cancel saying that her painter had a color consultant who he would send over for FREE. I told her I understood and wished her well. A week later I received a desperate call from the same woman telling me that the house was half painted and it “looks awful!” and can I come right over?

Sadly, I had to tell her that I was booked for the next two weeks! She also told me a bit more about the painter’s “consultant”, who did not ask her anything about her own preferences, didn’t look at her furniture or use any kind of process to help with paint color selection. No samples were provided and she felt strong-armed to use the colors they recommended.

I hoped I could fit her in, but the timing for us both couldn’t be worked out.

Over the last 15 years as a paint color consultant, I have developed a personalized process to assist my clients with their selections, so that they love the colors that they paint. My system is now used by all our America’s Color Consultants franchisees and we offer customer satisfaction. What does “customer satisfaction” mean? After your paint color consultation you can text or call us and we will continue to help you tweak the color selection until it is perfect.

Painting your home is an expensive proposition. While there may be painters with a very good eye for color, there are others who are just excellent painters. Paint color consultants are talented experts who are specially trained professionals – and do the job right the first time. Take your time and don’t feel rushed to make a decision.

It’s your money and your home.

May 21, 2019

Five Franchising Misconceptions

Misconceptions 1- Franchises discourage creativity/freedom

While franchises create the basic framework for a business, that doesn’t mean they would micromanage all decisions that the franchisee makes. In fact, most of the day to day dealings are up to the franchise owner, including who they hire/fire, where they advertise, what events they host, or any other similar details. The guidelines put in place by the franchise aren’t there just to tell people what to do – they’re tried and proven methods for success. Many of the guidelines are put in place to maintain the franchise brand.

Misconceptions 2- Franchises are too expensive

While the startup costs for certain franchises can be expensive – even exorbitant – that doesn’t mean all of them are: the price is much less if you’re operating a home- or service-based franchise rather than opening a chain restaurant, for example. Besides, the most common occurrence in franchising is a one-time franchise fee which is used to set-up and train the new franchisee. An additional royalty paid to the franchisor is also required. Royalties support the cost of additional back office services provided for the franchisee.

Misconceptions 3- Franchises are not small businesses

Most people want to support small businesses over big ones, and that’s great! Support the local businesses run by people in the community. However, that often does include franchises- just because there’s a bigger corporation involved farther back in the start of the company, doesn’t mean the local chapter of it isn’t owned by a mom and pop couple who wanted some support starting out.

Misconceptions 4- Franchising only applies to fast food

This is patently untrue. While the most visible franchises out there are fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Dairy Queen, that doesn’t mean every franchise is built from milkshakes and French fries. There are pest control, house cleaning and even doggie day care franchises. If the business in question is a chain, then the chances are that it may also be a franchise.

Misconceptions 5- Having a franchise will instantly make you rich

In many ways, being a part of a franchise is a lot like taking a short cut in building your business. A lot of the trickier parts are already set up from you, and there is built in support and ways to make it work, but it doesn’t mean every franchise location is successful. It takes hard work and determination to make a business successful, even if you have a franchise backing you up. Are you ready to put in the work?

September 24, 2018

Brass – Did It Ever Really Go Away?

You may have noticed that there is a lot more brass showing up in home goods stores and design magazines. For many, many years, stainless steel and brushed nickel were the metals of choice for home rehabbers and builders. Sleek, cool and modern, silver was everywhere – appliances HAD to be stainless and faucets and fixtures and hardware went along for the ride.

Brass has had its hey-day several times over the decades and it’s once again being highlighted in a big way by interior designers and home décor magazines that both set and follow trends. The addition of brass is being cited as a “trend” for 2018 by House Beautiful, Home & Garden, Elle Décor, Pinterest, Mansion Global and USA Today, to name a few. This time around it’s not brightbrass, but brushed, satin tones, unlacquered brass that you’re seeing.

Why brass now? There are several reasons: (1) brass is timeless; (2) a little goes a long way; (3) the different tones of brass complement all colors beautifully, from the deepest indigoes in favor at present, to the lightest blushes and grays; and (4) brass works well with other metals. Don’t hesitate to use it along with your stainless appliances and brushed nickel or chrome faucets.

You don’t have to swap out everything to enjoy this trend: brass can be the jewel that brightens and refreshes an entire space. A brass lantern or cabinet pulls or mirror may be all you need. Brass remains popular (go ahead, admit you like it!) because brass is golden and gold represents a certain level of luxe. The value of a richly patina’d, real brass fixture endures. With its rich history, brass is the comfort food of home décor.

www.AmericasColorConsultants.com

August 1, 2017August 1, 2017

Why An App Will Never Replace a Color Consultant!

Will These Paint Colors Work For You in Your Home?

Maybe, Maybe Not.

A few weeks ago I received a frantic phone call – “I need help fast! Can you come now?!” It was a Friday evening and it had been a long day: however, I detected desperation in the man’s voice. When I arrived later that evening, the man explained to me he was trying to paint the interior of the house before his wife returned from traveling. The painters were coming in the morning and he needed to buy the paint before they arrived. He had samples painted all over his dining room wall: “I cannot figure out which one to choose.” After a few minutes of discussion, we narrowed down his choices to two color families. From that point, it was just personal preference. He was so relieved that the decision had been made in less than an hour, he still had time to go to the paint store, and the house would be painted before his wife returned. Whew!

While I collected my belongings he asked me if I could help him with one more thing. He had already painted the basement family room, but it looked horrible. His question – “What did I do wrong? I used the paint store’s APP and followed their suggestions.”

Well, from a color theory point of view, the colors were fine if you looked at them on a piece of printed white paper: or on a computer screen they might look appealing in that setting. The problem with the paint manufacturer’s APP is that it is not human – it does not take into consideration your furnishings, the lighting in your home, the light blubs, your age, or your brain and the way you personally perceive color. A computer will never be a human (at least not in my lifetime!).

The colors the APP put together were not paint colors that the average homeowner would or ever should choose to paint on their walls.

At this point the homeowner had already paid the painter, and the work had been completed. My job at this point was how to salvage the project and make it look better. The mistake cost him more money to fix.

Paint store APPs can be fun for ideas: a place to start. The average homeowner paints every 10 years: you want to make the correct decision the first time.

When it comes down to making the final decisions, the $200 – $300 you pay for an expert paint color consultant’s help can ultimately save you thousands.

http://www.americascolorconsultants.com/consultations.html

July 12, 2017

Becoming A Color Consultant

I was recently asked by a high school student –

“How did you know you wanted to be a color consultant?”

I was just a little embarrassed to answer, “I didn’t!”

Life takes you down many roads and I was always one to “go with the flow.” One job lead me to another to another… .

I have always been artsy-fartsy. But a horrible art teacher in high school convinced me my talent was subpar and – at the time – I believed him, I guess. I did nothing in the field for 40 years! Of course I tastefully decorated my and my friends’ apartments, and also became a prolific DIYer, but never again played with a color wheel.

Until 10 years ago.

A neighbor with whom I shared a passion for home improvement projects suggested we turn our interest and expertise in that booming industry into a consulting business of sorts. We both had the backgrounds – she was a graphic designer and DIYer and I, a self-taught renovation product specialist. Over several months, we narrowed our focus to paint color selection. In our neighborhood, it was a perfect fit. People were redoing/adding on to their homes and needed help with color selections that would tie the whole house together.

I had recognized that I had a natural talent for color/lighting and mood – the psychology of color – and my years as a public relations specialist made me confident that I could express to my clients “why” a specific color worked for them.

Fast forward 10 years and I now enjoy using my creativity and artistic talents every day. We even refined our business model into a franchise opportunity for others with a similar desire to utilize their artistic skills. Sometimes I think “what if” I had been encouraged by that teacher long ago, and also – why the heck did I even listen to him?! But it’s never too late to recognize your talent – and combine it with your own life experiences – and make a go of it as a business!

If this story resonates with you and you too have an eye for color, maybe paint color consulting is for you. Join us! Check out americascolorconsultants.com/franchise for more information, or call me personally to compare notes (703-362-3131).

Susan Mintz, Co-Founder, America’s Color Consultants

May 22, 2017

Your Top 3 Color Consultant Franchise Questions Answered

We get a lot of emails and phone calls about what it means to own an America’s Color Consultants franchise and how to get started. Here are the top three questions we get from those of you looking to supplement your household income with a part-time job, change your full-time career, or give your design degree a competitive (and potentially lucrative) edge.

What does an America’s Color Consultant do?

Think of an America’s Color Consultant as the America’s approachable interior designer; all the color theory, lighting, and home decor experience coupled with the ability to help homeowners get the most out of what they currently have. Our consultants use their experience and expertise to identify what colors their clients are attracted to, what colors would make the best use of the available space and light, and what colors would bring out the best of their home’s features and furnishings.

Why would someone hire a paint color consultant?

Anyone who has ever attempted to pick out the perfect paint sample knows how much time, money, and energy goes into finding the right color, especially if the color isn’t right after it goes on. America’s Color Consultants remove the stress and mess of paint samples and help mediate color disagreements when couples don’t see eye to eye.

“The home is a crucial part of a person’s identity,” said Florence Jones, co-founder of America’s Color Consultants. “Once you find a color that resonates in a space, it can go a long way to making everyone feel like they belong there.”

What does it take to be a franchise owner?

While there are franchise costs associated with the established branding, marketing, and training, the most important part of being an America’s Color Consultant franchise owner is the passion for home decor, color, customer service, and personal success. Like any entrepreneurial endeavor, you’ll get out of it what you put into it in terms of marketing, customer service, word-of-mouth referrals, passion, and elbow grease.

Our franchise owners enjoy our owner-operated, home-based business model that has the freedom and flexibility without being a traditional brick-and-mortar storefront. “One of the best parts of being part of this brand is that all of us are self-employed, but we don’t work alone,” adds Jones. “We see each other as partners who promote each other, help each other and the industry.”

Have more questions? We have more answers! Click here to get started or stop by our booth at the Women Empower Expo on May 27th, 2017 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

November 14, 2016

Why would you not want to save time & money?

Save time and money with a paint color consultant – Scenario – You have made a decision to repaint your house, when you bought your home 5 years ago it was freshly painted an off white. The years have gone by and you have become tired of the off-white. You watch a few DIY home shows and decide, no problem I can do this myself. You head off to your local paint store and find the perfect paint chips take them home and “what were you thinking”? So you head back to the store to try again, and again, and again. Finally you make a decision and you buy a sample pot. You paint a nice neat square on your wall and OMG “it is nothing like the paint chip” so back to the store for another sample pot, and another, and another.

The question is what is your time worth? Not to mention the sample pots? DIY home shows tell you, you can do it, but really do not tell you how to do it. Paint color consultants however, are educated on color and have years of experience. The hours, days and weeks it takes you, it takes a trained paint color consultant just a few hours.

The testimonial America’s Color Consultants gets the most is “The best $250 I ever spent”

September 20, 2016September 20, 2016

Why Hire a Paint Color Consultant

Mistakes Could Be Costly. I get asked all the time, why would I hire a paint color consultant? Cost! Paying for a professional paint color consultant is often a good investment. If you’re not quite sure what you’re doing – you risk having to repaint your mistakes. Instead of saving money by doing it yourself, you could end up paying twice for the same job. Sample pots cost money as well. We are often called to help make a decision, our clients have spend hundreds of dollars on sample pots and just can not decide.

America’s Color Consultants come to you with all the paint color options – We make choosing the perfect paint color easy! www.americascolorconsultants.com

August 19, 2016

Why Become an America’s Color Consultant

Transition Time

Summer is ending but fall is coming. Along with the cooler weather fall brings, it’s also a transition time. Summer vacations and summer camps end, and kids go back to school. It doesn’t just have to be a transition for them, it can also be one for the stay at home parent. With the kids back in school, having a job with flexible hours is a great benefit. America’s Color Consultants (ACC) offers just that with our home based business model. Florence and Susan understand the importance of having quality time with your family, but also still wanting to work. Although that may seem impossible, it’s not. With an America’s Color Consulting franchise you can work while the kids are in school and still be on time to pick them up from the bus stop. If you are a mom or dad looking for a flexible work schedule, and have an eye for color ACC may be for you. To learn more about how ACC got started please go to our website http://www.americascolorconsultants.com/story

July 6, 2016

Why Become an America’s Color Consultant

The Best of Both Worlds

“Every job will demand some sacrifice. The key is to avoid unnecessary sacrifice.” — Sheryl Sandberg, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead

America’s Color Consultant (ACC) was designed for franchisees to work as much as they can depending on their life and schedule. It’s great for moms who want to stay connected to the working world, while still having time to spend with their children. It is also great for those who only want to work part-time due to other obligations. You should not have to choose between spending time with your family and work, when you could do both. ACC always puts family first. America’s Color Consultants, co-founders Florence Jones and Susan Mintz understand these things and are always available to assist, motivate and emotionally support franchisees as they move along their colorful journey!