March 18, 2022 • 26 mins
As part of an on-going special series to highlight Black-owned businesses Ed talks with a mother and her daughters who teamed to leave the corporate world to becoming owners of multiple franchise business. They discuss the challenges of “betting on yourself”, why more African-Americans should look to become their own bosses and why building generational wealth is so important.
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Speaker 1 (00:21):
Welcome to this special edition of one hundred Did Gordon
Podcast Today, the next in our series of spotlighting black
owned businesses. This time we talked with a mother and
her two daughters who decided to bet on themselves and
transition from the corporate world to franchise ownership. Toya Evans
and her daughters, Lauren Williamson and Chanelle Grant formed Healthy
(00:45):
Living Ventures by they'd open their first tropical smoothie location
in Maryland. Since then, in spite of a pandemic and
the natural hurdles faced by franchisees, they've gone on to
open multiple locations and expanded to other brands, including hand
(01:06):
in Stone spas, as well as an agreement with Choice Hotels.
Their rise has been quick. I started by asking Mom, Toya,
why did the family decide the time was right to
jump into the entrepreneurial space. Really just wanting to build
a legacy, you know, being a mom and a grandmam,
(01:27):
and wanting to start the foundation for just generational wealth
within our family and giving my grandchildren and my grandchildren's
children an opportunity to really tart their own path. When
you look at how fast the run has been for you,
you know, you really kind of jumped into this in UM.
(01:48):
Give us your journey from then to now. Well, it
has been a fast run. It's like second win sometimes. Well,
we just decided that in order to do this, the
original goal was that everybody would transition out of their
very demanding corporate jobs, and in order to do that,
we could not do it with just one franchise. So
(02:11):
we came in knowing that we would be a multi
unit owner. I don't know at the time that we
said for sure we're going to be multi unit and
multi brand, but you know, it just started to evolve,
and it makes sense, given our our mission of healthy
lifestyles and products, to begin to expand that portfolio and
(02:31):
look at other things that would help us diversify UM
and also help us to grow by way of units
because sometimes we have territorial restrictions if areas are not available.
Let me ask you one other thing before I get
to the girls, and that is this. You have a
motto that you guys go by. It's UM start before
you're ready. And so many things that stop people. It's
(02:55):
simply they're afraid. They're afraid to let go of a job,
they're afraid jump in they're afraid that they don't know enough.
They're afraid how did you get past being um not ready? UM?
Well for that when I think it's just you know,
the it's that hustle and drive that's already in me.
(03:16):
You know. So I had already been exposed to people
in my family who were business owners. Um. The kid's
dad and I had started many businesses while they were
growing up. They have always accused me of violating child
labor laws, but you know, we had been doing it.
And you know, his model actually was always what's the
worst that could happen? And sometimes it would drive me
(03:38):
crazy when we're doing business together, but at the end
of the day, that's really it. What's the worst that
can happen if it doesn't work out. You know, we're educated,
We had you know, a nice resume. You could always
go back to work, but you didn't want it. I
didn't want to be saying, hey, this was something that
we decided to do as a family, and we we
(04:00):
talked ourselves out of it before we got started. It
would go against everything that my kids have been raised
to believe and think, and so we had to do it.
And so Lauren let me turn to you and Chanel.
Now start with you Lauren, as you are the eldest um.
But you know you think of billions in successions, so
it'll be time to move mom out in a few minutes.
(04:21):
But um, how do you get to the point of
understanding that you're joining uh business and family together? That
can be hard for some Yeah. Absolutely. I think as
my mom said, you know, we grew up kind of
working alongside my mom and my dad um and just
helping them. So I think a lot of times you
just have to be able to separate the two. We
(04:42):
do a really good job of you know, we're in
business mode. We're all sitting down together and we're talking
about the business. But when we're done, we can legit
cut it off right there and say all right, it's
time to go grab lunch, or how are the kids doing?
And just trying to separate the two. I think sometimes
people will try to bring that to the dinner table
or bring their phones are laptops. It's like, when it's
not business, we really do try to not discuss business,
(05:05):
and I think that's really helped us. And also not
holding any grudges with each other, so might not just
we might not agree all the time in business, but
at the end of the day, when we're done, we're
still family and where all we got So I didn't
know that. Um, that we have separate roles as well,
so everyone is really good at something different and so UM,
(05:28):
you know, Lauren is fantastic with people and training and
development and hiring, so she does that. That's her lane.
I have my lane, which is marketing and sales, and
I love the development side. Um. And then Toya's bring everything,
but she stays in the operational lane. So I think
that does help too, should nell? Let me ask you,
(05:50):
because I'm the baby in my family, so you being
the baby in this, you know, sometimes you you feel
or they expect you to prove yourself. It's always that
thought of do you know enough? Um? Where there are
little things like that that you guys had to get past. UM,
whether it was for mom thinking oh I know what
to do always quote unquote because I've been around and
(06:12):
you trying to prove yourself, how did you get past that?
Because that can be a bumpy road for families as well. UM. Surprisingly,
I don't think we don't with that. UM. I know
that we've all been aligned as far as like what
we want. If anything, I think they probably call me.
They're like, you do too much. I'm like always looking
(06:33):
for the next project. They're like things like that. So
I think, if anything, UM, it's me like pushing them. UM.
But I haven't ever felt that I had to prove
myself or anything. We're all are aligned, we have the
same vision, and so that is definitely hoped pushing us.
I am definitely the business partner that is more skeptical
(06:58):
or I should say, like to just use a little
bit more caution. And I think Chanel is go to
the next opportunity and do it. And sometimes I'm just like, guys,
let's slow down, hold on, let's kind of get our
sea legs first. So I think, if anything, it's definitely that,
um toy. Let me take it back to you and
ask you about really getting the business going and geared
(07:21):
up before we get to the individual businesses. UM. With
so many small businesses facing the challenges that the pandemic brought,
what was that for you guys? But we're still living it, um.
But I think that we were really blessed that on
(07:42):
our the restaurant side, we never closed because we could
do take out and so we were able to pivot
very quickly to that. UM, we have been impacted by
you know, just some of the labor challenges and and
COVID allergies. So we've been just really nimble, modifying hours
(08:03):
as need be UH to still stay in the game.
And so that's been really a challenge. UH. And financing
has been a challenge. You know, we open I don't
know how many four maybe four locations since COVID started.
I think that's right, something like that, four or five
we've opened since COVID, and you know, getting lenders comfortable
(08:27):
with UH, you're still operating, there's still an opportunity to
make money in the midst of a pandemic. I think
that's been the greatest challenge is just aligning with that
financial partner who believed in us, and and one we
had to work incredibly hard and literally it went beyond
the credit committee, like all the way up and they said, hey,
(08:48):
we had a conversation with the president of the company.
He talked to us and he said, I just like
you guys, and he who helped her to check to
fund the project. So I think that's been the biggest challenge.
I think one of the things Lauren if you'll take
this question, um, and Chanelle if you want to jump
on board as well. But I think one of the
things that helps in this environment right now is the
(09:09):
idea that black women are hot commodities in business right now? Um,
Were you all aware of that? Has it been part
of the brand, Has it been part of the push? Yeah,
I mean, I definitely think we're aware of it. Especially
for me coming from corporate, I definitely see that quite
(09:29):
a bit. I think, uh, it's something we're aware of.
I don't know if it necessarily always helps, but I
think it has been at least from a financial standpoint,
or people looking at the business, UM, wanting to kind
of take part or see what's going on, maybe creating
some of that visibility for us. Chanelle, what about you?
I mean, you know, walking into at your age and
(09:55):
environment and at a time where black men really are
riding a wave versus you know, when your mom would
have started years ago, we're black women were barely let
in a door. You know. I definitely think there are
still challenges, but I feel blessed in that all of
the women before me really paved the way for me
(10:18):
to be in the position that I'm in one woman
of course being my mom um, and so I definitely
feel I feel grateful for like where we are, where
we've come. I know we have a long way to
go for sure, but I definitely feel grateful and I
feel um obligated to reach back. I know that's something
really big within our entire business model is to you know,
(10:40):
continue to share that education, what we know, how we
got into franchising them, you know, some of the trade
secrets that we've learned of how to get finance and
different things like. It's really important for us to share
that with other women of color, um and just people
of color in general, to continue to move that forward
until the follow up to that is the the question of, um,
(11:02):
seeing what your girls have the opportunity to do and
maybe what you faced, you know, two decades ago, two
and a half decades ago, and the difference that you've
been able to see. I mean, I think they have
no boundaries now, you know. And so you hit it
on the head when you said it, and I think
about just my corporate experience, you know, back then, and
(11:25):
always having to do more, you know, be more, try
to fit in, you know, talk a certain way, you
know those kinds of things. I think those obstacles are
coming down and it's more about performance, which is what
it should have been always. And I like that. You know,
my daughters will have a different type of experience and
(11:47):
I have in you know, they even if they chose
to remain or go back into corporate, you know, just
that ceiling has expanded north, uh and for them, and
that there's more opportunities. And I think that you know,
to your point about it's it's a great time now, Um,
it is. And you know, to a certain extent we
we joke about it, but you know, I think it's
(12:08):
it's real and that even the brands that we work with,
we will open a magazine or be somewhere like, wait
a minute, that's us, you know, so now we become
the poster child for that brand saying hey, look we
do the diversity. Um. But we've been very intentional with
them and saying that, you know, if you want us
to grow with you, you've got to make yourself available
(12:30):
to people who look like us. And don't tell me
that you can't find them, because there's lots of places
to go to find people to fit your model. You're
looking for someone who's coming with a corporate, corporate background
who might be wanting to exit. How about the National
Black NBA Association or any of those professional associations. Make
yourself available where they are, and you will find more
(12:51):
people like us, more people with people with more experience,
perhaps more capital, but we are out there, and if
you were intentional about doing it, then you know you
will find what you're looking for. And that's been very
important to me, and we push hard on that when
we get back. How these three personify the moves black
(13:14):
women are making in business. Toya Evans and her daughter's
Lauren Williamson and Chanelle Grant are black girl magic in
the business world. We talked about the new approach they
(13:36):
and other blacks are taking when entering into partnerships with companies.
They are leaning heavily on the idea that the company
is not doing you a favor by simply dealing with you.
They're also getting something with the union. Lauren shared one
of the approaches they took early on, they walked in
the door understanding their value. I think some of that
(13:58):
we've learned just over the years too in our experience.
One of them being just down to like leasing right
our first deal. We always talk about going in and
you're so excited that someone's going to give you a
chance that you're not really taking the time to negotiate.
And so I think one of the things that we've
learned is you do have power, um, and just ask
for what you want and do it with conviction. Uh.
(14:19):
In the other area I would say that we've learned
is we are all three in this business together. We
do not have our husbands on our business. And too,
you know, the three of us our owners, and we've
seen finance and even kicked back and say well you
need to have your husbands on this loan that we're
gonna give you. And so really standing strong and knowing
that you know, we have the ability to do this
(14:40):
without them on this business and they don't run it
day to day, so you know, really standing tall to
that too, and knowing that you there's power and negotiate,
and I think really holding onto that and being willing
to walk away. I think that's something like we we're like, look,
either this is what we want, if you can give
it to us, that's we can work together, and if not,
(15:01):
then this just might not be the right opportunity. Not
being married to an opportunity and knowing that you know
you deserve to get what you want. Let me ask you, guys.
You mentioned about giving back the idea of UM wanting
the community to grow with you. You all have done
seminars um to give people the opportunity to learn. As
(15:23):
you suggested earlier, what you've learned. That's an interesting concept.
Tell me a little bit about those so I can
take this question. But it was the start of the pandemic,
and you know things were shutting down. We have some
time in our hands, and so we kind of got
together and said, um, let's create an online course. We
get probably dozens of inquiries every single month between the
(15:48):
three of us about how did you get started? Where
do I find financing, how do I pick the right brand?
And so we do take mentoring calls every single week, um,
you know, with folks who are interested in franchising. But
at some point we're like, everyone's asking the same questions,
So why don't we put it in one place where
we can answer all of these questions and provide that
resource to our community. And so we created an online
(16:10):
course called so you want to Buy a Franchise? And
it really takes folks from the very beginning of is
franchising right for you? All the way to building out
your performer, going for financing, where to find financing both
traditional and non traditional, you know, writing your business plan.
It's ten modules, we have downloads um. We even have
(16:31):
a bonus course of kind of something that we wish
we knew before we got started, and so we've been
really excited about this opportunity to share this information. We've
had several students already signed up. This past weekend we
did a live Franchising masterclass, which was really incredible to
be able to answer those questions live UM. So we're
really passionate about being able to share this information. I
(16:55):
think we're also being able to really help people. You
have the We started by saying, you know, get started
before you're ready, and most times people are just scared
to make the move. So sometimes it's just nice to
have someone in your back that's pushing you forward to
say why can't you do this? And I think we
heard it this weekend on our live master A lot
of people say, we've already kind of gone down the
(17:15):
path of talking to brands, but I stopped because I
was scared, and so having three of us on a call,
they're saying, you know you can do this, and we're
showing you how we were able to do it really
is powerful, I think. So let me ask you about
money financing if you will, uh and scale. You know
that often is what keeps African Americans out of the
(17:37):
big money in enfranchising and going from a small business
going check to check to a sustainable business. Um, how
have you seen that? And what would you tell people
who just don't believe that they could ever reach it
where you know they can live off of their business comfortably. Um, well,
(17:59):
I would say that. And we had this was a
question that came up in the masterclass, like they know
what happens when you have, you know, an expensive lifestyle,
you know, and and I immediately said, well, you're probably
not gonna be able to support that expensive lifestyle on
one location. So you have to go into it with
(18:20):
the mindset of either you're going to reduce your your
personal demand on your on your business because your your
business is like a baby, You've got to give it
time to grow and breathe. I think I don't even
know when we started taking money out of the business.
It probably was three plus years into the business, but
(18:42):
we just kept turning the money over UM. And when
I think about some of these last projects that we
just completed, you know they were done with us self
funding a large portion of it. We do do have
financial partners, but we self funded because you know, that
would keep that baby without a lot of weight, with
the less jet that we put on it, it would
(19:02):
have time to grow UM. And so we really focused
on UM, looking at every deal and seeing what made
financial sense that wouldn't hurt the other businesses and wouldn't
extend us too much. But I think that where we
are right now and in terms of our growth plans,
we have to look at a different type of financing
now than before because while we've been growing kind of
(19:24):
one at a time, and granted has been a rapid growth,
one at a time, and we're starting to look at now,
do we want to look at maybe get in the
territory Okay, is you know Cleveland Open Night That happens
to be one of the markets we think really has
a lot of opportunity for a lot of brands. And
if we were going outside of the d C area
to Cleveland, we wouldn't want to go with one unit
(19:48):
or maybe not even one one brand, So we would
have to look for the type of financing now that
says I want to buy ten or fifteen at a time.
What does that look like? And so that means that
we have to get more educated. We've got to align
ourselves with with people who know about now getting in
in a bigger way than what we've done in the past,
(20:10):
and and then getting ourselves ready, you know, having our
financials in a place and and have the solid business
plan to do it. So I think we're just transitioning
to another level because uh, you know, I always tell them,
like when I tell my kids and say the name
you know a doctor for card or a Junior Bridgeman
or a Valerie day L They don't even know who
(20:31):
those people are, but they know now because they've looked
them up. And I'm like, you know, so they paved
the way for us, and it's not even my time.
It's their time, meaning my girl's time to say, Okay,
they did it. They showed us how they could do
it and do franchises in a big way. It's your
turn to do that too. So let me align you
with the people that and the resources. You need to
take this to the next level because I am retiring
(20:52):
and how many years guys, three years and two months?
You have a countdown? We're not counting now she is Chanelle.
Let me ask you, UM, your generation clearly looks at
things differently than your mother's generation. It's just a fact.
Every generation is that way. UM. How how have you
(21:15):
guys reconciled on a business side, not mom to daughter,
but on a business side finding out the best way
to handle how you might want to approach something versus
how your mom might want to approach something. UM. So
I feel like my answers are like, we're really aligned,
but it really is true. UM, I mean we are.
(21:37):
We're really aligned in and how we want to go
after businesses. I think our visions are the exact same.
So while we are from very different generations, UM, I mean,
we have that those same values and we want that
same lifestyle, we want the same vision for our business.
And so it really has just been like communication, UM.
(21:59):
And we we have quarterly meetings, we have weekly meetings,
and we meet all the time, talk every day. So
I think just like really staying a line in what
we're looking to do has been helpful, um, But I
haven't seen a lot of differences between the two in
our particular case. I do know in a general sense
it is very different with like my generation and and
(22:20):
another generation, but we in our business haven't seen that
too much. Lauren, let me ask you. I think it's
important that people realize when they want to get into
entrepreneurship that you can't just have an idea, that you
have to have a business plan. And that's where a
lot of minorities fall short. They have maybe what they
see is a great idea, but once you say, okay,
(22:41):
what's your idea, they give you that, and what's your plan?
The plan often is lacking. Give me a sense of
what you guys have been doing to make sure, you know,
Chanelle just talked about quarterly meetings and you know you
you you run your your numbers in a way in
the in the same way of business. Would so give
me a sense of the importance of that. Wow, I
(23:05):
think it's incredible. I think you get so many different opportunities.
I mean, weekly we're talking to different brands and so
trying to just dive, you know, dissect which one might
be best for us. It takes a lot of you know,
understanding their FTD and spending time understanding their numbers that
they've been in front of you. We do research by
talking to those who are in the brand right now
(23:25):
and trying to understand, you know, what they like about
the brand, what are they not getting for you know,
how are they not supporting them? Does that fit with
what we feel like we need to grow UM. Outside
of that, understanding the territories that we're looking at, so
does the market you know, need or can the market
substain that type of business that we're looking to grow UM,
and then just understanding the numbers. Do the numbers make
(23:47):
sense at the end of the day, I think is
probably one of the biggest ones that we'll look at
and say, Okay, these numbers just don't add up for
what we need them to, so this might not be
the right opportunity for us. Un go ahead. How does
to say another thing that's helpful? We have like a
five year plan and UM inside of that, we have
kind of like our our criteria for what we're looking
(24:09):
for in each brand, in the minimum revenue that we
are looking for and different other like other criterias that's
in that but being true to that and making sure
that every brand or every opportunity that we are investigating, um,
you know, is true to those criterias that we've already said,
is really important as well. So you give us a
(24:29):
closing thought for those who are sitting and looking at
this and wanting to jump in the water. Um but again,
uh feel that it might be a little too cold
or too deep for them, or they just don't know
how to get started. What do you what do you
tell phones? You're never gonna know unless you do it.
You've gotta, you know, send that ship out and and
(24:53):
burn the boat. I mean, that's that's really what you
have to do. And you have to believe in yourself,
you know. And I I think I mentioned that a
scenario where we had to go all the way up
past the Credit Committee and talk. I mean we went
in their bold as lions, you know what, we needed
their money. We acted like we didn't. But you know,
(25:14):
believing in yourself, because I think when people see your
passion and they see you willing to take risks, then
you will. It's like saying to the universe, I'm ready
in the universe will respond. And so you know, I
would encourage everyone if it really is speaking to you
and tugging on you. You might need to answer that
call any Thanks to Toya, Lauren, and Chanelle. To learn
(25:40):
more about their company, go to Healthy Living Ventures LLC
dot com. One is produced by ed Gordon Media and
distributed by I Heart Media. Carol Johnson Green and Sharie
Weldon are our bookers. Our editor is Lance pattent Gerald
(26:00):
Albright composed and performed our theme. Please join me on
Twitter and Instagram at ed L Gordon and on Facebook
at ed Gordon Media
Welcome to this special edition of one hundred Did Gordon
Podcast Today, the next in our series of spotlighting black
owned businesses. This time we talked with a mother and
her two daughters who decided to bet on themselves and
transition from the corporate world to franchise ownership. Toya Evans
and her daughters, Lauren Williamson and Chanelle Grant formed Healthy
(00:45):
Living Ventures by they'd open their first tropical smoothie location
in Maryland. Since then, in spite of a pandemic and
the natural hurdles faced by franchisees, they've gone on to
open multiple locations and expanded to other brands, including hand
(01:06):
in Stone spas, as well as an agreement with Choice Hotels.
Their rise has been quick. I started by asking Mom, Toya,
why did the family decide the time was right to
jump into the entrepreneurial space. Really just wanting to build
a legacy, you know, being a mom and a grandmam,
(01:27):
and wanting to start the foundation for just generational wealth
within our family and giving my grandchildren and my grandchildren's
children an opportunity to really tart their own path. When
you look at how fast the run has been for you,
you know, you really kind of jumped into this in UM.
(01:48):
Give us your journey from then to now. Well, it
has been a fast run. It's like second win sometimes. Well,
we just decided that in order to do this, the
original goal was that everybody would transition out of their
very demanding corporate jobs, and in order to do that,
we could not do it with just one franchise. So
(02:11):
we came in knowing that we would be a multi
unit owner. I don't know at the time that we
said for sure we're going to be multi unit and
multi brand, but you know, it just started to evolve,
and it makes sense, given our our mission of healthy
lifestyles and products, to begin to expand that portfolio and
(02:31):
look at other things that would help us diversify UM
and also help us to grow by way of units
because sometimes we have territorial restrictions if areas are not available.
Let me ask you one other thing before I get
to the girls, and that is this. You have a
motto that you guys go by. It's UM start before
you're ready. And so many things that stop people. It's
(02:55):
simply they're afraid. They're afraid to let go of a job,
they're afraid jump in they're afraid that they don't know enough.
They're afraid how did you get past being um not ready? UM?
Well for that when I think it's just you know,
the it's that hustle and drive that's already in me.
(03:16):
You know. So I had already been exposed to people
in my family who were business owners. Um. The kid's
dad and I had started many businesses while they were
growing up. They have always accused me of violating child
labor laws, but you know, we had been doing it.
And you know, his model actually was always what's the
worst that could happen? And sometimes it would drive me
(03:38):
crazy when we're doing business together, but at the end
of the day, that's really it. What's the worst that
can happen if it doesn't work out. You know, we're educated,
We had you know, a nice resume. You could always
go back to work, but you didn't want it. I
didn't want to be saying, hey, this was something that
we decided to do as a family, and we we
(04:00):
talked ourselves out of it before we got started. It
would go against everything that my kids have been raised
to believe and think, and so we had to do it.
And so Lauren let me turn to you and Chanel.
Now start with you Lauren, as you are the eldest um.
But you know you think of billions in successions, so
it'll be time to move mom out in a few minutes.
(04:21):
But um, how do you get to the point of
understanding that you're joining uh business and family together? That
can be hard for some Yeah. Absolutely. I think as
my mom said, you know, we grew up kind of
working alongside my mom and my dad um and just
helping them. So I think a lot of times you
just have to be able to separate the two. We
(04:42):
do a really good job of you know, we're in
business mode. We're all sitting down together and we're talking
about the business. But when we're done, we can legit
cut it off right there and say all right, it's
time to go grab lunch, or how are the kids doing?
And just trying to separate the two. I think sometimes
people will try to bring that to the dinner table
or bring their phones are laptops. It's like, when it's
not business, we really do try to not discuss business,
(05:05):
and I think that's really helped us. And also not
holding any grudges with each other, so might not just
we might not agree all the time in business, but
at the end of the day, when we're done, we're
still family and where all we got So I didn't
know that. Um, that we have separate roles as well,
so everyone is really good at something different and so UM,
(05:28):
you know, Lauren is fantastic with people and training and
development and hiring, so she does that. That's her lane.
I have my lane, which is marketing and sales, and
I love the development side. Um. And then Toya's bring everything,
but she stays in the operational lane. So I think
that does help too, should nell? Let me ask you,
(05:50):
because I'm the baby in my family, so you being
the baby in this, you know, sometimes you you feel
or they expect you to prove yourself. It's always that
thought of do you know enough? Um? Where there are
little things like that that you guys had to get past. UM,
whether it was for mom thinking oh I know what
to do always quote unquote because I've been around and
(06:12):
you trying to prove yourself, how did you get past that?
Because that can be a bumpy road for families as well. UM. Surprisingly,
I don't think we don't with that. UM. I know
that we've all been aligned as far as like what
we want. If anything, I think they probably call me.
They're like, you do too much. I'm like always looking
(06:33):
for the next project. They're like things like that. So
I think, if anything, UM, it's me like pushing them. UM.
But I haven't ever felt that I had to prove
myself or anything. We're all are aligned, we have the
same vision, and so that is definitely hoped pushing us.
I am definitely the business partner that is more skeptical
(06:58):
or I should say, like to just use a little
bit more caution. And I think Chanel is go to
the next opportunity and do it. And sometimes I'm just like, guys,
let's slow down, hold on, let's kind of get our
sea legs first. So I think, if anything, it's definitely that,
um toy. Let me take it back to you and
ask you about really getting the business going and geared
(07:21):
up before we get to the individual businesses. UM. With
so many small businesses facing the challenges that the pandemic brought,
what was that for you guys? But we're still living it, um.
But I think that we were really blessed that on
(07:42):
our the restaurant side, we never closed because we could
do take out and so we were able to pivot
very quickly to that. UM, we have been impacted by
you know, just some of the labor challenges and and
COVID allergies. So we've been just really nimble, modifying hours
(08:03):
as need be UH to still stay in the game.
And so that's been really a challenge. UH. And financing
has been a challenge. You know, we open I don't
know how many four maybe four locations since COVID started.
I think that's right, something like that, four or five
we've opened since COVID, and you know, getting lenders comfortable
(08:27):
with UH, you're still operating, there's still an opportunity to
make money in the midst of a pandemic. I think
that's been the greatest challenge is just aligning with that
financial partner who believed in us, and and one we
had to work incredibly hard and literally it went beyond
the credit committee, like all the way up and they said, hey,
(08:48):
we had a conversation with the president of the company.
He talked to us and he said, I just like
you guys, and he who helped her to check to
fund the project. So I think that's been the biggest challenge.
I think one of the things Lauren if you'll take
this question, um, and Chanelle if you want to jump
on board as well. But I think one of the
things that helps in this environment right now is the
(09:09):
idea that black women are hot commodities in business right now? Um,
Were you all aware of that? Has it been part
of the brand, Has it been part of the push? Yeah,
I mean, I definitely think we're aware of it. Especially
for me coming from corporate, I definitely see that quite
(09:29):
a bit. I think, uh, it's something we're aware of.
I don't know if it necessarily always helps, but I
think it has been at least from a financial standpoint,
or people looking at the business, UM, wanting to kind
of take part or see what's going on, maybe creating
some of that visibility for us. Chanelle, what about you?
I mean, you know, walking into at your age and
(09:55):
environment and at a time where black men really are
riding a wave versus you know, when your mom would
have started years ago, we're black women were barely let
in a door. You know. I definitely think there are
still challenges, but I feel blessed in that all of
the women before me really paved the way for me
(10:18):
to be in the position that I'm in one woman
of course being my mom um, and so I definitely
feel I feel grateful for like where we are, where
we've come. I know we have a long way to
go for sure, but I definitely feel grateful and I
feel um obligated to reach back. I know that's something
really big within our entire business model is to you know,
(10:40):
continue to share that education, what we know, how we
got into franchising them, you know, some of the trade
secrets that we've learned of how to get finance and
different things like. It's really important for us to share
that with other women of color, um and just people
of color in general, to continue to move that forward
until the follow up to that is the the question of, um,
(11:02):
seeing what your girls have the opportunity to do and
maybe what you faced, you know, two decades ago, two
and a half decades ago, and the difference that you've
been able to see. I mean, I think they have
no boundaries now, you know. And so you hit it
on the head when you said it, and I think
about just my corporate experience, you know, back then, and
(11:25):
always having to do more, you know, be more, try
to fit in, you know, talk a certain way, you
know those kinds of things. I think those obstacles are
coming down and it's more about performance, which is what
it should have been always. And I like that. You know,
my daughters will have a different type of experience and
(11:47):
I have in you know, they even if they chose
to remain or go back into corporate, you know, just
that ceiling has expanded north, uh and for them, and
that there's more opportunities. And I think that you know,
to your point about it's it's a great time now, Um,
it is. And you know, to a certain extent we
we joke about it, but you know, I think it's
(12:08):
it's real and that even the brands that we work with,
we will open a magazine or be somewhere like, wait
a minute, that's us, you know, so now we become
the poster child for that brand saying hey, look we
do the diversity. Um. But we've been very intentional with
them and saying that, you know, if you want us
to grow with you, you've got to make yourself available
(12:30):
to people who look like us. And don't tell me
that you can't find them, because there's lots of places
to go to find people to fit your model. You're
looking for someone who's coming with a corporate, corporate background
who might be wanting to exit. How about the National
Black NBA Association or any of those professional associations. Make
yourself available where they are, and you will find more
(12:51):
people like us, more people with people with more experience,
perhaps more capital, but we are out there, and if
you were intentional about doing it, then you know you
will find what you're looking for. And that's been very
important to me, and we push hard on that when
we get back. How these three personify the moves black
(13:14):
women are making in business. Toya Evans and her daughter's
Lauren Williamson and Chanelle Grant are black girl magic in
the business world. We talked about the new approach they
(13:36):
and other blacks are taking when entering into partnerships with companies.
They are leaning heavily on the idea that the company
is not doing you a favor by simply dealing with you.
They're also getting something with the union. Lauren shared one
of the approaches they took early on, they walked in
the door understanding their value. I think some of that
(13:58):
we've learned just over the years too in our experience.
One of them being just down to like leasing right
our first deal. We always talk about going in and
you're so excited that someone's going to give you a
chance that you're not really taking the time to negotiate.
And so I think one of the things that we've
learned is you do have power, um, and just ask
for what you want and do it with conviction. Uh.
(14:19):
In the other area I would say that we've learned
is we are all three in this business together. We
do not have our husbands on our business. And too,
you know, the three of us our owners, and we've
seen finance and even kicked back and say well you
need to have your husbands on this loan that we're
gonna give you. And so really standing strong and knowing
that you know, we have the ability to do this
(14:40):
without them on this business and they don't run it
day to day, so you know, really standing tall to
that too, and knowing that you there's power and negotiate,
and I think really holding onto that and being willing
to walk away. I think that's something like we we're like, look,
either this is what we want, if you can give
it to us, that's we can work together, and if not,
(15:01):
then this just might not be the right opportunity. Not
being married to an opportunity and knowing that you know
you deserve to get what you want. Let me ask you, guys.
You mentioned about giving back the idea of UM wanting
the community to grow with you. You all have done
seminars um to give people the opportunity to learn. As
(15:23):
you suggested earlier, what you've learned. That's an interesting concept.
Tell me a little bit about those so I can
take this question. But it was the start of the pandemic,
and you know things were shutting down. We have some
time in our hands, and so we kind of got
together and said, um, let's create an online course. We
get probably dozens of inquiries every single month between the
(15:48):
three of us about how did you get started? Where
do I find financing, how do I pick the right brand?
And so we do take mentoring calls every single week, um,
you know, with folks who are interested in franchising. But
at some point we're like, everyone's asking the same questions,
So why don't we put it in one place where
we can answer all of these questions and provide that
resource to our community. And so we created an online
(16:10):
course called so you want to Buy a Franchise? And
it really takes folks from the very beginning of is
franchising right for you? All the way to building out
your performer, going for financing, where to find financing both
traditional and non traditional, you know, writing your business plan.
It's ten modules, we have downloads um. We even have
(16:31):
a bonus course of kind of something that we wish
we knew before we got started, and so we've been
really excited about this opportunity to share this information. We've
had several students already signed up. This past weekend we
did a live Franchising masterclass, which was really incredible to
be able to answer those questions live UM. So we're
really passionate about being able to share this information. I
(16:55):
think we're also being able to really help people. You
have the We started by saying, you know, get started
before you're ready, and most times people are just scared
to make the move. So sometimes it's just nice to
have someone in your back that's pushing you forward to
say why can't you do this? And I think we
heard it this weekend on our live master A lot
of people say, we've already kind of gone down the
(17:15):
path of talking to brands, but I stopped because I
was scared, and so having three of us on a call,
they're saying, you know you can do this, and we're
showing you how we were able to do it really
is powerful, I think. So let me ask you about
money financing if you will, uh and scale. You know
that often is what keeps African Americans out of the
(17:37):
big money in enfranchising and going from a small business
going check to check to a sustainable business. Um, how
have you seen that? And what would you tell people
who just don't believe that they could ever reach it
where you know they can live off of their business comfortably. Um, well,
(17:59):
I would say that. And we had this was a
question that came up in the masterclass, like they know
what happens when you have, you know, an expensive lifestyle,
you know, and and I immediately said, well, you're probably
not gonna be able to support that expensive lifestyle on
one location. So you have to go into it with
(18:20):
the mindset of either you're going to reduce your your
personal demand on your on your business because your your
business is like a baby, You've got to give it
time to grow and breathe. I think I don't even
know when we started taking money out of the business.
It probably was three plus years into the business, but
(18:42):
we just kept turning the money over UM. And when
I think about some of these last projects that we
just completed, you know they were done with us self
funding a large portion of it. We do do have
financial partners, but we self funded because you know, that
would keep that baby without a lot of weight, with
the less jet that we put on it, it would
(19:02):
have time to grow UM. And so we really focused
on UM, looking at every deal and seeing what made
financial sense that wouldn't hurt the other businesses and wouldn't
extend us too much. But I think that where we
are right now and in terms of our growth plans,
we have to look at a different type of financing
now than before because while we've been growing kind of
(19:24):
one at a time, and granted has been a rapid growth,
one at a time, and we're starting to look at now,
do we want to look at maybe get in the
territory Okay, is you know Cleveland Open Night That happens
to be one of the markets we think really has
a lot of opportunity for a lot of brands. And
if we were going outside of the d C area
to Cleveland, we wouldn't want to go with one unit
(19:48):
or maybe not even one one brand, So we would
have to look for the type of financing now that
says I want to buy ten or fifteen at a time.
What does that look like? And so that means that
we have to get more educated. We've got to align
ourselves with with people who know about now getting in
in a bigger way than what we've done in the past,
(20:10):
and and then getting ourselves ready, you know, having our
financials in a place and and have the solid business
plan to do it. So I think we're just transitioning
to another level because uh, you know, I always tell them,
like when I tell my kids and say the name
you know a doctor for card or a Junior Bridgeman
or a Valerie day L They don't even know who
(20:31):
those people are, but they know now because they've looked
them up. And I'm like, you know, so they paved
the way for us, and it's not even my time.
It's their time, meaning my girl's time to say, Okay,
they did it. They showed us how they could do
it and do franchises in a big way. It's your
turn to do that too. So let me align you
with the people that and the resources. You need to
take this to the next level because I am retiring
(20:52):
and how many years guys, three years and two months?
You have a countdown? We're not counting now she is Chanelle.
Let me ask you, UM, your generation clearly looks at
things differently than your mother's generation. It's just a fact.
Every generation is that way. UM. How how have you
(21:15):
guys reconciled on a business side, not mom to daughter,
but on a business side finding out the best way
to handle how you might want to approach something versus
how your mom might want to approach something. UM. So
I feel like my answers are like, we're really aligned,
but it really is true. UM, I mean we are.
(21:37):
We're really aligned in and how we want to go
after businesses. I think our visions are the exact same.
So while we are from very different generations, UM, I mean,
we have that those same values and we want that
same lifestyle, we want the same vision for our business.
And so it really has just been like communication, UM.
(21:59):
And we we have quarterly meetings, we have weekly meetings,
and we meet all the time, talk every day. So
I think just like really staying a line in what
we're looking to do has been helpful, um, But I
haven't seen a lot of differences between the two in
our particular case. I do know in a general sense
it is very different with like my generation and and
(22:20):
another generation, but we in our business haven't seen that
too much. Lauren, let me ask you. I think it's
important that people realize when they want to get into
entrepreneurship that you can't just have an idea, that you
have to have a business plan. And that's where a
lot of minorities fall short. They have maybe what they
see is a great idea, but once you say, okay,
(22:41):
what's your idea, they give you that, and what's your plan?
The plan often is lacking. Give me a sense of
what you guys have been doing to make sure, you know,
Chanelle just talked about quarterly meetings and you know you
you you run your your numbers in a way in
the in the same way of business. Would so give
me a sense of the importance of that. Wow, I
(23:05):
think it's incredible. I think you get so many different opportunities.
I mean, weekly we're talking to different brands and so
trying to just dive, you know, dissect which one might
be best for us. It takes a lot of you know,
understanding their FTD and spending time understanding their numbers that
they've been in front of you. We do research by
talking to those who are in the brand right now
(23:25):
and trying to understand, you know, what they like about
the brand, what are they not getting for you know,
how are they not supporting them? Does that fit with
what we feel like we need to grow UM. Outside
of that, understanding the territories that we're looking at, so
does the market you know, need or can the market
substain that type of business that we're looking to grow UM,
and then just understanding the numbers. Do the numbers make
(23:47):
sense at the end of the day, I think is
probably one of the biggest ones that we'll look at
and say, Okay, these numbers just don't add up for
what we need them to, so this might not be
the right opportunity for us. Un go ahead. How does
to say another thing that's helpful? We have like a
five year plan and UM inside of that, we have
kind of like our our criteria for what we're looking
(24:09):
for in each brand, in the minimum revenue that we
are looking for and different other like other criterias that's
in that but being true to that and making sure
that every brand or every opportunity that we are investigating, um,
you know, is true to those criterias that we've already said,
is really important as well. So you give us a
(24:29):
closing thought for those who are sitting and looking at
this and wanting to jump in the water. Um but again,
uh feel that it might be a little too cold
or too deep for them, or they just don't know
how to get started. What do you what do you
tell phones? You're never gonna know unless you do it.
You've gotta, you know, send that ship out and and
(24:53):
burn the boat. I mean, that's that's really what you
have to do. And you have to believe in yourself,
you know. And I I think I mentioned that a
scenario where we had to go all the way up
past the Credit Committee and talk. I mean we went
in their bold as lions, you know what, we needed
their money. We acted like we didn't. But you know,
(25:14):
believing in yourself, because I think when people see your
passion and they see you willing to take risks, then
you will. It's like saying to the universe, I'm ready
in the universe will respond. And so you know, I
would encourage everyone if it really is speaking to you
and tugging on you. You might need to answer that
call any Thanks to Toya, Lauren, and Chanelle. To learn
(25:40):
more about their company, go to Healthy Living Ventures LLC
dot com. One is produced by ed Gordon Media and
distributed by I Heart Media. Carol Johnson Green and Sharie
Weldon are our bookers. Our editor is Lance pattent Gerald
(26:00):
Albright composed and performed our theme. Please join me on
Twitter and Instagram at ed L Gordon and on Facebook
at ed Gordon Media
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