Like most women, I love being pampered and enjoy time at the
spa! I don’t know many ladies who aren’t fans of manicures, pedicures, facials
and massages! The same can be said for young girls and tweens. Most females,
regardless of their age, like to indulge in some girly time. Laura Cannone and her
sister Josie, who co-own Glama Gal Tween Spa, have taken the pampering
experience to another level. They offer wonderful spa services for tweens,
while making them feel beautiful, confident, and powerful inside and out. The
spa also hosts birthday, bachelorette, and girl’s night in parties.
I recently spoke with Laura for a Q&A session about her
amazing business. Every time I see Laura, we struggle to have a few minutes to
chat at events! I truly appreciated the time to learn more about Glama Gal,
gain insight on what inspires and motivates her, as well as what she looks for
in people who are interested in franchise opportunities with the organization.
What ignited the spark in you to start a new
business venture? How did the idea come about? My husband proposed to me in a spa.
I was having a chocolate massage! The idea for the business came to us at my
bridal shower. We had a table called the ‘Glama Gal’ station, where the girls
had mini manicures, and created their own lip gloss. They loved the table so
much, the girls wanted them at their birthday parties! We started having
birthday parties at people’s homes, offering spa services and crafts. Soon, all
the kids wanted the tables for their parties.
We started
with parties in homes, and advertising on Kijiji. As a result, we generated
tons of interest! Between 2006 and 2008, we were working at 5-10 parties a day
on a Saturday. We hired friends who wanted to make extra money by having them
work at various parties for us.
We opened
our first location in Vaughan in 2008, and expanded it a year later. Because we
were so busy, we had breakfast parties from 8:00-10:00 AM! Our second location
opened in Ajax in 2011. People were driving 40 minutes to attend parties, which
is why we opened our first franchise in Oakville in 2013. We opened 3
additional franchise locations in 2014. We have received 1000 inquiries for franchise
opportunities.
How did you find people to bring into
your organization that truly care about the business the way you do? All enquiries come through our website. During
the interview process, we ask questions like ‘What makes you tick?’, and ‘What
do you believe your Glama Gal mantra is?’ Everyone who came through for the
interview wore pink!
The hardest
thing is finding the right staff. It’s important to treat your staff well. We
don’t want to work with people who say their husbands will fund the business,
or people who ask how much money they will make in the first year.
We want to
use words that inspire and motivate young girls. It’s very important to treat
people with respect and dignity. You have to lead by example. Be humble, or you
will go nowhere in this world. My key to success is to be humble!
What motivates you? My daughter motivates me the most. I
see girls walk through the Glama Gals doors, and their faces light up. I love
their reactions.
What sacrifices have you had to make
to become a successful entrepreneur? I had to sacrifice family events, and my weekends. Time is a
huge sacrifice, but I’m getting it back, and giving it back. I also had to sacrifice
friendships.
What advice would you give to women
who are interested in starting their own business? I would tell them to make sure they
have a great support system, whether it’s friends or family. Also, have
patience, and be humble!
Do you feel there are more barriers
for female entrepreneurs vs. male entrepreneurs? Yes, there are more barriers for
women. Females are not equally respected to male entrepreneurs. I was at a show
in Toronto, and had 8 men pass my booth, saying ‘This would be a good business
to keep my wife busy.’
What would you say are the top three
skills needed to become a successful entrepreneur? 1. Be humble, 2. Be patient, and 3.
Lead by example.
Who is your role model? Why? My role model was my dad. Our father
told my sister and I to take a gamble and open our first location. Without him,
we wouldn’t have done it. Our dad worked three jobs, but spent as much time as
possible with his children.
It was a pleasure to speak with Laura, who provided me with
insight on her amazing company, and allowed me to get to know her better. I would love to see a Glama Gal franchise open up in the Kitchener-Waterloo area! #KWAwesome
has several great spas, but nothing as unique and exciting as Glama Gal. In fact, the closest
location is in Oakville! Wouldn’t it be amazing to have pampering sessions with
your tweens in Waterloo Region? Parties would be taken to a whole new level!
For anyone interested in franchising opportunities, click here for information. Make
sure to follow Glama Gals on Twitter (@GlamaGals), and read about the wonderful
services and locations on their website!
Disclaimer: As a
Glambassador, I have received compensation for this post, but the opinions
expressed are all my own.
