With years of success as a franchise owner in the restaurant industry and a background in the corporate, retail, and hospitality environments, Mo Pandoria never expected his greatest success would be in the beauty business. By Rochelle Miller
With years of success as a franchise owner in the restaurant industry and a background in the corporate, retail, and hospitality environments, Mo Pandoria never expected his greatest success would be in the beauty business. Before creating Idolize Brows and Beauty, Pandoria had no industry experience and ran a sandwich-shop franchise in England. “I spent four years there – and, of course, met a girl,” he said. As he geared up to move back to the U.S., he sought a business venture they could do together.
That’s when he saw the enormous potential of the brow-grooming industry. “Threading really kicked off in England,” he said. The popular hair removal technique originated in Asia and the Middle East before gaining popularity in Western countries. Pandoria moved back to America in 2006 and opened his first Idolize Brow and Beauty in Charlotte, North Carolina. Despite the U.S. being in the midst of a recession, his business got off to a strong start. The relationship with his girlfriend, however, did not. “So I took lemons and turned it into lemonade,” quipped the CEO.
Since opening the first location, Pandoria has expanded Idolize’s offerings, from threading to a comprehensive menu of facial beauty services, including eyebrow and eyelash tinting, lash extensions and lifts, waxing and facials. “We are that ‘one-stop-shop’ for facial beauty,” he said. “That appeals to many people.”
From a business standpoint, it’s a successful formula, because revenue doesn’t rely on the popularity of the latest trend but can grow as styles shift. “Our business model has the adaptability to the evolution of beauty. As new services are introduced, our spas can easily fit those services, regardless of if it’s a trend or fad,” he said.
The sleek and modern salons have a luxury feel without the high-end cost, which has contributed
to the brand’s ability to build an extensive and loyal customer base. “We want them to feel pampered, but it’s an affordable pampering,” Pandoria said. With threading topping the list as the spas’ most popular service and taking less than 10 minutes, some locations serve up to 2,500 customers per month.
Building long-term trust with customers is what leads them to turn to Idolize when they seek more expensive services like facials and lash extensions, he explains. “Everything we do here for Idolize is customer-service driven. It’s about building repeat customer service,” said Pandoria. “We teach that to our staff and our franchise owners.”
It’s a business model that Pandoria has perfected, as Idolize now has six corporate locations, four franchise locations, and four more in the site-selection process. With the brand being around for more than a decade, Pandoria has had plenty of time to work out kinks that come with starting a new business and says he has systems in place that are proven to work. “The reason why people are going into franchising is not to make mistakes,” he explained.
Pandoria himself serves as proof that no previous experience in the beauty industry is required to become a successful owner of Idolize Brows and Beauty.
“It’s got to be someone who is passionate and wants to be successful,” he said.
For more information regarding franchising opportunities with Idolize Brows and Beauty, visit idolizespa.com/franchise or call 813-317-3292.
– Rochelle Miller