Laura Garratt was a corporate executive in the beauty industry working in product development and marketing when the brand downsized and laid off nearly 60% of the staff. “I found myself at a turning point in my career,” Garratt said. “I had to figure out what the next part of my journey would be.” By Jessica Petrucelli
FRANCHISEE OF THE MONTH: Laura Garratt
Laura Garratt was a corporate executive in the beauty industry working in product development and marketing when the brand downsized and laid off nearly 60% of the staff. “I found myself at a turning point in my career,” Garratt said. “I had to figure out what the next part of my journey would be.”
After years of working at the highest levels of executive management, Garratt decided that it was time to run her own business. “I looked at about 12 different opportunities in six different categories before narrowing down my search to service,” she said. “When I discovered Painter Bros, I knew it was the perfect fit. I would essentially be going from beautifying faces to spaces.” Garratt explained.
Painting services is a year-round enterprise, and she soon learned that Painter Bros had a strong growth trajectory. She purchased three territories in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and launched her business on September 1, 2023.
“It might sound like an odd comparison, but I’ve found that there is a lot of synergy between the beauty and construction industries,” Garratt said. “In beauty, everything is aesthetic – skin, nails, hair – all of which can be compared to the different substrates – wood, drywall, concrete. They might be very different surfaces, but I always just see a canvas. In both industries, it’s very fulfilling to see that before-and-after transformation.
Garratt, who lives with her husband, Matt, and their three children, couldn’t be happier with the balance that being a Painter Bros franchisee provides.
“I’ve been on the other side, I’ve been an intrapreneur,” she said. “Let me tell you, I love being an entrepreneur so much more. In corporate, you excel, you move up the chain, but this has been a much more fulfilling journey.”
Garratt credits Painter Bros with providing an extremely supportive culture that helps franchisees succeed.
“We have weekly meetings with the director of operations, experience regular tech training on the company app, FM Flow, and can schedule one-on-one calls whenever necessary,” she said. “When you couple that with their strong community of franchisees who are always there for support, you realize how amazing this company really is.”
Jessica Petrucelli