This is a BIG DEAL!

Alright, let's say you missed everything we said before you got to this point... Don't miss this. Your success is important! The better you are equipped - the more successful you will be. Do you remember some of those "differences" we talked about earlier? This is a biggie! Our training is comprehensive and our support......... well let's just say "there ain't nothin like it nowhere!"

Start Up: Marketing and Operations Planning

After you have signed your partner agreement, you will begin working closely with our Marketing and Operations team to help you step-by-step with all the aspects of opening the very best G'nosh studio ever. You will work through setup and planning lists and our Operations Guide to make sure you have everything in place before your Grand Opening day. We'll even help you get started painting an archive of hundreds of orginal artwork...... Oh, wait... you don't have time to paint hundreds of paintings? And you don't know which paintings will work best? That's OK... not to worry, we have you covered there.

We want you to benefit from all of the knowledge and experience crammed up inside our heads (don't be scared... it's not such a bad place), so we will help you with the do's and don'ts of running the world of G'nosh. Some of the things may not make sense at first. This is where we ask you to trust us. We've seen what works and what doesn't. You are partnering with us for the benefit of learning from our "trial and error", so please take advantage of this.

The Great G'nosh Locator

Do you remember those "outsiders" we talked about earlier? Well, they are pretty good at what they do. You didn't really think we would hook you up with them if they weren't did you? And here's some even better news... they know some really good "insiders" in the area where you are! Our Great G'nosh Locater will help you work through the process of finding the perfect location for your G'nosh studio. You will be asked to complete preliminary location search work. This can take up to a month if you work on it full-time (and if it takes you that long we will have found a dozen places already...).

After that, your locator will come to your community and will evaluate the locations you have selected. He/She will provide you with feedback on the pros and cons of each location and prepare an analysis. But here's something else I bet you won't get with those franchise "opportunities"... Our CEO will personally visit and approve your location. Yep, we just love to send him on a good "location hunt". For some reason, he thinks this is a really important piece of our success... go figure. We're pretty sure it's because he needs more frequent flier miles. 

The location hunter also will review your lease and help us negotiate with landlords. Some of those leases took a truck load of trees to create all the paper it's written on. And you want to know the cool part? It won't cost you a nickle more for all of that!

Pre-Opening Training

Now we are really getting to the fun stuff! You remember those folks we said were "fun to hang out with"? Well now you get to! Fresh out of the gate we are going to give you that big 'ol manual we are so proud of. We might even give you a homework assignment or two.

There are two very distinct parts of our training process: Operations Training and Art Training

The Operations Training will take you from A-Z on everything from what to do each day getting ready to open through running a successful studio to counting the money at the end of the day (We're pretty sure you can do that last part by yourself). We'll teach you all you need to know about the computers, the accounting software, and all of the other electronics and you will be comfortable with your abilities before we leave.

We will also teach you to be a Claude Monet. Yeah, like we could do that in a few days... The important thing to remember here is that you don't have to be a Monet... or a Picasso to be successful at leading a group through a most enjoyable experience each night. We will have you able to not only teach a group of wonderful customers each night but train others how to do the same thing. You see, our Great G'nosher is a wizard when it comes to putting paint on a canvas but she is also really, really, really good at helping you do the same.

Your trainers will become your friends and these relationships will be resources for you for a long time to come. These relationships along with the relationships you will establish with other G'noshers will be something you will cherish and will make your experience most enjoyable.

  One of the most important things we hope you learn during your training is that G'nosh studios don't have to be clones of one another to be good. Many people find this a big surprise at first. New owners always want to know, "Who is right?" We'll make strong recommendations on the best way for you to build your business. That said, you will be exposed to many different business models. You can choose to implement the ideas you like best. The way we see it, diversity is strength, not a weakness. And thanks to the freedom that G'nosh partner enjoy, the new ideas of today often lead to the innovations of tomorrow.

Building a G'nosh Studio

Armed with your hands-on training and your Operations Guide, you begin searching for equipment and fine-tuning your marketing plan. With a signed lease, major equipment in hand – a couple of ovens, a dishwasher, and dozens of employees......... wait a minute.... we're not opening a restaurant! OK, sorry... now I'm back to where we are... – we're between 45 to 60 days from opening day. We design your layout together. The equipment search is narrowed to a short list of hard-to-find items (canvas... check, paint.... check). With our help, you set a work timetable, listing what to do yourself and what to contract out. Heavy destruction and reconstruction begins. This is the time to buy insurance (no, wait... we've got that covered), get a phone installed (yep, got that too), and get to know your Health Department (ok... that's all YOU). The exterior signage is designed (got it). Your storefront features a "Coming Soon" banner (done) and a big poster hangs in your window explaining who you are and what G'nosh is all about (yep, got that too). Pre-opening and opening promotion is planned and started. You are getting close to opening day.

Getting excited yet?

Step 7: Open Your G'nosh Studio