Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen & Doug Flavion.
Hi Maureen & Doug, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Between 2020 and 2021 (we all know what went down), we were discussing options for Maureen to make a career change and a friend of ours shared that she had decided to open a franchise after her exit from a corporate career. While we had not thought about the possibility of starting our own business, we were intrigued by an opportunity to have more control over our careers. We worked with a franchise consultant who provided us with options that would fit our skills and lifestyle.
We knew that we wanted to have the flexibility to set our schedule while maintaining time for our young family and start a business we could grow at our own pace. After we were presented with options and conducted all the research, we determined Fibrenew was a great fit for us. We made a shift and Doug decided to leave his full-time job. He became the primary owner and operator of Fibrenew Southwest Lakes. He loves to problem-solve, learn new skills, and work with his hands. Maureen still ended up making a career move and supports the business part-time. She focuses on marketing, social media, and networking, as she is certainly the more outgoing of the two of us.
We have two boys who have really enjoyed learning about color matching and repair techniques like how to complete a blind stitch. They had a great time helping clean and condition their papa’s boat seats this past summer. We love the flexibility we have now to attend their school functions and sporting events. We hope this is a business we can pass on to them if they decide this is a path they want to take.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been an exciting endeavor to become an entrepreneur, but not without challenges. While we researched the furniture and seating repair industry and the markets it serves, we had a lot to learn about the technical aspects of leather, plastic, and vinyl restoration. Doug completed his training with the franchise and learned a lot of the basics, but every job is unique so he learns a lot along the way. He is very resilient and great at finding solutions, but it can still be difficult to not have all the answers upfront. The other challenge that most new businesses face is creating awareness and finding new clients.
We are the type of business that you don’t know exists until you go and do a web search for, “repairing cat scratch on the leather couch” or “how to repair a tear in my car seat”. Marketing and networking have been a big focus in year one. We also have such a broad range of markets we can serve, it can be overwhelming to explain all of the possibilities for restoration within residential and commercial spaces. While we still feel like we are learning and growing every day, we are excited about all the possibilities this business can bring to us and the customers and communities we serve.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Fibrenew Southwest Lakes?
Fibrenew is a mobile service franchise that specializes in the repair, restoration, and renewal of leather, plastic, vinyl, fabric, and upholstery. With a rich history that dates back to 1985, that manufactures a highly specialized proprietary product line and has pioneered the repair techniques and exclusive color-matching technology that we use every day. Our products, techniques, and color-matching technology are what sets us apart and what has made us a leader in our industry.
Our restoration services save our customers both time and money by offering an alternative to replacing their damaged couches and chairs, car and marine components, commercial furniture, and more. Our on-site services make it more convenient and faster in getting their items back into great-looking and working shape again. As an added benefit, our services help prevent thousands of items from ending up in landfills each year which helps preserve mother nature.
We pride ourselves in operating with integrity and transparency while providing a high-quality service that strives to exceed our customer’s expectations. We will be honest with our customers if their item is not repairable and will do our best to find other options which may be replacements.
Because there is so much versatility in what we do and we can flex based on our customer’s needs, we have expanded into repairing wood furniture too!
Contact Info:
- Website: Fibrenew.com/Minnetonka
- Instagram: @fibrenewswlakes
- Facebook: fibrenewsouthwestlakes
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fibrenew-southwest-lakes-minnetonka/
Image Credits
JSPhotography
