Franchisee Michele Vice Shares How Art Transforms Lives and Builds Community
Visitors at Hawaii Fluid Art can carve out quality family time and do a digital detox, franchisee Michele Vice promises. “At Hawaii Fluid Art studios across the country, people can unplug from their devices, shut out the outside world and discover their inner artist. It\’s truly beautiful,” says Vice, whose studio is in Winter Springs, Fla.
She treasures her decision to invest in Hawaii Fluid Art, where her customers — Vice calls them students and artists — make abstract art by pouring various paints and combining them with added ingredients for unique effects. “Every day I get to meet people of all ages and backgrounds and work in a beautiful environment. I also am able to donate proceeds back to nonprofit organizations I believe in. It\’s the perfect fit.”
After 15-plus years spent working in finance and managing a portfolio of apartment complexes throughout the U.S., Vice made the dramatic career shift into franchise ownership. “In 2023, my husband, Jonathan, and I felt a calling to have our own business, and a franchise just made sense. I wanted to be my own boss and also give back to our community. When I met Maya Ratcliff, the founder of Hawaii Fluid Art, and learned about the amazing company she built, I couldn\’t pass up the opportunity.” The Vices opened their studio on February 2, 2024.
Fulfilling Work
“Our art classes boost creativity and increase fine motor skills, but most importantly, they give kids a sense of pride. When they create art and express themselves, they light up. I am blessed beyond measure that I get to witness the joy and excitement people of all ages experience in our classes. Artists from 3 to 72 years old have taken classes with us.
“For young children, we keep our classes simple, learning colors, pouring paints one at a time on either a canvas, wood cutout or bears. For older children we offer more complex classes where we layer our colors to teach various styles of pouring paints on the canvas, and we even have them work with resin.”
I make sure we are ready to go for a messy but fun-filled day.
Her typical day begins about an hour before the opening of her studio, which has a full-time manager and two part-time employees. During this time, she contacts students to let them know they can pick up their finished art. She makes sure the studio is clean and everything is prepped and stocked, including complimentary water, juice and soda for the kids, and beer, wine and a coffee bar for the adults. “I make sure we are ready to go for a messy but fun-filled day.” Vice praises Ratcliff for developing an excellent system for Hawaii Fluid Art franchisees. “She has made the process from the time you sign the franchise agreement through to your grand opening very simple. The corporate team is always a text or a phone call away if you need anything. They are constantly working on new and innovative ways to help us succeed and achieve our goals.”
An art background isn’t a prerequisite for Hawaii Fluid Art franchises, although retail, customer service, sales and/or managerial experience is helpful. Hawaii Fluid Art, which has sold more than 100 franchises nationwide, provides training, site selection guidance, lease negotiation assistance and ongoing support to every franchisee. Hawaii Fluid Art franchisees may be owner-operators or semi or fully absentee owners.
For more information about the Hawaii Fluid Art franchise, visit https://hawaiifluidart.com/franchise/.
