Mentored by Previous Owner, Oklahoman Invested Boldly during Pandemic
- Leah Maguire bought her Painting with a Twist franchise in 2020. Earlier she had worked as an artist assistant, instructor and manager of that Oklahoma City studio.
- When in-person sessions weren’t possible during COVID, Maguire and her team sold painting kits and did Zoom sessions with customers.
- This Mother’s Day, her franchise will offer a MOMosa bar and “Mommy and Me” events, and will debut a tea bar.
- Maguire’s advice to would-be entrepreneurs: Know yourself and your capabilities.
Buying a Painting with a Twist franchise turned out to be a great way for then-pregnant Leah Maguire (above) to balance motherhood with a fulfilling career. Maguire comfortably transitioned to ownership because she had worked at that Oklahoma City Painting with a Twist franchise since 2014, when it opened.
“I started as an artist assistant, then moved into art instruction onstage and eventually managed the studio,” where people paint on canvases in instructor-led, party-like classes. “Somewhere along the way, I voluntarily took over the Instagram account and never looked back,” Maguire says. “When my husband and I found out we were expecting our first baby, I had pictured myself stepping away for a while. But since I had been managing the studio for years, the out-of-state owner was faced with replacing me, so instead I decided to buy it.”
Her decision neatly follows a franchising trend. Women are increasingly investing in franchise brands and already own about a third of all franchises, according to the International Franchise Association.
‘An Easy Yes’
“Moving into ownership felt like an easy yes,” Maguire says. “I loved the work, the people, all of it. The studio already felt like my baby. I just didn’t realize I’d be bringing home two at once. And I must give a shout-out to the previous owner, whom I’ve always considered a mentor. She was raising babies while running two studios, and I looked up to that so much and still do. Watching her made the whole thing feel possible.”
For Maguire, the early days of motherhood and studio ownership were “kind of a blur.” Her baby son often napped in the studio’s backroom while she worked. “It was the summer of 2020, right in the middle of the pandemic, so everything felt surreal anyway. Looking back, it was chaotic, tender and sweet all at once. I had an incredible team of artists who stepped in wherever needed, which made all the difference.”
Key among the team was “my amazing assistant manager who carried a lot of the in-studio load.” Maguire also taught some of the classes, and she would handle emails, scheduling, inventory and other administrative tasks when her baby slept during naps and at night.
Innovation and Resilience
She met the challenges of the COVID slowdown by modifying the offerings available through her Painting with a Twist franchise. “We sold lots of take-home painting kits and held virtual events over Zoom. The pandemic forced us to think differently about what we did and how we connected with people. It wasn’t easy, but it stretched us in ways that ended up being really valuable in the long run.”
Overcoming pandemic problems built confidence in her resilience, “which isn’t really about doing everything perfectly. It’s about showing up again the next day, even when things feel messy or uncertain. You learn to adapt. You adjust, you ask for help, and you keep going.”
Motherhood Dividends
For Maguire, parenting – she now has a 5-year-old, 3-year-old and 7-month-old – proved to be a plus, enhancing her leadership style. “I used to be a lot more Type A. Motherhood softened me a bit. I have more perspective and patience. I’m quicker to give grace, and more aware that everyone is carrying something I might not see. Managing artists especially requires a balance of structure and nurturing, and I think becoming a mom helped me lean into both. I still expect a lot, but I try to lead with understanding first.
“My kids have made me more flexible and more forgiving, both with myself and with my team. I’m a little less attached to everything being perfect, because it just can’t be. There have been plenty of last-minute runs for canvases or overnighting paint bottles to the studio because something slipped through the cracks. But most days it’s a mix of showing up, figuring it out and doing the best I can with what I’ve got. Work-life balance is less of a balance and more of a rhythm, one that changes constantly.”
Daily Tasks
Most of Maguire’s workdays start with coffee and emails, and “then it’s a bit of a loop. Kids, work, snacks, emails again. In between, I’m doing marketing, building calendars, scheduling, replying to guests, ordering supplies, going to the bank – all of the behind-the-scenes things that keep the studio running.”
Marketing may involve publicizing special events. In a nod to Mother’s Day, for example, her studio has been hosting a MOMosa bar during afternoon hours as well as “Mommy and Me” events. “This year we’ve added a tea bar, which I’m really excited about. But my favorite part is seeing the mix of generations – moms, daughters, grandmothers all painting together. There’s something really special about those moments.”
Words of Advice
Maguire makes these suggestions to women who aspire to business ownership: “Know yourself. Know your capacity and be honest about it. Take in advice, but don’t feel like you have to follow all of it, only what actually fits your life. And try to stay a little unbothered. Not everyone will like you or your decisions, and that’s OK.”
She believes there’s no perfect time to step into business ownership. “Life tends to layer things all at once. But sometimes that’s where the most meaningful things grow, right in the middle of the busy, imperfect seasons of life.”
Visit the Painting with a Twist website for more information about the franchise and ownership opportunities.
