Franchisee Spotlight: Michele Vice -- Winter Springs, Florida

Tell me about your life before you started your Hawaii Fluid Art franchise.

I spent 18 years working for a real estate developer who built apartment complexes throughout the US and Puerto Rico. I oversaw all dispositions and handled all property refinancings. I retired in 2019 to spend more time with my kids and to provide care to my aging parents. In 2020 during Covid, I started to play with resin and started making charcuterie boards and coasters. They were such a hit that I started a small business and did a few craft fairs. In 2023 my husband and I decided we wanted to start a business. We met with a franchise consultant and started the search. He told us about Hawaii Fluid Art and I was immediately interested.

When I met our?Founder Maya Ratcliff, we immediately clicked because our stories were very similar. She spent years in corporate banking, and I spent years in real estate development. We both left our careers and stumbled upon a form of art we loved; she was working with acrylic paint and I was creating resin pieces. Mine stayed a small?business, but Maya turned hers?into one of the top franchises by 2023.

What first attracted you to Hawaii Fluid Art?

I wanted a business that would bring people together -- something fun and exciting for all age groups.

What is your favorite part of your Hawaii Fluid Art journey so far?

The amazing feedback we have gotten from all of our guests. They genuinely have a great time and love their pieces.

What are your plans for getting involved with your community through fluid art?

I have sponsored numerous local sports teams, donated items to local PTAs to support our teachers, and we are committed to teaming up with other businesses in Winter Springs to support one another and share the Aloha spirit.

What plans do you have for making your studio even better in the future?

I am biased, but I think my studio is perfect just the way it is. I wouldn’t change anything about the layout or design, but I do want to add some more retail to the shelves.

What would you suggest to your fellow franchisees about preparing for opening?

Enjoy the process; it’s a very fun time, and it goes fast. Start marketing ASAP; don’t wait for the doors to open before you start reaching out to your local community. Join more then one chamber of commerce and attend as many meetings as you can.

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