Stuck in Seattle

I worked at a high-end salon in downtown Seattle for 10 years doing spa services. Specifically, spa pedicures. I was also the department head for several years. I felt pretty stuck there and owning a franchise was something I saw potential in to get me moving in a different direction where I would have more control of my income and destiny. I wanted to find something that I would enjoy, would support my daughter and me, and that I wouldn't be working crazy demanding hours to do.

I was a single mom on a fixed income. Most of my income was from Social Security survivors' benefits for both me and my daughter (long story), and the other part of my income was capped to keep our benefits coming in. As a result, I couldn't afford my mortgage, so I was renting my house at a loss. My home value hadn't recovered from the drop in prices due to the recession and I couldn’t sell it. My daughter and I were living with my parents at the time to get by and Shea, my now-husband, and I were dating. I was broke and stuck in a low-income cycle, with no clear career direction. I could barely afford my bills, and if anything unforeseen happened, it would’ve been very difficult to recover financially in my position. I knew something had to change.

I heard about The N2 Company (the media franchisor behind Greet magazines) from a friend who was an Area Director with a Stroll publication. So I began working for her in an entry-level position to get my foot in the door back in August of 2013. When an opening became available in the area, I was able to secure a spot to go to training in November of that year. From there, I did sales for all of the local N2 Company magazines for several months to learn the ropes and was finally granted a territory. I started my own ramp-up in February 2014 and was slow to launch my first publication, processing my first deadline in July of 2014. I came in under my income goal, but since that was still higher than my fixed income had been, I was still pretty happy with it. I kept working hard and built up my publication and met my initial income goal about six months later.

Resident Relations

Starting out, I really enjoyed meeting new people and embraced generating content for my first magazine. I was consistently putting myself out there in the community and working on growing the business.

After over a decade in the business, I still constantly receive positive feedback from the community about how much people look forward to their community magazine and how they love it. They love the hometown charm we have with our community-first content, which is my favorite part as well.

I really love the positive impact we have in the community and seeing the ripple effect that comes from the connections we make and the stories we publish. I enjoy helping a nonprofit or volunteer amplify a great story, or making an experience fun and special for a kid to lift their self-esteem. There’s always more happening behind the scenes than just in the printed story alone. We get to be the positive media source in the community in a time where most other media sources are negative or superficial. Our magazines are refreshing and uplifting for people to read. We try to find purpose and positivity in all of our stories by taking the “Mr. Rogers” approach. I’m big on packing our pages with great content and lots of local faces that won’t be found in other media outlets. I find it very rewarding to have awesome stories in each issue and to produce a great product that I can stand behind in my sales meetings.

Some Good News

Lately all of the local Greet and Stroll franchise owners have been partnering up to host some joint B2B Networking events to bring even more value to our business partners. We really bring the best of both worlds with our platform by reaching the residents in our areas through print (and digital) ads, while also providing opportunities for our businesses to connect with each other – all in one “membership.” I can’t think of another publication or networking opportunity that offers anything like what we do, at the level we do it.

Giving Back

Every fall I spend time planning out my philanthropic efforts for the magazines. I make use of the N2 Company’s 501(c)(3) program, giving nonprofits donated ad space in the publications. I look for local nonprofits who make a direct impact in our communities, and especially look for organizations that the residents and our business partners are involved with to be supportive. Sometimes we do articles as well.

I’m big on making sure to donate all of the ads I can to give back to the local nonprofits in the community. Giving to organizations that serve a bigger purpose is my favorite thing about this role. We can make a huge impact with our audience. Here are a few examples from nonprofit partners:

“Greet Mill Creek is such a great community publication. I enjoy every issue and am always impressed by your continued support of non-profits and community organizations. Thanks for your ongoing support of the Rotary Club of Mill Creek!” Dave Gunter, Mill Creek Rotary

“The partnership that Bellevue LifeSpring and Greet West Bellevue Magazine have fostered and developed over the years has had a meaningful and lasting impact on our community. We have collaborated to share stories of community impact and celebrate individuals driving change within Bellevue. Together, we have fostered new connections, created new community projects and events, and worked to support one another in myriad ways, all aimed at supporting Bellevue children and families.” Kris Howard, Bellevue Lifespring

Publication Partners

First off, I try to stick closely to the program in my meetings since I do a good amount of cross-selling. I want to make sure what I promise will be delivered through their experience, even if they don’t buy into one of my franchise territories. I also like to be consistent so that every potential partner hears the same thing and I’m not second-guessing who was told what. I think the product sells itself and if we hold up our end of what we promise, clients are generally happy. I don’t overpromise and am clear and confident in what we do.

As for our partners, it’s been really cool to see how long many of our partners continue to trust our publications with their brand. Most of my business partners have been with us for multiple agreement cycles, some for even 10+ years! The very first business I signed up back in 2014 is still a current client. When it fits, it fits!

I’m also always looking for ways to connect my business partners in the community and actively seek ways to include my business partners in our content when they are involved with something in the community. If they plug in and get involved, I can help amplify their efforts!

More About Lindsay

Shea and I are happily married and have two girls, Kayla and Avery. We’re a blended family and I thank my lucky stars every day that Shea and I met. I don’t know what we would do without him. He really is the best, and if you know him, I’m sure you’d agree! After years of nudging, Shea is now an AD himself and publisher of Seattle Real Producers, under The N2 Company umbrella. We’re both enjoying the perks of being our own boss while making moves here in Seattle. We also have a Bernese Mountain Dog named Murphy and a Ragamuffin (Ragdoll/Persian) kitten named Jojo.

I love to travel to and vacation in warm, beachy places. I’m a foodie and enjoy trying new restaurants. One of my favorite things is music (especially when cooking or commuting) and going to concerts. I love having family time and hosting dinners and holidays for friends and extended family.

I think the Area Director opportunity is pretty incredible for so many reasons. The flexibility it has allowed me to have in life while still owning and operating a business, for one. It’s given me an influence in the community to do so many good things! Financially, I now have the ability to give back to a bunch of wonderful people and organizations and the reward of my sales efforts shows directly on my paycheck. This role has also allowed me to build lasting relationships both within the communities we serve and this company. Not to mention the home we’re in now is amazing and we couldn’t have bought it without the N2 opportunity, as well as the traveling we’ve been able to do since owning our publication businesses.

I really could go on and on….

___________________

Thank you, Lindsay, for sharing your story and inspiring us to take control of our lives! Interested in launching your own Greet franchise? Follow this link.