Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue II, 2015 | Page 50

RECONNECT: MULTI-BRAND 50 BY KERRY PIPES Massages, Joints, Tans, and Lashes “Significant growth is imminent” R andy Merrill feels good about the health, wellness, and fitness space he operates in. He says the business models work for him, the client base works for him, and the ROI works for him. It’s tough to beat that combination. When we last visited with Merrill (Q2 2011), he was busy operating a single Massage Heights spa and 14 Solar Dimensions Tanning salons (non-franchised) with his partner, Alex Royter. He also had one Cartridge World store, which he sold because, he says, “It was a lot of work and the marNAME: Randy G. Merrill TITLE: President COMPANY: Merrill Co. NO. OF UNITS: My companies: 2 Massage Heights, 4 The Joint, 4 Solar Dimensions Tanning (nonfranchised), and a new concept coming this summer, Amazing Lash Studio. AGE: 53 FAMILY: My wife Mary is an executive at The Coca-Cola Company; our oldest son Cole T. is 9, and our youngest Jett is 4. YEARS IN FRANCHISING: I’ve been involved in franchising all my adult life—in fact, for more than 40 years starting with my first job at my dad’s United Rentall. YEARS IN CURRENT POSITION: For the past 25 years I’ve been involved in establishing and operating my own units in a variety of both franchised and independent businesses. 48 MULTI-UNIT FRANCHISEE IS S UE II, 2015 muf2_c_merrill(48,50,52).indd 48 3/16/15 12:48 PM