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| Chris and Michelle Moen at Getaway 13 in Las Vegas |
Before Home Video Studio Chris had been a video hobbyist:
"I enjoyed doing personal projects and archiving photos and documents for
friends and relatives," says Chris, "but I always wanted to make a
business out of it." Michelle amplifies this claim: "We knew it was
going to happen when the time was right. It was so real we even had a domain name
that we kept renewing for our "imaginary" business."
Then nearly two years ago the right time came. Chris and
Michelle became Home Video Studio owners. Last month Chris and Michelle Moen
had their best month ever. Meet the Moens from Bloomington, Minnesota. They are
Home Video Studio's Owners of the Month.
Growing up in the Twin Cities area Chris and Michelle came
to appreciate the "lights, camera and action" of video by way of show
biz. Chris fancied himself as an actor but quickly found a home on the other
side of the camera: "I became technically proficient by way of my horrible
acting!" laughs Chris. "I tried out for my high school theater but
the director suggested I try my hand as a tech." Michelle, on the other
hand, had a penchant for song and dance. As a matter of fact she auditioned and
won a position with the internationally renowned "Young Americans"
and was soon in California dancing at Disneyland.
Still single Chris extended his technical education by
enrolling and graduating from Full Sail University in Florida. Soon he was
Production Coordinator for Theatrical Presentations International where he was
involved in NFL halftime shows, Major League All-Star Games and The Olympic
Games. During this time Michelle decided to come back to the Midwest and began
working for a marketing company.
Chris and Michelle finally met by way of a mutual friend and
were married. Soon after Chris took on a hefty yet fulfilling role as
Presentation Technology Director for a huge Twin Cities area church with 10,000
members and five weekend services. There he headed up all aspects of video
presentation including video shooting, editing, audio and graphics. His love of
people (and patience) was also honed there as he taught many church volunteers
to become proficient with the hardware and software provided.
One day, still harboring the dream of owning his own studio,
Chris happened to see another Home Video Studio in the Minneapolis Metro Area.
It was exactly what he wanted. A few phone calls, a few logistics, and soon
Chris and Michelle were equipped and ready to do business as Home Video Studio,
Bloomington MN. They began as a part-time studio but went full time nearly a
year ago.
"Like most studio owners will tell you," says
Chris, "the best part of being an owner in an established franchise system
like this is that you don't have to reinvent the wheel. I wanted to be in
business for myself but, hey, if there's a proven marketing plan, proven
equipment and all the experience I'm going to take advantage of that."
Like many husband and wife teams at Home Video Studio Chris
is quick to tell you that he couldn't do it without his wife. Michelle handles
a lot of the public aspects of their business, including a lion's share of
marketing and networking, as well as administration. "I absolutely
couldn't do it without her," says Chris. "We are a team. I push a lot
of the buttons on these machines and she does the smart stuff!"
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| Chris Moen at the 13th Annual Hanley Awards |
Michelle is quick to reciprocate the praise: "What
carries us in our business is Chris' enthusiasm. It's like a mission. We do
what we do because it's a necessary service that really helps people and
enriches their lives." And they make money doing it.
Chris also enriches the lives of fellow studio owners as the
Director of Technical Support for Home Video Studio. With his enthusiasm, sense
of mission and experience who better to ensure the Home Video Studio's
customers worldwide are getting their video needs met?
Congratulations to Chris and Michelle Moen. Home Video
Studio's Studio Owners of the Month.
We recently caught up with Chris and Michelle a few days ago and
asked them some questions…
Now that you have a few years under your belt what still
surprises you about this business?
It's amazing how much old content is still out there waiting
to be transferred to a modern medium. We get more and more people our age whose
parents are "downsizing" and they come across "the box"
that has all their precious memories. They wonder what to do with it and that's
where we fit in!
What have you found is absolutely necessary to thrive as
an HVS owner?"
Advertising and marketing. If you are not marketing and
advertising your business you're not in business. It's a hobby.
Any special days or events stick out in the last few
years?
Parades!! Join a parade! Best $50 spent ALL YEAR LONG! We
still get people telling us they saw us in the parade, or "I saw you on
TV!!" Our local Access TV station broadcasts the parade!!! In fact, we
have one coming up in September!
What are some of your mistakes and what did you learn?
Talking too much! I have got to learn to shut up and let the
clients tell me what they want and not suggest so many "options".
People hate options! They want a service done. Do the service, THEN offer
options like copies, or different formats. I think that is why Michelle is so
good at it! I need to work on "Listen, not blab!"
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| Chris & Michelle Moen in Studo! |
What is your favorite business-related thing to do?
Multitasking. I love it when there are 5 different machines
all humming away at a task! I just bounce back and forth between ‘em!
Any favorite quotes or aphorisms that sum up your way of
being?
Be the most positive person you know.
Chris and Michelle Moen
Bloomington MN
If you would like to get information about starting a successful video production company contact us at 317-358-5932 or go towww.Myhomevideostudio.com.
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