Who Starts A Home Video Studio?

Sharon Galuzzo

Who Starts a Home Video Studio?

That is an interesting question!

Who are these people? What are our Studio Owners like? Are they single? Married? Divorced? Do they have families, kids, or pets? Did they mortgage the house to get started or convert a 401k? 

What were their former careers? Are they just video geeks? Are they like you? What's their story?

HVS Studio Owners come from all backgrounds: doctors, nurses, accountants, IT people, engineers, computer people, software designers, sales and marketing, insurance, telecommunications, video producers, screenwriters, graphic artists, animators, consultants, etc. The list goes on and on.

Some are married. Some are not. Some do the business on their own. Some have a spouse as a partner in the business. Some are men. Some are women. We have sold to those in their 20’s and those in their 70’s. Age is a state of mind. 

Miguel Salas

There is one thing that all HVS Studio Owners have in common: they were ready for something new. They either loved their old career but were tired of it or they were kind of just bored to death! Maybe they were laid off or downsized but the fact is is that everyone was ready for a new journey in their lives. 

The joy is in the journey, right? We are all on a journey. Some seem to move quicker than others. Some of us seem to get stuck from time to time. Some of us get stuck for 20 or 30 years or more and then one day, out of the blue we (they) decide to get unstuck. We decide to move on. We do something new. 

Tony Miklos

Some move on with us. Their next stop? Running their own successful Home Video Studio. How do they do it? How do they break those chains that seem to hold others firmly to their cubicle chairs?  Truth is,  sometimes they are just laid off and the choice is made for them. Other times they make the choice. Call me and we’ll discuss your journey to HVS – how you go from where you are now to where you want to be. And yes, you can turn your 401k into an HVS studio. I can help you with that.

You can call me directly on my cell phone at 866-714-1956 or 317-358-5932. Call me. I am here now, waiting for your call. You can also email me at  robert@homevideostudio.com. Call me today! Let’s talk.

Also you can go to our website: www.myhomevideostudio.com.

May the Force be with you.

Tony & Lori Melendez Celebrate 10 Years as HVS Owners!

Tony and Lori Melendez, Home Video Studio owners from Amherst OH, have an important anniversary coming up very soon! “Robert [Hanley, founder and CEO of HVS] told us the day we bought a Home Video Studio that we’d never forget the date,” says Tony, “and he was right! We decided to become studio owners on May 11, 2002.” That makes Tony and Lori nearly ten year veterans and, in many of their colleague’s eyes, the “Deans” of Home Video Studio owners.

What makes them successful? If you’re looking for secrets or shortcuts there are none. Tony and Lori exhibit the age-old traits of teamwork, a tireless work ethic, daily attention to goals and doing what needs to be done. They also display good old-fashioned kindness – a winsome quality that makes them a hit with their customers and a joy to be around.

Like many Home Video Studios Tony and Lori have worked as a team their entire married life. Tony spent his career as an educator - teaching and coaching - and has run his video business alongside of these demands, first on his own and then as a Home Video Studio franchisee. “A mentor told me when I first started teaching not to put all my eggs in one basket,” says Tony. Some teachers paint or clean windows on the side. I liked video so I started my own video business and worked it in the evenings, on weekends and in the summer.” Lori, who has a background in marketing and also ran a successful daycare while tending to the video venture, has partnered with him from the beginning. Together they took the daily steps necessary to fulfill their dream of a full-time video business. Upon Tony’s retirement from teaching last May that dream has become a reality. Not only that, but it is a family affair with children Evan, Kaitlyn, Rocky and Amanda chipping in along the way as well.

So how did they find Home Video Studio? “That’s really interesting,” laughs Melendez. I had taken on a wedding job and it was turning into a nightmare. It started out with my needing technical support and I couldn’t find any help – even with the manufacturer of my equipment. I happened to pick up a Videomaker magazine and saw an ad for Home Video Studio and called. Soon I was talking to a stranger named Robert Hanley who not only pointed me in the right direction for my technical problem but advised me on some pricing as well.”

With that Tony realized he wanted to be in business for himself but not by himself and soon Tony and Lori attended a Show-N-Tell in Indianapolis. On that fateful day in May they became studio owners and have enjoyed the income, support, expertise and camaraderie that Home Video Studio brings.

In the past ten years Tony and Lori have built a business and made money doing what they love…creating videos and making people happy. They have also won many international awards, including Studio Owners of the Year, Rookies of the Year, Best Video Production, Best Wedding and Best High Concept Video.

Do Tony and Lori have any advice for someone looking into being a studio owner? “This is a good time, maybe even necessary for some people, to go into business for themselves. If you have a passion for video this is the best way to do it.”

Advanced Training Day 2.

Day 2 of Home Video Studio's Advanced Training. We shifted into TRACK MODE. HVS is running five tracks of training in marketing, production, editing, green screen, photoshop and everything else you can imagine. Chad Godfrey's class on Shooting web videos was a huge hit!

HVS Kicks off Advanced Training 2013 with Oscars Party!

We kicked off our Annual Advanced Training for HVS owners with our 1st Annual Oscars Party! This year we have approximately 42 studios from 3 countries attending including owners barley 3 weeks old to owners with 9 years experience.

Congratulations to The Artist! What a great film! Also a wonderful film about movie making if you like that sort of thing (which we do!).

This week we feature over 50 classes and events for Home Video Studio Owners. Stay tuned for more pictures and news!

Studio Owner Makes $50,000.00 in Two Months!

Pete Gallo, our Home Video Studio owner in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, is not one to rest on his laurels. 2011was his best year ever – and it came on the heels of 2010, his former best year ever. "There are many things I like as a Studio owner," says Pete, "but the most satisfying is the feeling of self-determination and empowerment. There is plenty of opportunity to grow every day.” Pete, a former Studio Owner of the Year, is January's Studio Owner of the Month.

So how did he set out to grow in 2011? “Definitely marketing!” says Gallo. “I put a concerted effort into consistently getting “out there” in my market and making my presence known...and I saw the results.” Pete credits much of his marketing skill to his HVS Training.

Pete, who came to Home Video Studio with an Electrical Engineering background and as a video hobbyist, is grateful for the ongoing training that is provided, especially the necessary marketing aspect of being in business for yourself.

"When I first considered Home Video Studio I knew I wanted to do video for a living, but I had natural concerns about starting from scratch and going it alone," says Pete. "Home Video Studio seemed like the perfect foundation because I would be involved with people who had been there before. This has proven to be the case."

Now Pete has a great home-based business and many happy clients. Whether it's Video Transfers, Film Transfer, Video Shooting and Production or any of the other Home Video Studio profit centers he enjoys the diversity and mix of services he offers. His expertise is also on display as a recipient of several Hanley Awards including Best Short Video and Best LIFEStory.

What else did Gallo build on this past year? Well, Pete is quick to say that any success his enterprise enjoys springs from a genuine desire to help people. One award of note that adorns Pete's studio is The Relationship Mindset Award, and it serves to remind him daily that he is in business because he takes care of his customers.

What does 2012 hold for Pete Gallo? “The most positive thing I see,” he says, “is a trend of more people coming in, more people calling - more inquiries in general. I believe a lot of that has to do with peoples' more optimistic outlook on the economic climate, so I'm going to keep marketing and get ready for an even better 2012.”

If the past is any indicator Pete Gallo will have a great year!

Entrepreneur Magazine Names Home Video Studio Number 1!

We're proud to announce that Entrepreneur Magazine has selected Home Video Studio as the Number One Video and Photography franchise in the United States once again. Thank you Entrepreneur!

Our 20 Year Anniversary! $5180 off of A Home Video Studio ends Saturday, July 2!

Twenty years ago on June 14, 1991, my wife and I made a decision to focus on two things – making money and doing something we loved. We had two young children, a passion for building our own business and quite simply working for someone else was no longer an option for me. We decided to roll the dice and take a chance.

Flash Forward Twenty years and Home Video Studio - that business we started in the upstairs spare bedroom of our suburban home is now the number one video services franchise in the United States. Home Video Studio has sixty-nine studios in three countries: The United States, Canada and Sweden. Eight of those are retail locations (Studio Stores). It’s a wonderful business!

As our way of saying THANK-YOU, We are doing something we have never done before – offering 10% off of any studio sold on or before July 2 (our next Show 'N Tell Saturday) This is a huge savings of $5180.00! We hope you will take advantage of this money saving offer.

If you’ve ever wanted to start your own business, be creative, do something you love, stay home with the family, leave the rat race, and run your own business – your own Home Video Studio then this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for you and a once in twenty year offer from us. We would love to have you join the Home Video Studio Family.

Our 20^th ANNIVERSARY THANK-YOU OFFER of $5150.00 off of any Home Video Studio sold in June has had a ton of response. Hurry! This promotion ends with our Show ‘N Tell Saturday on July 1^st and 2^nd. Call today. We can discuss your next steps. Call 317-358-5932 or 866-714-1956.

This Man Just Turned His 401k Into A Home Video Studio!

Five months ago Darrell Day was happy but not content. He was talented but not fulfilled even though he worked at the second happiest place on earth. (Home Video Studio headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana). Darrell Day was a long-time associate with Home Video Studio, most recently serving as the Director of Studio Services for the company. Darrell also holds a Masters degree in Music Education with an emphasis on voice and composition and is an accomplished pianist and brass player as well. Still five months ago in mid-December Darrell was uneasy - and it was not because of holiday stress.

Like many Americans a question gnawed at him. The gnawing was relentless as was his search for the answer. This question that kept running through his head - when he woke up, during the day and when his head hit the pillow – was, “Is this all there is?” This was the question. Home Video Studio was Darrell’s answer.

Darrell told me about his interest in Home Video Studio on December 15^th, 2010 and less than ten weeks later he opened his new Home Video Studio. Along the way we helped Darrell convert his 401k (without penalty) to fund his studio. You might say that his 401k paved his way! Today he is smiling all the way to the bank, as is evident in these pictures I snapped today.

Darrell’s love for his Home Video Studio centers around the wide variety of wonderful products and services we offer. An extremely creative, very detail oriented, and customer service intentional person, Darrell is finally in his element applying the skills that make for a successful Home Video Studio owner. Has the decision to change done Darrell good? Indeed it has. Darrell liked it so much he decided to make another big change in his life. In June of 2011 he will marry Tanya, the true love of his life.

Does the same question gnaw at you sometimes? Are you happy but not content? Are you comfortable but not all you can be? Are all of your skills tested every day? Do you get paid enough for your expertise and abilities? Maybe it’s time to search for an answer.

Three ways to begin your search with Home Video Studio: 1) Attend our next Show ‘N Tell Webinar (Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m.), 2) Request an information packet or 3) Call me. I’m Robert Hanley. Let’s chat. Call anytime: 866-714-1956.

HVS Announces 12th Annual Advanced Training Schedule

Twelve years ago, Home Video Studio announced its first Advanced Training. The year was 1999 and we were excited! Now we are even more excited. 2011 marks more than one milestone with HVS. Twenty years ago this coming June 14, 1991 is the day I made a decision to stop being a starving artist and to stop, take a look and make a change in my life. I chose to focus on simply making money to support my family. Luck, synchronicity and the grace of God helped me find the way. Today, the company I founded that day in 1991 is the top franchise in the world for video and photography and video services.

Today, we are releasing our schedule for our 12th Annual Advanced Training for all HVS franchisees. We call them simply Studio Owners. Many of them have become my close friends. Others are treasured and valued studio owners whom I look forward to seeing each year. All are simply and truly members of the HVS Family. All of the HVS staff and HVS Family will get together in Indianapolis, Indiana on February 27 through March 5 at the 12th Annual Advanced Training. I suggest you join us!

Much happens that week. For many Studio Owners, it is their first major HVS training. I always acquaint it to... like going back to college (assuming that you loved college and had an absolute ball!). Advanced Training is seven days of training, camaraderie, fun, tech, sales, marketing, games, food, dinners, jokes, family time, learning and most of all: serious franchisees building their businesses. I call it our Mini-College of HVS.

What's happening this year? Same as always plus more! Some or our traditions go back to our first Advanced Training, i.e. Pizza and a Movie Night and our Celebration Dinner. Other traditions go back only a few years (the unofficial game night). What always moves studio owners forward is our strong focus on both sales & marketing and technical training. This year we have over fifty classes and events for studio owners to choose from: Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, Video Production, Green Screen, Networking, Sales, Marketing, Photoshop For Video, Soundtrack, Motion, Sports Video, Corporate Videos, Weddings, HDSLR Production, Photo Books, Social Media, Facebook, and tons more! Over twenty presenters and over fifty studios from three countries will train and teach together. And not one studio owner will pay one thin dime for this training. It's the Giver's Gain philosophy.

In the end, it is all about moving each studio forward. After all, Home Video Studio may seem like a super fun game but it is a business. The top business in it's field

Come join us. Call me today and let's discuss YOU opening up your own HOME VIDEO STUDIO. It could be out of your home like Pete Gallo of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ or you could open up a new studio store like Alan and Kim Fon of Corpus Christi, TX. They opened this week.

If you have dabbled on your PC or MAC with with photos, video, sound, music, etc. then you have probably wondered if you can make a living at this. You can.

If you have sat in your office or taken work home on the weekend and wished there was another way, there is.

If you have wondered why you are building someone else's dream instead of your own, well there is a way to start now and build something in your city (if a territory is open).

Call me. Robert Hanley - 866-714-1956. Let's talk.

May The Force Be With You!

Home Video Studio At CES in Las Vegas!

Wow! There has never been a better time to open a Home Video Studio! Denise and I are attending CES this week and there are a zillion screens out here! Content is the name of the game right now. Home Video Studios change content, modify it, convert it and create it! We have a passion for everything tech and enjoy working with our customers on a daily basis. Denise took this picture at the opening day of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas yesterday. We'll be out here for three more days looking at new trends in video. No doubt we'll find a few new ways to make money with video and digital images!

Call me. Let's talk about a Home Video Studio in your community - 866-714-1956.

May the Force be with you!