Dan Weiniger Leaves Rat Race of High Finance for High Tech!

Dan Weiniger has worked in high finance at the American Stock Exchange, in high calories as the owner of two ice cream shops and now in high tech as a Home Video Studio owner. Obviously, Dan isn’t afraid of heights – and his daily discipline to move his business upward is paying off. That’s why Dan Weiniger is April’s Studio Owner of the Month.

Dan, like many of our studio owners, came to Home Video Studio by way of his love for photography and video as a hobby while working in a different field. Although he grew up in New Jersey Weiniger got a degree in finance from Arizona State University and soon found himself owning a seat in the bustling environs of Wall Street and later on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange. How cool is that? Just like the movie Trading Places!

“It was cool,” says Weiniger, “but it was very hectic and, like any other business, a trend started where smaller margins and larger operating costs were making it harder for me to squeeze out a profit and I began to wonder if it was worth it for me.”

Dan’s natural entrepreneurial instincts kicked in another cool direction – literally – and he decided to own and operate a couple of ice cream stores is Florida. But alas, Dan’s financial muse called him back to the business of selling for Northwestern Mutual Life.

Soon after Dan met his wife Jan and they found themselves back in New Jersey and, after the adoption of their daughter, Dan settled in to be a stay-at-home dad and enjoy his family.

As life sometimes goes, however, there was a curve in the plan. Dan found out that he had congestive heart failure and had suffered a heart attack without even knowing it. Upon recovery he made the decision that there would be a few changes in his life. His abiding love of video and photography caused him to enroll in a class in visual communications.

It was in this class that Dan met Pete Gallo, who was in the video services business, was enjoying it and was making good money at home. Pete, one of our very successful studio owners, told Dan about Home Video Studio and soon Dan was on the road to studio ownership.

“I went to Show-N-Tell feeling good about this business,” says Weiniger. “I got a good vibe from Robert’s humility and from the energy of the studio owners that I talked to.”

Dan is now in his eighth month as an owner. His daily diligence, his creativity, his customer service skills, his drive and his sales skills all fuel the stuff that make for a good Home Video Studio owner.

“I like running a successful business and I like being home with my family,” says Weiniger, “that’s why this is a perfect fit for me!”

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.

David Gardner - Ottawa, Canada Studio Owner Of The Month!

One of the best reasons to own a franchise is because you are investing in a proven system. That’s S.Y.S.T.E.M. – as in “Save Your Self Time Energy Money.” David Gardner, Home Video Studio Ottawa, Ontario found that out when he made the choice to invest in Home Video Studio. In his first year as a studio owner he garnered triple the earnings he made being in business by himself. Now, halfway through his second year, he is on track to double his first year. David is our Home Video Studio March Owner of the Month.

David, like many of our owners, spent the first part of his career in the corporate high-tech industry. As a design engineer Gardner worked with such things as lasers, fiber optics and document reading devices. Then came a blow that’s all too common these days. After twenty years in the industry he was laid off. After finding a similar position in the industry he was laid off from that too. It didn’t take long for David to realize that it was a new world out there!

“I was getting tired of the roller coaster.” says Gardner, “I was finding myself going to twelve or thirteen interviews for a job I wasn’t sure I wanted anymore.” As things often work out David saw an opportunity open up.

“I went to a friend whose hobby was video production. I wanted to make a montage for my wife’s birthday, and when I saw the equipment, the software and of course the emotional final product I got excited and wondered if a guy could make a business out of this.”

Gardner did make a business out of it, buying equipment and self-training. He began to pick up clients like dance studios, weddings and corporate promos. Still the sporadic nature of the business and the failure to get the prices he needed kept him from really moving his business ahead. Yet another roller coaster.

While browsing the web for ideas to improve his business he came across the Home

Video Studio website and recalled ads he had seen in past years in Video Maker magazine for Home Video Studio. With encouragement from his wife to get things happening with his business, he decided it was now or never and began the steps of looking into a franchise. Soon David was on board with no intentions of looking back.

“There are many things I like about Home Video Studio that I never would have thought of – or didn’t have the resources to do – on my own.” says Gardner. “The website stands out. The tracking system they provide keeps my productivity up and my panic level down. The constant training I receive is the best. My interaction with other owners allows me to get tips I would have never gotten otherwise. And just the camaraderie - it’s fantastic!”

Being in business for yourself – but not by yourself. That’s the Home Video Studio way. And it seems to be a way that suits David Gardner, Home Video Studio’s March Studio Owner of the Month.

Robert's Note: David Gardner is our Studio Owner of the Month for 2010-11. As such, David was our keynote speaker at this year's Advanced Training. See David's keynote, speech click here.

Grand Opening: Home Video Studio Corpus Christi, TX!

Alan and Kim Fon of Port Aransas, Texas celebrated the Grand Opening of their HVS Studio Store last week (March 24^th). I flew into Corpus Christi to attend their grand opening and what an opening it was! Nearly 200 people attended. It was a spectacular event! I snapped this picture at the end of the evening. Alan and Kim worked for Dell for years and then decided to start their own business. We’re glad they found Home Video Studio and I think, judging from the huge smiles on their faces, they are pretty happy as well. Want to take a virtual tour of Alan and Kim's HVS Studio Store? Click here.

Let’s discuss your new studio. It could be in your home or in a strip mall like Alan and Kim’s. Call me today: 866-714-1956. Let’s chat.

May the Force be with you!