Gilbert Sun News: Business - Jan. 2016

Local mom grows her handmade-in-the-U.S.A. brands

BY MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON

Each successful business owner has a “how I got started” story. For Gilbertbased mom of five and entrepreneur Katie Hughes, it all began when she started making headbands to sell to friends in 2009. Fast forward to today and Hughes and her Utah-based sister Ginny Winters are co-owners of two thriving national brands—Vintage Rose Wraps and Flipped Bird.

“I used to hand address wedding invitations for customers so I’ve always had some sort of small business going in addition to being a mom,” Hughes said. “In 2009 I began making headbands to sell to friends; then I began selling them at East Valley holiday boutiques and they’d always sell out. It was then that I figured I had a hot item on my hands, something unique.”

Hughes named her new business venture Vintage Rose Wraps and brought Winters in 2010 (the business’ first official year).

“It almost helps that we’re sisters,” Hughes said when asked about the dynamic of working with her kin. “We’re both co-owners; Ginny is more into production and I’m in charge of the marketing efforts. Our husbands are also extremely involved and

supportive; they handle finance and web efforts in addition to their day jobs. Our older kids are involved, too. We grew up with a family operation so it’s normal to us.”

When Vintage Rose Wraps first started, the company’s main focus was colorful headbands, all made by hand. Then, each season, the company added more products. In addition to headbands, Vintage Rose Wraps now also offers earrings, belts, leather cuffs, boot cuffs and ruffle bags. A priority to both Hughes and Winters is that their company’s products are handmade in either Arizona or Utah.

“We’re all about helping other moms,” Hughes explained. “Our products are handmade in the U.S.A. by women—many of them moms who sew and work for us as a way to balance working and motherhood.”

So how did Vintage Rose Wraps get its “big break”? Hughes said it began with connecting with big name stores like Apricot Lane that bought their products in bulk and began selling them at shops nationwide. Vintage Rose Wrap products can also be found in Valley stores like Designer Blvd. and It’s a Girl Thing Boutique.

“We’re champions of brick and mortar shops but also offer products

on our website,” Hughes said. “I’d say right now that we’re 95 percent wholesale and 5 percent retail on the site.”

She added that the company’s most recent news is the acquiring of Flipped Bird, a similar brand that is now part of their business. Flipped Bird specializes in handmade reversible bags, hair ties and accessories, and more.

“We bought Flipped Bird from a close friend—it’s a complementary brand that helps us to build our brand motto of ‘Handmade Happiness,” Hughes said.

Both brands are housed until an umbrella company called Vintage Mother LLC.

When asked about advice for other moms turned entrepreneurs, Hughes said that others should follow their hearts.

“There are a lot of creative outlets for moms that can help them earn income while preserving family life,” she said. “It’s a beautiful thing when you can make it all work, so go after it.”

Hughes credited her East Valley roots with her company’s success.

“I think the company grew the way it did because it was started in Arizona,” she explained. “There’s something

unique about the East Valley; we’re a haven for a variety of wholesome products. I have a lot of gratitude for the way things have turned out.”

To learn more, visit www. vintagerosewraps.com or www. flippedbird.com.

Agents needed for local nonprofit event

The Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club was founded with the single objective of supporting children’s charities. The organization provides young adults with an opportunity for personal growth, friendships and leadership development while improving the quality of life for special needs children in the community.

Each year, Scottsdale Active 20-30 hosts a charity sporting competition called Brokers for Kids and Agents Benefiting Children. Brokers for Kids is a year-round fundraising effort by professionals in the commercial real estate industry. Agents Benefiting Children is the residential real estate equivalent. Throughout the year, teams are tasked with selling raffle tickets and sponsorship opportunities for the Scottsdale nonprofit. At the end, participants then go head to head in an Olympiad Championship.

Jose Leon, owner of Leon Law, is the Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club chairman for these events this year.

“This is a great opportunity for brokers and agents to join efforts with their fellow professionals in their respective industries to fundraise for children’s

charities,” said Leon. “We are always looking to add brokers and agents to our event.”

Throughout the year, these real estate teams raise money through various fundraising efforts for two charities, Boys Hope Girls Hope and the Care Fund.

Boys Hope Girls Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides scholarships to underprivileged kids in communityand residency-based programs, ensuring a good start toward a college education. The Care Fund provides mortgage, rent and housing expense relief, as well as related lifestyle resources during a child’s extended health crisis.

The culmination of the year-round fundraiser is an Olympiad Championship. The day is packed with events such as basketball free throws, football toss, baggo, giant Jenga and bocce ball. The teams that raises the most money from each side are then recognized.

Matt Long is a Realtor at Solutions Real Estate and was co-captain of his company team for last year’s Agents Benefiting Children event.

“The Olympiad was well judged, they took great care of us and most

importantly as a whole we raised a lot of money to make an impact for the future of Phoenix,” said Long.

Eric Butler, vice president of sales and leasing at Commercial Properties Incorporated, participated last year.

“This is a fun annual event to participate in, but beyond that it’s having the ability to help change the lives of local kids and their families,” said Butler.

While this year’s event isn’t until April 8, the nonprofit is looking for residential and commercial real estate agents now to

sign up in teams of six or eight.

“We would love to get to a point where we have someone from every company in the industry participating,” said Leon.

The public can also get involved by purchasing raffle tickets to win a new 2016 Toyota or $15,000 in cash from Valley Toyota Dealers. Each ticket is $25 or buy five for $100.

For more information, or to purchase a raffle ticket, visit the Scottsdale Active 20-30 Club’s website at www. scottsdale2030.org.

BY ALISON STANTON

For many years, Sam Biggs was interested in health and wellness.

Massage Envy is devoted to making massage more affordable, convenient Chamber hosts series of events through December

So when he heard about Massage Envy, he and his wife, Sheila, knew it would be a franchise that would be a perfect fit.

“Touch is a very natural aspect of health and wellness. When a baby cries, we pick it up, and when we’ve had a bad day, we want a hug,” he said.

In February 2004 they became cofranchise owners of their first Massage Envy, which is located in Mesa. The initial Massage Envy opened in Scottsdale in 2002.

Now, Biggs and his wife are cofranchisees of eight Massage Envy locations— six throughout Mesa, Gilbert and Scottsdale and two in California.

“We were probably the third or fourth franchisee with Massage Envy, so we were with them right from the beginning,” Biggs said.

and to make it more affordable, professional and convenient.

Each location offers a wide variety of different types of massages, Biggs said, including hot stone, trigger point, Swedish, deep tissue, sports and prenatal—which he said is an especially popular option with clients.

“The other big offering that Massage

have a lot of knots, and the wellness consultant will help them schedule what type of massage they need,” Biggs said.

To make it as easy as possible for people to get a massage, each Massage Envy location has around 30 massage therapists on staff, all of whom are licensed and very experienced.

Thanks to the large staff, Biggs said it’s typically very easy to get an appointment right away.

“One reason that Massage Envy is so fun to own is that we are making a difference in peoples’ lives. They are walking out better than when they came in, because they have experienced the healing power of touch.”

Biggs said Massage Envy’s goal is to bring massage to the everyday person,

Envy has focuses on healthy skin and facials that are done in-house, all with Murad products,” Biggs said.

To schedule an appointment, people are welcome to call any of the Massage Envy locations.

“People can explain what they are looking for in a massage, for instance if they are looking for relaxation or if they

Career Connectors can help

Rated one of the top networking associations in Phoenix, Career Connectors is offering help to adults in career transition.

The nonprofit organization connects professionals to high-quality resources and hiring companies.

Events are held three times per month, all available at no cost. The next meeting is 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26, at Central Christian Church,

Student Center, 965 E. Germann Rd., Gilbert.

Each meeting includes professional career speakers with presentations on relevant job search topics, three to four featured hiring companies, networking, resume help, career coaches, LinkedIn coaches and business portraits. For more information, visit www. careerconnectors.org or call (480) 4425806.

“People can call in the morning and we can often see them the same day,” he said.

Although anyone is welcome to schedule an appointment at Massage Envy, Biggs said people may also join the membership program.

“If someone knows they will get regular massages, they can join the program and get significant savings,” he said.

Biggs said Massage Envy has caught on not only in the Phoenix metropolitan area, but around the country.

“Massage Envy has just surpassed 1,100 locations,” he said.

Biggs said he and his wife are delighted with their decision to become full-time franchisees with Massage Envy.

“We absolutely love it. We wake up every day thinking ‘oh, we are so glad we get to do this.’”

For more information about Massage Envy, visit www.massageenvy.com.

Throughout the year, the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce offers a variety of luncheons, meetings and events for its members and the community. Events are held throughout the town.

The chamber office is at 119 N. Gilbert Rd., Suite 101. For more information about events or to register, call (480) 892-0056 or visit www.gilbertaz.com.

Award Nominees

The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate the Businessman and Businesswoman of the Year nominees.

Businessman Nominees: Kevin DeRosa, Advance Paper & Maintenance Supply

Tad Peelen, Joe’s Real BBQ Rustyn Sherer, APS

Ralph Willett, Willett CPA

Businesswoman Nominees: Emily Evans, Aflac

Tracey Groy, Willow Massage + Spa Dr. Christina Kishimoto, Gilbert Public Schools

Debbie Newport, Sunrise Senior Living of Gilbert

Barbara Starley, Toolbox 4 Entrepreneurs Alice Woodard, Printwerx.

The Chamber is inviting the public to its award luncheon and awards ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 20, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix/ Gilbert. Admission is $35 for members; $50 for general admission.

Chamber Chat Midday

The next Chamber Chat Midday is 11:30 see CHAMBER page 31

MAP

MAP

Solve design dilemmas with help from a professional

The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Arizona North Chapter’s “Design for Hire” public awareness/fundraising program will take place from February through April.

This program is designed to help homeowners and design aficionados who have not worked with a professional interior designer previously but always wanted to. For $75 per hour (a maximum of two hours), the public is matched with an ASID interior designer.

Consumers who register are matched with a particular designer based on location, project specifications and other parameters. The ASID designers who participate in the program donate their consultation time. The fees collected are directed back to the organization for student design scholarships and educational programs that help further the profession of interior design.

This is a way for homeowners to learn how designers provide a difference in their homes and lifestyle through their in-depth knowledge of space planning,

products, materials and finishes, not to mention their ability to plan, schedule, execute and manage projects from start to finish.

To sign up, email info@asidasnorth. org or visit www.asidaznorth.org.

Doing business

Dean Thornton, Realtor

Owner: Dean Thornton

How long in business: Three months Specialty: Helping local buyers and sellers.

Unique features: Background in construction and experience with fix and flips as well as international relocation.

Address: 3530 S. Val Vista Dr., Suite 114, Gilbert, 85297

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through

Friday, or by appointment

Phone: (480) 848-2200

Email: info@deansold.com

Send in your business profile for ‘Doing business’

The Gilbert Sun News would like to welcome new area businesses or existing ones that may be new to our readers.

Submit information about your business for a “Doing Business” mini-business profile in an upcoming issue of our publication, which is distributed to 25,000 homes, racks and boxes the fifth of each month.

Please include all of the following items: Name of business, name of owner(s), how long the business has existed, unique features, hours of operation, address, telephone number, website and email address. Also include an at least 300 dpi photo of the business owner or logo.

Email this information to info@gilbertsunnews.com or visit www. gilbertsunnews.com and click on the “Doing Business” form at the top of the page to submit.

a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Buffalo Wild Wings, 970 S. Gilbert Rd., Gilbert.

Small Business Workshop

This month’s Small Business Workshop will focus on “Online Marketing Made Easy” from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 15, at St. Xavier University, 92 W. Vaughn Ave., Gilbert.

Good Government Series

An event of the SRP Good Government Series, this breakfast will bring together Chamber Board of Directors, executive team and members with Town of Gilbert elected officials to discuss key business priorities and partnerships to enhance Gilbert’s business environment.

The event is from 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at St. Xavier University, 92 W. Vaughn Ave., Gilbert. Registration and a buffet breakfast is set for 7 a.m. The cost is $20 for Chamber members only. Registration is required. Call the Chamber for more information.

Travel opportunity

The Chamber is partnering with Collette Vacations to present an all-inclusive group travel opportunity to the Imperial Cities, featuring Prague, Vienna and Budapest. Departing April 18, this expedition includes round-trip airfare, air taxes, hotel transfers, 11 days and 14 meals. Call the Chamber for more information.

Assisted living and memory care center set to open in fall near Banner Gateway

Prevarian Senior Living representatives along with Town and Chamber officials are set to break ground on a new assisted living and memory care center at Higley and Baseline roads.

The construction of the 119,250-squarefoot Savanna House Assisted Living and Memory Care center will begin on Jan. 7. The center will provide residents with the activities of daily living and specialized memory care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

Savanna House will offer private

residences with private baths—a choice of 74 alcove, one-bedroom, or twobedroom floor plans for assisted living and 42 suites for memory care residents. Community amenities will include a restaurant-style dining room and private dining room for family gatherings, a café/ bistro, several activity areas such as a card and game room, movie theater, beauty salon, music room and library/computer center. Additionally, there will be a wellness/fitness room, which will include a physician office and exam space. Savanna House will place a special

emphasis on memory care, offering three distinct memory care neighborhoods, each catering to residents who are living with different stages of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. The assisted living portion of the community will offer residents personal support at whatever level they require—with a goal of selfsufficiency and independence. For more information, call (480) 926-0046 or visit www. savannahouseseniorliving.com.

Authentic meets innovative at Gecko Grill

BY KENNETH LAFAVE

The town of Gilbert boasts a little bit of central Mexico, thanks to Francisco and Martina Moreno, owners of the Gecko Grill.

An oasis of authentic Mexican cuisine, the Gecko—also known as Moreno’s Gecko Grill—owes its blend of flavors to Francisco Moreno’s childhood in Durango, Mexico, where the savory tastes of uniquely seasoned meats and vegetables inspired young Francisco to dream of becoming a restaurateur.

“I started out as a dish washer,” Moreno said recently, passing out steaming platters of traditional dishes spiked by his own variations.

“I’m working my way up.”

Indeed, it’s been up all the way since Moreno moved to Gilbert from Durango in 1986. He was 17 and full of ambition.

“I wanted my own place, where I could cook the style of food I grew up with, but also put in practice my own ideas,” Moreno said.

He started out working for Valley restaurants, learning the restaurant trade from the bottom up, and not just the cooking, but the way to run a profitable business. Along the way, he met a fellow restaurant employee named Martina, and they soon became a couple in life and in business.

In 1999, after more than a dozen years of working for other people, Francisco, with Martina, opened their first Gecko Grill. It was a pre-existing, five-table barbecue joint.

“I wanted my own restaurant, but found out that the easiest way to get into the business was to buy a place that was already running and go from there,” Moreno explained.

Moreno knew nothing about barbecue, so he bought the restaurant on the condition that the previous owner first teach him how to cook the distinctly American assembly of meats and sauces. After three months, he was ready, and Francisco and Martina officially became entrepreneurs. Slowly, Moreno introduced Mexican food into the Gecko menu, and for a while, the restaurant served both, side by side.

The Gecko Grill has since moved to two other locations, the latest and current one being the 45-table venue at 4341 E. Baseline Rd. All three have been in Gilbert, which Francisco has called home since his move from Mexico, and where he intends to remain. The Gecko menu is now all-Mexican, though he will occasionally make barbecue for old customers who remember his way with a rack of ribs.

The three most popular dishes for lunch and dinner at Gecko reflect Francisco’s central-Mexican heritage, combined with his passion for innovation:

• Tampiqueña. A charbroiled steak, known as carne asada in Spanish, served with a cheese enchilada, beans, rice, guacamole and salsa fresca ($12.99).

• Durango Chile Relleno. A large, breaded, green Anaheim chile stuffed with cheese and shrimp and topped with salsa verde, with rice and a garden salad ($10.99).

• Shrimp or Chicken Mango Quesadilla. A large flour tortilla filled with shrimp or chicken, mango and jalapeno cream cheese (shrimp $11.99; chicken $10.99).

The latter creation caused a lot of people to doubt its success. Meat and

fruit in a tortilla is not what one usually expects from Mexican food.

“Everyone thought I was crazy. Even Martina thought I was crazy. But I made it and we tried it out and now it’s one of our bestsellers,” Moreno said. Gecko’s menu is extensive, and includes, along with Moreno’s take on authentic Durango dishes such as the chile relleno and carne asada, American variations on Sonoran food (chimichangas and pollo fundido, for example) that are more typical of the Valley’s other Mexican restaurants. And while Durango is a land-locked city, the Gecko nonetheless offers a wide variety of shrimp- and seafood-oriented dishes, including one in tribute to Arizona’s most common Mexican destination, Rocky Point, the Vallarta Enchiladas— corn tortillas packed with shrimp, fish and cheese, under a salsa verde ($10.99).

Not everything authentic has caught on—yet. For a while, Moreno served

something he called “Durango Meat,” broiled beef with red chile sauce. Few takers meant he had to remove it from the menu. He may bring it back again in the future.

“We’re pretty busy at lunch and dinner during the week, and we do a good business on weekends,” Moreno said, adding that popular demand recently forced him to keep Gecko open on Sundays, when he and Martina had previously kept that day aside for themselves. Gecko also started serving breakfast in 2015. In addition, the busy couple manages a second restaurant, Moreno’s in Queen Creek, which is owned by Francisco’s brother, Angel.

Gecko Grill serves beer, wine, and a variety of margaritas. Favorite nonalcoholic drinks are horchata and a homemade strawberry lemonade. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Call (480) 539-2988.

Spa owners continue family tradition with Madison Avenue

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

Sean Larusso couldn’t see himself as a salon and spa owner 25 years ago. Now, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My grandfather was a barber in New York; my father a salon owner for 40 years,” said Larusso, who owns the four locations of Madison Avenue Salon and Day Spa in the Valley with his wife, Deborah.

“I’m an accountant by trade. I worked in Manhattan for almost three years for a big accounting firm. I came out here in the early ‘90s for a long weekend and fell in love with it.”

He packed up and moved crosscountry and subsequently was employed by a local firm. Deborah worked as a stylist for a nearby salon.

Larusso said he believed that he and Deborah had the formula for success. So in April 1998, the couple opened Madison Avenue Salon and Day Spa. Twelve of the original employees still work for the company.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to build something that people consider to be a career,” he said. “They’re here for an extended period of time. That has been something that’s been extremely rewarding for us.”

Madison Avenue Salon and Day Spa’s signature treatment from its spa is the three-and-a-half-hour Retreat Package. The $196 package includes a one-hour

Swedish massage, a European facial, and a spa pedicure and manicure.

“It gives us the opportunity to touch base with all the different areas within the spa,” said Larusso.

“That has been our staple package since day one when we opened almost 18 years ago. It’s been our No. 1 seller in terms of packages. I don’t think we’ve ever priced it that low. It’s aggressively priced with the hopes of selling a tremendous amount of them.”

The Larussos pride themselves on considering their employees as family.

“What we enjoy is seeing people elevate their careers,” he said. “We’ve been doing this long enough. We’ve hired people anywhere from 16 to 60 years old.

“We’ve seen them purchase their first car. They’ve gotten married, had their first child, bought their first house, had their second child and their child—those are things honestly are more rewarding than anything. Having had that impact on people is really what has glued us together to be the company we are today. We couldn’t do it without the amazing group of people who are around us.”