The Family Jewelers

Entrepreneur, Oct, 2001 by Devlin Smith

A SON USES A FRANCHISE TO FOLLOW IN HIS FATHER'S JEWELRY-FIXING FOOTSTEPS.

WHEN BEN VARGAS WAS LITTLE, HE'D sit on his father's lap and watch him fix watches. Later, father and son worked side-by-side as jewelers for the Navy.

Today, Vargas, 39, is running his own shop. The owner of a FastFix Jewelry Repairs franchise in Temecula, California, Vargas repairs, designs, engraves and makes jewelry and watches, and repairs eyeglasses.

Vargas got his start as a Fast-Fix employee in San Diego, after he and his father lost their Navy contract. Impressed with his salesmanship, the location's owner offered to sell Vargas his business. That deal fell through, but Vargas was able to buy a location from another franchisee in 1996. The only problem was, the store was two and a half hours away from his home, making for an awful commute and little family time.

Finally, in 1999, Vargas built a new store in Temecula, between San Diego and Los Angeles, and moved his family there. With, accounting and sales help from his wife, Corinne, within a year and a half, the store's sales ranked in the top 15 for the FastFix system.

And reminiscent of the childhood days he and his brothers (one of whom was inspired by Vargas to become a Fast-Fix franchisee himself in San Diego) spent accompanying their father to work, Vargas brings his two sons to the shop. The boys, ages 4 and 8, each have little drawers filled with broken watches and other pieces to tinker with.

"Both my boys will probably [get into this business]," Vargas says. "They don't have to if they don't want to, but the opportunity is there, and they'll probably take it."

Moving Pictures

CUSTOMERS ARE TOUCHED BY THIS COUPLE'S VIDEO PRODUCTIONS.

"IT'S REWARDING TO PRODUCE something that brings up so many emotions," says Bonnie Brandt of the videos she and husband Gordie make at Video Impact, their Round Rock, Texas, franchise of newly merged Tri-Videom/Video Impact. "The reaction from customers is just overwhelming."

The Brandts create videos commemorating special events using photos, home movies and music provided by clients. They also produce sports highlight videos for athletes hoping to get college scholarships, and they even provide tape duplication, transfer and video editing services.

Bonnie, 39, was an accountant for an electronics manufacturing company and Gordie, 40, worked in electrical engineering when the couple decided they'd had enough of working for huge corporations. With the help of a franchise consultant, the couple found Video Impact, a franchise they could run from home.

The fact that the pair loves what they do is reflected in their relationships with clients. Says Bonnie, "A lot of customers have become very close friends."

To benefit those customers and bring in new ones, the Brandts recently moved the production side of their business from their home to their sales office. Their 15-year-old daughter, Kyrie, also helps out when needed.

Though the Brandts would like to play a smaller role in the day-to-day operation of their business in order to open more stores, they're happy with the company's advantages. "It's emotionally and financially rewarding," Bonnie says. "it's important to us to have a job [like] that."