Scott Garmon: Taking Necessary Risks
When Scott Garmon was ready to move up, he didn’t want a corporate environment with limited options. He liked the idea of owning a business without the headaches of starting from scratch. “Unless you have that one-in-a-million idea and the means to get it started from the ground up, you will need a system,” he says. “That is what a franchise provides—a way of doing things, hopefully with a solid, measurable track record—something from which you can gain insight and guidance while having a business that completely belongs to you.”
Garmon found that formula in Foot Solutions, and opened his first store in Charlotte, North Carolina store in 2001, just weeks before 9/11. Two years later, he opened his second store in Hickory, North Carolina. He approached his new enterprise with rigorous attention to every single detail, from operations to marketing to customer service. And he never stopped working to grow and improve. In 2004, Garmon sold the Charlotte store and focused on Hickory.
After a dozen successful years in the Hickory location, in 2014 Garmon moved a half-block away to Union Square, a bustling area that has attracted many new customers and allowed him to expand the products he offers. “It’s the best move I ever made. After 15 years in business, last year was my best sales year. Business is up 20% and we love being part of the rich atmosphere in this vibrant community.”
His formula for success remains firmly grounded in the basics. “When you make a true commitment to a goal, you can’t let adversity stall your progress,” he says. “You have to establish and follow processes, segment and diversify your customer offerings where prudent, learn from your mistakes, and take the necessary risks to evolve.“
Garmon exemplifies the Foot Solutions formula for helping people feel good from the feet up. As a specially-trained Certified Pedorthist, he evaluates each person’s walk, stance, balance, foot health and lifestyle dynamics to make personalized recommendations for inserts and shoes as needed. He offers high-quality personalized orthotics hand-crafted from computer-imaged molds of a customer’s foot, as well as over-the-counter foot supports that can be manually modified to suit specific needs.
Garmon got into the business to help people, and is excited about the possibilities ahead. He finds satisfaction in helping his customers, and serving the community. His advice to those considering a Foot Solutions franchise is to properly “research the franchise, your abilities, your commitment to and the impact on your family, and your financial position. When you own a business, it is your nickel at risk. There is no such thing as too much due diligence,” he says.
