VOA标准英语2014--Growing Business Offers Paint with a Twist of Wine

 

Growing Business Offers Paint with a Twist of Wine

Two New Orleans-area women started a small business seven years ago with one thing in mind: to help their neighbors relieve the stress of coping with a hurricane's aftermath.  Today their business, which pairs painting and a little bit of wine, has become one of the fastest growing franchises² across the U.S.  

It is the grand opening of the latest franchise¹ studio of Painting with a Twist.  Co-founders, Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney flew in Ashburn, Virginia, for the event.  

“We thought we’d just have one studio in our home town in Mandeville, Louisiana. And it has now grown to 173 franchises and grown in 26 states," said Deano.

The stay-at-home mothers first met at their children’s kindergarten class seven years ago.

“We were looking for a way to bring some color back to our community.  From New Orleans area we were still reeling from Hurricane Katrina.  We came up with this idea of speed painting classes. And it was a lot of fun. People loved it. So we decided³ to start up a little business," said Deano.

Their studio provides art supplies - paint, canvas, brushes, and art instructors⁴.  Paring that with wine or beer is optional.

“The beauty of this is you don’t have to be an artist.  You can come and know nothing about painting.  There is an artist who teaches you how to paint a painting in two to three hours.  That is a twist," said Maloney.

Their first class in 2007 had only seven people. But it grew steadily⁵ and two years later the entrepreneurs decided to franchise their business.

“Our frequent painters, customers, were asking us for these studios in their towns.  They think we should franchise. Our first three franchises came out of customers," said Maloney.

Today there are about 200 companies offering so-called paint and sip⁶ parties, and Entrepreneur magazine named Painting with a Twist the top franchise in the industry this year.

“I think that what makes a business separate from being just a regular business to be a very successful business is the passion behind it.  If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life," commented Maloney.

As Painting with a Twist expands, the entrepreneurs are proud that they are creating jobs.

“We are the largest employer of artists in the United States outside the school system.  At this point, we have close to a thousand artists working in our franchises," said Deano.

Maloney says giving back to the community remains⁷ a core component⁸ of their business model.

“Once a month, every studio in our system will team with a non-profit in their area. Today we’ve raised over a million dollars giving back to non-profits across the country.  That probably is one of the things we are most proud of," she said.

Maloney and Deano expect to add 50 new locations across the nation by the end of the year. And they are working on opening up internationally soon.

1 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

2 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

3 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。

5 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

6 sip   

v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量

参考例句：

• She took a sip of the cocktail.她啜饮一口鸡尾酒。
• Elizabeth took a sip of the hot coffee.伊丽莎白呷了一口热咖啡。

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。