In the past four years, Marie Porter took her experience running Subway franchises and added two Planet Beach Contempo Spas to the mix, one in Gulfport and the other in Biloxi. Now, she is having the time of her life, embracing the fun she finds in running her day spas while reaping the benefits of access to Contempo Spa’s wellness and relaxation services. “We can just do so many things for so many people,” Porter says. Here she talks about her can’t fail secret to bringing in business and which Contepo Spa services are her personal favorites.

Planet Beach: Why Planet Beach Contempo Spa?
Marie Porter: I own three Subway stores. I like Subway, the brand is excellent, but it appeared the Planet Beach’s profit margins would be a little bit higher. And on top of that, the fact that this was so much fun. That’s the big thing ─ it’s more fun!

PB: How did you hear about Planet Beach Contempo Spa?
MP: Well, oddly enough I was at a Subway convention in New Orleans (home to Planet Beach corporate headquarters) and at every convention Subway a trade show where vendors can come and show us anything new they have to offer. At this one they allowed other franchises the opportunity to come in and set up booths to let people know what they had to offer. Planet Beach had a booth there and I stopped to talk to the people and then I went online and started looking at it. Then we started communicating back and forth, and the next thing I knew I was buying some franchises.

PB: What was your background before owning franchises?
MP: Banking and mortgage lending. I worked for a savings and loan and you don’t really see them anymore.

PB: What do you like best about Planet Beach Contempo Spa?
MP: I think that we in general don’t pamper ourselves enough and most people have the perception that you have to be wealthy to get a massage or to have a day at the spa because it costs a lot of money. At Planet Beach Contempo Spa we offer the opportunity for people to come in and let us pamper them, and I love doing that. I love watching people walk out with big smiles on their faces. We can also help people with their weight management. Nobody likes getting older and having all the signs of aging and we can help with that too.

PB: At a Contempo Spa, what favorite services do you like to use?
MP: I love the Hydration Station and I love the Luminous Facial.

PB: What is one of your secrets in getting the word out about Planet Beach Contempo Spa?
MP: What we have found is any time any organization has a function that will allow you to be in front of a large group of people, you need to be there. We did the Go Red for Women for the last two years, so we were allowed to have a table where we could set up and get in front of about 500 women at any given time. You can do some one-on-one talking and it just gets you in front of more people more quickly.

PB: What has been the most surprising thing?
MP: People don’t realize that we have all the amazing services and products we do. They think that because the system started out years ago offering UV memberships that it stops there – but what we have today is an array of very neat, high-tech services that deliver all sorts of spa experiences, from massages and facials to

teeth whitening and hand treatments. Talking to people one-on-one makes a huge difference.

PB: How do you spend your free time?
MP: I have a brand new grandson and he is my new favorite hobby.

The profit margin is pretty good and a Contempo Spa, which is a little more expensive than Subway, is far less labor intensive. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t require good employees, but it is a very calm work environment to be in. It is a fun business to be in, so if you are going to be doing something you may as well be doing something that is fun to do.