{"id":3046,"date":"2026-10-14T06:09:18","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/?p=3046"},"modified":"2026-10-14T06:09:18","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T06:09:18","slug":"from-friendship-to-franchise-how-two-edina-entrepreneurs-are-painting-a-new-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/?p=3046","title":{"rendered":"From Friendship to Franchise: How Two Edina Entrepreneurs Are Painting a New Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the heart of Edina, Minnesota, a vibrant studio serves as a sanctuary for creativity, offering patrons a chance to slow down, pick up a brush, and transform a simple piece of pottery into a personal keepsake. For Antima Jain and Pooja Choudhary, the owners of Color Me Mine in Edina, the studio is far more than a business\u2014it is a space where the community\u2019s most significant life moments are captured in ceramic.<\/p>\n

The power of this atmosphere was perfectly illustrated a few months ago when a customer arrived with a nervous energy and a specific, romantic goal. He wasn\u2019t just looking for a rainy-day activity; he was planning to propose to his girlfriend. The customer approached Jain and Choudhary with a vision: he wanted to paint a jewelry tray inscribed with the words, "Will you marry me?" <\/p>\n

Under normal circumstances, the studio\u2019s glazing and firing process takes approximately seven days. Recognizing the gravity of the request and the desire to help facilitate a life-changing milestone, the partners stepped in to ensure the tray was ready well ahead of schedule. They went further, helping the customer curate the perfect environment within the studio for the big moment. When the couple later returned to the shop to share a save-the-date card that prominently featured the studio, it served as a profound reminder for Jain and Choudhary of why they entered this business. They aren\u2019t just selling mugs, plates, and bowls; they are facilitating connection and weaving themselves into the fabric of their customers’ most lasting memories.<\/p>\n

A Foundation Built on Shared Experiences<\/h3>\n

This commitment to connection is not merely a business strategy; it is the cornerstone of the partnership between Jain and Choudhary. Their journey as co-owners began long before they signed a franchise agreement. The two women met 11 years ago at a party in Minnesota through a mutual friend, and they quickly discovered they had a remarkable amount in common. Both had moved to the United States from India, both were navigating the complexities of raising children, and both shared a deep-seated passion for creative projects.<\/p>\n

"We started talking and realized we have so many things in common, and just like each other\u2019s company," Choudhary recalls. The friendship was bolstered by geography; at the time, they lived only a three-minute drive from one another, making it easy to foster a growing bond. As their children grew more independent, the friends began to entertain the idea of building a professional venture together. <\/p>\n

By 2023, the duo began actively researching business opportunities. Their search eventually led them to a local Color Me Mine studio, where they immediately recognized the potential. "We just loved the whole vibe," Jain says. "It was such a clean environment, very organized, very colorful. It just felt calming. We both had the same impression."<\/p>\n

Driven by this shared vision, they decided to pool their personal funds, investing approximately $300,000 to open their own Color Me Mine location in March 2025. Crucially, before they ever opened their doors to the public, they established a fundamental pact: their friendship would always take precedence over the business. They agreed that no matter the stress or challenges that might arise in the day-to-day operations, they would prioritize open, honest communication to ensure the business strengthened their bond rather than eroding it.<\/p>\n

The Paths That Led to Ownership<\/h3>\n

The story of the Edina studio is, at its heart, an immigrant success story. Jain\u2019s journey to the United States began in 2003, tied to her husband\u2019s work projects. After spending several years moving between India and the U.S., she settled in Minnesota permanently in 2012. With a bachelor\u2019s degree in commerce from India and experience as a preschool teacher, Jain later worked at Kumon in the U.S., balancing her professional life with the responsibilities of motherhood. With her children now in college, she felt the timing was finally right to dedicate her energy to a business she was truly passionate about.<\/p>\n

Choudhary\u2019s path followed a similar trajectory. She moved to the United States after marrying her husband, who was already established in the country. She holds a master\u2019s degree in electrical engineering and, in addition to her role at the studio, maintains an investment property business. As a mother of two daughters\u2014one in high school and one in middle school\u2014Choudhary brings a logistical and analytical mindset to the partnership.<\/p>\n

Navigating the Franchise Model<\/h3>\n

When asked why they chose to open a franchise rather than launch an independent pottery studio, the partners are quick to cite the value of structure. "We didn\u2019t have experience running this kind of business, and that was the scary part," Choudhary explains. For them, a franchise offered a perfect equilibrium: it provided a proven, reliable platform while still allowing them the autonomy to manage their specific location in a way that resonated with their community.<\/p>\n

\"This<\/figure>\n

Jain emphasizes the level of support they received from the franchisor. "Everything was laid out for us. The guidance and support have helped a lot. Even after our first year, they were still introducing things to make the business easier to operate, including a new point-of-sale system across Color Me Mine studios. We haven\u2019t regretted choosing a franchise."<\/p>\n

The selection of the Edina location was a strategic decision supported by the franchise team. The pair hired a real estate agent to help them navigate the local market, ultimately settling on a spot near shopping centers and parks\u2014areas with high visibility and consistent foot traffic. Because they chose to fund the startup costs of approximately $300,000 entirely through personal accounts rather than taking on debt, the partnership structure proved to be a major advantage, allowing them to split the financial burden equally and mitigate personal risk.<\/p>\n

Growth and the Realities of Small Business<\/h3>\n

Since opening in 2025, the pair has been aggressive in their community outreach. Their efforts have included joining the local chamber of commerce, participating in neighborhood art festivals, and hosting events for Mother\u2019s Day and Father\u2019s Day. They have also implemented recurring promotions and a "return visit" program, where customers receive discount cards with their finished pieces, encouraging them to come back to the studio within a month. <\/p>\n

Beyond marketing, they have leaned into community service, donating to local organizations and participating in school fundraising efforts. However, the realities of ownership have also brought unexpected hurdles. For Jain, the most significant challenge has been staffing. Because they rely heavily on high school and college students, they face a constant cycle of hiring and training as their employees leave for college or other opportunities. "I never thought keeping a full staff would be such a challenge," Jain admits. "Their education comes first, and we understand that, but before opening, we hadn\u2019t really thought about how continuously we would need to work on staffing."<\/p>\n

The daily operations are a testament to their dedication. Without a full-time manager, Jain and Choudhary share the heavy lifting, splitting time between the studio floor, payroll management, social media updates, and the myriad administrative tasks required to run a small business. <\/p>\n

One of the more difficult aspects of the job involves the unpredictable nature of the kiln. While they estimate that less than 1% of the pottery pieces result in a less-than-perfect firing, delivering that news to a customer is a task they both dread. "They may have spent hours creating a piece, and then it doesn\u2019t come out perfectly," Jain says. When such instances occur, the partners go to great lengths to make it right, offering a replacement piece and waiving the studio fees to ensure the customer\u2019s experience remains positive.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead<\/h3>\n

As they look toward the future, the partners remain as aligned as ever. Their friendship continues to act as a buffer against the stresses of entrepreneurship. "We\u2019re like sisters," Jain notes. "There will be disagreements; we can\u2019t always agree. But I wouldn\u2019t have chosen anyone else to do this business with."<\/p>\n

Their ambitions for the brand are clear. The pair hopes to expand their footprint, with goals of opening a second studio. They are also actively competing to reach the top five in their franchise\u2019s system-wide sales rankings\u2014a milestone they have come close to achieving, having previously reached sixth place. <\/p>\n

For Choudhary and Jain, the business is a manifestation of their shared values and their ability to navigate change together. Their journey from friends to business partners has been defined by a mutual vision, a commitment to their customers, and an unwavering belief that even the most complex challenges are easier to navigate when you have the right partner by your side.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the heart of Edina, Minnesota, a vibrant studio serves as a sanctuary for creativity, offering patrons a chance to slow down, pick up a brush, and transform a simple piece of pottery into a personal keepsake. For Antima Jain and Pooja Choudhary, the owners of Color Me Mine in Edina, the studio is far […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3045,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[181,180,5157,5158,179,2593,5156,479,5159],"class_list":["post-3046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-and-finance","tag-business","tag-economy","tag-edina","tag-entrepreneurs","tag-finance","tag-franchise","tag-friendship","tag-future","tag-painting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3046","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3046"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3046\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3046"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3046"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/xesi.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3046"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}