Today we’d like to introduce you to Michale Lara.
Hi Michale, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
RnM was founded after Veterans Affairs informed me that I might need to retire due to service connected disabilities from the Military. At 35 and 40 my wife and I did not agree with this so we came up with a plan to start our own business.
Rita at the time had over 20 years in the spa industry and I had over 20 years in retail and 9 years of military experience. I was currently working at a VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) as the event coordinator and young veteran liaison, Rita was working at a high end salon as an esthetician . We decided that we should try to step out on our own. We sat at a restaurant with a napkin and a pen and drew out our plan. We would name the business RnM for Rita and Mike, We both wanted our business to be a family business that we could enjoy with our children and growing family of adopted youth. We chose a shield as a logo/brand because the image of a shield meant to us protecting and security.
The next day on Rita’s way home she found a building and we converted it into a venue and spa. Rita’s was accepting clients during the day and I was organizing events in the evening. When Covid 19 shut down many businesses ours was no different. Not wanting to give up on our dream we shifted our focus to things we could do online. I went back to school and graduated from DeVry University with a Bachelor’s degree in graphic design and web management. Rita studied advanced crystal healing therapy gaining a masters title in holistic crystal healer. We combined these two aspects by starting an online store for holistic products and services. I used my my skills to develop a custom logo and website for both our businesses.
RnM has now been a family business with 10 years of serving our communities and clients from all walks of life. We now own one of the largest vendor spots in an antique mall selling multiple crystal products, knowledge, and healing services. We also have become an international marketing firm with over 200 clients to our resume.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The ride has definitely had many rises and falls and bumps along the way. One of of biggest struggles in the beginning was of course Covid. In the early stages of RnM we were involved with many non-profit organizations that wasn’t able to continue as they did due to not being able to gather in large groups.
Funding was a huge hurdle to master during those times but we over came that by doing what we could for any one we could help. During these low points we both had to acquire employment elsewhere while still grinding on our mission to be the voice and the help that small businesses and clients needed.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
RnM creates out-of-the box designs and creative marketing material at prices everyone can afford. We have spent countless hours researching our products to find the best quality while keeping the prices affordable for business who are just starting. We discovered years ago that developing relationships was more important than making a big payday. Rita and I both come from an era of time where sometimes its not the money but the opportunity to help. By not overpricing and sometimes even trading services with clients; example I build a marketing campaign for a new car garage and they maintain our vehicles.
RnM is known best for always having family come first, which means once your are a client you are family. No event has ever been put on by us that kids couldn’t attend or that wasn’t centered around family.
One of the things we are most proud of is that our businesses allowed us to create a weekly dinner for our community that was open to everyone.
We are the most proud of all the relationships we have across the world. From local musicians, small business family, major marketing campaigns like Green light a Veteran, expanding knowledge about holistic health, and creating a blue print for dreamers to follow.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
Risk taking is a part of life. As dreamers my wife and I took a major risk by simply betting on ourselves. When you think about risk you do need to consider the reward as well. Sometimes those reward don’t out weigh the risk, but sometimes the risk of not trying at all out weighs everything.
We took a major risk once on an event for someone who we trusted and over delivered our services leaving us short of a profit. Hindsight says this risk was not worth the reward, however the exposure to our brand and the feedback from this event was worth so much more than the final profit/loss statement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rnmempire.com; www.rnmhosting.com; www.crystaltortise.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rnmpromotions https://www.facebook.com/RitaLaraCrystalTortoise
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rnm2016-d1y
