Executive Overview
In an era where small businesses face stiff competition from e-commerce and digital entertainment, physical experiential retail is carving out a deeply loyal following. At the heart of this movement are Antima Jain and Pooja Choudhary, the entrepreneurs behind the Color Me Mine franchise in Edina, Minnesota.
What began as a chance meeting at a local gathering over a decade ago has blossomed into a thriving commercial partnership. Pooling approximately $300,000 of their personal funds, Jain and Choudhary launched their studio in March 2025, betting on a business model centered around tactile creativity, stress-free community engagement, and human connection.
This deep dive explores their journey from immigrants navigating a new homeland to hands-on small business owners. It chronicles their strategic choice to franchise, the operational realities of managing retail staffing and kiln mishaps, and their broader ambitions to break into the top tier of their franchise system. Their story serves as a masterclass in modern franchising, partnership dynamics, and the power of fostering local community spaces.
Detailed Chronology
1. The Foundation of a Friendship (2014 – 2023)
Long before they stepped into the world of retail management, Jain and Choudhary’s paths crossed at a Minnesota party through a mutual acquaintance. Both women had immigrated to the United States from India—Jain following her husband’s career moves in 2003 and later settling permanently in 2012, and Choudhary relocating after marriage to join her husband.
Residing just a three-minute drive apart, the two quickly realized they shared similar life stages, cultural backgrounds, a passion for creative projects, and the responsibilities of raising children. As their kids grew older and more independent, the frequency of their meetups increased. Conversations naturally shifted from family life to professional aspirations, planting the seeds for a joint business venture.
2. Discovering the Franchise Model (2023 – 2024)
By 2023, the duo actively pursued entrepreneurial opportunities. Lacking prior experience in the pottery-painting industry, they wisely sought a framework that would minimize the steep learning curve of independent startups.
After touring a nearby Color Me Mine location, both women were struck by the brand’s potential. They found the environment clean, organized, visually vibrant, and emotionally calming. Armed with corporate backing from the franchisor—which offered structured operational guidelines, marketing support, and standardized point-of-sale systems—they committed to the venture.
To fund the buildout, they opted to bypass commercial bank loans, choosing instead to pool their personal savings to cover the roughly $300,000 startup cost. Crucially, before signing any paperwork, they established a foundational pact: their friendship would always supersede business disputes.
3. Grand Opening and Community Integration (March 2025 – Present)
With the help of real estate scouts and the franchisor’s territory guidance, Jain and Choudhary secured a prime retail space in Edina, surrounded by shopping centers and parks. The studio officially opened its doors in March 2025.
From day one, the partners focused heavily on local integration. They joined the local chamber of commerce, engaged with nearby schools for fundraising initiatives, and participated in regional art festivals. Their customer retention strategies proved effective: recurring promotions, seasonal Mother’s and Father’s Day events, and discount cards given with finished pieces incentivized repeat visits within a 30-day window.
Supporting Context & Metrics
The Financial and Operational Blueprint
- Initial Investment: Approximately $300,000, funded entirely through personal capital pools rather than debt financing.
- Launch Date: March 2025.
- Performance Milestones: The studio has climbed rapidly within the franchise network, achieving a peak monthly ranking of 6th place system-wide, with explicit long-term sights set on securing a position in the top five.
- Customer Defect Rate: Less than 1% of fired pottery pieces experience kiln mishaps—a remarkably low failure rate in the ceramics industry.
The Human Element: Creating Lasting Memories
While the financial metrics drive the business, the cultural impact sustains the owners. A primary example occurred months after opening, when a customer walked into the Edina studio with an elaborate proposal plan.
The customer wanted to hand-paint a custom jewelry tray featuring the inscription, "Will you marry me?" Recognizing the urgency and romance of the request, Jain and Choudhary expedited the glazing and firing process—which typically takes up to seven days—to ensure the piece was ready ahead of schedule. They also assisted in orchestrating the studio atmosphere for the big moment.
Weeks later, the couple returned to present the owners with a save-the-date card featuring a nod to the studio. For Jain and Choudhary, this milestone validated their core business thesis: they weren’t just selling art supplies; they were building an infrastructure for human connection.
Official Statements & Insights
In an exclusive interview with Entrepreneur, Jain and Choudhary shared candid perspectives on their transition from immigrant homemakers to franchise owners.
On Their Backgrounds and Immigrant Journeys
Antima Jain: "I first came to the United States in 2003 because of my husband’s work project. We went back and forth between India and the U.S. a few times, and then we came here in 2012 and have been here since… I was working part-time while my kids were growing up. Now they’re both in college, so this seemed like the perfect time to get into something we would enjoy and have time to invest in."
Pooja Choudhary: "My husband was already here when we got married, and I moved to the United States afterward. I finished my master’s in electrical engineering… I have an investment property business on the side, which I still continue. I have two girls: one in high school and one finishing middle school at the time of this interview."
On Choosing the Franchise Route Over Independence
Pooja Choudhary: "We didn’t have experience running this kind of business, and that was the scary part: How were we going to do it? A franchise felt like a balance between owning an independent business and working in a corporate environment. They provide the platform, but we still have independence in running the studio."
Antima Jain: "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… We haven’t regretted choosing a franchise."
On the Unforeseen Realities of Retail Staffing
Antima Jain: "Hiring. I never thought keeping a full staff would be such a challenge. It’s a constant process of hiring and rehiring because most of our employees work part-time. We give opportunities to high school and college students. Their education comes first, and when they finish high school, they may leave for college."
Pooja Choudhary: "It’s busy. We don’t currently have a full-time manager, so we handle staffing ourselves. Sometimes we’re both at the studio; sometimes we alternate days. There’s also glazing, payroll, social media, the calendar, and other online work. Every day, something needs attention."
On Navigating Inevitable Business Challenges
Antima Jain: "Calling customers when something happens to their pottery in the kiln. They may have spent hours creating a piece, and then it doesn’t come out perfectly. Telling them that is hard. It happens very rarely—we estimate less than 1% of pieces—but we still dread those calls."
Pooja Choudhary: "We offer a replacement piece and waive the studio fee so they can come back and paint again. We try to do whatever we can to make the experience better."
On Protecting Their Friendship Above All Else
Pooja Choudhary: "We knew things would happen because we were new to this. We agreed to keep an open dialogue and talk if something wasn’t working. We’re doing this because we’re friends. If we weren’t going to stay friends, there would be no point in having the business together."
Antima Jain: "We’re like sisters. There will be disagreements; we can’t always agree. But I wouldn’t have chosen anyone else to do this business with. If I open another studio, I’ll do it with Pooja."
Future Outlook
As Antima Jain and Pooja Choudhary look ahead, their sights are set firmly on expansion and operational optimization. Having already tasted success within the upper echelons of the Color Me Mine corporate network—peaking at number six system-wide in monthly sales—their primary near-term corporate goal is to break permanently into the top five.
Beyond sales rankings, the duo shares a unified vision for long-term growth. Buoyed by the smooth integration of new franchise-wide point-of-sale systems and sustained local marketing, they are actively evaluating opportunities to open a second studio location in the greater Minnesota market.
More importantly, they have proven that business partnerships do not have to succumb to the pressures of retail management. By anchoring their enterprise in mutual respect, open communication, and an unwavering commitment to their personal bond, Jain and Choudhary have created a sustainable enterprise that enriches both their lives and the broader Edina community.
