Radiance Medical Spas: website trouble
If the Radiance Medical Spa here is an example of exactly how you don't want your medspa to be perceived as.
Via Plasticized:
"Radiance Medspa is a national franchise that has run into trouble with disgruntled owners and office closures. In the cosmetic world, it can be a challenge to maintain quality over large distances with a range of practitioners with varying quality. Some of the spas have broken away from the corporation. Others have closed in the last year.
Take a look at this Radiance website. The "highly skilled, licensed professionals " were unable to spell "specialization" and they left some latin text from the website template they ripped under "about us". Here is an example of how quality control can fail in a large entity"
I don't know if the Dermacare doctors have it any worse than these poor Radiance franchises.
Jeff Barson
Reader Comments (22)
Forced to buy expensive lasers and light devices that don't work (Cutera).
Kickbacks to Laser Manufacturer (Cutera).
A marketing plan that works for the first 6 months only.
Routine "Stalin-like" purges of franchisees.
Owner with drug and alcohol problems.
Meglomaniac owner (kind of like Hitler).
No support from corporate.
No corporate staff.
6% of Gross Income added to your overhead (Royalty).
Inadequate training.
No freedom of communication or assembly (leads to purges).
I don't think it gets any worse.
This IS Dermacare.
This IS Carl J. Mudd's Masterpiece!
For more information about Dermacare and Carl J. Mudd you can visit: www.geocities.com/carl.mudd
Actually, the word 'specialisation' is the correct spelling in Australia...
Hi Jeff,
Ouch. I happen to know that the location you referenced is closed. By the way there is no more Radiance Franchise. What is left are some very dedicated owners that are making a go of it, some of us in our third year of operation. We banded together over a year and one half go, retained prominent legal counsel specializing in franchise law and issued a notice of default on the Franchisor which was never responded to.
But thanks for dragging the name Radiance through the mudd (pun intended) again.
Mark,
We will be cheering for you. I hope you guys can make a go of things without the franchise. Keep us posted.
Do you think a name change would be beneficial if there is a local negative feel for the franchise name "Radiance"?
Mark, LH is right, we're rooting for all the franchisees. I didn't mean to pile on, just pointing something out.
Hi LH,
Actually we discussed that in some detail. A number of locations have spent significant amounts of money to build the name Radiance into a well respected name in the communities we are in. The larger issues of a BK Franchisor dont really make the radar of a client looking locally for top notch cosmetic procedures.
Regards,
Mark
I hope to franchise thing wont be the end of it. Good Luck!
The franchise location in Altamonte Springs (orlando, FL) has closed....
I spoke with a guy 1-2 months ago he called to in get some info about some equipment they were thinking about putting in several Radiance med spas. We talked about the Orlando one closing and he said it closed before he came on. He was top tier management from what he told me.
Florida PA,
Interesting that someone would have the boldness to call themselves "top tier management" at Radiance, since there isn't any Radiance anymore. Some franchisees have kept the name, but corp filed for bankruptcy and left over $1.5M in unpaid debts. Did "top tier management" give his name and contact info?
I said top tier, he said management. I assumed because he was talking about how he was brought on to help revamp the company. He rattled off about 15 locations and was very knowledgeable about Radiance. I mentioned we picked up one of the Aestheticians from the closed Orlando site and the conversation just went from there. He said keep in touch maybe we could do some business. He originally called me for a reference about efficacy of equipment from a distributor I use that he met in a New York show. I would rather not put myself out there but if you really need specifics e-mail me oncallmed@hotmail.com.
Thanks Florida PA, understand your concerns, will be in touch.
Interestingly, one Stephen Anderson recently reserved the corp name "Radiance Medspa Arizona LLC". He's associated with Better & Better Investments in Phoenix, a business broker. Is he your contact? Sure looks like someone is trying to revive Radiance. I hope they have a good lawyer and deep pockets.
Also interesting that they didn't reserve the entity as a "PLLC", which is required as a medical entity, so they clearly don't know much about the business. May indicate they are not working with Chuck E, since he's too saavy a crook to make that mistake.
No, was not him this guy was out of new york 914 area code I remember that because I went to school up there. I don't know if there is an association. He said he had 15 years exp with lasers on the business side, non-medical. He knew about wavelengths, parameters and such. Said he was looking to put equipment in a dozen locations or so. Honestly I don't remember the name I get a bunch of calls for this. It was a real unique first name for a guy, one more associated with a female. I'm going to call my distributor and get his name because now its bugging me.
Hi Fl. PA,
Let me help you. Was it Loren Caplen? Do a Google search on his name or his previous endeavour "Standard Mems". You cant make this shit up.
Regards,
Mark
Hi Again Fl. PA,
Here, Ill make it even easier for you.
http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/August05/caplancomplaintpr.pdf
Mark
BINGO! You're the winner of the big first prize. Well looks like he beat that rap, unless its still going on. Funny he called me as a reference for equipment efficacy. LOL I guess he didn't want to get ripped off.
Mark,
Good call on the Caplan thing. What's your tangle with Radiance?
Jilted,
Im untangled with Radiance and have been for over a year.
Hey Guys
I don't know much about Radiance besides what little I follow here. Does anyone know how this Loren plays in?
Fl. PA,
I saw once where you posted your e-mail but cant find it. If you wish to post again I can fill you in. Plus I am a little curious about who you are and where you are located in FL., but I prefer to have that conversation off-line.
Regards,
Mark
It's interesting to see how big this conversation has become now that we are in June 2008. I had made a causal inquiry with Radiance late last year and detected within just a few moments that there were majorproblems with corporate. Following that call I led a short campaign to highlight some of the risks and shortcomings of theironline strategy. You can see the brief video I recorded for franchisees in January of this year: http://www.etnainteractive.com/radiance/ . Radiance Rescue Video.
I was really happy to hear that a few of the franchisees had already taken steps to secure their online presence and that they had already set up sites of their own.
I wish the remaining locations the best of luck.
Mark
oncallmed@hotmail.com