Brand Building: Shared her journey of starting with just $500 and growing into a national franchise.
September 14, 2025 • 22 mins
Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Kika Wise.
A former professional dancer turned entrepreneur, franchisor, and wellness educator. She is the Founder and CEO of Kika Stretch Studios, a franchise specializing in assisted stretching for wellness and longevity.
🔑 Key Themes & Highlights
The Science Behind Stretching
- Stretching improves circulation, flexibility, and posture, helping clients feel more youthful.
- Wise explained that assisted stretching allows people to go beyond their comfort zones, unlocking deeper relief.
Franchising & Business Growth
- Wise is the youngest female franchisor in America, expanding her brand nationwide.
- She emphasized the importance of consistency across franchise locations, ensuring clients receive the same experience.
Overcoming Challenges During COVID-19
- The pandemic forced all Kika Stretch Studios to close for three months.
- Wise held weekly calls with franchisees, learning how to lead through uncertainty.
- After reopening, the business rebounded successfully, proving the demand for wellness services.
Entrepreneurship & Leadership
- Wise shared her journey of starting with just $500 and growing into a national franchise.
- She encourages millennials to trust themselves and think beyond traditional career paths.
- Her advice: Invest in yourself first, because personal growth leads to business success.
📘 About Kika Wise
Kika Wise is a trailblazing entrepreneur who turned her passion for wellness into a successful franchise model. She is dedicated to educating millennials and other generations on self-care, business ownership, and financial independence. #STRAW
#BEST
#SHMS
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My next guest, longtime friend.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Last time I was here, I saw right before COVID
when she was opening to one of her popular franchise
locations in the city of Atlanta. Georgia went down there
and was ready to get all stretched out. She is
a former professional dancer to an entrepreneur, franchiser and wellness
educator Kika Stretch Studios helped clients maintain youth and vitality
with design, tension, relief that age, and increased flexibility and
(00:26):
overall ability. Kika Wise is a businesswoman on a mission
to educate millennials and me people like me too, and
other demiseration on how to preserve self and pursue franchising.
Please welcome to the money making conversation the talent but
young Kika Wise.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Thank you so much, well kicker.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You know I was, like I said, first of all,
you introduced me to the whole concept of stretching. You know,
I was a guy who fought that whole stretching principal
thought that didn't make any sense. And since I've been stretching,
and since we started our relationship, it has improved. My
flexibility has improved, my walk has proved, my posture tell
(01:06):
us the whole science behind stretching.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yes, thank you so much again for having me. Basically,
when you stretch, you're sending fresh blood throughout your entire body,
so your body is able to operate better, more efficiently.
You're not as tired, you feel energized, and then you're
just moving with more grace. You don't feel as much
discomfort in your body. So it's very important to keep
(01:31):
the blood flowing through your body.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, like I said, did you say help you stretch
or just the principle? Is it stretching by your stiff
a good thing? Your business principle is somebody motivating you
and assisting you.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Tell us about your franchises and your brain.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yes, so imagine lying on a mat and having someone
gently stretch out your entire body for you. So we
helped take away the tension that's been trapped inside of
your body for years. Yes, So our franchise locations are
hubs for people to just feel more youthful, feel better,
and just release all that tension that you really don't need.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Well, i'muld tell you some.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I met you you opening one of your fantastic studios
in the city of Atlanta, and I was about to
schedule my first appointment at that location and they COVID
hit when it.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Was shut down, What was going through your mind and
what was going.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Through the franchisee, the franchises that you had sold your
brand to doing that first two months and talk about
that and then when you start coming out of COVID,
what was the planning process then?
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah, So when the pandemic first happened, all of our
studios had to close for three months. For the first
two weeks, I was really I was speechless. I couldn't
believe that we were being forced to shut down. And
during the pandemic, I had to have calls with my
franchisees every week. So while I was struggling searching for
(02:58):
positivity and ants in a situation like this, I really
learned how to lead and I learned how to become
a better leader by facing new entrepreneurs who just signed up,
who are just getting their businesses flowing during a pandemic.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
So during the pandemic, we really focused on how we
could help people feel better. That's what we do anyway.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
So after the three months, we all reopened and we
were able to engage our clientele again and they've been
coming ever since.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Great Let's let's talk to some of the highlights of Kikawise.
She's the youngest female franchiser in America. The kick of
Stretch method is a trademark. Stretch routine is like any other.
When you say that the stretch your method is unlike
any other, what is the difference of me just going
into my basement of going getting out of my bed
laying on the floor.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Which makes your routine so unique?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Right, So we all do that. We all stretch on
our own.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
We all lay on the floor, and it's something that
we keep doing and we keep seeking relief, but we
never get it because you can only go so far
on your own. After a while, you're just stretching at
the same point over and over. It's really not helping
you reach your goals. So when you have someone helping you,
assisting you, you're going past your comfort zone and you're
opening up new areas of your body.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
So you can't do that on your own.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
The goal for us this year is to continue to
expand nationally, and we're also adding some some more services
to what we already do to help make it more relaxing,
more comfortable and just dynamic.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So let's let's relax me as a customer. You know,
I want to come in. I know I need to stretch.
I know, and I'm gonna tell you so it does work,
Ladies and gentlemen. The stretching changes your life, bending over
just lifting things just I think the biggest thing that
stretching does for me, Kika is my posture and my
(04:52):
walk because you know, as you if you don't stretch,
as you get older, your stride gets shorter and shorter,
which calls that little slow motion quick step walk.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
If you stretch. I'm telling true.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I was your boy was I thought I had my
swag on that looked in the mirror and I went, okay, boy,
you're walking like you're eighty years old. And it's because
I wasn't stretching.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I wasn't.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I was doing the walking, the power walking I was
doing on my treadmill in the streets. It's light jogging.
But that has nothing to do with extending your stride
because you can do You've seen people jog in the streets,
that little tippy tap jog because they don't feel like
extending their body. Well, that was happening to me and
so so I was not motivating my body to get
(05:35):
any better. And that's what the value of what you
were talking about here is not just for people my age,
but people younger should start the process. And that's really
what you discovered. I would to you know, it's been
a long time since you've been on the show. Can
you tell people the backstory how you got started with
your with your whole business model?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
So I studied dance at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
So I was a dance major. I acted, and I
danced professionally upon graduating.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
For many years.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Then it came to a point where I questioned, should
I go back to school or should I start my
own business? Right of course, people were like, don't start
your business. You know most businesses fell blah blah blah.
So I was always the type.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Of people want people push your confidence, pushing you, pushing
your confidence ahead fail you would never make it stop.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Exactly exactly push my confidence.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Right. You know.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It is really sad because I want you know, I
want you to finish your story. But that's what so
many people stop. Because people don't understand your dreams. They
won't stop your dreams if they don't they won't take
time to hear it out.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
They'll stop you to really speed.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
That's a dumb idea, or that idea how you gonna
make money stretching people?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
That's what I know. You heard that a lot.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So you mean you're gonna start a business where you
just go stretch people out. See, they understand the word massage,
they got that, they understand yoga, they understand pilates. But
you came on with a whole new concept stretching like
a person like me, Oh, you.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Just gonna lay on the floor? Can I do that myself?
And then you say, excuse me, that's the problem.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
You have been doing it yourself and you've been doing
it wrong, and coming to your studio you get to
do it right, so continue. I just want to stop
you right there, because when I get so mad when
I hear people tell you to stop. When I hear that,
it is so many example to hear, so many interviews.
That term is used when people stop people try to
prevent them from pursuing their dreams because guess what, they
don't understand. People try to be a doctor, do not
(07:28):
go to a mechanic for advice?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Right and unfortunately for creatives, for people who create, it's
something that you face people telling you to stop that
what you're thinking is crazy, and it's hard because you
can't listen to them because they have no point of reference.
It's a path that they haven't taken, so how can
they really tell you to stop?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
So you just have to keep going.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
So, like you said, people were like, I can stretch myself.
What's the difference. So what we did our whole marketing
campaign was coming in for thirty minutes for free and
try it out. And when people started doing that, they
felt it and they were like, Oh, this is what
my body has been missing my whole life.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And I'm like, exactly. So it's really something you have
to feel.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
We always, you know, we try to explain it to people,
but you have to. You have to feel it because
it's so new. But yeah, so I decided to start
the business. I took my last and people say really, yes,
last five hundred dollars and I rented a little space
that I shared with a real estate agent.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I printed brochures from my.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Computer and I started stretching people literally, and that's how
the business started.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
And a little small space. People felt it. They liked it.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
And they begin to trust me and the method. So
that's how we started.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Well, how do how does that trust go from one
franchise location to the next. You know, it's almost like
when I go to McDonald's in Jersey and McDonald's in California.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I went the same big mac. How do you maintain.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
That that that that authenticity, that the credibility that the
service I'm getting in location is going to be satisfactory
to a client and your brand.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
So over the years, I constantly did new things and
talked to new people. So we started getting more press,
more articles about what we were doing, and so more
and more people started coming. We had a really big
article on the New York Times, and that's what really
made it, you know, official, a big thing, and that's
(09:28):
when people started inquiring about purchasing locations for themselves. So
that's when I started taking franchising seriously, like, oh yeah,
I could help people and I could expand using the
franchise system. So we hold a lot of trainings, monthly trainings,
we do one on one calls. Because the magic sauce
is the stretch, right, so we constantly engage with our
(09:51):
stretch coaches across the country, ensuring that they're following the
method and that everybody's on the same page. But that's
something we focus a lot on because, as you said,
we want people to stretch in California and have the
same experience that they would have in New Jersey.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well you are in your opening, I said, kick Wise
is a business woman on a mission to educate millennials
and other generations on how to preserve self and pursue franchising.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
How do you want to educate millennials?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
How much time do we have? Okay, I think it's
happening now.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Already we were told to get a good job, work
their your whole life, retire, so we all know that
those systems are not the same as they once were.
Pensions are not the same. So really, for millennials, what
I'm encouraging them is to think outside of the box
and trust themselves. We've been trusting systems, We've been trusting
(10:49):
our boss, We've been trusting major corporations to give us
a job. What I'm really trying to get people to
understand is that if you trust yourself and believe in yourself,
you can become your own entrepreneur or your own boss.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
You can do it.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
So trusting themselves is really what I'm trying to get
people to do well.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
First of all, I always tell people, if you don't
trust yourself, then how you're gonna work hard? And if
you don't work hard, then you want to achieve your dreams.
And that's all tied to planning, proper planning, and you
are planning. I remember when we first interviewed. When I
first interviewed you, you was talking about Rashaan. I really
want I want my Stretch locations throughout this country. How
(11:28):
does one franchise a location I want to go to
the let's let's do marketing one on one now, how
does one franchise a location that's growing rather rapidly?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Yes, so you contact us first franchise location key can Stretch.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Studios dot com.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
But what is really happening out here is people are
looking for ways to feel good. And so that's why
we're still getting many people interested in purchasing a location
for themselves because they're looking for a business that obviously
will generate a profit, but something that's long standing.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So when I first.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Started, I started during the recession in two thousand. It
was right after two thousand and eight right, So this
is definitely something that will help people live their best lives.
So they we ask people to really question why you
want to go into business, and as long as it's
for other people, like you're in it to help people,
(12:23):
then we want to talk to you.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Right.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
So what do they have to have? I know, they
gotta have good credit. Do they have to have a building,
they have to have a location? Do they have to
have a staff? Can there be one person operation? What
are the qualification of the standards to become to buy
a franchise?
Speaker 4 (12:39):
So yes, many of our current franchisees have a corporate background,
so they're well organized, they're good with multitasking. We look
for people who are willing to work in the business
in the beginning and not just hand it off. It's
important for our owners to know what they're selling. We
(12:59):
actually train you and help you find staff, help you
find a space, we help you do everything. So really
all you need to come with is work ethics and
just a passion to help people. We look for people
that have like great personalities and that's where we start
our search.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Please don't go anywhere, We'll be right back with more
money making conversations Masterclass Welcome back to the Money Making
Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashaan McDonald.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Well, you know it's really important that you this interview process.
You know, you're just not just set passing out franchises
to make money because that's your brand. So you don't
want the anger person or the get rich quick person
trying to get in on your business. Because I want
ten Ohm, here's the money. Next thing. You know, that's
ten horrible brands. Guess what, All complaints gonna come back you.
(14:01):
All claims will hit your social media. All complaints don't
hit your hit your brand. So it's always important to
understand that yes you want to expand, Yes you want
to make money.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Yes you want.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
To be able to have your brand in an area
that is up there with yoga and pilatees.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
You know there's terminology.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
You want to keeck a stretch matho to be in
that same language out there.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
But again, don't come to me for stupidity. Don't come
to me. If you don't care about people, don't come
to me. If you don't have time, don't come to me.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
If you don't want to be an active participant in
the location. You know what I'm saying just buy it,
give it to your mama, buy it, give it to
your sister. Then you want them to generate money for you,
and neither one of them care about the product. So
especially when the pandemic hit, because that's when you said
it was something you know that when you was talking,
you was talking about that truly had to step up
your leadership. When you say step up your leadership, what
(14:52):
does that mean? Because did you have to step it
up because people just didn't have any It was just
they were just lost for words or or you just
feared that, Wow, these people could just collapse right in
front of you and you have no answer to make
them become successful because you had a plan before the pandemic.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Pandemic him, you're playing without the window. It was planned b.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Right.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
So it was interesting because so I was watching all
of the governors in different states speak, and I was
so inspired by many of them, Like wow, just paying
attention to how they motivated encouraged the community, but also
how they dealt with negativity, right, And so I understood
(15:39):
that these new owners were at a very low place
where they were afraid. And so I learned that you know,
you just have to keep it real with people like
we're all afraid, right, but this is what we're going
to do. So kind of not acting as if I
was immune to what was going on, but letting them
know that I'm human, I'm here with you, but this
is what we're going to do, right, and just believe,
(16:01):
distrust me, and just moving forward strong because like, yeah,
I've been doing this for a while.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
I trust that I know what I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Again, trusting yourself and so I'm not going to scare
you the wrong way and leading that way. But what
you said about finding candidates, it's so true. I've had
to turn down so many people who literally threw money
at me but didn't want to work in the business,
was going to give it to a family member who
never worked before. And so over the years I've become
(16:31):
I've become really, really strict as far as who we
let in because that's the essence of your franchise.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
People, well, you.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Know, because that's what happens.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
And I've just been honest a lot of franchises I've
been associated with, just through research and also talking to entrepreneurs.
You know, people will sell them, they say, hey, you
want it, you know, and a lot of main services.
Franchises will do that. They say, I'm buying this for
my wife, I'm buying this for my daughter, to try
to get them into business, get them in the entrepreneurial space.
(17:01):
But does that mean that they understand it, because in
the end, it has to be a certain degree of education.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
What is that?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
What is that period of education that you have in
place when you when you want somebody signs on board.
Does the training start before they they start paying making
the payments for the for the franchising location or what's
that period of training? Is it a month, two months
or how does that work? Or is just day weekly
weekly training?
Speaker 4 (17:29):
Yeah, so we start some people start as early as
like three months before they actually open.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We start training them.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
So we start training them in business in general, you know,
like what type what form of business entities should you form? Corporation, LLC?
What's the difference bank account? How much money should you save?
Then we teach them on the method as well, and
also the stretching business. So three weeks is usually the
(18:03):
least amount of time will do it in. But I
always tell people like usually franchises are ten year agreements,
So I always tell people it's a ten year learning process,
and the moment you stop wanting to learn is the
moment your business is going to go downhill. Because, like
you said, entrepreneurs are not born overnight. Like you can't
(18:24):
just say, oh, I have an LLC, I'm a business owner.
On paper, you are, but in the real world, you're
gonna have to go through some stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
So what we do is we.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Try to tell you all this stuff you're gonna go through,
so when it comes, you're prepared for it and you
handle it. And that's the benefit of being in a
franchise system. You're not alone and I can tell you
what's going to happen and you'll be able to prepare
for it. But it does require you to self educate
yourself on business. It requires you to read books on
your own, to join local networking groups because you really
(18:56):
do have to grow your entrepreneur muscle when you decide
to purchase a franchise.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Well, you know, it's really important that everything you said,
I'm talking to kick a kick awise, you know she's
a kick a stretch studios.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
What words are inspiration?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
What motivational statements can you say that convince these people
not only this is a call not only about you
selling franchises, but also inviting people down to the studios
that are in the various locations throughout this country.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Yeah, I mean words of inspiration. I would definitely say
invest in yourself right, period like period, because we've gone
through so much, and I think the lesson that we've
all learned is that when it.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
All comes down to it, we all we have is ourselves. Right,
we have to.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Really focus on caring for ourselves before we can care
for anyone else. So whatever that means to you, whatever
you've always wanted to do that you've never done because
you were busy doing other things for other people, invest
in yourself first, and then your life will open up.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
And that's so true.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
But understand this, when you're invest in yourself, it tells
hard work. If you invest and want to be an entrepreneur,
there's two things happening. You can be an entrepreneur in
this case a franchise. Franchise or is really great because
they kind of like give you the cookbook. They're there
to help show you how to make the meal. But
it still comes back to whether you have the passion
(20:19):
to see it through. Because it is more than a
forty hour week job.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
It may tell some days.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
When you don't want to go to work, to go
to work. Some days you don't want to get up.
Some people are going to call in sick on you.
You have to do the work that they were supposed
to do. So to go out there and want to
be a business owner. That's why I enjoyed talking to
the individual like you, because it started from a dream,
you know, in the small real estate office, your first
your last five hundred dollars. Now it's a growing franchise
(20:47):
model that you can share around the country, you know,
the innovator. And I enjoy talking to you. It was
so funny just let everybody know she had actually died
me and kicking what's up? I didn't mean to come you,
I said, okay.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Girl, what's the problem.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
It really hurt my feelings right there. She could have said, hallo,
I didn't mean to call you, Risha. I've talked to
you a long time. Let's get back on the show.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
She started telling me how she was she was, she was,
she was succeeding during the pandemic when there was every
time you look on TV, it's one horrible store at
the next horble store. After the next horrible story, and
you in a business that is close contact and you
were succeeding and so so after that accidental phone call
led to us getting back together to talk about this story.
(21:30):
Is we're gonna putting this out here and promote you.
You know, I'm a big fan of yours. I just
tease you about that phone call because of the fact
that you know, God works in mysterious ways. You know,
it's like timing is everything, and we needed to talk
to each other because of the fact that I'm proud
of you as a as a as a young entrepreneur,
as a female African American. Good luck and keep winning, okay,
and then any time you make another accidental phone call,
(21:52):
make it like every six months, okay, kick.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
You every week. Now.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
This has been another edition of Money Conversation Masterclass hosted
by me Rushaun McDonald. Thank you to our guests on
the show today and thank you for listening to the
audience now. If you want to listen to any episode
I want to be a guest on the show, visit
Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversation.
Join us next week and remember to always leave with
(22:19):
your gifts keep winning,
My next guest, longtime friend.
Speaker 2 (00:02):
Last time I was here, I saw right before COVID
when she was opening to one of her popular franchise
locations in the city of Atlanta. Georgia went down there
and was ready to get all stretched out. She is
a former professional dancer to an entrepreneur, franchiser and wellness
educator Kika Stretch Studios helped clients maintain youth and vitality
with design, tension, relief that age, and increased flexibility and
(00:26):
overall ability. Kika Wise is a businesswoman on a mission
to educate millennials and me people like me too, and
other demiseration on how to preserve self and pursue franchising.
Please welcome to the money making conversation the talent but
young Kika Wise.
Speaker 3 (00:43):
Thank you so much, well kicker.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
You know I was, like I said, first of all,
you introduced me to the whole concept of stretching. You know,
I was a guy who fought that whole stretching principal
thought that didn't make any sense. And since I've been stretching,
and since we started our relationship, it has improved. My
flexibility has improved, my walk has proved, my posture tell
(01:06):
us the whole science behind stretching.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yes, thank you so much again for having me. Basically,
when you stretch, you're sending fresh blood throughout your entire body,
so your body is able to operate better, more efficiently.
You're not as tired, you feel energized, and then you're
just moving with more grace. You don't feel as much
discomfort in your body. So it's very important to keep
(01:31):
the blood flowing through your body.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Well, like I said, did you say help you stretch
or just the principle? Is it stretching by your stiff
a good thing? Your business principle is somebody motivating you
and assisting you.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Tell us about your franchises and your brain.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yes, so imagine lying on a mat and having someone
gently stretch out your entire body for you. So we
helped take away the tension that's been trapped inside of
your body for years. Yes, So our franchise locations are
hubs for people to just feel more youthful, feel better,
and just release all that tension that you really don't need.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Well, i'muld tell you some.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I met you you opening one of your fantastic studios
in the city of Atlanta, and I was about to
schedule my first appointment at that location and they COVID
hit when it.
Speaker 1 (02:20):
Was shut down, What was going through your mind and
what was going.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
Through the franchisee, the franchises that you had sold your
brand to doing that first two months and talk about
that and then when you start coming out of COVID,
what was the planning process then?
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Yeah, So when the pandemic first happened, all of our
studios had to close for three months. For the first
two weeks, I was really I was speechless. I couldn't
believe that we were being forced to shut down. And
during the pandemic, I had to have calls with my
franchisees every week. So while I was struggling searching for
(02:58):
positivity and ants in a situation like this, I really
learned how to lead and I learned how to become
a better leader by facing new entrepreneurs who just signed up,
who are just getting their businesses flowing during a pandemic.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
So during the pandemic, we really focused on how we
could help people feel better. That's what we do anyway.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
So after the three months, we all reopened and we
were able to engage our clientele again and they've been
coming ever since.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
Great Let's let's talk to some of the highlights of Kikawise.
She's the youngest female franchiser in America. The kick of
Stretch method is a trademark. Stretch routine is like any other.
When you say that the stretch your method is unlike
any other, what is the difference of me just going
into my basement of going getting out of my bed
laying on the floor.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Which makes your routine so unique?
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Right, So we all do that. We all stretch on
our own.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
We all lay on the floor, and it's something that
we keep doing and we keep seeking relief, but we
never get it because you can only go so far
on your own. After a while, you're just stretching at
the same point over and over. It's really not helping
you reach your goals. So when you have someone helping you,
assisting you, you're going past your comfort zone and you're
opening up new areas of your body.
Speaker 3 (04:14):
So you can't do that on your own.
Speaker 4 (04:16):
The goal for us this year is to continue to
expand nationally, and we're also adding some some more services
to what we already do to help make it more relaxing,
more comfortable and just dynamic.
Speaker 2 (04:31):
So let's let's relax me as a customer. You know,
I want to come in. I know I need to stretch.
I know, and I'm gonna tell you so it does work,
Ladies and gentlemen. The stretching changes your life, bending over
just lifting things just I think the biggest thing that
stretching does for me, Kika is my posture and my
(04:52):
walk because you know, as you if you don't stretch,
as you get older, your stride gets shorter and shorter,
which calls that little slow motion quick step walk.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
If you stretch. I'm telling true.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I was your boy was I thought I had my
swag on that looked in the mirror and I went, okay, boy,
you're walking like you're eighty years old. And it's because
I wasn't stretching.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
I wasn't.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
I was doing the walking, the power walking I was
doing on my treadmill in the streets. It's light jogging.
But that has nothing to do with extending your stride
because you can do You've seen people jog in the streets,
that little tippy tap jog because they don't feel like
extending their body. Well, that was happening to me and
so so I was not motivating my body to get
(05:35):
any better. And that's what the value of what you
were talking about here is not just for people my age,
but people younger should start the process. And that's really
what you discovered. I would to you know, it's been
a long time since you've been on the show. Can
you tell people the backstory how you got started with
your with your whole business model?
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (05:52):
So I studied dance at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
So I was a dance major. I acted, and I
danced professionally upon graduating.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
For many years.
Speaker 4 (06:04):
Then it came to a point where I questioned, should
I go back to school or should I start my
own business? Right of course, people were like, don't start
your business. You know most businesses fell blah blah blah.
So I was always the type.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Of people want people push your confidence, pushing you, pushing
your confidence ahead fail you would never make it stop.
Speaker 3 (06:25):
Exactly exactly push my confidence.
Speaker 4 (06:28):
Right. You know.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
It is really sad because I want you know, I
want you to finish your story. But that's what so
many people stop. Because people don't understand your dreams. They
won't stop your dreams if they don't they won't take
time to hear it out.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
They'll stop you to really speed.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
That's a dumb idea, or that idea how you gonna
make money stretching people?
Speaker 1 (06:45):
That's what I know. You heard that a lot.
Speaker 2 (06:47):
So you mean you're gonna start a business where you
just go stretch people out. See, they understand the word massage,
they got that, they understand yoga, they understand pilates. But
you came on with a whole new concept stretching like
a person like me, Oh, you.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Just gonna lay on the floor? Can I do that myself?
And then you say, excuse me, that's the problem.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
You have been doing it yourself and you've been doing
it wrong, and coming to your studio you get to
do it right, so continue. I just want to stop
you right there, because when I get so mad when
I hear people tell you to stop. When I hear that,
it is so many example to hear, so many interviews.
That term is used when people stop people try to
prevent them from pursuing their dreams because guess what, they
don't understand. People try to be a doctor, do not
(07:28):
go to a mechanic for advice?
Speaker 4 (07:32):
Right and unfortunately for creatives, for people who create, it's
something that you face people telling you to stop that
what you're thinking is crazy, and it's hard because you
can't listen to them because they have no point of reference.
It's a path that they haven't taken, so how can
they really tell you to stop?
Speaker 1 (07:49):
Right?
Speaker 3 (07:50):
So you just have to keep going.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
So, like you said, people were like, I can stretch myself.
What's the difference. So what we did our whole marketing
campaign was coming in for thirty minutes for free and
try it out. And when people started doing that, they
felt it and they were like, Oh, this is what
my body has been missing my whole life.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
And I'm like, exactly. So it's really something you have
to feel.
Speaker 4 (08:13):
We always, you know, we try to explain it to people,
but you have to. You have to feel it because
it's so new. But yeah, so I decided to start
the business. I took my last and people say really, yes,
last five hundred dollars and I rented a little space
that I shared with a real estate agent.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
I printed brochures from my.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Computer and I started stretching people literally, and that's how
the business started.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
And a little small space. People felt it. They liked it.
Speaker 4 (08:41):
And they begin to trust me and the method. So
that's how we started.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Well, how do how does that trust go from one
franchise location to the next. You know, it's almost like
when I go to McDonald's in Jersey and McDonald's in California.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
I went the same big mac. How do you maintain.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
That that that that authenticity, that the credibility that the
service I'm getting in location is going to be satisfactory
to a client and your brand.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
So over the years, I constantly did new things and
talked to new people. So we started getting more press,
more articles about what we were doing, and so more
and more people started coming. We had a really big
article on the New York Times, and that's what really
made it, you know, official, a big thing, and that's
(09:28):
when people started inquiring about purchasing locations for themselves. So
that's when I started taking franchising seriously, like, oh yeah,
I could help people and I could expand using the
franchise system. So we hold a lot of trainings, monthly trainings,
we do one on one calls. Because the magic sauce
is the stretch, right, so we constantly engage with our
(09:51):
stretch coaches across the country, ensuring that they're following the
method and that everybody's on the same page. But that's
something we focus a lot on because, as you said,
we want people to stretch in California and have the
same experience that they would have in New Jersey.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
Well you are in your opening, I said, kick Wise
is a business woman on a mission to educate millennials
and other generations on how to preserve self and pursue franchising.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
How do you want to educate millennials?
Speaker 3 (10:21):
How much time do we have? Okay, I think it's
happening now.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
Already we were told to get a good job, work
their your whole life, retire, so we all know that
those systems are not the same as they once were.
Pensions are not the same. So really, for millennials, what
I'm encouraging them is to think outside of the box
and trust themselves. We've been trusting systems, We've been trusting
(10:49):
our boss, We've been trusting major corporations to give us
a job. What I'm really trying to get people to
understand is that if you trust yourself and believe in yourself,
you can become your own entrepreneur or your own boss.
Speaker 3 (11:03):
You can do it.
Speaker 4 (11:04):
So trusting themselves is really what I'm trying to get
people to do well.
Speaker 2 (11:08):
First of all, I always tell people, if you don't
trust yourself, then how you're gonna work hard? And if
you don't work hard, then you want to achieve your dreams.
And that's all tied to planning, proper planning, and you
are planning. I remember when we first interviewed. When I
first interviewed you, you was talking about Rashaan. I really
want I want my Stretch locations throughout this country. How
(11:28):
does one franchise a location I want to go to
the let's let's do marketing one on one now, how
does one franchise a location that's growing rather rapidly?
Speaker 4 (11:38):
Yes, so you contact us first franchise location key can Stretch.
Speaker 3 (11:44):
Studios dot com.
Speaker 4 (11:46):
But what is really happening out here is people are
looking for ways to feel good. And so that's why
we're still getting many people interested in purchasing a location
for themselves because they're looking for a business that obviously
will generate a profit, but something that's long standing.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
So when I first.
Speaker 4 (12:03):
Started, I started during the recession in two thousand. It
was right after two thousand and eight right, So this
is definitely something that will help people live their best lives.
So they we ask people to really question why you
want to go into business, and as long as it's
for other people, like you're in it to help people,
(12:23):
then we want to talk to you.
Speaker 3 (12:25):
Right.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
So what do they have to have? I know, they
gotta have good credit. Do they have to have a building,
they have to have a location? Do they have to
have a staff? Can there be one person operation? What
are the qualification of the standards to become to buy
a franchise?
Speaker 4 (12:39):
So yes, many of our current franchisees have a corporate background,
so they're well organized, they're good with multitasking. We look
for people who are willing to work in the business
in the beginning and not just hand it off. It's
important for our owners to know what they're selling. We
(12:59):
actually train you and help you find staff, help you
find a space, we help you do everything. So really
all you need to come with is work ethics and
just a passion to help people. We look for people
that have like great personalities and that's where we start
our search.
Speaker 5 (13:19):
Please don't go anywhere, We'll be right back with more
money making conversations Masterclass Welcome back to the Money Making
Conversations Masterclass hosted by Rashaan McDonald.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Well, you know it's really important that you this interview process.
You know, you're just not just set passing out franchises
to make money because that's your brand. So you don't
want the anger person or the get rich quick person
trying to get in on your business. Because I want
ten Ohm, here's the money. Next thing. You know, that's
ten horrible brands. Guess what, All complaints gonna come back you.
(14:01):
All claims will hit your social media. All complaints don't
hit your hit your brand. So it's always important to
understand that yes you want to expand, Yes you want
to make money.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Yes you want.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
To be able to have your brand in an area
that is up there with yoga and pilatees.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
You know there's terminology.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
You want to keeck a stretch matho to be in
that same language out there.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
But again, don't come to me for stupidity. Don't come
to me. If you don't care about people, don't come
to me. If you don't have time, don't come to me.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
If you don't want to be an active participant in
the location. You know what I'm saying just buy it,
give it to your mama, buy it, give it to
your sister. Then you want them to generate money for you,
and neither one of them care about the product. So
especially when the pandemic hit, because that's when you said
it was something you know that when you was talking,
you was talking about that truly had to step up
your leadership. When you say step up your leadership, what
(14:52):
does that mean? Because did you have to step it
up because people just didn't have any It was just
they were just lost for words or or you just
feared that, Wow, these people could just collapse right in
front of you and you have no answer to make
them become successful because you had a plan before the pandemic.
Speaker 1 (15:10):
Pandemic him, you're playing without the window. It was planned b.
Speaker 3 (15:16):
Right.
Speaker 4 (15:17):
So it was interesting because so I was watching all
of the governors in different states speak, and I was
so inspired by many of them, Like wow, just paying
attention to how they motivated encouraged the community, but also
how they dealt with negativity, right, And so I understood
(15:39):
that these new owners were at a very low place
where they were afraid. And so I learned that you know,
you just have to keep it real with people like
we're all afraid, right, but this is what we're going
to do. So kind of not acting as if I
was immune to what was going on, but letting them
know that I'm human, I'm here with you, but this
is what we're going to do, right, and just believe,
(16:01):
distrust me, and just moving forward strong because like, yeah,
I've been doing this for a while.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
I trust that I know what I'm doing.
Speaker 4 (16:10):
Again, trusting yourself and so I'm not going to scare
you the wrong way and leading that way. But what
you said about finding candidates, it's so true. I've had
to turn down so many people who literally threw money
at me but didn't want to work in the business,
was going to give it to a family member who
never worked before. And so over the years I've become
(16:31):
I've become really, really strict as far as who we
let in because that's the essence of your franchise.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
People, well, you.
Speaker 1 (16:38):
Know, because that's what happens.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
And I've just been honest a lot of franchises I've
been associated with, just through research and also talking to entrepreneurs.
You know, people will sell them, they say, hey, you
want it, you know, and a lot of main services.
Franchises will do that. They say, I'm buying this for
my wife, I'm buying this for my daughter, to try
to get them into business, get them in the entrepreneurial space.
(17:01):
But does that mean that they understand it, because in
the end, it has to be a certain degree of education.
Speaker 1 (17:08):
What is that?
Speaker 2 (17:08):
What is that period of education that you have in
place when you when you want somebody signs on board.
Does the training start before they they start paying making
the payments for the for the franchising location or what's
that period of training? Is it a month, two months
or how does that work? Or is just day weekly
weekly training?
Speaker 4 (17:29):
Yeah, so we start some people start as early as
like three months before they actually open.
Speaker 3 (17:36):
We start training them.
Speaker 4 (17:38):
So we start training them in business in general, you know,
like what type what form of business entities should you form? Corporation, LLC?
What's the difference bank account? How much money should you save?
Then we teach them on the method as well, and
also the stretching business. So three weeks is usually the
(18:03):
least amount of time will do it in. But I
always tell people like usually franchises are ten year agreements,
So I always tell people it's a ten year learning process,
and the moment you stop wanting to learn is the
moment your business is going to go downhill. Because, like
you said, entrepreneurs are not born overnight. Like you can't
(18:24):
just say, oh, I have an LLC, I'm a business owner.
On paper, you are, but in the real world, you're
gonna have to go through some stuff.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
So what we do is we.
Speaker 4 (18:32):
Try to tell you all this stuff you're gonna go through,
so when it comes, you're prepared for it and you
handle it. And that's the benefit of being in a
franchise system. You're not alone and I can tell you
what's going to happen and you'll be able to prepare
for it. But it does require you to self educate
yourself on business. It requires you to read books on
your own, to join local networking groups because you really
(18:56):
do have to grow your entrepreneur muscle when you decide
to purchase a franchise.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Well, you know, it's really important that everything you said,
I'm talking to kick a kick awise, you know she's
a kick a stretch studios.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
What words are inspiration?
Speaker 2 (19:10):
What motivational statements can you say that convince these people
not only this is a call not only about you
selling franchises, but also inviting people down to the studios
that are in the various locations throughout this country.
Speaker 4 (19:21):
Yeah, I mean words of inspiration. I would definitely say
invest in yourself right, period like period, because we've gone
through so much, and I think the lesson that we've
all learned is that when it.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
All comes down to it, we all we have is ourselves. Right,
we have to.
Speaker 4 (19:41):
Really focus on caring for ourselves before we can care
for anyone else. So whatever that means to you, whatever
you've always wanted to do that you've never done because
you were busy doing other things for other people, invest
in yourself first, and then your life will open up.
Speaker 1 (19:58):
And that's so true.
Speaker 2 (19:59):
But understand this, when you're invest in yourself, it tells
hard work. If you invest and want to be an entrepreneur,
there's two things happening. You can be an entrepreneur in
this case a franchise. Franchise or is really great because
they kind of like give you the cookbook. They're there
to help show you how to make the meal. But
it still comes back to whether you have the passion
(20:19):
to see it through. Because it is more than a
forty hour week job.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
It may tell some days.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
When you don't want to go to work, to go
to work. Some days you don't want to get up.
Some people are going to call in sick on you.
You have to do the work that they were supposed
to do. So to go out there and want to
be a business owner. That's why I enjoyed talking to
the individual like you, because it started from a dream,
you know, in the small real estate office, your first
your last five hundred dollars. Now it's a growing franchise
(20:47):
model that you can share around the country, you know,
the innovator. And I enjoy talking to you. It was
so funny just let everybody know she had actually died
me and kicking what's up? I didn't mean to come you,
I said, okay.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
Girl, what's the problem.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
It really hurt my feelings right there. She could have said, hallo,
I didn't mean to call you, Risha. I've talked to
you a long time. Let's get back on the show.
Speaker 2 (21:10):
She started telling me how she was she was, she was,
she was succeeding during the pandemic when there was every
time you look on TV, it's one horrible store at
the next horble store. After the next horrible story, and
you in a business that is close contact and you
were succeeding and so so after that accidental phone call
led to us getting back together to talk about this story.
(21:30):
Is we're gonna putting this out here and promote you.
You know, I'm a big fan of yours. I just
tease you about that phone call because of the fact
that you know, God works in mysterious ways. You know,
it's like timing is everything, and we needed to talk
to each other because of the fact that I'm proud
of you as a as a as a young entrepreneur,
as a female African American. Good luck and keep winning, okay,
and then any time you make another accidental phone call,
(21:52):
make it like every six months, okay, kick.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
You every week. Now.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
This has been another edition of Money Conversation Masterclass hosted
by me Rushaun McDonald. Thank you to our guests on
the show today and thank you for listening to the
audience now. If you want to listen to any episode
I want to be a guest on the show, visit
Moneymakingconversations dot com. Our social media handle is money Making Conversation.
Join us next week and remember to always leave with
(22:19):
your gifts keep winning,
Hosts And Creators
Steve Harvey
Shirley Strawberry
Thomas "Nephew Tommy" Miles
Carla Ferrell
Kier "Junior" Spates
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