Hot Spot Sacramento Opens to Instant Community Buzz

When Bobbi and Michael Pack opened their Hot Spot Studio in Sacramento, California, they planned for a gradual community ramp-up that usually comes with launching a new small business. However, to their surprise and excitement, the immediate turnout started fast and stayed fast. Almost immediately, the studio found its rhythm, “Weekdays were steady,” Michael says. “But on weekends it has been absolutely bonkers.”

That early momentum created real operational pressure in the best possible way. In the first couple of weeks, Bobbi and Michael were still in the thick of building routines, dialing in inventory flow, and adapting to demand in real time. People were already noticing the studio, stopping by, sitting down, and immediately making art. 

From Corporate Careers to Franchise Ownership

For Michael and Bobbi, business ownership wasn’t a new idea. “We had thought in the past about starting our own business,” Michael says. “It’s always been something that kind of interested us.” However, when they explored opportunities before, most of them felt out of reach. “They required so much capital to start,” Michael explains. “It didn’t seem feasible for someone to basically replace their current day job with the business.”

Both Bobbi & Michael had built established careers. Bobbi’s background was in marketing and customer experience, working across print, digital, retail media, and national platforms. Michael served 12 years active duty in the Army before transitioning into state-level financial analysis, reviewing business plans and growth projections. Between them, they understood operations, branding, and what it takes for a business to be sustainable.

Their corporate life was beginning to shift. “Bobbi had been thinking a lot about where she was in the corporate world, and how much she would like to be her own boss and have more time to spend with family,” Michael says.

They were looking for a business that could realistically replace income, offer control over their schedule, and operate within a proven framework. That combination of financial feasibility, operational support, and lifestyle alignment is what led them to look more seriously at franchising.

Bobbi’s entrepreneurial instincts weren’t new. During Michael’s active-duty Army years, constant relocations made traditional local career growth difficult. Instead of stepping away from work, she built something of her own that could travel with them.

When military families go through a Permanent Change of Station (PCS), household goods are often packed and shipped across the country, and items frequently go missing or get mixed up. Bobbi created a Facebook network that helped families reconnect with misplaced belongings. What started as a community group evolved into a structured resource, eventually gaining enough traction that a military services network purchased it.

“She never stopped working,” Michael says. “She built something even while we were moving every few years.” At the same time, corporate advancement had begun to lose its appeal, and they felt the corporate ladder felt more like outmaneuvering their co-workers for the next advancement, over and above doing the job well.

Why The Hot Spot Model Made Sense

When Bobbi began researching franchise concepts, she wasn’t focused on a specific industry. She was looking for something that felt practical, scalable, and aligned with how families are choosing to spend time. When she found The Hot Spot Studios, the direction became clear. “It all just clicked; the type of business, the way it fits into a community and brings people together,” Michael says.

The concept stood out because it wasn’t limited to a single activity. While paint-your-own pottery serves as the foundation of the brand, The Hot Spot Studios also offers candle making, succulent gardens, slime, and other hands-on creative projects. That range creates multiple revenue streams and encourages repeat visits. “There was nothing in our neighborhood that had more than one craft in the store,” Michael explains.

The broader consumer shift toward experience-based spending also played into their decision. “Everybody is kind of swinging right now back towards family time,” Michael says. “They want to not just buy a thing. They want to pay for an experience. They want to pay for an hour or two where they set their phone down and they connect with their kids and they do an activity.”

That shift toward experience wasn’t just something they observed in the market. They felt it personally. “We’re tired of being cooped up in our house, feeling isolated,” Michael says, reflecting on years of remote work. “We want to connect with people in our community again.”

The Hot Spot Studios model aligned with that cultural shift. It isn’t transactional retail. Guests stay, create, talk, and return to pick up finished pieces. That built-in engagement creates repeat traffic and stronger word-of-mouth momentum; two factors that matter deeply in local franchise growth.

Evaluating The Risk And Model

Even once the concept clicked, they approached the decision by evaluating the structure behind it. Franchising offered something they hadn’t found in previous opportunities, most importantly, a proven model. “We wanted the security of knowing that the model works,” Michael says. “To know that it has somewhat been proven.” 

For Michael, that mattered. After years reviewing financial statements, projections, and funding applications in his role as an analyst with the state, he was accustomed to looking at businesses through a practical lens. “When I saw The Hot Spot’s financial figures, it felt familiar to me and fairly easy to see that this was a business that had some good opportunities,” he explains.

In his previous role, he reviewed grant applications and financial statements, balance sheets, enrollment projections, and long-term sustainability. “I was used to looking at basically small business finances and talking with a lot of them,” he says. “So when I saw The Hot Spot’s financial figures, it felt familiar.”

For prospective franchise owners, that detail matters, as business ownership decisions are often filtered through financial scrutiny, risk evaluation, and income replacement strategy. The numbers had to make sense before the vision could.

The appeal wasn’t just about margins, however, but also removing guesswork, leveraging established vendor relationships, pricing structures, operating procedures, and support systems that were already in place. Instead of building a concept from scratch, they would be stepping into a brand that had already been tested across dozens of markets. At the time they signed their agreement, The Hot Spot Studios had reached nearly 40 franchises, with almost 30 locations operating, and more opening in early 2026. That track record added confidence.

What appealed to them most about The Hot Spot Studios model was that the crafts are approachable for guests at any age, gender, or level of experience. When these projects are combined with strong customer service and thoughtful presentation, they create meaningful value for guests to make repeat visits, where these engaging experiences naturally drive ongoing revenue.

Related Article: Are Paint Your own pottery Franchises Profitable?

Strong Market Demand in the Right Location

Once they committed to the franchise, the next decision was where to place it. Bobbi and Michael live in a newer development area with an established shopping center nearby, that already draws steady traffic from restaurants, retail, and entertainment. “There’s a lot of food and there’s a lot of big box stores, but there’s no entertainment except for a movie theater,” Michael says.

That observation shaped their strategy. Rather than opening in a quiet corner or focusing on sheer size, they prioritized visibility and natural foot traffic. “They said to us, you don’t want to be at that end. You want to be up near the theater and the food,” Michael explains, describing the guidance they received during site selection.

Positioning the studio in the flow of daily activity meant guests would encounter it organically walking between stores, before or after dinner, or while heading to a movie. In a dense market like Sacramento, that visibility translated quickly into awareness, and awareness turned into walk-in traffic.

Related Article – Why Paint Your own Pottery Businesses continue To Thrive

Launch Strategy Turns Awareness Into Traffic

Bobbi’s background in marketing shaped how they approached launch week. They hosted a soft opening for media and social media influencers before their official grand opening to generate some local awareness and visibility.

“We have a lot of people coming in that all say the same thing; I saw you on TikTok. I saw you on Instagram. We were about to go somewhere else, and then my phone served me a post about you, and we came here instead,” Michael says. That feedback started almost immediately.

The social content generated during the preview event circulated quickly, amplified further by the shopping center itself, which supported some of the posts. Within days, guests were walking in already familiar with the space, the projects, and the concept.

Instead of waiting for awareness to build gradually, the Packs entered the market with a visible presence from day one. By the time the grand opening weekend arrived, customers already knew what The Hot Spot Studios offered, and they were eager to try it.

Customer experience has been central from the beginning. Bobbi’s background in marketing and customer success translates directly into how guests are greeted, guided, and supported at their tables. “She famously remembers everybody’s name that she meets,” Michael adds. “I don’t know how she does it.”

The art project product mix has also resonated. “It’s like a buffet; people eat with their eyes” Michael said. Pottery remains a core driver, but candles have quickly become a favorite, and the succulent garden bar, strategically positioned near the front of the studio window consistently draws attention from passersby. This early traction brings meaningful confirmation that the concept, the location, and the launch strategy aligned with the real demand they hoped to see.

Operational Confidence and Franchise Support

For many first-time franchise buyers, operational complexity can feel intimidating, especially when a concept involves equipment like kilns or hands-on production processes. That was one of the early concerns Bobbi and Michael heard from others exploring the brand.

In practice, it proved far less complicated than expected. “Honestly, the kiln is one of the easiest parts of it,” Michael says. Training provided hands-on exposure to the workflow, from glazing pottery to firing and finishing pieces, and helped remove uncertainty before opening day. Rather than guessing at processes or experimenting independently, they entered the business with a clear operational roadmap.

The accessibility of the franchise team also made a difference, and the support received extended beyond operations. Site selection guidance, vendor relationships, layout decisions, and launch planning were all part of the framework. For Bobbi and Michael, the ability to step into a structured system reduced risk and allowed them to focus on execution.

Lessons from a Fast Start

Strong early traffic is encouraging, but it also forces quick adjustments. “If we had known we were going to be this busy, we would have hired staff before we even opened,” Michael says.

In the first two weeks, Bobbi and Michael handled much of the hands-on work themselves, managing guests, production flow, and daily operations. Weekends, in particular, required constant movement, checking projects, guiding customers, keeping activities moving efficiently.

The early experience has already shaped how they think about staffing and workflow. As demand continues, bringing on and training additional team members will allow them to step back from some of the day-to-day intensity and focus more on growth.

Related Article: Creative Franchise Opportunities

Looking Ahead & Building on Early Momentum

While the first weeks have focused on managing in-store demand, Bobbi and Michael are already thinking beyond the walls of their Sacramento studio. “We’re looking forward to booking more parties and also more sort of remote and community outreach,” Michael says. Parties represent a major revenue driver from birthdays, team events, school groups, private gatherings, and more. With early traction already strong, expanding bookings in that category is a natural next step.

Community partnerships are also emerging. Local sports organizations have approached the studio about cross-promotional opportunities and event integrations. Those types of collaborations allow them to extend their reach while introducing new audiences to the concept.

For Bobbi, the opportunity to build something locally rooted is part of the appeal. The early results in Sacramento suggest the model translates well into dense, family-oriented markets. Strong foot traffic, diversified creative offerings, and hands-on customer experience have combined to produce immediate momentum.

For prospective franchise buyers evaluating their next move, the Sacramento studios’s experiences highlight when preparation, market demand, and execution align, early traction can follow quickly. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a paint-your-own-pottery franchise owner, you can reach the Hot Spot Studios franchising team here.