Val Litwin: Vice-president, franchise operations, Nurse Next Door
Val Litwin is hard at work expanding the franchise operations of Nurse Next Door south of the border. Now a mature brand in Canada, the home-care provider is now developing in a new market – and completely different health-care system – in the United States.
It’s challenging work, but it’s nothing compared with the obstacles Litwin said he faced back in 2009 as the co-founder of a very different business, Blo Blow Dry Bar. That was when he learned the true value of trust in a business partnership.
Throughout 2008, Litwin and mother-and-daughter business partners Judy and Devon Brooks had been building the business and steadily adding locations throughout Vancouver.
By early 2009, the writing was on the wall, even as the partners were in the midst of building out yet more locations.
“It was all over the media, and we just kind of knew this economic event was about to transpire. It was a horrific feeling,” said Litwin. “It was like being able to predict an earthquake … but no one knew what it would be on the Richter scale.”
Litwin and the Brookses knew the business model was working. But month after month, they were having to pony up their own cash to keep the company afloat.
“I still remember that gut-wrenching feeling of doing that accounting in our basement storage unit in Yaletown,” Litwin said. “Just the smell of that place now, I associate with bleeding cash and wondering about the future of our company.”
The experience taught him that a really good business partnership isn’t like a normal friendship. It requires more trust, making a big commitment and having tough conversations.
“It was a little bit like a marriage because you also have very robust conversations,” said Litwin. “You’re working through it to save the kids, and the kids are your staff, your business and your lease payments.”
Once you find that rare business partner who’s always got your back, Litwin advises to keep doing business with them.
Litwin and the Brookses are now shareholders in Blo and aren’t involved in day-to-day operations. But the three partners remain close. Litwin said the relationship is like family: they often vacation together and meet for dinner regularly.
