Demand for 'Reality Breaks' Fuels Rapid Growth of Art Entertainment Franchise

MANDEVILLE, LA, May 26, 2011

By providing a much-need escape from reality, Painting with a Twist, a concept born by two spirited women in New Orleans following the dark days of Hurricane Katrina, is enjoying a growth spurt that has yielded more than 50 units in two short years of franchising.

Founders Renee Maloney, 42, and Cathy Deano, 57, met while organizing fundraising events for their then kindergarten children's school. They established Painting with a Twist partly to reinvent their own lives, as well as fill what they saw as a void for lighthearted entertainment where people could go to forget about life's troubles and just have fun.

By offering a unique 'getaway' that includes friends, paint and the option to bring a favorite bottle of wine and snacks, the pioneer in the art entertainment industry, Painting with a Twist prides itself on making art accessible to anyone. With local art instructors as guides, friends can come together for an evening of creativity and camaraderie as they create one-of-a-kind pieces of art and, often, discover a newfound talent.

"We're in the business of providing people with an environment where they are guaranteed to crack a smile," said Cathy Deano, co-founder of Painting with a Twist. "Especially after Katrina hit, we knew we had to do something to lift people's spirits. It turns out that our concept provided an ideal solution."

What started out as a business that simply offered a fun night out with friends, has turned into a successful national franchise - one that's changing people's lives and boosting their self esteem as they walk away with paintings that look professional, added co-founder Renee Maloney.

Despite an overall decrease in consumer spending over the past few years, Painting with a Twist has consistently experienced same-store sales increases year over year. In addition, the franchisor has seen sales of its franchise opportunity double in the past two years.

"Our robust growth of locations and strong unit sales clearly illustrates that consumers will continue to seek breaks from reality, if even just for an evening," Deano said. "We see evidence that people are willing to budget time and money for escapism."

In keeping with the founders' fundraising roots, Painting with a Twist is passionate about supporting the local communities that it serves. With its Painting with a Purpose program, the franchise locations serve as fundraising spots for local charities where 50 percent of proceeds are given to organizations throughout the community.

About Painting with a Twist
Painting with a Twist, based in Mandeville, Louisiana is an art entertainment concept with nearly 50 locations throughout the United States. Founded in 2007 by Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney, Painting with a Twist began franchising in 2009 and provides customers with paint, a canvas and brushes that lead to a fun evening with friends and a finished piece of art. For more information about Painting with a Twist, visit http://www.paintingwithatwist.com.