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Owning his own business isn't a new experience for Scents ofNature licensee Paul Barton, who fondly remembers the more than twoyears in college he spent running a skim-board manufacturingcompany. "I always liked working for myself, but when theskim-board company fell through, I thought I needed to get into amore professional career," explains the 25-year-oldsurfer.
The Marriott Corp. sounded professional, so Barton worked as asupervisor for the hotel for a year-which was all it took for himto long for the freedom of entrepreneurship. "I realized howmuch I didn't like working for someone else," saysBarton.
Jumping back in the saddle again, Barton went the kiosk routewith a beach souvenirs cart in 1997, an endeavor he admits was astruggle. But with kiosk No. 2, a Scents of Nature aromatic oilsand incense cart he opened in early 1999 (corporate name: BotanicalScents of Nature), Barton finally found his stride. "I wentthrough a lot of trial and error with my first kiosk," hesays. "When I opened up Scents of Nature, boom-I was makingmoney right away."
Touting Scents of Nature as a fairly painless road toindependence, Barton points to the well-designed start-upkit-complete with display kit, label pack and a personalconsultation about inventory focus-he received from corporateheadquarters. Assures Barton, "They'll [walk] you throughyour first order and give you everything you need, from pointers toproduct information."
Barton won't be turning back to corporate life any timesoon. "Working for myself is so great," he says."I'm much happier now because I can take a day off tospend with my family without having to get permission from my bosstwo weeks ahead of time."