Today we’d like to introduce you to Bob Eveleth.
Hi Bob, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated from UT with a degree in accounting. After working a year in Dallas as a bookkeeper, I realized that accounting was not for me! (although it has proven itself to be an invaluable background to have if you want your own business)
Through college, I worked as a “party pic” photographer, spending my weekends taking photos at fraternity and sorority parties and traveling across the state at the end of the school year for the graduation “handshake” photos. I have always enjoyed photography – a passion I had since high school.
After my brief stint in accounting, I started my business career in the late 80s as one of the founders of the Glamour Shots franchise system (going into business with one of my mentors from my college party pic days). Glamour Shots was a mall-based photography studio chain – the one that did make-up and hair. We were in the business of helping women feel good about themselves. In the late 80s, it was the coolest place in the mall!
Although we were one of the most exciting mall businesses at the time, Glamour Shots had a flaw – there was no repeat business. Women traditionally had their portraits taken while in school and for their weddings. Most likely never again. We made the process an experience – oftentimes changing lives as some women saw themselves in ways they hadn’t before. It was a fun and exciting business for a guy in his 20s!
But unfortunately, they only came one time. There was no repeat business.
I left Glamour Shots to start my own chain, Studio One to One, a kids and family studio. We grew to about twenty studios in the US and about twenty sister studios in India. The chain was growing until about 2010 – which was when camera’s started to get good phones, and digital became mainstream (over film).
Neighborhood moms got digital cameras and started competing with us. Not only did mom (often working out of her home) not have the same overhead as our mall studio, but she was pretty good! Many of the neighborhood moms became the neighborhood photographers. That pretty much killed the mall photography business as all the major chains have disappeared).
Meanwhile…about 16 years ago, I purchased a cool “straw-bale” home on Lake Travis. I added some cabins and made it a funky little side business (Living Waters on Lake Travis) as I worked in the studios. Once the studio business died (a couple of years back) I spent more time growing the overnight rental business.
About three years ago, I added a cool safari tent to my cabins and was blown away by the reception. A divorce necessitated the sale of the lake property, but I was really enjoying the glamping business.
About four years ago, my friend Marley Porter, who helped with the design of my glamping retreat (Living Waters on Lake Travis), showed me some property outside of Austin that he was wanting to use to build a high-end spa. I’ll never forget driving up a nondescript hill in Cottonwood Shores – as I arrived at the top the most magnificent view of Lakes LBJ and Marble Falls opened up. The view was breathtaking.
I purchased the land based on its view. I knew I wanted to do something in the glamping arena, and I knew it had to be funky. Marley and I became partners in the project and found a financial and operating partner, Sonia Molad, to join our team.
I liked Marley’s idea of a spa with cool cabins. His designs are beautiful, however we did not have the money for that amount of investment. I suggested we stack some shipping containers at the top of the hill, and on top of those containers put decks, and of those decks put the funkiest of accommodations. With that Hozhoni on the Hill was born.
Marley has designed some of the most unique wedding venues in the area, including Chapel Dulcinea, Barr Mansion and One World Theatre – add to that Chapel Hozhoni – our outdoor wedding chapel at the peak of Hozhoni on the Hill.
Our glamping accommodations are different from other glamping grounds. We have a unique “urban glamping” experience with our “glampominium” – three stacked containers with decks and tents and more. We are 101 feet above Horseshoe Bay. The sunset views from Hozhoni on the Hill are some of the best I have ever seen. As beautiful as the sunset is, in the evening the bay lights up as if we are looking down from a hi-rise into a city. The nighttime lights are beautiful.
When people decide on where they want to stay, they need a reason to be there. At my prior property, the reason was that we were on Lake Travis. For some properties, the reason is they are rural and “off grid”.
I wanted Hozhoni to be special – “a cool place to spend the night”. A “staycation” from nearby Austin and a quick getaway from San Antonio, Houston and Dallas.
Each of our accommodations are unique. Each has a private deck, private indoor (and very nice) restroom, air conditioning, mini-frig, microwave, coffee maker, etc.
One of our containers has been converted into a luxury suite with a cool “wet bath”, queen bed, sitting/internet TV area, and private balcony.
On each container is a deck – on one deck a spacious luxury safari tent with a king-size bed, outdoor shower (to compliment the indoor shower), and large “star-bathing” tub to bathe under the stars at night (bubble bath and bath bombs included!). We also have a projector available – our guests can watch Netflix or one of their other streaming channels projected outside on the tent at night – watch a movie under the stars!
Another deck has two safari tents, one with a king bed, the other with two queens – perfect for a family or a couple of couples.
…and at the very top, 101 feet above Horseshoe Bay, is the Stardome Suite – a clear dome to sleep under the stars at night!
Our glamponimium is different than sleeping in the woods. Each suite has a luxury bath and accommodations – and we strive to provide a little extra.
As our glampominium is basically three containers welded together with decks and balconies, you can sometimes hear a neighbor on the deck or occasionally through a wall – just like you can in a skyscraper!
I personally stay in each accommodation before we put it online. I feel that is such a key part of any successful business. The owner has to work in it, feel it, live it – learn what was missed, learn the rhythm. I did the same years ago when I was opening photography studios. As an owner, you have to work it – you have to set the systems – you have to go through the process with the most critical of eyes.
Today we are working to refine our systems at Hozhoni on the Hill and expand in areas where we are exceeding our expectations. It is such an exciting business.
I love being involved in experiential travel. Creating a place that has little touches you remember. As the glamping market gets more saturated with choices, it is the touches that will separate us as we grow further.
I have also purchased other property in the Cottonwood Shores area to develop other unique concepts. Additionally, I’m involved, along with two of my Hozhoni partners, in a real estate development in Tulum. I am more behind the scenes with this project, but it is exciting as the Tulum possibilities remind me of where Austin was ten years ago!
Background:
University of Texas at Austin
Spring 1986, BBA, Accounting
25 plus year entrepreneur with experience in retail, rent-to-own, Internet businesses, and real estate investment & management.
Began in the photography industry working for a “Party Pic” company while studying accounting in college. After graduation worked as an accountant for Club Corporation of America in Dallas.
In the late 80s became the first and largest Glamour Shots franchisee (www.GlamourShots.com) with ownership of 45 retail (mall based) studios. While with the Glamour Shots franchise system, served on many steering committees, including the Glamour Shots Operations Council, the Glamour Shots Marketing Advisory Council, and head of the Direct Marketing Committee. Recognized nationally as one of the “Founding Fathers” of Glamour Shots, and won numerous awards including “Contributor of the Year”, “Best New Idea of the Year”, and in 1995 was named Glamour Shots “Licensee of the Year”.
Aaron’s Rent-to-Own: In the early 90s, became one of the first Aaron’s Rent-to-Own franchisees. Sold this successful franchise to the franchisor in 1999. www.Aarons.com
In the mid-90s, founded the family studio chain Studio One to One Photography growing to over twenty locations.
In 2010 opened Meri Yaadein studios in India, which grew to over twenty locations in standalone locations as well as maternity hospitals.
Founder of HoldMyMemories.com, a subscription-based social network that helps photographers retain their clients. HoldMyMemories.com created over 100,000 member accounts.
Living Waters on Lake Travis: Retreat business on Lake Travis outside of Austin, Tx. Living Waters has grown from a one-bedroom home into a multi-unit private lakeside retreat catering to couples (weekend getaways), weddings, family reunions, yoga and other retreats. www.LivingWatersOnLakeTravis.com
Hozhoni on the Hill: A destination wedding venue and glamping retreat – opened May 2021.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
An early mentor once told me, “Bob, when you start a business it always costs more than you budgeted, and takes longer than you planned…always”.
Every business venture I have started ended up being a little different than I envisioned before starting. You have to be flexible. You have to be able to read the market.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Although my degree was in accounting, I like to think I have a little “right brain” too. I have always enjoyed the challenge of figuring something out, then being able to duplicate it.
In the photography studio business, I was good at recognizing something cool a high-end photographer was doing (think Anne Geddes and the “baby in a flower pot” photo), and duplicating the style and making it available to our mall clients for a fraction of the cost.
In the glamping business, I enjoy taking the traditional glamping experience and thinking through what little touches we can do to make it a little different and a little more memorable.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
My children. I am on the backside of raising three teens. I miss driving them to practice!
In business – make the guest/client happy – exceed what they expected – add little touches they will remember, talk about, and share on their social networks.
Contact Info:
- Email: Bob@HozhoniOnTheHill.com
- Website: www.HozhoniOnTheHill.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HozhoniOnTheHill
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/HozhoniOnTheHill
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPCGX_NLaQFAyES5jDNXoIg
Image Credits
All photos taken by Bob Eveleth (photo recognition to Hozhoni on the Hill)
