In June 2003 Matt and Charmaine McFarlane were looking for a business that would suit both their expertise & interests. “For months we looked at different small business opportunities but nothing took our interest. We decided to go to a Franchise Expo in Christchurch New Zealand, but we found that we both liked different things.”
"We left with a lot of information but could not settle on a business until we were flicking through the NZ Franchise Magazine where the Jet Therapy ad caught our eye” said Charmaine, “one being the beauty side of the business, but more so I being a type 1 Diabetic and what Jet Therapy can do to help diabetics circulation problems”.
Matt and Charmaine could see immediately that not only was this a business they both could be involved in, but also for Charmaine’s health in the future, especially knowing that the whole Jet Therapy business actually came about because of founder Garth O’Connor’s search for a remedy to save his wife’s leg due to a diabetic ulcer.
We spoke with licensee’s and health professionals using Jet Therapy in other countries because at this stage there was only one clinic in NZ” stated Matt, “we were convinced very early that the Jet Therapy business was a good thing as it could help people from all ages & genders in health, beauty & well being”.
In February 2004, Matt and Charmaine made the big decision to resign from their jobs and concentrate on Jet Therapy. “We started out by doing a mail drop and placing ads in the local papers, but it was more word of mouth that grew us very quickly”.
“Then a bomb hit us, Charmaine was pregnant! We didn’t think this was possible because medics had informed Charmaine that because of past medical problems, her age and being a Type 1 Diabetic, having children was nearly impossible”, said Matt.
With nothing ever happening over the past 7 years we had given up on the thought of having a family hence we started the Jet Therapy clinic,” added Charmaine.
The McFarlane’s to this day contribute the Jet Therapy treatments for Charmaine defying medical opinion and becoming pregnant. “I had a number of Detox treatments to help with my circulation which in turn cleansed the body and got everything working properly again. I was in complete shock! Today we have a beautiful 22 month old daughter Jessie McFarlane, a very special & unexpected gift for us both”.
For family reasons the McFarlanes wanted to move to Australia and in November 2005 Matt went to South Africa to meet with the Garth O'Connor, founder and inventor of Jet Therapy, where he secured the rights to manage Jet Therapy Australia. "I have to say that I was totally amazed with the progress that has been made with the Jet Therapy & Jet Med systems in the past 2 years. There are over 190 clinics in South Africa.
"We placed our Christchurch Jet Therapy Clinic on the market in December 2005 thinking it would take a month or two to sell, however it sold within 2 weeks to one of our clients! So we were off to Australia before we knew it and settled on the Gold Coast in February 2006", stated Matt.
Matt and Charmaine are both concentrating on promoting & marketing Jet Therapy Licenses and the response to date has been very positive.
The McFarlanes are looking forward to helping others to become independent and secure licensees in Jet Therapy clinics throughout Australia.