EXCLUSVE TNT INTERVIEW: CEO, WAYNE MORIN
First, Wayne can you give us a short background on your roots and where you came
from?
I was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, a smaller town in the western part of the state. I lived there most of my childhood until my sophomore year in high school when I moved to Granville, NY. Those were my main residences but I also spent time in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and North Carolina. My ethnicity is French & Italian.
Please note one memorable childhood story.
Most of my childhood memories revolve around whatever season of the year it was. My time was spent either at ballparks, football fields or spending time with my family and friends. Not a day passed that we wouldn't all gather to hangout and just goof off. It was great growing up in a small town. I'll share one funny story though...Lets just say I was kind of a "curious" child and would sometimes not make the best decisions. Well I liked to play with matches and the only access I had to them were in the cupboard at my house. So, one night before I went to bed, I snuck downstairs, hopped up on the counter, and proceeded to fill my pants pockets with the old school wooden stick matches. The next morning my mom comes in my room and asked if I had been playing with matches lately. Of course the innocent child I was replied, "No of course not.” So, my Mom comes back in my room to vacuum and just happens to lift up the pants I had stuffed my pockets full and what do you know… a bunch of matches just happen to fall out! Lets just say I spent plenty of time in my room for a few weeks after that one.
What brought you to Great Falls?
I arrived to Great Falls on a very cold and snowy evening in February of 1990 enroot to MAFB. I had just finished Air Force Basic Training, Security Police Tech School, and Ground Combat Skills. Malmstrom was my first duty base. I love Great Falls and have been here ever since.
When did the vision for TNT first start? And what did it look like?
Pretty much from my teenage years and on I was very interested in working out and sports nutrition. After arriving to Great Falls and making numerous friends that were also heavily into working out and staying fit, I saw an opportunity to help others. I then started selling sport supplements out of the basement of my home. At first it was just a fun and enjoyable hobby that turned into a business idea. From there, some planning and steps were taken to open what was then called Total Nutrition & Fitness in 1995. As far as the vision at that time, it was just a shot in the dark to do something I enjoyed and I really didn't know what the future would hold.
Please give us some insight on the beginnings of TNT.
When TNT first opened on June 5,1995 it was located in the Evergreen Mall in an approximately 900 sq. ft. space that had makeshift shelving, counters and no tanning beds. It was as basic of a store as one could imagine. After the first 6 trying months of business I decided that the business needed some diversity. What would support it better than tanning beds? Two beds were then added. After some growing pains and learning as much as possible about the indoor tanning industry, a third bed was added and TNT stayed in the Evergreen Mall until 1998.
Where did your inspiration of such a unique business structure come from?
As I stated earlier, my passion for fitness and helping others achieve/exceed their personal goals is what sparked the idea. When TNT first opened it had very strong support from family and friends. Without the help of those individuals and a burning desire to prove the naysayers wrong, TNT would not have flourished to the success it has become. So many forms of inspiration have contributed to TNT'S longevity.
As the TNT brand started to form, did you have any change of vision for the future?
As time went on, and the need to improve/expand TNT'S services led to the changes over the years. In 1998 the Evergreen Mall location was moved to 1304 13th Ave So, and that move brought TNT from a three bed salon to a nine bed tanning salon and a significantly larger store front. Many long hours of hard work contributed to the growth and development of the 13th Ave store and the vision for TNT'S second location was sparked. In April of 2004, the Smelter Ave location was opened with a nine-bed salon and spray tanning services. It boasts a very welcoming theme with a unique interior design that is meticulously maintained daily. So, from 2004 to 2011, TNT operated seven days/week at these two locations. This held true until the countless hours of dedication provided by the Team TNT staff led to the relocation of the 1304 13th Ave So location to our present location at 1310 9th Ave So. With the move our tanning equipment increased from nine to fourteen state-of-the-art tanning rooms and a vastly improved supplement storefront. In all of the growth and movements our vision has clearly been laser focused!
What separates TNT from other similar businesses?
First off, I believe TNT is very unique in many ways; there are no similar businesses in Great Falls. Our diversity allows us to interact with many different demographics of clientele. With that, our approach to business as a whole is to develop trusting relationships/friendships with our customers. We pride ourselves with offering a meticulously clean store, great customer service, excellent product selection to assist in your health goals, and above all, a first hand working knowledge/experience. My philosophy is that any business can carry products and offer competitive pricing but knowing how to implement those products to produce results is what sets us apart from the pack.
For over twenty years TNT has developed a culture, what is that culture?
The TNT culture continues to grow and expand daily. It all goes back to my business philosophy and our unwavering daily efforts to help our patrons. Our service comes from the heart as the entire TNT staff enjoys helping others. I always encourage TNT staff to give it their best effort in everything they do whether at work or not. That's where one of our long time mottos’ stems from, “Don’t dream it, be it!” As one can always dream but it's useless without action. The TNT culture is very alive, thriving, and always willing to help others in pursuit of their dreams.
What have you seen change in the health and nutrition industry over the past 20 years?
Wow, where do I begin? What started as a hobby and interest in helping others has been monopolized by the fast paced technology of today. Brick and mortar stores like TNT have had to create ways to compete with the click of a button Internet shopper. So, with that we take great pride in the products we offer by eliminating all guesswork on which brands are meeting strict testing to ensure label claims to be accurate, providing competitive internet pricing, offering a worthy loyalty program and once again getting back to knowledge and customer service. I've seen so many fad diets, products and misled advertising tactics, that it only strengthens what TNT is all about. The fast paced growth of this industry as a whole has led to some individuals with the intentions of trying to influence people into hyped products that are not legitamit. I believe the growth of the health, wellness and nutrition industry will continue to prosper with the desire to live a longer and healthier life as a goal of many of us.
What is one piece of advice for someone just starting a health and wellness journey?
The one piece of advice would be to, “KEEP IT SIMPLE and ENJOYABLE!” Not everyone's health goals are the same, so keep things in perspective and modify your lifestyle to meet your individual goals. Remember it's a marathon not a sprint and results are achieved with consistency over a period of time. Setting realistic goals and being held accountable is always encouraged. Balance is another key component to success. Your fitness goals should be in correlation with the lifestyle you live. Preparation, simplicity, convenience, and consistency will lead you to your fitness goals as well.
Lastly, what are your closing thoughts on TNT, its loyal customers, and vision for the
future?
First, and foremost, I personally want to thank each and everyone that has ever stepped foot into TNT as a customer, employee or friend! Without the support of each and every one of you, the household name that TNT has become would be nonexistent. I'm very grateful for the support since we opened the doors in 1995. I've gained and learned very valuable insight and have taken away something positive from each interaction. They say growth comes from within but it also comes from outside sources as well. As far as the vision of TNT, lets just say the best is yet to come! You can be rest assured TNT will continue to evolve and grow. With the combined efforts of a great staff and support system stemming from family and friends, it's our daily goal to operate a business based on morals, ethics, and loyalty to Great Falls. In closing, my words to live by may be a little different than most, but then again I have never claimed to be normal, "Stay gritty. Don't Dream It Be It. And, Strength and Honor to you all!” Keep on keeping-on Great Falls, and thank-you from the bottom of my heart.
from?
I was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, a smaller town in the western part of the state. I lived there most of my childhood until my sophomore year in high school when I moved to Granville, NY. Those were my main residences but I also spent time in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and North Carolina. My ethnicity is French & Italian.
Please note one memorable childhood story.
Most of my childhood memories revolve around whatever season of the year it was. My time was spent either at ballparks, football fields or spending time with my family and friends. Not a day passed that we wouldn't all gather to hangout and just goof off. It was great growing up in a small town. I'll share one funny story though...Lets just say I was kind of a "curious" child and would sometimes not make the best decisions. Well I liked to play with matches and the only access I had to them were in the cupboard at my house. So, one night before I went to bed, I snuck downstairs, hopped up on the counter, and proceeded to fill my pants pockets with the old school wooden stick matches. The next morning my mom comes in my room and asked if I had been playing with matches lately. Of course the innocent child I was replied, "No of course not.” So, my Mom comes back in my room to vacuum and just happens to lift up the pants I had stuffed my pockets full and what do you know… a bunch of matches just happen to fall out! Lets just say I spent plenty of time in my room for a few weeks after that one.
What brought you to Great Falls?
I arrived to Great Falls on a very cold and snowy evening in February of 1990 enroot to MAFB. I had just finished Air Force Basic Training, Security Police Tech School, and Ground Combat Skills. Malmstrom was my first duty base. I love Great Falls and have been here ever since.
When did the vision for TNT first start? And what did it look like?
Pretty much from my teenage years and on I was very interested in working out and sports nutrition. After arriving to Great Falls and making numerous friends that were also heavily into working out and staying fit, I saw an opportunity to help others. I then started selling sport supplements out of the basement of my home. At first it was just a fun and enjoyable hobby that turned into a business idea. From there, some planning and steps were taken to open what was then called Total Nutrition & Fitness in 1995. As far as the vision at that time, it was just a shot in the dark to do something I enjoyed and I really didn't know what the future would hold.
Please give us some insight on the beginnings of TNT.
When TNT first opened on June 5,1995 it was located in the Evergreen Mall in an approximately 900 sq. ft. space that had makeshift shelving, counters and no tanning beds. It was as basic of a store as one could imagine. After the first 6 trying months of business I decided that the business needed some diversity. What would support it better than tanning beds? Two beds were then added. After some growing pains and learning as much as possible about the indoor tanning industry, a third bed was added and TNT stayed in the Evergreen Mall until 1998.
Where did your inspiration of such a unique business structure come from?
As I stated earlier, my passion for fitness and helping others achieve/exceed their personal goals is what sparked the idea. When TNT first opened it had very strong support from family and friends. Without the help of those individuals and a burning desire to prove the naysayers wrong, TNT would not have flourished to the success it has become. So many forms of inspiration have contributed to TNT'S longevity.
As the TNT brand started to form, did you have any change of vision for the future?
As time went on, and the need to improve/expand TNT'S services led to the changes over the years. In 1998 the Evergreen Mall location was moved to 1304 13th Ave So, and that move brought TNT from a three bed salon to a nine bed tanning salon and a significantly larger store front. Many long hours of hard work contributed to the growth and development of the 13th Ave store and the vision for TNT'S second location was sparked. In April of 2004, the Smelter Ave location was opened with a nine-bed salon and spray tanning services. It boasts a very welcoming theme with a unique interior design that is meticulously maintained daily. So, from 2004 to 2011, TNT operated seven days/week at these two locations. This held true until the countless hours of dedication provided by the Team TNT staff led to the relocation of the 1304 13th Ave So location to our present location at 1310 9th Ave So. With the move our tanning equipment increased from nine to fourteen state-of-the-art tanning rooms and a vastly improved supplement storefront. In all of the growth and movements our vision has clearly been laser focused!
What separates TNT from other similar businesses?
First off, I believe TNT is very unique in many ways; there are no similar businesses in Great Falls. Our diversity allows us to interact with many different demographics of clientele. With that, our approach to business as a whole is to develop trusting relationships/friendships with our customers. We pride ourselves with offering a meticulously clean store, great customer service, excellent product selection to assist in your health goals, and above all, a first hand working knowledge/experience. My philosophy is that any business can carry products and offer competitive pricing but knowing how to implement those products to produce results is what sets us apart from the pack.
For over twenty years TNT has developed a culture, what is that culture?
The TNT culture continues to grow and expand daily. It all goes back to my business philosophy and our unwavering daily efforts to help our patrons. Our service comes from the heart as the entire TNT staff enjoys helping others. I always encourage TNT staff to give it their best effort in everything they do whether at work or not. That's where one of our long time mottos’ stems from, “Don’t dream it, be it!” As one can always dream but it's useless without action. The TNT culture is very alive, thriving, and always willing to help others in pursuit of their dreams.
What have you seen change in the health and nutrition industry over the past 20 years?
Wow, where do I begin? What started as a hobby and interest in helping others has been monopolized by the fast paced technology of today. Brick and mortar stores like TNT have had to create ways to compete with the click of a button Internet shopper. So, with that we take great pride in the products we offer by eliminating all guesswork on which brands are meeting strict testing to ensure label claims to be accurate, providing competitive internet pricing, offering a worthy loyalty program and once again getting back to knowledge and customer service. I've seen so many fad diets, products and misled advertising tactics, that it only strengthens what TNT is all about. The fast paced growth of this industry as a whole has led to some individuals with the intentions of trying to influence people into hyped products that are not legitamit. I believe the growth of the health, wellness and nutrition industry will continue to prosper with the desire to live a longer and healthier life as a goal of many of us.
What is one piece of advice for someone just starting a health and wellness journey?
The one piece of advice would be to, “KEEP IT SIMPLE and ENJOYABLE!” Not everyone's health goals are the same, so keep things in perspective and modify your lifestyle to meet your individual goals. Remember it's a marathon not a sprint and results are achieved with consistency over a period of time. Setting realistic goals and being held accountable is always encouraged. Balance is another key component to success. Your fitness goals should be in correlation with the lifestyle you live. Preparation, simplicity, convenience, and consistency will lead you to your fitness goals as well.
Lastly, what are your closing thoughts on TNT, its loyal customers, and vision for the
future?
First, and foremost, I personally want to thank each and everyone that has ever stepped foot into TNT as a customer, employee or friend! Without the support of each and every one of you, the household name that TNT has become would be nonexistent. I'm very grateful for the support since we opened the doors in 1995. I've gained and learned very valuable insight and have taken away something positive from each interaction. They say growth comes from within but it also comes from outside sources as well. As far as the vision of TNT, lets just say the best is yet to come! You can be rest assured TNT will continue to evolve and grow. With the combined efforts of a great staff and support system stemming from family and friends, it's our daily goal to operate a business based on morals, ethics, and loyalty to Great Falls. In closing, my words to live by may be a little different than most, but then again I have never claimed to be normal, "Stay gritty. Don't Dream It Be It. And, Strength and Honor to you all!” Keep on keeping-on Great Falls, and thank-you from the bottom of my heart.