Daily Inspiration: Meet Roni Gilmore

Today we’d like to introduce you to Roni Gilmore.

Hi Roni, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
The question I’m often asked is, “What’s the why behind this—and how did you come up with this idea?” The answer is multi-faceted, but at its core, it begins with family.

When my parents became empty nesters, they chose to invest in themselves and bring my mom’s long time dream to life by building and operating a salon. They successfully ran that business for 17 years, and watching them take that leap left a lasting impression on me about the power of pursuing something meaningful, even later in life.

Years later, as my daughter was graduating high school, she asked me a simple but powerful question: “What were your dreams?” I paused, realizing I had spent the past 18 years focused on raising healthy, happy children—without taking much time to reflect on my own life goals.

That question led me to think about what has always brought me the most joy. I realized it was those early years at home with my kids, when I was constantly creating experiences for them—backyard obstacle courses, neighborhood carnivals, finger painting parties, picnics under the trampoline. I’ve always been drawn to hands-on, imaginative activities that bring people together and create lasting memories.

As I began to reconnect with that part of myself, I started exploring what a next chapter might look like.

During a gymnastics meet in Louisville with my son, a snowstorm unexpectedly extended our stay. We found ourselves with extra time and discovered a local splatter paint studio. My initial reaction was simply, “This is messy.” But as we observed the space, what stood out wasn’t the paint—it was the people. Birthday parties, date nights, families, and multigenerational groups were all laughing, creating, and connecting in a shared experience.

In that moment, a thought became clear: How is there nothing like this in Toledo?

And just like that, the idea began to take shape.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Like most small business journeys, the early years were a mix of excitement, uncertainty, and a steep learning curve.

For the first two years, I was balancing a full-time career while simultaneously building a business from the ground up—something I had never done before. I was learning everything in real time: marketing, brand awareness, and how to simply get the word out in a crowded and competitive space.

Very quickly, we experienced growth that created a new challenge—space. It became clear we needed to expand sooner than expected, which meant shifting focus toward finding a new location and figuring out how to build enough capital to make that move possible. It was a constant balancing act between serving current demand and planning for what the business needed next.

As we stabilized and grew, the challenges evolved. The focus shifted from startup survival to sustainable scaling—how to move beyond primarily birthday parties and build more consistent, community-based programming. That meant asking new questions: How do we encourage repeat customers? How do we build meaningful word of mouth? And how do we continue to evolve in a way that keeps the experience fresh while staying true to our core?

Each stage has required adapting quickly, learning on the fly, and being willing to adjust direction as the business and community needs have changed. It’s been challenging—but also exactly what has shaped the business into what it is today.

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?
I hold a bachelor’s degree from the University of Toledo and spent nearly 30 years building a career in supply chain and procurement across large, Fortune 500 environments. It was a career rooted in structure, efficiency, and constant problem-solving—and it gave me a strong foundation in operations, strategy, and execution.

But after the pandemic, something shifted. I took a hard look at my life and realized I had been operating on autopilot for years—checking boxes and meeting deadlines, without really asking if it still aligned with who I was becoming. I knew I didn’t want to spend the second half of my life tied to a desk, defined only by KPIs and corporate goals.

That realization pushed me to completely reimagine what my next chapter could look like. I stepped into new spaces that felt more alive and creative—teaching Zumba and Groove at the YMCA for many years, reconnecting with community, movement, and energy. Outside of work, I’ve always been drawn to reading, concerts, theater, time with family and friends, and exploring creativity that never quite had time during my corporate years.

Today, I bring both sides of that experience together. I still rely on my operational background and business discipline, but I’ve paired it with creativity and a willingness to take risks. The result is a professional path focused on building experiences that are not only well-run, but also engaging, imaginative, and deeply community-centered.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
What I love about Toledo is that people outside the area often underestimate just how much we have here. We have this incredible mix of sports, nature, arts, food, and community events that make it easy to find something fun happening year-round. I love catching games with Toledo Mud Hens and Toledo Walleye fans, spending time in our beautiful Metroparks like Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Pearson Metropark, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, and along the riverwalk, and taking advantage of all the local festivals and events like Party in the Park. We’re also lucky to have gems like the Toledo Zoo and Toledo Museum of Art practically in our backyard.

And Toledo absolutely loves food. There’s no shortage of great local restaurants, coffee shops, and cocktail spots. You can pretty much pick any mood and find something that fits.

What do I dislike? Honestly, right now it’s that I’m so busy building a business that I don’t get to enjoy nearly enough of all the fun things our city has to offer. I’m constantly creating experiences for everyone else and occasionally have to remind myself to pause and enjoy some of Toledo’s experiences too!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.spinandsplat.com