The Pitt Meadows location of a laser and skin health clinic will not be directly impacted after the CEO and founder claimed a former manager allegedly stole more than $150,000 from the Port Moody location, forcing it to close its doors.
CEO Heather Dodd, franchise owner and owner of the Pitt Meadows and Vancouver locations of Refresh Evolution Laser and Med Spa, explained what a shock it was to discover that a long-time manager of the Port Moody location had allegedly committed what she labelled as “internal theft.”
The clinic offers a whole list of skin care services including acne treatments, chemical peels, injectables, fungal nail treatment, hair restoration, laser hair removal, skin rejuvenating and tightening, and teeth whitening, among other services.
In an online post to the clients of the Port Moody clinic, Dodd said, the theft from the clinic totals almost $150,000, but could be more, and the actions of the now former manager of the clinic allegedly include: “credit card fraud, cash theft, and misappropriation of products and services.”
Dodd said it became apparent within the last year business wasn’t operating as it had been. It was opened five years ago and sold to the current owners in December 2022. It was a Port Moody Choice Award winning clinic for four years in a row, and was nominated again this year.
Once they started looking into the reasons why the business wasn’t operating like it had been initially, she alleges they discovered evidence to back up their claims.
“In a situation like this, obviously you feel worse for the owners of that clinic,” said Dodd. “They are probably the most beautiful people I have ever met.”
And they trusted this manager, who had worked at the clinic for three and a half of its five years before it was sold to the new owners. They were new to the franchise, new to the business, said Dodd, and they looked to the manager for advice.
Not only were they forced to close, but they are now out of work. In addition, they only took over the clinic a little more than a year ago, so, they didn’t have the opportunity to pay off any loans, explained Dodd, noting they used their house as collateral to purchase the business.
They are closing the doors at the end of April.
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“It’s a really terrible situation for them,” said Dodd.
Port Moody Police have confirmed that they were contacted by Refresh Evolution on March 1, with allegations of theft by an employee.
“I can confirm the matter remains under investigation at this time,” said Const. Sam Zacharias, spokesperson for the Port Moody Police Department.
Dodd wants clients of Refresh Evolution to know that the Pitt Meadows location on Barnston View Road, in addition to the Vancouver location on Drake Street, are corporately owned and “here to stay” and she wants clients of the Port Moody location to know that if they are unable to have the services fulfilled that remain on their charts by the closure date, that they will be 100 per cent honoured at the other locations.
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However, she is asking them to try their best to get into the Port Moody location before the end of April to have what they need done.
“Because, obviously, the impact to the other two businesses taking that on is that they are doing free services, that they are not getting paid for,” explained Dodd.
And she is also hoping people will come forward who paid cash in the clinic, or clients who might have paid by e-transfer.
To book a remaining session at the Port Moody clinic call 778-897-3422.
Anyone with information about the theft or affected by the situation is asked to contact 778-806-4758 or the Port Moody Police Department at 604-461-3456 with police file number: PO24-926.