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VOL 09, ISSUE 9, AUG 2021
monkee’s
trust your instincts & play to your strengths franchise industry intel
for your eyes only 5 ways to get ahead of inventory shortages all in the family: establishing a vision for a franchise brand LATEST NEWS
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FRANCHISING USA VOLUME 9, ISSUE 9, 2021 president: Colin Bradbury. colin@cgbpublishing.com
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f r o m t he p u bl i s he r & e d i t or
Publisher: Vikki Bradbury. vikki@cgbpublishing.com
editorial: editor@cgbpublishing.com
Welcome to our August issue of Franchising USA.
advertising: vikki@cgbpublishing.com jasonb@cgbpublishing.com
Editorial team: Michelle Quinn Ingrid Nelson Rob Swystun
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DESIGN: Jejak Graphics. jejak@bigpond.com
COVER IMAGE: monkee’s
CGB PUBLISHING Canadian Office: Sidney B.C Canada U.S. Office: 800 5th Ave, #101 Seattle, WA 98104-3102 Editorial: 778 426 2446 www.franchisingusamagazine.com Proud member of the IFA:
In this issue we are delighted to welcome to our Cover Monkees where we meet Suzanne Ketchings who followed a passion for fashion and found success in a career change. You can turn to page 10 to read about her journey and how she trusted her instincts and played to her strengths. Franchising is one of the best ways to start your own business and have the independence and freedom most people are looking for, our Franchise Experts are here to share their knowledge and help you to get more insight for this chosen path. To get you started, one of our regular contributors George Knauf discusses The Franchise industry and a general overview of the state of Global Franchising, where he looks at some of the variety of franchises available, you can read more on page 16. John Sica chief strategy and development officer at Batteries Plus discusses how being proactive can pay off in the world of business on page 40. In our special feature on Home Services Franchising, Chris Conner President of Franchise Marketing Systems we look at the incredible value of home Services Franchising to read more turn to page 32. Terry Powell Founder of The Entreprenur’s Source, looks at growing the growing home services industry expanding at a rate of 3.4%, you can turn to page 30 to read more. Jennifer Lemcke Ceo of Weed Man has her say on creating a team and supporting success in a time of change, read more on page 28. As always, you will find the latest franchising news, even more expert advice articles and profile pieces, plus our A-Z franchise listing directory with all of the best franchise opportunities available right now. Enjoy the read! Vikki Bradbury
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“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”
~ Thomas Edison.
The information and contents in this publication are believed by the publisher to be true, correct and accurate but no independent investigation has been undertaken. Accordingly the publisher does not represent or warrant that the information and contents are true, correct or accurate and recommends that each reader seek appropriate professional advice, guidance and direction before acting or relying on all information contained herein. Opinions expressed in the articles contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publisher. The publication is sold subject to the terms and conditions that it shall not be copied in whole or part, resold, hired out, without the express permission of the publisher.
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chisingusamag
THE MA GAZI
NE FOR FRANCH I
SEES
VOL 09, ISSU
azine.com
E 9, AUG 202
MONKEE’S
TRUST YOUR & PLAY TO YOINSTINCTS UR STRENGTH S
12
FRANCHISE
INDUS
FOR YOUR EYTRY INTEL ES ONLY 5 WAYS TO GET AHEAD INVENTORY OF SHORTAGES ALL IN THE
ESTABLISHING FAMILY: A VISION FOR A FRAN CHISE BRAN D LAT EST NEW S
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FIN AN CIA
L ADV ICE FRO M THE BAN KS
TOP LAW YER S’
ADV ICE
On the Cover 10 cover story: Monkee’s:
Trust Your Instincts & Play to Your Strengths
18 Franchise Industry Intel For
Your Eyes Only
42 5 Ways to get Ahead of
Inventory Shortages 36 All in the Family: Establishing a
Vision for A Franchise Brand
In Every Issue 6 Franchising News
Announcements from the Industry
21 Franchsing Feature:
16
Home Services
43 A-Z Franchise and
Services Directory
Profile 18 Special Strong Franchising USA
1
18
august 2021 Have Your Say 14 How Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar uses
Dual-Branding to Help Hoteliers Succeed
30
Ryan Reeves | Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development | Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Spor ts Bar
Expert Advice 12 Reinventing Your Discovery Days with PR
Heather Ripley | Founder and CE O | Ripley PR
16 Franchise Industry Intel – For Your Eyes Only
George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice
36 All in the Family: Establishing a Vision for a Franchise Brand
36
Charles Bonfiglio | President and CE O | Tint World®
38 Four Smart Tech Upgrades to Improve your Franchise
Adolfo Dolan | Systems Design Consultant | Automated Environments
40 5 Ways to Get Ahead of Inventory Shortages
Jon Sica | Chief Strategy and Development Officer | Batteries Plus
FEATURE: Home Services 22 Franchising News
38
Announcements from the Industry
24 Franchising Feature: Home Services: A booming Industry 28 Have Your Say: Creating a Team to Lean On,
Supports Success in Change Jennifer Lemcke | CEO | Weed Man
30 Expert Advice: Home Services Franchises is
Where the Heart is
Terry Powell | Founder | The Entrepreneur’s Source
40
32 Expert Advice: Steady Supply of Home Service
Franchises to Meet Expanding Demand Chris Connor | President | Franchise Marketing Systems
34 Women in Franchising: Women Poised to Take Over
As Leaders in the Home-Service Industry Kim Marmolejo | Hello Garage
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what’s new!
SpeedPro Silver Spring welcomes Faisal and Russell Ahmed as new owners
Faisal, Russell’s father, focuses on business development, marketing and customer relations. Russell oversees print production and operations. Together, they lead a team of five total. Before SpeedPro, Faisal worked in the U.S. government in both the Department of the Interior as a project manager and the Department of Commerce as assistant chief of technical projects. He has more than 15 years of experience in business consulting and business ownership and was also a senior executive fellow at Harvard University. Russell’s experience stems from sales and customer service and is currently a student at Full Sail University studying visual and game programming. “Owning this business works great for my profession in visual and game programming,” says Russell. “When my
dad informed me about SpeedPro, I was
excited. I love computer graphics and this is a perfect fit for me.”
As the Ahmeds grow their SpeedPro
studio, their goal is to exemplify great customer service, print high-quality products and eventually transfer the
business entirely to Russell. Russell is the
newest and youngest franchise owner in the SpeedPro network at 21-years-old.
“We’re excited to have this father-son duo
leading SpeedPro Silver Spring,” says CEO Larry Oberly. “Their business expertise, creativity and ambition will make an impact on the Washington, D.C and Maryland communities.”
For more information about SpeedPro Silver Spring, click here.
Miami local business emerges as leading tax and accounting franchise with launch of digital app. retail, e-commerce, food, and restaurant industries, where they can get the personalized help needed to manage all of their business accounting needs.
Tax preparations are not particularly easy – in order to concoct them effectively, a person or business must spend excessive
amounts of time ensuring all tax preparations are done as precise and well-structured as possible. More importantly, considering that new policies are introduced from time to time, it would be TaxLeaf, an emerging tax and accounting franchise in South Florida, providing an array of bookkeeping, payroll, and business services, just announced the launch of their digital apps LeafCloud, LeafNet, and LeafPay in an ever growing effort to better the experience of its growing client base and to continuously provide them with tailored strategies, protocols, and guidelines to help organize and run their business efficiently. Via its new digital experience, businesses can now get access to TaxLeaf’s one-stop-shop accounting services – built for companies working inside the medical, automotive, legal, dental, real estate,
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most ideal to work with a team that knows exactly what is most beneficial to each business’ specific needs.
TaxLeaf’s newly introduced franchising model has been one of
the key success drivers for this freshly rebranded company. With its decades of industry experience, the company is able to offer a thought-out and well-established business to all new prospective franchisees, all of whom can attain access to a steady customer base, brand awareness, potent client referrals, and training, to ensure their business runs smoothly for years to come. www.taxleaf.com
Island Fin Poké to Open First Illinois Location
InXpress Named Top Recession-Proof Franchise by Franchise Business Review InXpress, a shipping and logistics provider for small-tomedium size businesses, was recently named a top recessionproof franchise by Franchise Business Review. With a network of over 400 franchisees, InXpress provides SMEs with unrivaled time and cost-saving shipping solutions through consultative services and innovative software. More than 31,000 franchisees representing nearly 300 franchise brands participated in Franchise Business Review’s franchisee satisfaction survey between July 2019 and February 2021. InXpress was one of just 100 franchise brands to be identified as a Top Recession-Proof Franchise award winner and featured on the list of the best recession-proof businesses to start. The InXpress summary report, which was used by Franchise Business Review as a determining factor in choosing the brands to receive this honor, reflected positive scores ranging between ‘good’ and ‘very good’ as franchisees were asked if they would recommend or invest all over again, how they would rate the longterm growth opportunity, total investment, personal enjoyment in being a part of the franchise organization, if they felt valued by the system and overall trust in the franchisor and leadership team.
Island Fin Poke- a fast casual restaurant famous for its Hawaiian style build-your-own poké bowls, is happy to announce the opening of its first Illinois location in Downers Grove. The new restaurant will be owned by Tom Browning and his wife Jill, Downers Grove residents since 2001. With the restaurant opening, the new Island Fin Poké will serve healthful poké (pronounced “poh-kay”), which is like sushi in a bowl. Guests can choose from responsibly sourced ingredients and create their own customized poké bowl, choosing from over eight proteins, 25 different toppings, gluten-free house-made sauces and specialty mix-ins. The endless possibilities allow guests to get creative and try something new every visit. The restaurant will feature both indoor and outdoor seating, 3rd party delivery and carryout options. A former advertising professional with over 30 years of experience working with some of the largest brands in the franchising industry worldwide, Tom Browning was attracted to the idea of bringing a unique restaurant concept to his home community. Island Fin Poké was the perfect fit, with the simplicity of its business model and the variety of one-of-a-kind flavors it offers its guests. “We are thrilled to open the first Island Fin Poké restaurant in Illinois and bring this wonderful concept home to Downers Grove,” said Tom Browning. “We hope to become a local favorite and provide fresh, delicious meals with excellent service to our guests.”
The franchise system has seen the direct need for experienced shipping consultants, especially as efficient shipping has proved to be essential in any economic climate. As a result, the company signed 22 new franchise agreements over the last year and new franchise owners fast-tracked their launch process to join the indemand industry. The last 20-plus years shows that customers will always need trusted, reliable shipping solutions with hands-on account management.
Browning says he’s also looking forward to partnering with local charitable organizations to make a positive impact in the community.
inxpressfranchise.com
www.islandfinpoke.com
Founded in 2017 and franchising since 2018, Island Fin Poké is a Florida-based fast-casual chain that serves Hawaiian-style poké bowls in a comfortable laid back beach shack environment. Today, there 16 locations open, with numerous others in various stages of development across the country.
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what’s new!
Pieology Enters UK Market as Fast Casual Dining Returns to Normal
California-based pizza innovator Pieology has announced its first opening in the United Kingdom is another step forward toward spreading its popular brand of fast-casual pizza in other parts of Europe. It’s a good time, according to market analysts, after one-in-five casual dining restaurants closed during the pandemic in downtown London, and now there is a land-rush in the UK to fill the vacancies and meet customer demand for pre-COVID normalcy. The new owners, Kim Nagpal and Gavin Sutharmasellan of CAMYABCO LTD said “We are excited to start our journey in the UK and look forward to bringing our food service experience and expertise to the brand.” “Pieology boasts a strong franchising team, a huge fan base and a creative product for sale, says Gavin. “The company specializes in custom-made pizza, salads, beverages, sides, and sweets, and is a favorite for diners who like to personalize their own pizza.” “Every day we set out to offer our customers the very best in flavors, customer service and meticulous food creation,” says Gavin. We believe our business personifies the concept of giving
the customer exactly what they want. Pieology is the perfect fit for us and together we are about to take the UK market by storm!” https://pieology.com/franchise-inquiry/
O’Learys launches Social Eatertainment Group – with plans to become number one in Europe
O’Learys now announces Social Eatertainment Group. This follows the recent news that O’Learys acquired the Swedish restaurant and bar chain Harrys; the first of several planned acquisitions and joint ventures. The goal is for Social Eatertainment Group to become Europe’s leading eatertainment company with chain sales above €1 billion in 2025. The eatertainment company O’Learys,
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based in Sweden, now forms Social Eatertainment Group, for further expansion both in Sweden and in the rest of Europe. The main focus for Social Eatertainment Group, which today owns the two brands O’Learys and Harrys, is to become an established leader within eatertainment i.e. food and drinks in combination with social games, activities, events and sports - something that CEO Kenneth Lorentzen believes will be more important than ever after times of social distancing and digital meetings. “We are convinced that eatertainment venues and spending time with friends and colleagues will become an even more important part of people’s lives in the future. We offer fun and welcoming places to meet and hang out, for families, friends, and colleagues. We also have an attractive
offer for restaurant owners, with guests who stay longer, thus also spend more time and money at the venues”, says Kenneth Lorentzen, CEO at Social Eatertainment Group. Social Eatertainment Group is aiming to have at least 400 venues in 2025. Today, the group has more than 130 venues, currently consisting of the brands O’Learys and recently acquired Harrys, with several other venues and brands underway. There are several openings planned within the group in 2021, in for instance Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Spain. Social Eatertainment Group also wants to be the spokesperson and driving force within eatertainment industry, as well as quickly pick up different trends and innovations. https://socialeatertainmentgroup.com
CLEAN JUICE SWEEPS FRANCHISE BUSINESS REVIEW BENCHMARKS
Clean Juice®, the nation’s first and only national USDAcertified organic juice bar franchise, today shared results from its first Franchise Business Review (FBR) survey measuring franchisee satisfaction. The popular, fast-casual brand reported more than 75 percent participation from its franchise partners nationwide demonstrating a vested interest in its continued growth and product offerings. Clean Juice exceeded benchmarks in all franchise industry categories, including food & beverage, QSR, and retail, earning a total franchise satisfaction index (FSI) of 75 percent. The FBR survey lands as the brand’s popularity continues its march toward becoming a household name in markets across the nation. Built on product quality and an affinity for exceptional customer service, Clean Juice’s franchise development program gained momentum as the country put the global pandemic in its rearview mirror. In the early months of 2021, Clean Juice launched into several new states, including five new multi-unit franchise partners in Connecticut and Minnesota, along with its first store in Nevada. Clean Juice is now in twenty-eight U.S. states while existing franchise partners secure multiple Arizona, Florida, and Texas locations. According to the FBR survey, Clean Juice ranked highest in respect (86%), team culture (85%), honesty and integrity (85%), and product and service offering (84%). Clean Juice exceeded QSR averages by more than 6 percent, retail by more than 7 percent, and more than 8 percent in the food and beverage category. Clean Juice’s FSI was 6 percent higher than 2021 FBR benchmarks across all industries. Clean Juice recognizes the contributions and dedication of the Clean Juice Nation’s spectacular line-up of franchise partners. From former NFL Super Bowl heroes to hard-working single mothers and a diverse group of people from all backgrounds who value American entrepreneurship and receive the shared vision behind the Clean Juice brand philosophy of “healthy body, strong in spirit” (3 John 1-2). www.cleanjuicefranchising.com
Office Evolution announces its second South Florida location
The largest provider of locally owned and operated flexible workspaces across the nation –announces its second South Florida location; opening in Coral Springs. The brand is also the fastest growing coworking franchisor in the US. Local owner Mark Mendel pointed to increased demand for ready-to-use, close-to-home workspaces for the market expansion. This new location is the first of three locations Mendel intends on opening and owning in South Florida. The new location with recently renovated 7,837-square-foot space includes: 35 private offices, three conference and meeting rooms, team offices, a fully furnished office for psychologists or counselors, drop-in coworking areas and even a wellness room, which can be used by nursing mothers. A former executive for an educational childcare service, Mark Mendel said, “More than ever, remote workers and small businesses are seeking workspace close-to-home and with flexible terms. These spaces are where innovation happens, and business performance is enhanced. The brand’s nationwide presence has grown significantly during the pandemic, as businesses of all sizes shift their focus towards flexible workspace to get out of the home while avoiding the expenses and restrictions inherent in traditional office space. This transition from traditional workspaces to more flexible options in suburban markets has positioned Office Evolution perfectly for growth. “Our South Florida franchisees are committed to supporting their members and our corporate team is dedicated to providing them with the assistance and guidance they need as they grow in the region,” said Mark Hemmeter, CEO and founder of Office Evolution. “It’s no secret that there are great opportunities in this area and we know that Mark Mendel is the perfect franchisee to support this thriving community of local businesses and remote workers.” To learn more about Office Evolution, please visit: https://www.officeevolution.com/
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cov er story
Suzanne Ketchings | Owner | Monkee’s of Ridgeland
Trust Your Instincts & Play to Your Strengths Passion-Driven Owner Finds Success in Retail After Changing Career Path I’ll never forget the day I decided to forego a career practicing law. A recent graduate of law school at Ole Miss, I moved to Jackson, Mississippi, married my husband Kyle, a practicing attorney, and was in the final stages of filling out my application to take the Mississippi Bar Exam. As I ran around town collecting the last few documents necessary to complete my application, I asked myself, “Do I really want to go through with this?” Taking the bar exam is a grueling process that consists of months of preparation, but it was not the exam that gave me an uneasy feeling every time I thought about my future career in the legal world. In fact, I enjoyed law school and was interested in many areas of the law I studied throughout my three years of class and clinical work. The feeling of uncertainty stemmed from my realization that there was no potential career in law I could see myself passionately pursuing long-term.
“Our partnership with Monkee’s proved to be especially valuable when dealing with the pressures and changes brought on by the global pandemic. We opened eight months before the world shut down, and it was a scary time to be a business owner.” So, what did I do following this realization? I called my parents and told them I decided not to take the bar exam. As you can imagine, that declaration was met with warranted resistance and followed by many questions regarding my future plans. The truth was, I did not have a plan, and I spent the next few weeks compiling my thoughts. During that time of uncertainty, two things became clear. First, the thought of owning my own business excited me. Second, I love fashion. Those points of clarity are where Monkee’s entered the picture, and my future path began to take shape. Growing up in Greenville, North Carolina, I was familiar with Monkee’s stores around the state. When I was in high school, my next door neighbor opened Monkee’s of Greenville and my love affair with Monkee’s began. Following high school, I attended college at Ole Miss in Oxford, Mississippi, which brought me back to my home state. While I enjoyed shopping at local boutiques in Oxford, I rarely saw the special items I found at Monkee’s back in North Carolina. My mom and I would always say, “A Monkee’s
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Suzanne Ketchings
store would do so well in Mississippi.” But, the conversation would end there. Fast forward to my search for career direction, and the thought about Monkee’s being a hit in Mississippi re-entered my mind. That night I sent an email to Monkee’s corporate office asking if they would be interested in expanding to include a store in Mississippi. I received a positive response within twenty-four hours, and when I found out they were in the beginning of franchise expansion, I knew we had to be a part of that plan. My husband and I approached my parents with the idea of becoming business partners to open Mississippi’s first Monkee’s location, and we discussed why we believed our collective knowledge and skills put us in a position to be successful in the fashion retail business.
cov er story
First on the list was the advantage of my mother’s family background in retail. My grandparents owned their own small chain of department stores, Efird’s, in south Mississippi. She worked with them on the floor, attended market, and saw the back-end, behind the scenes parts of the business throughout her adolescence and young adult life. Second, both my parents have MBA degrees, and are well versed and proficient in matters of finance and accounting. Combine their strengths in those areas with the legal, communication, and problem solving knowledge both my husband and I possess as lawyers, and we knew we could create a solid foundation on which to build our business. Thankfully, Monkee’s agreed, and as they say, the rest is history. We opened our doors ten months later in August 2019, and Monkee’s has been supportive every step of the way.
“The balance of assistance that is available where you need it, coupled with the independent, franchisee led autonomy with which we are able to run our store, is what I believe sets Monkee’s apart from other boutique franchises.”
The balance of assistance that is available where you need it, coupled with the independent, franchisee led autonomy with which we are able to run our store, is what I believe sets Monkee’s apart from other boutique franchises. As an owner, I enjoy great freedom when it comes to buying and day-to-day operations. On the other hand, it is beneficial to have the support of the corporate office in areas such as marketing and graphic design where our skills are not as strong. Our partnership with Monkee’s proved to be especially valuable when dealing with the pressures and changes brought on by the global pandemic. We opened eight months before the world shut down, and it was a scary time to be a business owner in general, much less in your first year. Support from the corporate office, and the strong network amongst Monkee’s store owners are two reasons I believe were able to successfully navigate the challenging landscape this crisis created for us all. This is also the time I realized the true value of my law degree. Before the pandemic I relied on the strong writing and communication skills gained in law school as I performed the day-to-day responsibilities of business ownership. As soon as the pandemic hit, my ability to read and understand our lease agreement and insurance policies, as well as the complex documents of the Payroll Protection Plan, served me well as we moved forward through that trying time.
heart and pursue small business ownership in an industry I love and that excites me on a daily basis. My advice to anyone looking to enter the world of franchising or make a career change is simple: 1) Ask yourself how you can use your unique skill set to your advantage in your chosen industry and; 2) Partner with/hire people who are strong in areas you are not. Work hard, be kind always, surround yourself with good people, follow your passion, and trust your instincts...they just might lead you to the place you were always meant to be!
We are celebrating two years of business this month, and continue to exceed our projected growth. I am happy I chose to follow my
To learn more about owning a Monkee’s franchise, visit www.ownamonkees.com
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ex per t advice
Heather Ripley | Founder and CEO | Ripley PR
Reinventing your Discovery Days with PR about how your franchise brand could change things up and meet interested franchise prospects on their own turf instead.
Heather Ripley
While acknowledging that some franchise brands may never return to previous Discovery Day formats to engage prospective franchise owners, there are still many opportunities to achieve success with a little help from PR and ingenuity. In the past, larger franchisors created entire teams to create and promote Discovery Days in order to close interested franchise buyers. Some brands even created dedicated training rooms and produced programs and workshops specifically to give potential franchise partners an immersive experience. Although these activities could see a resurgence, think
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I’ve had some very successful results for my franchisor clients by helping them hold Discovery Days “Road Shows.” Rather than trying to persuade wouldbe franchisees to spend a lot of money and time making travel arrangements, booking places to stay, being away from their businesses and families, developing traveling road shows might be a worthwhile option.
How can PR can promote your road show?
“Discovery Days are a great way to seal the deal with new franchisees, but being able to be flexible and adapt to changing times can be one of your franchise brand’s best assets.”
Recently, a wireless franchise client expressed its interest in expanding its franchise territories in the Orlando, Florida market. But rather than flooding the Orlando area with promotions trying to get enough people to sign up for Discovery Days at the franchise headquarters, we decided to try something new. A few experienced team members brought a Road Show to Orlando.
to that brand’s target audience. Keeping that in mind, here are some tactics that worked:
Although the brand wanted to expand with a handful of new franchises, to get a financial return on the cost of hosting a road show, the franchisor only needed to sell one new franchise territory. We developed a PR plan that ended up being so successful, we used this concept for other franchise brands.
• Deliver the press releases to media channels that are most appropriate, using previously established relationships with the industry’s local media and journalists.
How we did it Every franchise brand is different, and the Road Shows should be designed to appeal
• Craft engaging and focused press releases that announce the franchise brand’s Road Show and the opportunity to attend a smaller-scale discovery days event right in the prospects’ back yard.
• Invite local area media (including radio, TV and print) to interview the brand’s franchise experts about the potential for bringing the brand to the area. Bringing new employment opportunities is always
“In the past, larger franchisors created entire teams to create and promote Discovery Days...some brands even created dedicated training rooms and produced programs and workshops specifically to give potential franchise partners an immersive experience.”
a great way to get media attention. • Place small ads in specific local business publications or other media outlets that have been researched and identified as having good reach with your target audience. These tactics produced great results for this client. Other types of franchise businesses may need a different approach to promoting their Discovery Day Road Shows. For example, when designing a plan for a senior care franchise, we used a slightly different approach. • Together with the franchise executives, we settled on six potential markets to target, and then researched the best ways to reach potential franchisees in those markets
• With very little financial investment, we focused our PR plan on social media platforms where we could narrow our posts to specific groups.
consider implementing a few Discovery Day Road Shows to test the waters. It could be the start of a whole new way to expand your brand.
• Our plan included Facebook ads, and for a small cost, our carefully crafted ads were well-received. Using specific keywords and content, the ads created enough buzz that the road shows were attended by seriously interested prospects—and the outcome was very successful.
Heather Ripley is founder and CEO of Ripley PR, an elite, global public relations agency specializing in franchising, home service and building trades. Ripley PR has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top Franchise PR Agency three years in a row and was named to Forbes’ America’s Best PR Agencies for 2021. She is the author of “NEXT LEVEL NOW: PR Secrets to Drive Explosive Growth for your Home Service Business.”
Discovery Days are a great way to seal the deal with new franchisees, but being able to be flexible and adapt to changing times can be one of your franchise brand’s best assets. Do a little brainstorming with your trusted advisors and team members and
For additional information, visit www.ripleypr.com.
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ex per t advice
Page 13
H AVE YOU R SAY
Ryan Reeves | Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development | Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar
How Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar
Uses Dual-Branding to Help Hoteliers Succeed
Ryan Reeves
With the hospitality industry recovering from the pandemic, many establishments are searching for new and exciting changes they can implement to get customers back in the door. At Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bar, we’ve spent the past few years looking at fresh and creative ideas for development. As with many things, the pandemic gave us an extra push to implement these new ideas. Over time, we realized that we could do so much more with less space. Our new prototype, which is 30% smaller than preCOVID prototypes, unites the three most substantial establishments in the hospitality
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industry: restaurants, bars and hotels. It consists of Boston’s Pizza Restaurant & Sports Bars located next to hotel lobbies, meaning a smaller space, less investment, and increased revenue streams for franchise partners. For example, Jeff Krivoshen, owner of the brand new Four Points by Sheraton in Yuma, AZ, has witnessed first-hand the impact that rolling the dice on a new, unique concept can have. Last month, he opened his first dual-branded travel destination: A Boston’s Pizza Restaurant and Sports Bar inside his new Marriott hotel.
So why is this concept so attractive to hoteliers? 1. The benefits of branding: The fact that Boston’s and Marriott are both two successful franchises means an automatic boost in brand recognition.
Consumers know and trust these brands, and this is what allowed Jeff to project success even prior to his opening date. 2. Attracts more guests: Jeff recommends that hoteliers invest in plenty of exterior signage for their restaurant. This reassures locals that they are just as welcome at his Boston’s location as hotel guests. His Boston’s location has its own separate entrance within the hotel. 3. Adds convenience and a fun, bustling atmosphere: Sometimes, guests want to relax at the hotel after a long day of sight-seeing, but they don’t want to be cooped up in their rooms. His restaurant and sports bar provides for laid back entertainment without having to step foot out the door of the hotel!
4. The possibilities are endless: Having a Boston’s inside his hotel has allowed Jeff to entertain families, adventurous individuals, and business professionals alike with so many options for them to enjoy our diverse menu options. Guests can order room service from the Boston’s menu, the restaurant has its own outdoor patio, is adjoined with a Vegas-style outdoor pool with cabanas for poolside service, and even offers 6,500 sq. ft. worth of meeting space and conference rooms, where Boston’s offers guests an extensive catering menu. 5. Let’s talk about finances. A smaller space means a relatively smaller investment, and what better way to elevate your ROI than pairing it with plenty of extra revenue opportunities? With all of the different accommodations Boston’s offers in the hotel, franchisees are able to maximize business and profitability. 6. A strong support system. Of course, one major benefit to owning a franchise over an independentlyowned business is the support they receive from corporate. Between support from Marriott on the hotel side and the support of the Boston’s team, Jeff has plenty of resources to set him up for success. From design to the opening process, financial and legal aspects and staffing, we are here for our franchisees.
7. Speaking of staffing… The hospitality industry in particular has been rocked by the current labor shortage. We have recently begun our partnership with talentReef to help our franchisees with the recruiting and hiring process. This requires less time and effort on their end so they can devote more time to focusing on innovative, dual-branded concepts like this one! To sum up, the pandemic has driven a rapid innovation within the hospitality industry. A smaller, more flexible Boston’s model like Jeff’s is beneficial to hoteliers, restaurateurs, hotel guests and locals. Boston’s has already solidified partnerships with hotel chains like Mariott and Holiday Inn. In fact, this year, 80% of our openings are expected to follow this new model. Because of our proactive and “out-of-thebox” thinking, our brand is projected to double in size within the next 3 years. It’s an exciting time for enterprising individuals with the drive to try new
business ideas. We plan to expand our footprint to include more movers and shakers in the hospitality space; there are many more exciting things to come from new Boston’s franchisees to new innovations within our industry as a whole. Ryan joined Boston’s Pizza US in 2018 as Vice President of Franchise Sales and Development. He brings unparalleled expertise to franchise systems including organic lead generation, redefining sales and discovery processes, and finalizing partnerships. Ryan is driven by the belief that integrity-based relationship building and transparency is the only way to grow a strong business. Since at Boston’s, Ryan has successfully restructured existing development agreements, sold two corporate restaurants to partner with new multi-unit developers, and brought in several new multi-unit partnerships. The development pipeline that he helped create will double the size of Boston’s in the U.S. by 2024.
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H AVE YOU R SAY
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ex per t advice
George Knauf | Senior Franchise Business Advisor | FranChoice
Franchise Industry Intel
For Your Eyes Only
Franchising USA
It has been a couple long years since we could invite top franchisors to fly to a secret location to brief us on the state of their business and trends the see on the horizon.
The moral of the story is that the idea that buying into a franchise gets you support, services and resources that you probably could not get as an independent owner seems to have proved true!
Feels good to be flying again, seeing our friends, associates and franchisors in something other than a Zoom call. The only downside is that I have apparently gotten rusty on how to travel. There was no “Go Bag”, I forgot which parking lot was near my gate and should have brought a rolling bag for the long walk. That said, I am happy to be on the road and able to gather information you can use to grow your empire.
What do we see as concepts to check out? Well, we found those in every category. The strong not only survived but, but they grew their infrastructure and resources like technology and vendor relationships.
Welcome back live face to face conferences! Okay, so here is the general global state of franchising. While in Covid, families spent less and have a ton of pent-up demand. There is an addition $2 Trillion put up in savings over and above what families normally save. They are getting out and spending it like spending money is an Olympic sport. People want their restaurants, gyms and entertainment back. They are travelling, boarding their dogs, hiring home services like cleaning companies and more. They are going back to the office, so have less time to do their own projects at home. Do it yourself projects are getting handed to contractors but they are getting done because the housing market is on fire, people have increased home equity and are building a house that they can enjoy now but has great resale value. Here is the good news: I had gym companies inform me that they did not close any units permanently due to Covid and they even opened some that are thriving. I had restaurant companies tell me they thrived and opened unis as well. Service companies had a lot of customers come their way for home projects and, of course, needed repairs. And much more.
I spoke to brand Presidents that worked crazy hours calling each franchisee and making sure they had what they needed. Their teams were in the trenches with them every step of the way.
Services remain in very high demand by consumers. That does not seem to be letting up. In fact, it might even be growing. Services like pet walking, pet sitting, home cleaning, mobile car washing may be in higher demand due to offices workers that have been telecommuting going back to the office. That doesn’t mean demand for core services will fall, there is so much consumer demand for Plumbing, HVAC, Roofing, remodeling and services in that category that we have seen very proven franchisors bring new brands to market to answer the calls. Gyms, wow, gyms are going crazy again! Those that closed are largely open again. Customers have brought two years of saved up New Years resolutions and are so busy that gym owners are scouting new locations as fast as they can. We even saw Top celebrities open gyms that will leverage their brands to bring people in to work out. Beauty and wellness are on fire with activity now that we are trading in sweatpants for work, social and travel clothes. Hair salons, salon suites, lashes, spas, longevity, skin treatments and much more are back in growth mode. Childhood education and daycare are getting substantial consumer demand. Daycares because parents are going back to the office and tutoring because kids need the extra help to catch back up after the home schooling was harder than anyone thought. The demand for this started
George Knauf
months ago and the education companies are scrambling to catch up to the calls. Restaurants are under high demand and they are hustling to restaff as fast as they can, as are some retail companies. Watch for a shift in the way they build teams, reward them and grow them. It is just a matter of rebuilding that staffing pipeline, but employees have always been there for this category. Automotive is strong as cars need service, the average age of cars owned is older and we are back on the road. Maintenance, repair and insurance claim services are very active. As with any time of challenge, we see the entrepreneurship in people come out. We saw it in franchisors and franchisees. The community these brands operates in showed that they can weather any challenge. What is your success story? Let’s go find it! George Knauf is a highly sought after, trusted advisor to many of the top franchise ownership groups in the world. With over 25 years of experience in both start-up and mature business franchise operations he is uniquely qualified to advise individuals that have dreamed of Building their own empires. Whether you have an existing portfolio or searching for your first franchise, he can help you to pursue your dreams. Contact the Franchising USA Expert, George’s Hotline: 703-424-2980. www.MyPerfectFranchise.com
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SPECIAL STRONG
Special Strong
A new adaptive fitness gym franchise headquartered in McKinney, TX, is bringing the latest scientific approach to fitness to individuals with physical and mental disabilities, including those suffering from conditions like Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Muscular Dystrophy. Special Strong’s programs are custom
special needs. He set out to achieve his
classroom and onsite training, Daniel
with physical, mental, or cognitive
earning certifications from the National
over 80 hours of training, where the new
designed for children, youth, and adults challenges, says Daniel Stein, who together with his wife Trinity, launched the company in 2016.
goal by becoming certified in many areas, Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM),
one of the most respective physical fitness certifications in the nation.
explained. “Classroom training consists of franchisees learn how to run a business.
There are 30-40 hours of practical training, where franchisees shadow other trainers
In 2011, Daniel felt a calling to help
In 2019, Special Strong developed a
to get hands-on experience with adaptive
children, adolescents, and adults who have
University, comprised of both virtual
Today the franchise has received an
provide physical fitness training for young
Franchising USA
training system called Special Strong
clients.
“We offer one-on-one training and group classes for kids, young adults, seniors and anyone with mental, physical, and/or cognitive disabilities. All of our training is individualized for each person.”
“The program is fun for participants of all ages, with customized physical therapy and exercise programs to help those with mental and cognitive limitations live a more independent and abundant life.”
enthusiastic reception by individuals with physical and mental disabilities, as well as franchise applicants across the U.S., according to Daniel. “We teach strength training combined with science-based brain movements,” he explained. “Recent studies have shown that this type of training not only help musculoskeletal development, but improved circulation and speeds the increase of BDNF, which is like miracle grow for the brain that has a terrific positive effect on wellness, including physical and emotional well-being.” Stein emphasized that the program is fun for participants of all ages, with customized physical therapy and exercise programs to help those with mental and cognitive limitations live a more independent and abundant life. “We offer one-on-one training and group classes for kids, young adults, seniors and anyone with mental, physical, and/or cognitive disabilities. All of our training is individualized for each person.” Special Strong provides customized health and fitness services through certified trainers. “We have helped over 1,500 clients with special needs and other disabilities to thrive and overcome their
challenges with our program. It’s been
training center. Today, they are expanding
because of Special Strong.”
world about opening a Special Strong gym
amazing to see lives and families changed Their goal is to train others who are
interested in adaptive fitness as personal trainers or in opening their own fitness
rapidly with people inquiring all over the franchise.
For more info: www.specialstrong.com/gym-franchise
Franchising USA
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The public and policymakers need to understand franchising. Our purpose
@OurFranchise is an industry-wide campaign created to spread the word about the value of franchising and share the stories of men and women just like you, who are leading the way as franchisors, franchisees, and franchise employees. The franchise business model has been proven time and time again to work, but it’s threatened when the public and politicians don’t understand how it operates to benefit local, independent franchise establishment owners and their communities. Putting a spotlight on real leaders succeeding with the franchise model is how we’ll ensure franchising is stronger than ever before.
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Since our launch in June 2016, we’ve reached 1.7 million people through outreach efforts, including events in key cities and states, where we spoke directly with business owners, employees, policymakers, and the media. Additionally, we’ve reached people across America through our website and social media channels, digital advertisements, and the promotion of We the Franchisees on Politico – but there is much more work to do. As a franchisor, franchisee, or franchise vendor, you are a leader in your community – and we need your support, now more than ever.
You benefit by joining
By joining @OurFranchise, you’ll get access to exclusive stories and resources that can help grow your franchise business, educate employees at all levels about the franchise business model, and share the economic importance of franchising with consumers. You will also have the opportunity to share your franchise success story with your peers. Visit AtOurFranchise.org Contact Erica Farage, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Grassroots Advocacy and Multi-Unit Franchisee Engagement International Franchise Association efarage@franchise.org (202) 662-0760
b
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This is just the beginning
Make sure you stay up to date with the campaign’s latest efforts through email updates and social media. Visit our website to read and share the latest stories of franchisors and franchisees making an impact in their communities. Become a franchise advocate to help ensure Americans, now and in the future, have the opportunity to start franchise businesses. Take the lead today!
FranchisingFeature home services
a u g u s t 202 1
home services franchises is where the heart is
home services:
a booming industry
steady supply of home services franchises to meet expanding demand creating a team to lean on
supports success in change Franchising USA
fe at ure : wom Tr ending hom eenserv in franchises franchising ices franchising
what’s new!
Jessica Stanley and Amy Arnold of Card My Yard Announced as an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Central Texas Award Finalist
Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) recently announced that Jessica and Amy, cofounders of Card My Yard, were named finalists of Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Central Texas Award. “Amy and I founded Card My Yard with the mission to spread positivity across our community in Austin, Texas,” said Jessica Stanley, co-founder of Card My Yard. “We were thrilled to receive so much support from friends and family in our neighborhoods, and we quickly realized that our vision to spread joy resonated with many families across the state, which later led to our national expansion. We’re excited to leave a positive impact across
households nationwide and look forward to the bright future ahead.” Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation and future plans. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.
“Card My Yard has grown tremendously across the nation since it was founded in 2014,”” said Amy Arnold, co-founder of Card My Yard. “We’re humbled to be finalists for this award and are ecstatic to continue our exponential growth in the years to come.” www.cardmyyard.com/join-our-team/
Luke Schulte announced as Executive Director of Franchise Development for Handyman Connection In his new role, Schulte will oversee growth strategies for the brand, connecting potential franchisees with the opportunity to own their own business in the fastgrowing home improvement and repair industry.
Handyman Connection, a home repair company with more than 25 years experience, announced today that service franchise expert Luke Schulte has been named executive director of franchise development.
Franchising USA
“Luke has a talent for fostering relationships with franchise candidates, consultants, and coaches, and we are thrilled to have him bring his expertise to Handyman Connection,” said Jeff Wall, CEO of Handyman Connection. “Because of his years of experience in the service franchise industry, he has a deep understanding of the simplicity and forecastability of our business model and how attractive that is to entrepreneurs who want to be in control of their own destiny.” “Handyman Connection has incredible opportunities for driven business owners
who will appreciate the unsurpassed level of support and business tools it offers,” said Schulte. “Matching great candidates with exceptional service brands has been a passion of mine throughout my career, and I’m excited to be working with a company known for positioning its franchisees for growth and success.” Ranked as the #1 Handyman Company by Qualified Remodeler, Handyman Connection operates more than 60 locations throughout 25 states and Canada. For more than 25 years, the brand has offered homeowners across North America a complete resource for professional craftsmanship and exemplary customer service. For more information visit: https://franchiseopportunity. handymanconnection.com/
The Dog Stop® Receives Growth Capital Investment Budget Blinds Announces 2021 Franchisee Award Winners The Dog Stop®, the award-winning and rapidly growing dog care franchise, announces a new operational partner and investor, Franvest Capital Partners Inc. The Franvest team, out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, brings a tremendous amount of franchise experience and leadership along with a history of building highly successful and industry leading international franchise organizations. The Dog Stop® was bred from the beginning to be America’s best all inclusive indoor/outdoor dog care facility offering dog boarding, daycare, grooming, obedience training, in-home services, and a dog retail store all under one roof. Our facilities exist to promote healthy and happy dogs through socialization, proper physical and mental stimulation paired with a holistic retail approach. Whether it’s running in a play yard, socializing with friends, or just lounging around, The Dog Stop® is your one-stopshop for all of your pup’s wants and needs. Currently The Dog Stop® has 20+ state of the art locations in Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. There are another 10+ locations currently under development with plans to expand aggressively throughout the USA in the coming years. Most major and secondary markets are available nationwide and the franchise development team is seeking qualified franchisees to help grow the brand and its award-winning dog care services.
Budget Blinds® has announced its 2021 Franchisee of the Year, Top Sales Award and Million Dollar Club recipients, signaling those Budget Blinds business owners who achieved sales and other milestones in 2020. The top three award recipients in each of these categories include the following: Top Sales for Multiple Budget Blinds Territories • Mike and Adriane Wonderlin, owners of Budget Blinds of Brandon in Riverview, Fla., and Budget Blinds of Land O’ Lakes and North Tampa in Tampa, Fla. • Terry and Sandra Sill, owners of Budget Blinds of Marion, Iowa City, Bettendorf and Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Madison, Northwest Madison, Brookfield and Waukesha, Wisc. • Bob and Kate Engler, owners of Budget Blinds of Hilton Head Island and Budget Binds of Beaufort in Bluffton, S.C. Top Sales for a Single Budget Blinds Territory
• Bob and Kate Engler, owners of Budget Blinds of Hilton Head Island in Bluffton, S.C. • Mike and Stacy Hughes, owners of Budget Blinds Deschutes County in Bend, Ore. • Merv and Adam Epstein, owners of Budget Blinds of Charleston in Charleston, S.C.
The Dog Stop® management team, including Founders, Jesse Coslov and Chris Kane, will continue to lead the company. Franvest President, David Hardy, will lead a team to expand the Board of Directors and provide strategic counsel and support.
The Top Sales Award winners also qualified for membership in the Budget Blinds Million Dollar Club, The membership is limited to Budget Blinds business owners who generate $1 million or more in window covering sales annually.
The partnership will inject growth capital into the brand to establish new marketing programs and technologies, as well as boost development efforts to bring new qualified franchisees into the system. The investment will also enable The Dog Stop® to improve its systems and processes, while continuing to provide award-winning dog care services. Additionally, a new flagship corporate location, training facilities, and corporate headquarters are in development in Pittsburgh, PA.
Finally, representing Budget Blinds’ most prestigious honor of the year, Terry and Sandy Sill of Mount Vernon, Iowa, were awarded the 2021 Budget Blinds Franchisees of the Year Award which recognizes the franchise owner who best models Budget Blinds values. All award winners across multiple categories were announced by Budget Blinds President Doug Phillip at the 2021 convention for Budget Blinds franchisees.
www.thedogstop.com
https://franchise.budgetblinds.com/.
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Featu re
I n g r i d N e l s o n | Fr a n c h i s i n g U S A
home services: a booming industry It’s no secret that the demand for home services in the U.S. is booming right now. There has never been a better time to take advantage of this growing business trend. We take a look at why buying a franchise might just be the best option.
COVID-19, many of us are now working from home, making it more important than ever to improve and enjoy our surrounds. In fact, the Better Business Bureau recently published a report that showed 76% of homeowners in the United States have carried out at least one home improvement project since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
From renovations and additions to home decorating, landscaping, cleaning, repair and maintenance, homeowners are putting home improvement franchises in high demand. This is resulting in great opportunities for the entrepreneur seeking to invest in their very own home improvement franchise business.
As a result,home improvement businesses are seeing an uptake in the number of customers that want major renovations or minor projects to make their houses a more pleasant place to live.
There are a few reasons for this huge increase in demand. As a nation, we are busier than ever and with the onset of
Franchising USA
Apart from that, many people just don’t have the time, know-how or desire to do what this sector of franchises offer. Plus, rather than buying bigger and better homes, a growing number of people in the U.S. are choosing to keep their homes and make improvements.
Furthermore, with the explosion in online and mobile booking services, and the emergence of tech-savvy millennials, it has never been easier to access home service businesses. Major companies such as Google and Amazon are diving
“Home improvement businesses are seeing an uptake in the number of customers that want major renovations or minor projects to make their houses a more pleasant place to live.” into the estimated $400 billion market. Interestingly, Amazon Home Services covers more than 700 types of services! So why buy a home services franchise rather than run an independent business? Prospective franchisees benefit from established systems along with easier access to a number of resources in comparison to businesses run by independent operators. Another advantage of being a part of a franchise system within this area of business is that it allows for franchisees to take advantage of the brand equity of the franchisor. This advantage is a major benefit because people are very protective of their homes and tend to seek as many assurances as possible that the
work they contract will be done properly by trustworthy individuals. Here are some of main reasons home services franchises are in such high demand right now: • The constant need for home services • Maintaining and increasing a home’s value being of great importance for homeowners both financially and psychologically • An increase in the ability to book online, along with the ability to find information on service providers more easily than before • The increase in dual-income households, leading to more money to spend on home services • Related to number four, homeowners with less time to spare than ever • An aging baby boomer population that wants to stay at home as they age but outsource the maintenance of their homes Whether it’s everyday upkeep, or emergency requests, there are a variety of franchises to choose from when it comes to home services. Let’s take a look at just some of the opportunities available.
Kitchen remodelling The kitchen is the heart of the home and when it comes to home improvements, the kitchen is always top of the list. These days, many homeowners are opting to renovate existing kitchens with new
“So why buy a home services franchise rather than run an independent business? Prospective franchisees benefit from established systems along with easier access to a number of resources in comparison to businesses run by independent operators.”
cupboards, benchtops and appliances rather than replace with a new one, saving them thousands of dollars. A kitchen remodelling or renovation franchise gives franchisees a great market with a consistently high demand.
Bathroom remodelling Bathrooms are one of those areas that get constant wear and tear and start to look dated and run down over the years. That’s why bathroom remodelling franchises provide the perfect solution by helping to remodel bathtub and shower liners, replace bathtubs and shower bases/walls all together and even convert an outdated tub to a shower.
Window dressings Adding new curtains or blinds is one of the easiest ways to give your home a brand-new look at little cost. Decorative and functional window blinds are available through many window dressing franchises, which are becoming extremely popular.
Home additions Consumers looking to expand their homes can choose from a huge range of options, including adding a room onto their homes, converting a garage, converting their
space into a loft, or even adding an extra building. You can choose to invest in any of these home addition franchise industries, which are highly lucrative.
Flooring New flooring not only enhances the aesthetics of a house, but also allows homeowners to stay in their house more comfortably. A flooring franchise is a great opportunity to generate a steady income and build a successful business.
Driveway paving There is nothing that drags the look of house down more than a worn or cracked driveway. That’s why driveway paving franchises meet a consumer need and provide a chance to earn a great living.
Landscaping First impressions count. So, when it comes to curb appeal, one of the most important aspects of your home is landscaping and lawn care. Whether its people staging their home for sale, or those who are time poor and depend on landscaping services for monthly maintenance, including gardening, raking, weeding, and more, a landscaping franchise is a great business opportunity, especially for those who love working
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I n g r i d N e l s o n | Fr a n c h i s i n g U S A
outdoors. This type of franchise provides residential services, as well as good partnerships with buildings and offices.
Property repair Whether it is a natural disaster or a manmade one, property repair franchises are always in demand. Working with property owners and their insurance companies to make sure that the home is restored back to its original state, property repair franchises are recession-proof, as property damage repair is not a seasonal nor is it something that can be put off for a long period of time.
Cleaning and maintenance Life is becoming busier than ever. Gone are the days when engaging a regular cleaner for your home was considered a luxury, it has now become a necessity. And, with many of us now spending more time in the home, keeping our home clean and fresh is more important than ever. Hence, an increasing number of homeowners are opting to pay for the convenience of outsourced assistance. Did you know, the cleaning service industry brings in a total of $46 billion annually, while residential services are expected to reach over 75 million by 2022! A lot of residential cleaning services are mobile franchises, with smaller start up fees and investments, as well as a better work life balance. Franchisees can allow their teams of employees to run the business and submit reports, while sitting back and gaining a profit.
Franchising USA
Specialty cleaning There are also specialty services such as deep carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, or air and duct cleaning, for example. These services are not only residential franchise options, but usually come with a long list of industrial customers as well. If you are willing to take on both residential and business clients, it can be a very lucrative business. Some cleaning services are necessary and always in demand such as chimney cleaning and window cleaning, particularly high windows that require particular tools that are not carried by most homeowners. Some franchises have partnerships with retail stores to connect clients after a product is sold that may need cleaning, or even connections with real estate agencies to share clientele.
Pool maintenance While the number of pools in the U.S. is increasing, the amount of time available to busy homeowners to maintain their pools continues to decrease. More and more homeowners are opting to outsource this time-consuming job, providing a lucrative opportunity for those seeking a franchise opportunity in this specialised industry.
House staging With the recent popularity of home renovation TV shows, homeowners are keener than ever to make their homes Instagram worthy. Not only that, but those who are selling their home can add thousands of dollars to the sale
“Another advantage of being a part of a franchise system within this area of business is that it allows for franchisees to take advantage of the brand equity of the franchisor.” price by staging with beautiful furniture and accessories. Those with a flair for interior design or a background in home styling would be perfectly suited to a home staging franchise. For example, Showhomes is one of the leaders in this growing industry, with a nationwide franchise network of home staging experts. They have helped over 30,000 homeowners and their realtors sell homes valued at over $10 billion!
Painting Nothing improves the look of a room faster than a fresh coat of paint. With more Americans home now than ever, now could be the time to invest in a painting franchise. With the $500 billion home improvement industry experiencing a boom during the pandemic, buying a painting franchise is a sound investment. Some of the benefits of this category include a relatively low cost of entry and a large target audience. Whether you’re interested in opening a franchise specialized in inside or outside painting there is sure to be a brand that piques your interest. https://franchisingusamagazine.com/ franchise-directory
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fe at ure : hom e serv ices franchising
Have Your Say: Jennifer Lemcke | CEO | Weed Man
“You’d think that as the CEO or leader of the company, you’d need to have all of the answers, but I learned that I didn’t. My Dad and I spent years creating this amazing team to lean on for support. I put a lot of faith into those relationships and the trust that was already in place.”
Franchising USA
Creating a team to lean on, supports success in change Transition in any form or capacity always brings its challenges, but I truly believe that with change, comes growth. My father, Roger Mongeon, was Chief Executive Officer of Weed Man USA / Turf Holdings Inc. since its inception back in 1996 when he purchased the rights to franchise in the United States. And before then, he was a successful franchisee in Canada. In 2020, he decided it was time to step down as CEO and pass the reins to me. The idea of transitioning from COO to CEO really wasn’t all that difficult. It felt natural and I think it was easier simply due to having grown up in the culture; Weed Man has always been a part of my life in some way - I’ve worked in every position within the company, and really learned the business inside and out. My dad and I have always worked very closely together and are (and always have been) aligned in terms of how we view the company, our vision for the future of Weed Man, how it’s run from the top down and our philosophy of not only treating our franchisees like customers, but also like family. He was always laser-focused on the success of our franchisees, and I didn’t feel compelled to change that at all. In fact, I wanted to go down that same path and continue what my dad started all those years ago. With that being said, I transitioned from COO to CEO during a global pandemic. Throw the Coronavirus into the equation, and what I anticipated to be a fairly straight-forward transition turned into something a little more complex and
“I very quickly realized that I wasn’t alone. I had to believe in my corporate team and lean on our sub-franchisor network, too.” scary. It was uncharted territory. I was leading the pack; everyone looked at me for the answers, and I didn’t always know what to say. In fact, I recall having to take extra deep breaths prior to hosting network-wide COVID-19 update calls, just to gather myself and my thoughts. Emotions were running high, but I very quickly realized that I wasn’t alone. I had to believe in my corporate team and lean on our sub-franchisor network, too. I relied on them for advice and feedback, and we were consistently aligned with how we wanted to communicate and strategize. We were very transparent and honest with our franchisees, and felt like that was the only way to go. If I didn’t have the answers, they trusted me to find them. And that was a very empowering feeling. You’d think that as the CEO or leader of the company, you’d need to have all of the answers, but I learned that I didn’t. My Dad and I spent years creating this amazing team to lean on for support. I put a lot of faith into those relationships and the trust that was already in place. In addition to my staff and our sub-franchisor network, I also relied on our competitors. I’ve always had a great relationship with them, but crisis hit and we truly became a team. We had open discussions, compared strategies and leaned on one another...and we all came out on top. Our trade and national associations were all incredible resources as well. Everyone was in the same boat; we were all just trying to navigate this huge hurdle that we were presented with, and we weren’t
really sure where to go. Communication at every level was top-notch, and that’s something that we really utilized to help form a strategy. On that note, our industry was very lucky to have experienced demand and growth opportunities during this difficult time. We witnessed success and have had two record-breaking years back-to-back. Although it was a time of turmoil - and of course it would’ve been great if none of us had to experience COVID-19 at all, but for me especially during my first year as CEO - it honestly made me stronger and better equipped my team and I, to help us face anything that comes our way in the future. Over the past year or so, I grew as a person and as a leader more than I ever could have imagined. Facing adversity made the role transition a lot quicker (I had no choice but to move quickly!), but I grew through it... and to me, that’s a win! I still don’t know that I have all of the answers, but I learned that I don’t need all of them right now. Our company has gone through some major changes over the past couple of years - we acquired Weed Man Canada in late 2018, we recently added a new sub-brand, Mosquito Hero, we dealt with and conquered a global pandemic, and on top of it all, I’m now CEO of the largest franchised lawn care company in the world. Life is good! For more information on franchising with Weed Man, visit us online today at www.weedmanfranchise.com
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Expert Advice: Terry Powell | Founder | The Entrepreneur’s Source
Home Services Franchises Is Where the Heart Is
For much of 2020 the world was on pause, families focused on the basics and put a halt to much of their discretionary spending. Although it was a difficult time for us all, it created a positive financial opportunity for some. Business owners running home service franchises have had a very successful past year. Instead of going on vacations and dining out, people were spending money on home repairs and upgrades. While many businesses had to shut down during the pandemic or scale back their operations
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and lay people off, the home service franchisees found themselves hiring people and seeing their sales go up. If you are interested in a home service franchise, your instincts are on target and shared by many entrepreneurs. Over the past year I have worked with an increased number of clients who are looking to start home based business. Here is some of what this industry has going for it.
The home services industry is growing The International Franchise Association’s 2021 report, “Economic Outlook For Franchising” states that franchises that specialize in servicing both residences and businesses will likely see considerable
growth, expanding at a rate of 3.4%. If you have been considering buying a cleaning company or a pest control franchise, you will be buying an industry in a market where there is a lot of demand. It’s also a demand that is expected to continue.
Trends suggest home is more important to people than ever There’s good reason that consumers are seeking out more help from home-based service franchises. Even as the pandemic becomes a distant memory, not everybody is going back to the office. The trend of remote work seems to be here to stay, and people are spending more time than ever in their homes. Bolstering that argument, Microsoft’s
“Making residences even more appealing is going to be even more essential for homeowners, who will now be spending more time at home.”
and workspaces. Which means that if you are leaning toward a service business that specializes in helping office buildings and workspaces, or one that does home and commercial, you have little to worry about.
An ever-aging population Time is also on the home services industry’s side. Right now more than 10,000 Americans are turning 65 years old every day. In fact, by 2030, all Baby Boomers will be 65 years old or older. The oldest members of Generation X isn’t all that far behind them. By 2050, one in five people in US will be considered a senior citizen.
Work Trend Index survey, conducted by an independent research firm, Edelman Data x Intelligence, which surveyed 31,092 fulltime employed or self-employed workers across 31 markets last January. It found that 70 percent of employees want flexible remote work options to continue and that 66 percent of business decision makers are considering redesigning physical spaces to better accommodate their work environments. Making residences even more appealing is going to be even more essential for homeowners, who will now be spending more time at home. At the same time, office buildings aren’t going anywhere. Employees will likely split the difference in a hybrid model, both of which are going to be requiring help in maintaining living
How does that help the home services industry? People will try to stay in their homes longer, which will help keep the home services industry thriving for years to come. The delay in moving out of homes has also created a rapidly growing market for franchises that provide services such as non-medical in-home senior care.
Lower overhead Real estate is expensive. One of the many saving graces of home services franchises is that most of the work is done in the person’s home. That means for many franchisees can work from home or operate from a smaller footprint. A storefront location is not required when dispatching a team of full-time and part-time workers to clients’ homes. There will be other expenses to consider, such as a fleet of vehicles to maintain, insurance, equipment, inventory, and
Terry Powell
payroll. However, real estate costs will be fairly minimal. If you are considering a home services franchise, the time is now. This is a market that is growing, and if it’s something you want to be a part of, you should give it some serious thought. After all, you’ve spent the last year being locked in. You don’t want to someday regret not joining the home services franchise industry and feel locked out. Terry Powell is the founder of The Entrepreneur’s Source, which, since 1984, has been North America’s leading alternative career ownership coaching™ franchise dedicated to the helping people move from employment to empowerment. Today, with more than 140 locations in the United States and Canada, The Entrepreneur’s Source® continues to lead the $1.5 billion-dollar Business Coaching/Consulting franchise market in North America.
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Expert Advice: Chris Connor | President | Franchise Marketing Systems
Steady Supply of Home Service Franchises to Meet Expanding Demand “It’s safe to say, in general terms, that home service franchises offer high profitability and low overhead. Rediscovering this homestead love has continued to show promise for these concepts.”
Chris Connor
The home improvement and services industry was already on the rise before last year and experienced a strong surge as people found it necessary — required — to stay at home and utilize the space in newfound ways.
of the home services industry, you will be glad to know that there are several options when it comes to choosing a niche that makes sense for your skill set and your market. It’s safe to say, in general terms, that home service franchises offer high profitability and low overhead. Rediscovering this homestead love has continued to show promise for these concepts. These franchises offer incredible stability, proven in our most recent economic blow that resulted in record franchise sales and consistent revenue flow.
Things haven’t slowed down. The opportunity here reaches well beyond the 480+ million houses and the over 46 million multi-unit homes in the U.S.— these franchises are also applicable to commercial clients.
No Pipe Dream
For those who grasp the incredible value
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Zeroing in on the less than glamorous specific necessities of the home show great promise. The Drain Co., a California-based franchise founded back in 1969, is no pipe dream. The company offers preventative and emergency drain services, appliance
installation, water submeters, and more. They’ve managed to secure a lucrative model with massive recurring revenue potential over the past few decades. Simply put, they offer drain cleaning to help save on costly repairs down the road and several diversified profit drivers to keep customers calling. Learn more at www.thedraincofranchise.com
An American Staple Unlike many home cleaning services that focus on the inside of the home, American Safe Wash has honed its skills to concentrate on keeping outdoor components and spaces sparkling. Cleaning for windows, gutters, solar panels, roofs, siding, decks, air vents, and dryer vents are all offered through this streamlined service model. Sanitation awareness is keen these days, deemed a necessary
the dangers of toxic water run off from their services. Plus, all water is reclaimed and employees are refreshed on OSHA standards monthly. To learn more about Green Earth Power Wash, stop by www.greenearthpowerwashfranchise.com. All of the franchises mentioned here offer ongoing support — a truly key component to their value. Marketing guidance, such as collateral designs, social media strategies, or consumer marketing plans, is also included.
service to many operations. American Safe Wash offers great potential in large accounts, such as government facilities, universities and colleges, hospitals and nursing homes, large companies, and more. All in all, American Safe Wash is a multifaceted service business applicable to both commercial and residential clients wrapped in an easy-to-operate, low overhead model. More information about ASW is at www.aswfranchise.com.
Remodel and Design for the Win Remember those 480+ million houses we mentioned? Around 150 million of those homes are over 20 years old and are begging for an upgrade. Whether the house has seen more than a decade or two or not, A1 Kitchen and Bath offers their clients top quality services underscored by professionalism, which can be hard to find with typical contractors. The franchise
model utilizes builder relationships as one of its consistent revenue streams. A1 Kitchen and Bath has perfected the model to still compete with big box stores, other franchised brands, and mom-and-pop stores while maintaining a strong bottom line. To get in touch with the A1 team, visit www.a1kitchenandbathdesignfranchise. com.
Power Up with Power Wash Since 1992, Green Earth Power Wash has been supplying a reliable, top-quality service in a massively segmented, unprofessional industry. Beyond this, a key differentiator for the company is the use of their 200+ degree water used to clean almost any surface, used at both commercial and residential properties. By avoiding the use of harsh chemicals and detergents, Green Earth Power Wash protects the environment by eliminating
Choosing to go into business for yourself is a step towards leaving a legacy for your family, making your schedule more flexible, and earning income in a way that you love. Like thousands of others who’ve chosen this path, we can help you find the best franchise fit for you. Christopher Conner is the President of Franchise Marketing Systems and has spent the last decade in the franchise industry working with several hundred different franchise systems in management, franchise sales and franchise development work. His experience ranges across all fields of franchise expertise with a focus in franchise marketing and franchise sales but includes work in franchise strategic planning, franchise research and franchise operations consulting. For more information on how to choose the right Home Services franchise for you, and to get you started, contact us at www.fmsfranchise.com
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WOMEN IN FRANCHISING: Kim Marmolejo | Hello Garage
WOMEN POISED TO TAKE OVER AS LEADERS IN THE
home-service industry
Both men and women possess the traits necessary to operate and lead franchises but as more women are choosing to invest in the home-service industry, they are poised to take over in the years to come. One of the women positioned to be a female leader in this sector is Kim Marmolejo, a seasoned truck driver and single mother of four boys. She was always on the road away from home and finally came to the decision to make a career change that would allow her to be closer to family.
Kim considered a truck driving business as her first option but it wasn’t the most family-friendly business endeavor and the industry was not as safe as it had been in years past. With the desire to leave something for her family in the form of a business that would flourish for generations to come, Kim came across Hello Garage franchise opportunities. Immediately her boys were on board and Hello Garage of Naperville, IL was born. All four of the Marmolejo boys currently play a role in the family business. The eldest who lives in Tennessee is interested in eventually purchasing a Hello Garage
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territory near him to allow the family business to continue to grow while Austin, the second eldest serves as the company’s Garage Guru and is in charge of sales. Alex, the second youngest works as the team’s lead installer while Adam, the youngest who is still in high school, manages all of the company’s social media and local marketing efforts. While all four have extremely different skills and roles, Kim says that their individual personalities are perfect for each position they hold in the company. When looking for her next business endeavor, Kim was open to any and all opportunities. Her research included restaurants, coffee shops, even a flooring company – but she always came back to
Hello Garage in large part to the constant insight and support she would receive from the company’s team. While franchising has been a historically male-dominated industry, gone are the days where women are expected to own and work in more feminine-oriented industries like beauty or food-related franchises. Working in a male dominated field most of her adult life, from driving trucks to roofing and construction, choosing to join the franchise world with her own business in that field wasn’t even a question for Kim. “I’ve worked as a laborer, a roofing contractor, and I have also done concrete work so a service-based franchise opportunity was one that I knew would be best for me and my family. With
all of my past work experience, I feel that being in male dominated industry is where I truly fit and belong,” said Marmolejo. With Kim joining the Hello Garage franchising system, she has become the first female franchise owner under the company’s umbrella. “I have decades of work experience, but when it came to starting my own business, I had no idea what I was doing,” said Marmolejo. “While learning more about Hello Garage, I was immediately drawn to the high level of support that their home office provides to incoming franchisees. I knew that I would never be left hanging or have to figure anything out on my own. They have been by my side since day one, and the fact that we can reach out at any time of day with questions is so humbling and gives me so much more confidence.”
“I’ve worked as a laborer, a roofing contractor, and I have also done concrete work so a service-based franchise opportunity was one that I knew would be best for me and my family.” - Kim Marmolejo, Hello Garage
Playing both the mom and the boss role is a territory that Kim is still navigating. While it has been challenging, the boys have fallen in to their roles and are always open for positive feedback. “My kids are very good at letting me know they’ll do whatever is needed to get the job done,” said Marmolejo. “It’s been so amazing to see each of them grow in to their roles and I have learned so much from them along the way – and I still do! I feel I have found that happy medium between mom mode and boss mode, and this entire experience has brought our family much closer.” As of late, with women taking over the franchising world, the business opportunities are endless for female entrepreneurs including Kim. Franchising models allow these entrepreneurs to get the business of their choice up and running more efficiently than if they were to build a business from scratch. “Joining the Hello Garage franchise system was a scary feat, but it also felt so natural,” said Marmolejo. “I am proud of what I been able to build for myself and for my family so far, and I know that the successes we will have in the service-based sector of franchising are endless. We are building a company that I will one day be able to pass on to my children and grandchildren, and that is an amazing feeling.” www.hellogarage.com
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Charles Bonfiglio | President and CEO | Tint World ®
All in the Family: Establishing a Vision for a Franchise Brand When it comes to keeping franchisees in tune with broader vision of a brand, it’s a family matter. Before becoming a franchisor, I was a franchisee. Given my background, I know from first-hand experience the importance of creating that franchise family atmosphere for your franchisees. I’m also a father and a husband. My wife and I have worked side by side to build our business into an international franchise network. Therefore, I know about family dynamics, which can be applied to a business, too. People need guidance when they are new to any endeavor. If you have children and let them do whatever they want, they may acquire some bad habits if they aren’t guided through the learning period. The same is true in the franchise world. When franchisees join a brand, they’re excited about starting a business. However, if you’re not there for them every step of the way, guiding them on how to use your system and do it the right way, they will pick up bad habits. Between social media, news, competition, and customer word of mouth, sometimes they feel as if they should change systems and routine practices, not focusing on the brand’s goal to stay consistent. Within the first six months each franchisee is learning how to be experts at our brand and all it entails; therefore, we make sure that their primary focus is on just that. However, after they have passed the opening phase
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and begin making more money, their mindset can begin to change. They’ve seen what they’ve done over the first year. They’ve been profitable but didn’t make it to the top. By the second year, when they’ve got the tools to succeed and the foundation of running their business ingrained, your relationship will be stronger. The best franchise brands put their primary focus on the onboarding process. Throughout the first year, you’re really overprotective of your children – your franchisees – because they really need you and your guidance. Even if they aren’t calling you, they are in constant need of training and support from you. That’s why we focus that period of time on checking in, constantly. If you have given them positive momentum and reinforcement, it’s less likely for them to go down a rogue path. That’s the first step. After they are integrated into the brand, it’s crucial that we continually communicate and offer great value, because that’s why
Charles Bonfiglio
they bought a franchise — to grow into a great system that provides them with a blueprint to run their business by. But even then, that only gets them through the first period where they are learning and executing your business model. Franchisees want to hear from the franchisor, whether they vocalize it or not. They are interested in knowing all the inspiring things that you handle in the background. I know from first-
“Belonging to a franchise is a choice. You don’t know what real-life adjustments your franchisees are having to make. If you support them in a tough time, they’ll appreciate and remember it.”
“If you give your franchisees proper attention and bring them up right, they’re going to do well.”
hand experience that if you’re not doing anything for them, they’ll notice. If you’re not communicating with them at least every quarter, they begin to wonder “What are they doing for me?” Even if you know they are receiving value, it’s important you show and demonstrate that value. If you’re in a relationship, you’re not going to stay together if you don’t communicate with your partner. The stronger the relationship you have, the more they’ll know they can trust and count on you – and grow! If you have a good culture, they’ll understand you and know your heart is there with them. Belonging to a franchise is a choice. You don’t know what real-life adjustments your franchisees are having to make. If you support them in a tough time, they’ll appreciate and remember it. My goal as a franchisor is to continually stay in touch with our franchisees and provide them support. We make sure to communicate as frequently as possible — at least every week — whether it’s through email, online forums, Facebook groups,
videos or monthly newsletters. In addition to continual communication, we also make sure to update franchisees with any and all announcements: how many franchises we awarded, all the store openings that have happened, all the new vendors we’ve signed on, and all the great deals we’ve signed for products. A simple act of letting location owners know how many new franchise locations have sold can be inspiring for them. I’ve had people call me and say, “Man, you guys are pros! I better buy another location before it gets sold.” Given my background as a franchisee, I knew that when a new store opened up and it was successful, it was time to get my act together. A little friendly competition is healthy. At the end of the day, it’s all about our franchise family. We promote a family culture. If you give your franchisees proper attention and bring them up right, they’re going to do well. At Tint World, my personal goal is to make sure that every single one of my franchise locations joins the $1 million club. It’s something that
I’m passionate about and make known to my franchisees. It shows the value of the system, the value of the brand, and reassures them that they are truly important to us. When you take these steps as a franchisor and show you have their best interest at heart, it’ll be really hard for your franchisees to not think highly of you and the brand. Celebrate their wins and focus on their success, and everyone will benefit from the reward together. Charles Bonfiglio is president and CEO of Tint World®, an award-winning franchised provider of automotive, residential, commercial and marine window tinting and security film services. With Automotive Styling Centers™ in the U.S. and abroad, each franchise location houses approximately 20 profit centers, ranging from instore accessory installations, to off-site sales and installation of residential, commercial and marine window tinting and security films. To find out more, please visit www.tintworld.com and www.tintworldfranchise.com.
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Adolfo Dolan | Systems Design Consultant | Automated Environments
Four Smart Tech Upgrades to Improve Your Franchise One of the best ways a retail or restaurant franchise can improve their customers’ experience is through the installation of smart technology. Implementing smart tech into your franchise can create the ideal ambiance in your franchise by improving the audio and visual quality of your space as well as implementing smart tech that can help you catch theft quicker. Here are a few smart tech upgrades that will improve the overall quality of your franchise.
Install Distributed Audio The installation of distributed audio is one of the biggest things a commercial franchise can do to improve its space. Distributed audio allows sending audio to multiple speakers at your store. This is essential for any retail or restaurant franchise since you want to have music
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playing during store hours. You will want to purchase a mid-tier audio system if you are simply looking to play music as background sound. A mid-tier audio system will ensure your audio quality is not too loud and will not give a lot of distortion. If you are a retail franchise you will want to make sure your distributed audio system has a PA system that can get messages to the whole store quickly and clearly. A PA system is an excellent tool during a store emergency and is also helpful at relaying store specials to clients as well as reaching employees quickly. If you work at a restaurant or bar that has dancing or hosts watch parties, then you are going to want to purchase a high-tier audio distribution system. It is important that you understand the layout of your restaurant franchise so you know where to place the speakers and what volume each individual speaker should be at. Speakers for a dance floor should be placed differently than speakers for a dining area. You want to fill your space with sounds that fit your restaurant, not just fill your
Adolfo Dolan
space with noise. The style of speakers
may be different in different parts of the restaurant. A set of subwoofers may be
needed on the dance floor but not needed at the bar. Audio systems are one of the
first things your customers will experience when they enter your franchise so make sure you have the right sound system.
“The big thing right now in video systems is video matrixing. This is when you take a large 85 to 130-inch screen and tile them to watch a bunch of different games.”
on any building that has store windows as a potential access point.
Lighting and Visual Systems to Change Your Space Installing smart lighting and video systems is a great way to improve the look of your retail or restaurant franchise. Good lighting and video systems can completely change the mood of a space. Franchise owners will want to invest in a smart lighting system that allows you to customize different light levels and set different themes. A retail space could set up a lighting system for a product display or a restaurant space could install controlled lighting to create a tailored dining experience with softer light. The big thing right now in video systems is video matrixing. This is when you take a large 85 to 130-inch screen and tile them to watch a bunch of different games. This is a popular option for any restaurant franchisee looking to host watch parties for game days. You can also invest in a projector if you are looking to do visuals on one large panel.
“If you work at a restaurant or bar that has dancing or hosts watch parties, then you are going to want to purchase a high-tier audio distribution system.”
Smart Security Creates Peace of Mind Every franchise owner should make the security of their business a top priority
and one of the best ways you can beef up
your security is through the installation of
smart security cameras and smart security
systems. Security cameras supply police with evidence if theft occurs and can deter potential criminal activity such as burglary. Franchise owners looking to install smart security cameras should install cameras that allow you to access them from your phone with the ability to easily zoom the camera in and take snapshots. You want to purchase a smart camera that transmits category cables over coax cables because category cables can support up to 24 cameras on one network. I would also recommend installing an alarm system that can be controlled from your phone and installing window sensors
Smart tech can be a boon to any franchise owner looking to improve the overall experience of their shop. The ability to seamlessly integrate your entire audio and visual systems means you can instantly change the ambiance of your franchise to something your customers will love. Installing the right smart tech in your franchise will change it for the better. Adolfo Dolan is a Systems Design Consultant at Automated Environments in Mesa Arizona. Automated Environments specializes in the installation of automated systems and other smart technology for commercial and residential spaces. www.aearizona.com
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Jon Sica | Chief Strategy and Development Officer | Batteries Plus
5 Ways to Get Ahead of Inventory Shortages As the Chief Strategy and Development Officer of a rapidly growing recession-resilient brand like Batteries Plus, I have witnessed firsthand how being proactive can pay off in the world of business. Now that we are in the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people are beginning to resume normal activities, sparking an increase in product demand throughout several industries. As many businesses struggle to keep their shelves stocked, we at Batteries Plus still have warehouses of products to last us the remainder of 2021. So how did we do it, and can other franchisors offer the same support to their franchisees when it comes to inventory management? Let’s take a look.
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1
Right now, the winners are those with the inventory
When a customer visits one of your trusted brand’s locations, they expect to walk out
with the product they came there for. The last thing anyone wants to tell a customer is, “Sorry, that’s out of stock, and it could take weeks or even months until it will
be available.” The reality is that this is a
real problem for many entrepreneurs, not
due to any fault of their own, but because market fluctuations have made it a lot
Jon Sica
more difficult to manage supply chains and inventory. That is why a sophisticated and proactive approach is so substantial. With Batteries Plus being an essential business,
trying to stay ahead of orders and can focus more on building connections with, and providing excellent service to, our valued customers.
3
Build rapport and utilize connections
we had the benefit of keeping a stable balance sheet that has allowed us to order our products months in advance so that our stores will never have to open with halfempty shelves.
Throughout the past 30 years, we have worked to build strong connections with our suppliers. Doing so is a large part of what has allowed us to stay ahead of inventory obstacles. Even if you have not been in business for decades, it is critical that you make these vital efforts to stay in touch with your vendors. We meet with our domestic vendors weekly and work with agencies overseas. A simple phone call to check in with your suppliers and receive updates goes a long way. Our team is often months ahead of the CNBC headlines because of these tight relationships.
2
4
Designate supply-related tasks
If a franchise does not have teams in place to address supply chain-specific issues, they will fall behind. We have a sophisticated, mature supply chain and a product management teams that work together to ensure our inventory stays on track. Our forward-thinking strategy not only consists of the sales forecasting necessary to prepare our future inventory, but having the financial strength to order when it’s most advantageous. This way, our franchisees don’t have to worry about
Emphasize your support system
As a franchisor, you must understand that your franchisees and their success should be at the forefront of everything you do. When they sign on with a franchisor, they expect to be supported in all facets of their business. Make it a point to go above and beyond. Building relationships and trust with franchisees and making yourselves available for questions and concerns is what will ultimately prepare you for any hurdles that come your way, whether it be an inventory obstacle or any other type of
“The last thing anyone wants to tell a customer is, “Sorry, that’s out of stock, and it could take weeks or even months until it will be available.” challenge that comes along with running a business.
5
Prepare for marketing fluctuations
Every day, events occur that affect the demand of certain products. Just look at the recent gas shortage on the east coast. You never know what can happen, so if your company’s foundation, balance sheet, and connections allow you to do so, take advantage of getting ahead wherever and however you can. It is better to be overly prepared than unprepared. Jon Sica, Chief Strategy and Development Officer of Batteries Plus, manages all franchising, development and strategic operations for the brand and is directly responsible for identifying and cultivating the strategies that will keep Batteries Plus a thriving national brand that’s continually poised for growth. Jon joined Batteries Plus in April 2019, and in May of this year was named to Retail Touchpoints 40 Under 40 list. Prior to this, Jon served as Group Director of Business Operations at Whataburger where he was responsible for segment planning and production, acquisition integration, enhancing franchisee communication, and implementing improvements to segment operations. https://batteriesplusfranchise.com/
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Leadership. Teamwork. Executing SOPs. Connecting veterans with education, resources and opportunities at vetfran.org
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AAMCO First started in 1963 by Anthony Martino as a transmission repair shop, the company now has nearly 700 locations throughout North America and about 12 years ago expanded into total car care. AAMCO franchisees benefit from joining a brand that has been in business for over 50 years. Our iconic, Double A, Beep Beep, M-C-O mnemonic brings instant recognition and trust from the American consumer. In
Bloomin’ Blinds Founded the morning of 9/11...our incorporation papers received their approval stamps within minutes of the towers being struck...Bloomin’ Blinds is a family company. Karen McGuffin founded the company in Dallas and was joined by her three sons within a handful of years. Together they created Bloomin’ Blinds over the next 16 years before the franchise was formed. Now Karen is retired and the boys are still running the show. Bloomin’ Blinds has always been a “repair company that happens to sell a ton of blinds”.
Business Finance Depot
addition to automatic brand recognition, AAMCO franchisees benefit from an Executive Leadership Team who established themselves by servicing the automotive aftermarket as franchisees. With this franchisee focus in mind, AAMCO provides the brand, tools, guidance and education necessary for new franchisees. This includes financing support, real estate support and training through the entire opening process. http://www.aamcofranchises.com
Early on we realized that retailers were primarily sales only and Bloomin’ Blinds had a significant differentiator in the addition of the repair concept. The business model has weathered the economic storms that followed 9/11 and the housing bubble pop in 2008. Bloomin’ Blinds is a technology based, fresh, new approach to an industry otherwise resisting modernization. For more information contact Kelsey Stuart at: Ph: 1-214-995-1062 Email: kelsey.stuart@bloominblinds.com https://www.bloominblinds.com/
Business Finance Depot specializes in packaging equipment leases and SBA Express Working Capital loans for start-up and existing businesses.
Our company also works with SBA 7(a) lenders, alternate financing sources, crowd funding financing sources and companies that specialize in using retirement funds to capitalize a new business. Please visit our website for more information.
Our main clients are franchisors seeking financing for their new franchisees and manufacturers seeking financing for their equipment purchases.
Website: www.businessfinancedepot.com Email: paul@businessfinancedepot.com Phone: (800) 788-3884 Contact: Paul Bosley
caring transitions
with the hassles or laws that involve elderly medical care, though you might want to invest in knowing the companies that do supply such services in your area. Many times our services are needed in order to fulfill the lifestyle changes recommended by healthcare professionals, so putting your leads into contact with upstanding medical professionals can create a favorable impression that causes them to return to you for help with non-medical side of their changing circumstances.
Caring Transitions is a solution-oriented company, and we accomplish this by bringing three services under one roof that are normally all accomplished by separate companies. The three services we combine to provide unique solutions for our customers are: • Senior Relocation • Estate Sales • Downsizing & Decluttering One final thing – we are NOT a medical service company. As a franchisee, you will not be dealing
Phone: 1-800-647-0766 Email: CaringTransitionsFranchising@gmail.com Website: https://caringtransitionsfranchise.com
franchising usa
Excellent for branding and recognition.
A-Z Listings are a great way to promote your business, giving you a presence within our publication and also the Franchising USA website. Each detailed, full colour A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.
Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446
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franchise & serv ices dir ectory
Clayton Kendall Clayton Kendall provides comprehensive branded merchandise programs for franchise communities nationwide, resulting in greater brand exposure, cost-savings, streamlined operations and brand compliance. With a customized online store as the organizing principle, our websites give users the ability to purchase their advertising and marketing tools in one easy to use program.
Contact: Dan Broudy CFE, Chief Executive Officer Phone:412-798-7120 Email: dan@claytonkendall.com Website: www.claytonkendall.com
Dough & Arrows
For potential franchisees who are family oriented and who wish to spread joy to the community while being at the forefront of a burgeoning food trend, Dough & Arrows might just be the business family you are looking to join.
The owners of a family oriented business Dough & Arrows aim to expand their business through nationwide franchising opportunities. Dough & Arrows is well known for their famous Edible Cookie Dough, Gourmet Ice Cream, delicious homemade desserts, and family atmosphere. Based in Hanover, PA, Dough & Arrows is currently looking for potential franchisees all across the United States.
Fastsigns® Now more than ever, businesses look to FASTSIGNS for innovative ways to connect with customers in a highly competitive marketplace. Our high standards for quality and customer service have made FASTSIGNS the most recognized brand in the industry, driving significantly more traffic to the web than any other sign company. We also lead in these important areas: • #1 Ranked Sign Franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500 three years in a row • Franchise Business Review FBR50 Franchisee Satisfaction Award 2006-2015 • Franchise Research Institute World Class Franchise 2011-2015 ®
FirstLight Home Care FirstLight Home Care offers comprehensive, inhome, non-medical and personal care services to seniors, new mothers, disabled adults and others needing assistance. FirstLight’s team brings more than 170 years of collaborative experience in health care, franchising and senior services, creating FirstLight’s Culture of Care foundation. The last 10 years, we’ve received numerous awards, most recently including ranking among Entrepreneur Top 500 Franchises, Forbes’ Best Franchises to Buy,
International Franchise Professionals Group
Franchising USA
We provide marketing collateral, signage, POP displays, printed materials, promotional products and apparel. Our services include graphic design, merchandising, sourcing, warehousing and fulfillment, kitting and proprietary technology with advanced management reports. All programs are scalable and can be customized to the unique needs of your community. Customer service is our forte.
Ph: 717-969-8481 E-mail: info@doughandarrows.com www.doughandarrows.com
• Franchise Research Institute #1 Rated Sign & Graphics Franchise 2014-2015 • CFA Franchisees’ Choice Designation 2004-2015 • FASTSIGNS is one of only a handful of franchises approved for $21 million in SBA financing for approved franchise candidates FASTSIGNS has over 400 markets approved for development in the US and Canada and is also seeking Master or Area Developer expansion in markets worldwide. For more information: Phone: 1-214-346-5679 Email: mark.jameson@fastsigns.com Or visit our Website: www.fastsigns.com
& Franchise Business Review’s Top 200 Franchises for franchisee satisfaction. In the $80 billion home care, demand for our services already exceeds market supply in many areas. In 2015, the babyboomers turning age 65 in the U.S. reached 10,000 per day! By 2025, it will grow to nearly 72 million. We’re looking for people who are passionate and strive to provide exceptional service. If you want to make a difference in people’s lives while building a powerful business, THIS is this franchise for you. Phone: 866-985-4031 Email: jdavis@firstlighthomecare.com Website: Firstlightfranchise.com
IFPG to power their business. All of these individuals understand the value of being associated with IFPG.
The International Franchise Professionals Group (also known as IFPG) is a membership based organization that has over 700 members. Our members consist of Franchisors, Franchisor Brokers, Lenders, and other Franchise Professionals that help potential candidates in the process of buying a franchise.
The IFPG is a strictly membership based organization that does not participate in any referral fees from our franchisor members or our brokers, thereby allowing all of our members to work freely together. Our long-term success is predicated on retaining our members and providing all the tools needed to help you sell more franchises, and close more deals.
Hundreds of nationally recognized franchise companies have chosen the IFPG and its members to represent their brand; hundreds of experienced franchise consultants and brokers have chosen the
If you’re a franchisor, franchisor broker, or another profession that serves the franchising industry call us today at (888) 977-IFPG to learn about membership opportunities.
Infinity Martial Arts Infinity Martial Arts was established in 2005 on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland. We began as a single club focusing predominantly on Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, with only a handful of members under the guidance of our head coach and black belt Neil Owen.
Our programs focus on a self-defence style of martial arts and combat sport, which is predominantly based on grappling and submission holds. Our curriculum focuses on the skill of taking an opponent to the ground, controlling one’s opponent, gaining a dominant position and using a number of techniques to either force or defend a submission.
Over the years, many of those initial members became black belts themselves and helped to grow our business into what it is today. With 13 academies now in QLD and two other affiliate clubs in NSW & QLD we are one of the largest franchised martial arts academy names throughout Australia, leading the way in Brazilian JiuJitsu.
With classes ranging from expert to beginner and suitable for both adults and children starting as young as 2 years old, our academies are warm & friendly environments. We have a strong focus on creating a fun culture where our members become part of the family.
QC Franchise Group (DBA QC Kinetix)
with BMAC, regenerative cell therapy with amniotic membrane tissue, A2M therapy and PRP therapy. With such a wide array of regenerative medicine treatments available, we make sure to discuss all the therapeutic options with each of our patients. While not all patients may be candidates for all therapies, we will help guide you to make the most appropriate decisions for your particular condition. We treat everyone from weekend warriors and professional athletes to active aging patients who want to stay active.
QC Kinetix is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based franchise company leading the way in helping people maintain an active lifestyle using comprehensive regenerative medicine treatments to address musculoskeletal conditions and joint pain. QC Kinetix is the place to go when you’ve been told invasive surgery is your best option, or after you’ve tried everything to eliminate the pain and immobility of your condition without success. We provide comprehensive regenerative medicine injection treatments, including stem cell therapy
sanondaf Founded in 1959, Ziebart is the worldwide leader in detailing, films and structural protection services providing complete car care solutions. Backed by over 60 years of experience, the brand has evolved from its roots as the pioneer in rust protection services to become the most respected global company offering aftermarket total vehicle protection products and services. Today, Ziebart International Corporation operates more than 400 locations, with 1,200 service centers, in 37 countries. The brand is committed to helping its customers customize and protect their vehicles by offering services that range from detailing and film installation to structural protection. Ziebart’s mission is to support customers’ pride in vehicle
Veterans Business Services Veterans Business Services provides the most advantageous franchise acquisition terms for Veterans and provides innovative entrepreneurial training for qualified Veterans seeking grants under the VA Vocational Rehabilitation Program. Veterans Business Services (“VBS”) specializes in entrepreneurial opportunities for Veterans and has an extensive reach into the Veterans community and can generate significant interest from qualified Veterans who wish to start a franchise or small business.
For more information visit: www.infinitymartialarts.com.au
QC Kinetix clinics are dedicated to maximizing the body’s ability to help heal and repair itself from the inside out for vastly improved function and overall quality of life. https://qcfranchise.com/
ownership and to protect their investment with the highest quality products, services, exceptional workmanship, and a knowledgeable staff that provides solutions for extending the life of all vehicles. The brand is continuing to grow through franchising and offers a best-in-class investment for qualified prospects. Ziebart franchisees gain a built-in team with decades of experience to help launch their business every step of the way. As an established automotive enthusiast brand, Ziebart has been recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 500 Franchisor as well as a Top 200 Global Franchise. For more information contact Amanda House at: Phone: 248-837-3944 Email: ahouse@ziebart.com Website: www.ownaziebart.com
campaigns, news press releases, and online franchising e-magazine articles, VBS gets the message to qualified Veterans who are invested in starting a franchise. VBS supports service disabled Veterans who are enrolled in the self-employment track within the Veterans Administration and provides outreach efforts to transitioning military through TAP and ACAP programs. As a graduate business of the Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans (“EBV”), we also assist other graduates of EBV and provide coaching support through mentoring programs. VBS is where Veterans turn to make their franchise dreams a reality.
VBS offers multiple marketing methods that have proven effective with helping franchise organizations with their expansion plans. Utilizing custom email marketing
Contact: James Mingey Phone: 202-349-0860 Email: info@veteransbusinessservices.us Website: www.veteransbusinessservices.us
franchising usa
Excellent for branding and recognition.
A-Z Listings are a great way to promote your business, giving you a presence within our publication and also the Franchising USA website. Each detailed, full colour A-Z listing comes with a 150 word write up and your logo.
Choose a 12 or 6 month package or simply add the A-Z directory onto your Focus, Profile or Ad! To learn about the A-Z directory or any other products please contact Vikki Bradbury: advertising@cgbpublishing.com or 778-426-2446
Franchising USA
franchise & serv ices dir ectory
Page 45
Franchising USA
