WOMEN IN FRANCHISING: Jennifer Cook | Oxi Fresh of Allentown, PA
From journalist to awardwinning franchisee Today, more than ever before, women are joining the male-dominated world of franchising and becoming entrepreneurs and leaders in their industries.
Jennifer Cook of Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning has already been hard at work for well over a decade on that front. Her drive and focus have led her to stand out from the crowd and achieve astonishing successes in her carpet cleaning franchise in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Back in 2007, Cook was looking for an opportunity that would empower her entrepreneurial drive and provide the flexible schedule she needed in order to care for her family. So Jennifer was intrigued when she learned about a new franchise opportunity called Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning. The carpet cleaning company, just a year old at that point, had already set itself apart from most of the industry. Rather than employ a steam cleaning system, they used a low-moisture, eco-friendly cleaning process that relied on the power of oxygen and an encapsulator. Together, they 18 Franchising MAGAZINE USA
allowed for effective cleanings that dried in about one hour—versus the 12-24 hours of steam cleaning. The cleaning method also required far less bulk equipment, allowing for more streamlined and responsive approach to operations. This modern approach to carpet cleaning combined with both the team’s passion and the overall low start-up costs led Jennifer to look into the brand. Meeting the company’s founder and CEO, Jonathan Barnet, and finding him to be a kind and genuine person ultimately sealed the deal for Jennifer. Prior to entering the franchising space, Cook earned her Bachelor’s in TV and Print Journalism and her Master’s in Cinema TV. After completing her Master’s, Cook worked as a television producer at CBN for 17 years. During her time at the network, she was a guest producer for the 700 Club. Jennifer also worked as a national producer in Virginia Beach, PA, where she served as senior production team leader and editor for CBN’s world outreach affiliate.
Upon relocating to her hometown of Emmaus, PA and purchasing the 21st Oxi Fresh franchise in the U.S., she dived deep into the business. Over the past fourteen years, Cook has seen a tremendous amount of success. In 2016, she purchased a second territory, greatly increasing her reach. Now, with a database of thousands of customers, over 200 jobs per month, a repeat business rate of over 50%, and +80%
