Catherine Monson is recognized again this year by Franchise Dictionary Magazine as one of the WOW: 50 Women Of Wonder and she graces our cover for excellent reasons. Under her leadership as CEO of FASTSIGNS since 2009, the brand has become one of the country’s largest franchise companies. It has benefited significantly from Monson’s strategic positioning and her franchising and broad business and marketing experience. By Rose Mango
As a co-chair of the International Franchise Association’s Women in Franchising Philadelphia Chapter, I make an effort to advocate for women in franchising and mentor younger – or less experienced – up-and-coming franchise leaders. This includes those people who are in roles as franchisors, franchisees and suppliers, helping to foster great relationships for existing and aspiring franchisees in local communities across the country. By Dawn Abbamondi
Despite facing adversity, Roy and Erica Morelock, with the support of their Tint World team, were able to relocate their business and come back stronger than ever. In fact, even after struggling through some unexpected challenges, the Morelocks were able to exceed new store revenue goals by a landslide. By Cindy Charette
Sharon Duke Estroff embodies the entrepreneurial spirit. First, the former teacher leveraged her background in education to build Challenge Island, a popular children’s program. She then cultivated her business into a thriving multi-state franchise. Now, Estroff is poised to make Challenge Island a household name; the published author has announced signing a three-book contract to create the Challenge Island book series. By Rochelle Miller
Leading Senior Care Franchise Grows Midwest Footprint; Expands Presence in Chicagoland Area.
ROSEVILLE, Calif. — Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced today the launch of its third territory in the state of Illinois with the opening of its newest location in Naperville. Located at 3060 Ogden Ave., Suite 102, Always Best Care of Naperville is owned and operated by new franchisee Raghu Sarup, and will provide award-winning senior care services to Naperville and the surrounding areas of Aurora, Warrenville and Lisle.
“Raghu exudes the passion, hard work and dedication that we look for in all of our franchisees,” said Jake Brown, President & CEO of Always Best Care. “He’s enjoyed a thriving, longstanding career in information technology and is now in the position to own an Always Best Care franchise business. We’re thrilled to be part of Raghu’s transition into the senior care sector and know his past community involvement will serve as an asset as he launches the newest Always Best Care territory in Naperville.”
Originally from India, Sarup has been a resident of Naperville Township, Illinois for more than two decades. The entrepreneur brings 25 years of experience in the IT consulting industry where he spearheaded business development and management in his previous roles. Throughout his career prior to joining Always Best Care, Sarup was responsible for a regional department where he developed and oversaw various aspects of the business, including employee recruitment and management, sales operations and overall profitability operations. He earned his bachelor’s in engineering and an MBA from leading Indian universities.
“I was looking to invest in a business that could help me transition from the corporate world, and after some research I quickly realized that buying a franchise was the best route for me. After learning about Always Best Care’s mission to help improve the lives of seniors, as well as its proven business model and unparalleled franchisee support, I knew it was the perfect fit for me,” said Raghu Sarup. “I’ve built my life in this area over the past 20 years and I am always looking for ways to give back. Through my new endeavor with Always Best Care, I’m proud to bring outstanding care to seniors and their loved ones in my community and the greater Naperville area.”
Always Best Care is one of the nation’s leading providers of non-medical in-home care and assisted living referral services. The company delivers its services through an international network of more than 200 independently owned and operated franchise territories throughout the United States and Canada.
By working with case managers, social workers, discharge planners, doctors, and families, Always Best Care franchise owners provide affordable, comprehensive solutions that can be specifically matched to meet a client’s particular physical or social needs. The hallmark services of Always Best Care include non-medical in-home care and assisted living finder and referral services, with skilled home health care in some limited markets.
For additional information on services available through Always Best Care of Naperville, or for a free evaluation, please call 630-425-4001, email care@abc-seniors.com and visit https://www.alwaysbestcare.com/il/naperville/.
About Always Best Care
Founded in 1996, Always Best Care Senior Services is based on the belief that having the right people for the right level of care means peace of mind for the client and family. Always Best Care assists seniors with a wide range of conditions and personal needs, and currently provides millions of hours of care every year. Franchise opportunities are available to individuals interested in leveraging the company’s clear strategy and proven track record for delivering affordable, dependable service to seniors in their local areas.
Always Best Care also offers an exclusive program called Always in Touch, a telephone reassurance program that provides a daily phone call to seniors and disabled adults who are living alone and have limited contact with the outside world. Always in Touch is a national telephone reassurance program offered in the USA and Canada. For more information on Always in Touch, or to request an application, visit www.Always-In-Touch.com.
National salad franchise celebrates birthday by doubling down on mission to help end childhood hunger.
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. — Today, Saladworks, the national create-your-own salad franchise, celebrates its 34th birthday. Instead of throwing a party or asking for gifts, the brand is giving back generously to the communities it serves by offering 34 bonus points on purchases to Saladworks Rewards Members and extending the Million Meals Challenge, part of its partnership with No Kid Hungry, through October 30, 2020. The partnership, which began on August 31, 2020, has been successful thus far with Saladworks well on its way to the overarching goal of $100,000* for No Kid Hungry, which can provide up to one million meals for kids in need**.
“With one in four kids at risk of facing hunger this year due to COVID-19, our mission to help No Kid Hungry provide up to one million meals is more important now than ever,” said Mark Mears, Chief Marketing Officer for Saladworks. “It’s been exciting and rewarding to see our franchise owners, team members and guests rally around this amazing cause – feeling good about raising money to feed the hungry children of our communities. We can’t think of a better way to celebrate Saladworks’ birthday than by announcing the extension of our Million Meals Challenge through October 30th, as every additional person that ‘joins our team’ can make an enormous impact.”
There are four ways guests can team up with Saladworks to support No Kid Hungry:
All of Saladworks’ locations are participating in the Million Meals Challenge, with several far exceeding their fundraising goals. Since the launch of the partnership, its Cedar Crest location in Allentown, PA has already more than doubled its original goal at 222.7%. And its Greenbrier location in Chesapeake, VA is right behind at 220.5%.
According to John Reddecliff, the franchise owner of three Saladworks restaurants in Virginia said, “While Saladworks has always had a heart for helping others in our community, the No Kid Hungry Million Meals Challenge has really provided a positive impact on our guests and team members. In addition to competing with each other to raise the most donations possible, in one of our restaurants, the team members agreed to contribute their weekly tips to the cause. This demonstrates a tremendous level of engagement and commitment to achieve our goal in helping to eliminate childhood hunger in America.”
For more information on Saladworks and its partnership with No Kid Hungry, visit https://www.nokidhungry.org/partners/homepage-partner/saladworks.
*Saladworks’ goal is to raise $100,000 for No Kid Hungry, with a guaranteed a minimum donation of $25,000
**$1 can provide up to 10 meals. Meal equivalency varies during COVID-19 relief. Learn more at NoKidHungry.org/OneDollar
About No Kid Hungry:
No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 4 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.
ABOUT SALADWORKS:
Founded in 1986, Saladworks is the nation’s leading fast-casual create-your-own salad destination, with over 100 locations across 18 states and two countries. Saladworks encourages guests to be original, giving them the option to choose from bowls or wraps with greens, grains or both, along with an array of fresh vegetables, fruits, proteins and delicious dressings. Ranked #22 on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers and Shakers in 2020, Saladworks has been delivering the most original and incredible salad experience to guests for more than 30 years. For more information, visit www.saladworks.com.
National Coffeehouse will Donate a Bag of Coffee to U.S. Military Personnel with Every Coffee-Bag Purchase.
NEW ORLEANS — For coffee lovers around the country, their admiration and appreciation for their favorite caffeinated beverage peaks every year on September 29: National Coffee Day. PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans understands their passion better than anyone, and that’s why the nationwide coffeehouse is rolling out a thoughtful promotion to help them celebrate the day.
This year on September 29, for every bag of coffee customers purchase in store or online, PJ’s Coffee will donate one bag directly to active members serving in the United States military.
The New Orleans-based company will also make a monetary donation tied to the sale of its “Sunrise Salute” coffee bags on National Coffee Day. This donation will go toward the Fisher House Foundation: a non-profit organization building comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free-of-charge while a loved one is in the hospital.
“National Coffee Day is one of the best days of the year for us, and we really wanted to make an impact outside our stores this year while getting our customers involved,” said Reid Nolte, Vice President of Brand Strategy at PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. “By ordering a bag of coffee from PJ’s on September 29, not only are you providing yourself with much-needed supply of delicious coffee, but you’re also doing the same for the men and women defending our country. It’s just one way we can come together to show our gratitude for these brave individuals.”
PJ’s Coffee is constantly focused on giving back to and strengthening their relationship with military personnel both active and veteran.
Most recently, the franchise became the official coffee, espresso and blended-beverage partner of the United States Military Academy in West Point thanks to a new coffeehouse in Grant Hall. Additionally, PJ’s Coffee spent the entire summer installing coffeehouses following a franchise agreement with the U.S. Marine Corps. These military personnel now enjoy an array of PJ’s Coffee blends in 51 mess halls and 62 brew stations across nine bases.
The company is also an International Franchise Association VetFran member – proudly offering qualified veterans a 20 percent discount on the initial franchise fee – and famously gives away a franchise license to a lucky military veteran each year.
For more information about PJ’s Coffee, visit www.pjscoffee.com. Interested prospects can also learn more about this wonderful franchise opportunity by visiting www.pjsfranchise.com.
ABOUT PJ’S COFFEE
PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans was founded in 1978 by Phyllis Jordan, a pioneer in the coffee industry. The coffeehouse was acquired by Ballard Brands in 2008 which was spearheaded by brothers Paul, Scott and Steve Ballard. The New Orleans-based coffeehouse demonstrates that better beans, superior roasting techniques, and pure passion for the art of coffee-making matter. The brand serves a wide variety of hot, iced and frozen coffee beverages using only the top one percent of Arabica beans, as well as organic tea and fresh breakfast pastries. With 42 years as an established brand, it continues to remain an authentic coffeehouse with a New Orleans spirit. PJ’s Coffee has 117 locations open and operating nationally and internationally.
FASTSIGNS Offers Entrepreneurs Opportunity to Partner with Leading Sign, Graphics, and Visual Communications Franchisor with Proven Business Model and Unparalleled Training and Support.
CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, is recruiting existing business owners looking to grow through its cobrand and conversion program. The franchise offering allows entrepreneurs to add a FASTSIGNS to their business or fully convert their store to a FASTSIGNS center to take advantage of FASTSIGNS’ established brand recognition, state-of-the-art products, unmatched training and support, and status as the No. 1 franchise opportunity in the sign and graphics industry.
Earlier this year, FASTSIGNS centers nationwide were deemed essential as COVID-19 forced thousands of businesses across the country to temporarily close, allowing FASTSIGNS franchisees to pivot their services to best serve their customers and local communities.
“Small business owners have been navigating through the unknown during the pandemic, with many businesses struggling and others shutting their doors forever. But FASTSIGNS franchisees have fared extremely well with the backing of our strong support center, allowing them to be in business for themselves, but not by themselves during these unprecedented times,” said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “At FASTSIGNS, we stay on the cutting edge of technology and trends, so our franchisees don’t have to, and, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, our constant stream of knowledge and resources amplified their ability to focus on what matters most — their customers. With a recognized brand name, advanced technology, a global supply chain network and an international system of franchisees, we’re proud to assist existing businesses as they look to diversify their product offerings and services to weather this storm.”
FASTSIGNS has helped countless owners of print shops, photography studios, camera stores, embroidery shops, and more add a FASTSIGNS to their existing business or fully convert their center to a FASTSIGNS franchise. In 2019 alone, cobrand and conversion centers opened in markets including Brooklyn, New York; Windsor, California; and Findlay, Ohio among others. FASTSIGNS franchisees receive ongoing training and support to stay ahead of the competition and exceed the needs of their local business community. Both the co-brand franchise opportunity and conversion can be started with only $15,000 down on the initial franchise fee and lower royalties during the first 12 months.
“After establishing a thriving business within my local community over the past two decades, I was looking for a new way to expand and take my signage and awnings shop to the next level,” said Nikki Taheri, who converted her existing business to a FASTSIGNS center in Bayonne, New Jersey, with her husband, Brendan Duane. “FASTSIGNS has proven to be an invaluable partner as they’ve provided us with a deeper connection to the signage industry. Beyond the national brand name recognition, FASTSIGNS gives us access to new resources, immeasurable support and vendor relationships, which allow our business to provide additional services to our customers.”
FASTSIGNS is known in the industry for equipping its franchisees with tools vital to securing the ongoing success of each individual location. In addition to the brand’s online FASTSIGNS University, FASTSIGNS partners with 1HUDDLE, a workforce-training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity.
FASTSIGNS also offers a special incentive for first responders, including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, police officers, sheriffs, and firefighters, which includes a 50% reduction on the franchise fee — a savings of $24,875.
FASTSIGNS is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity. In 2020, Entrepreneur magazine named FASTSIGNS the #1 franchise opportunity in its category and #55 overall on its annual Franchise 500® list, making it the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100. Entrepreneur also named FASTSIGNS a Top Growth Franchise for 2020. Additionally, Franchise Gator named FASTSIGNS to its Top 100 Franchises of 2020 list, and Franchise Business Review named FASTSIGNS one of its Top Franchises for Second Careers. In 2019, Entrepreneur named FASTSIGNS one of the Top Franchises for Veterans, and the brand was also recognized in Franchise Business Review’s Top Franchises for Veterans report, was named to America’s Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine, and made Franchise Direct’s list of the Top 100 Franchises. Franchise Business Review has also recognized FASTSIGNS as one of the “Best of the Best” for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years as well as its Top 50 Franchises for Women and Top Service Franchises lists in 2019.
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. celebrates its 35th anniversary in business in 2020 as the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 735 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS® centers in 9 countries including the United States and Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, Chile, Grand Cayman, the United Arab Emirates, Malta, France and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE®).
FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive signage and graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, promote their products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touchpoints. FASTSIGNS has been ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 for the past four years, a 2019 Top Franchises for Veterans by Franchise Business Review and a 2019 America’s Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine.
Learn more about sign and graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/fastsigns, Twitter @FASTSIGNS or Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS.
Global Boutique Fitness Curator Opens Flagship Studios in EVOX Fitness and Wellness Clubs in Riyadh.
IRVINE, Calif. — As part of a major multi-brand deal, Xponential Fitness, the largest curator of boutique fitness brands in the world, opened its first studios in Saudi Arabia today. The newly opened studios represent the brands – Club Pilates, Pure Barre, CycleBar, YogaSix, and AKT – included in the Master Franchise Agreement signed last summer to bring more than 50 Xponential Fitness studios to the country over the next few years.
The initial studios are housed inside of the brand new, state-of-the-art EVOX Clubs, which have separate facilities for both men and women, in Riyadh. The EVOX Club for Women was created to serve the growing population of women seeking fitness options, following recent reforms in the country, and features studios for all five Xponential Fitness concepts. The EVOX Club for Men features the CycleBar brand.
“These openings are not only a huge step forward for Xponential Fitness and its brands, but a cultural milestone in Saudi Arabia as we introduce its citizens to the exhilarating world of boutique fitness,” said John Kersh, Chief International Development Officer for Xponential Fitness. “Notably, Xponential Fitness is excited to bring the benefits of boutique fitness to the women of Saudi Arabia, who are now able to pursue and embrace a lifestyle of health and wellness, which is a new development. We expect this will be one of hundreds more successful international openings for our brands.”
The studios opening in the EVOX Clubs in Riyadh mark the first collaboration between Xponential Fitness and Ezdihar Sports, one of the portfolio businesses of experienced industry leaders, the Fawaz Abdulaziz Alhokair Company. The Alhokair company is publicly traded on the Saudi Stock Exchange, and operates in a range of industries including movie cinemas, food and beverage, construction and fashion retail, with over 1,700 stores across the Middle East.
After its initial overseas expansion, which began with the signing of a large-scale deal to bring 165 Club Pilates studios to Japan, two of which are now open, Xponential Fitness set its sights on further expansion outside the U.S. Since then, the company has signed deals to open studios in 11 countries, including Germany, Australia, South Korea, and Austria , lifting its reach to four continents. As of August 31, 2020, Xponential Fitness has over 1600 studios across its eight brands.
For more information about Xponential Fitness and its eight brands, visit www.xponential.com. To learn more about its new facilities in Saudi Arabia, visit https://evoxclubs.com/.
ABOUT XPONENTIAL FITNESS:
Founded in 2017 by Anthony Geisler, Xponential Fitness has built and curated a diversified platform of eight disruptive boutique fitness brands spanning across fitness and wellness verticals – including Pilates, indoor cycling, stretch, rowing, dance, running and yoga. Currently, Xponential Fitness’s portfolio of brands includes Club Pilates, the nation’s largest Pilates brand; CycleBar, the nation’s largest indoor cycling brand; StretchLab, a concept offering one-on-one assisted stretching services and group stretch services; Row House, a high-energy, low-impact indoor rowing workout; AKT, a dance-based cardio workout combining toning, interval and circuit training developed by Celebrity Trainer Anna Kaiser; YogaSix, a modern boutique yoga brand; Pure Barre, a total body workout that uses the ballet barre to perform small isometric movements; and most recently, Stride, a treadmill-based cardio and strength training concept. Visit www.xponential.com to learn more.
Franchise Industry Powerhouse Firm Forms New Philanthropic Arm to Assist Nonprofit Organizations with Growth and Inks First Partnership with Colorado Homebuilding Academy.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Franworth® announced today the launch of its nonprofit arm Franchise For Good. A 501(c)(3) organization, Franchise For Good was founded by Franworth President and COO Dave Keil and aims to help nonprofit organizations grow by leveraging Franworth’s expertise and 450 years of combined experience in scaling businesses through the franchising model. As the only full-service agency in the nonprofit space offering a suite of flexible franchisor services, Franchise For Good is a pioneering philanthropic initiative that offers nonprofit organizations of all sizes an avenue for growth.
“Nonprofit organizations need to grow and innovate to survive just like for-profit businesses do. Through Franchise For Good, we hope to make a positive impact in communities nationwide by providing great organizations with the resources they need to fuel sustainable growth and expand their missions and reach,” said Keil. “As franchise industry veterans, we know the power of the franchise model and have seen firsthand how companies can use these tools to propel success. We’re excited for this incredible opportunity to apply franchising’s proven processes and playbooks in a new way and provide the nonprofit space with an innovative, best-in-class suite of support services.”
The first Franchise For Good partnership was recently signed with Colorado Homebuilding Academy, a nonprofit training organization founded by Oakwood Homes CEO, Pat Hamill, that aims to solve the construction industry’s need for motivated and skilled workers and increase employment opportunities in the communities it serves. As part of this partnership, Franchise For Good and Colorado Homebuilding Academy will form BuildStrong Academy, a developmental program with a mission to develop more than 20 locations over 15 years and train 1 million under/unemployed people across the U.S. in trade jobs, including those seeking a second career and looking for an opportunity to transform their life course. Home Builders Institute, the nation’s leading educational resource for career technical education in the building industry, is also a founding member of BuildStrong and will provide its best-in-class certification and curriculum to this new venture.
“Partnering with Dave Keil and the team at Franchise For Good has propelled and accelerated our vision to expand our nonprofit’s support systems nationwide,” said Hamill. “With unemployment remaining in the double digits, people are hungry for work but need the training to fulfill the estimated 700,000 open jobs available within the nation’s flourishing construction industry. Over the years, we’ve witnessed hundreds of lives reshaped by entering the trades workforce, and we’re eager to change more lives by providing students with the best-in-class curriculum and certification to fill these jobs. We are optimistic about the impact we can make with Franchise For Good supporting our efforts.”
Through local brand champions, like Franworth Executive Partner and New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees, BuildStrong Academy is slated to begin operating extensions of its nonprofit organization in new markets by the end of the year.
“My love for New Orleans runs deep, and I’m proud to be a part of this great initiative that will help create new employment opportunities. I want one of the first new academies to be in NOLA,” said Brees. “With the power of Franchise For Good behind the organization, I have no doubt that BuildStrong Academy is positioned to make a huge impact both in our region and nationwide. I’m thrilled to see this partnership come to life and look forward to being a part of all the good we can do together.”
To learn more about how Franchise For Good helps nonprofit organizations grow, visit franchiseforgood.org.
About BuildStrong Academy
BuildStrong Academy is a collaborative, industry-driven initiative focused on creating a much needed skilled workforce for construction. Students receive hands-on learning, job placement, and mentoring as they build careers in construction. BuildStrong Academies are accelerating opportunities across the United States in support of the construction industry, economic and community development, and family and individual vitality. For more information on BuildStrong Academy visit buildstrongacademy.org.
About Franworth
Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Franworth helps brands build a strong foundation, navigate their acceleration, and create economic value for both franchisors and their franchisees. Through its expansive suite of professional services and best-in-class processes, talent, technology and proprietary supply chain system, Franworth specializes in mentoring emerging franchisors and helping them scale their businesses efficiently to achieve profitability and maximize their potential for success. The company’s executive board includes Founder, CEO and Managing Director John Rotche, CFE; Managing Director and Partner David Barr; and Partner Drew Brees. Franworth’s Leadership Team includes seasoned franchise executives President and Chief Operating Officer Dave Keil; General Counsel and Chief of Staff Jonathan Koudelka; and Chief Financial Officer David Taccolini. Franworth’s current portfolio of franchise brands includes Title Boxing Club®, The Lash Lounge®, CITYROW®, skoah®, Madison Reed Color Bar® and The Barre Code®. For more information on Franworth or to learn more about how it can help your company grow, visit franworth.com.