Classifying their bottleless water stations as both “planet-friendly and human-healthy,” WaterStation Technology has been on the cutting edge of environmentally conscious practices for the past eight years.
As a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, De’Andre Presley was used to grueling workouts and countless hours in the gym. So when his professional football career ended in 2015, he searched for a challenging workout that would keep him in gridiron shape. By Jessica Jones
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, FASTSIGNS International Inc. was quick to act. As the franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications brand, it was important to ensure FASTSIGNS centers across the U.S. could continue to operate, and the leadership team worked closely with state and local governments to have FASTSIGNS centers deemed as essential businesses. By Jessica Jones
This year’s edition of Game Changers affirms that franchising is a robust thoroughfare to business ownership. Franchising has grown substantially because of new opportunities in various categories. Home-based businesses have taken 2020 by storm and don’t show signs of stopping anytime soon.
With Bitbox ATM, the most important requirements for becoming a franchisee are an entrepreneurial mindset and an interest in building recurring monthly income. Because no experience is required, and Bitbox teaches everything needed to run the business successfully, owners and prospects come from a wide variety of backgrounds. By Cindy Charette
Most people begin planning their resolutions in the days leading up to New Year’s (or even a few days after). But for business owners, resolutions should be planned and prepared for, especially if establishing stability, building a financial safety net, scalability and growth are on the list. By Kelly Krueger
Robin and Chris Hoy, a PuroClean wife-and-husband team, have been successful franchise owners in their community for the past 10 years. Back in 2010, the Hoys made a decision that it was the right time to transition from their construction business and look into new opportunities to continue to help people during their times of need. By Cindy Charette
Leading Boutique Fitness Franchise Awards Honors to Outstanding Franchise Partners.
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — TITLE Boxing Club, the nation’s leading boutique boxing franchise with more than 165 clubs across the United States and Mexico, recently announced its 2019 franchisee award winners. In a virtual system-wide ceremony, franchise partners from across the country were awarded for everything ranging from membership numbers, retail sales, overall spirit and culture, and notable improvements over last year.
“In a year when small businesses everywhere have faced adversity unseen before, it was heartwarming to get a bit of normalcy back and recognize many of our franchisees with TITLE Boxing Club’s 2019 Franchisee Awards,” said President Susan Boresow. “The entire TITLE team gives a big thank you and wishes to convey how appreciative we are of everything our franchisees do each and every day. These awards allow us to uplift and recognize them all for their tireless work. Congratulations!”
2019’s top award, the Spirit Award, went to Ardsley, NY-based franchisees Frankie and Jeanine Palumbo. The Palumbos were honored for exemplifying TITLE Boxing Club’s values, beliefs, spirit and culture, staying active in their local community, building high member engagement and continuing to be an inspiration to their members, team and community. Josh Lyon, TITLE Boxing Club’s vice president of operations, notes, “Frankie and Jeanine are the heartbeat of this brand. They eat, sleep, and breathe TITLE Boxing Club and they truly make a difference in their member’s lives. We could not be prouder to honor them with the Spirit Award.”
Additional franchisees recognized by TITLE Boxing Club include:
In addition to the award winners, six TITLE Boxing Club locations earned coveted Golden Bags, meaning their location amassed more than $1 million in sales in 2019. Golden Bag Clubs include Chicago’s Lincoln Park location owned by Michael Confalone, Midtown West and Midtown East in Manhattan owned by Michael Tosto, Forest Hills, NY owned by Danny Azzo, Boston Newbury St. owned by Cam Andrews, and Boston owned by Mike Musto.
About TITLE Boxing Club®
TITLE Boxing Club, a Franworth company, is a boutique fitness studio that specializes in boxing and kickboxing fitness classes. Based in Kansas City, the company has more than 165 clubs open and operating across the country and another 130 in development. The brand is currently ranked on Entrepreneur magazine’s prestigious Franchise 500 list and the Inc. 5000 list of American’s fastest-growing, privately-held companies. In 2015 the fitness franchise earned the title of No. 1 Fastest Growing Franchise by Inc. Magazine. To learn more about the fitness franchise opportunity, visit https://titleboxingclub.com/own-a-franchise/.
Although Berekk Blackwell is the president of Daily Jam, he cannot help but think back to what drew him in initially as a customer. According to Blackwell, Daily Jam had a good reputation in the community, possibly due in part to the undeniably warm, happy, and contagious vibe customers felt once inside. By Cindy Charette
Monson Recognized for Enabling and Empowering Countless Entrepreneurs to Build a Successful Career in Franchising.
CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today that Business Woman magazine has named CEO Catherine Monson one of its 100 Influential Women in Franchising. Monson was recognized as an advocate of support and mentorship for her commitment to enabling and empowering countless entrepreneurs to build a successful career in franchising.
The notable 100 Influential Women In Franchising list is an annual list which celebrates and champions key figureheads, disruptors, and up-and-comers who work in the international franchise space and have changed the franchising industry for the better. Under Monson’s leadership, FASTSIGNS has grown to more than 735 locations across nine countries, and the brand has repeatedly been recognized as the top franchise opportunity in its space and for its high franchisee satisfaction.
“Support and mentoring are the foundation of franchising, which has allowed millions of entrepreneurs to be in business for themselves, but not by themselves. During the COVID-19 pandemic, empowering franchisees to be successful has been more important than ever,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. and IFA Chair. “I am incredibly grateful to be recognized alongside so many influential female leaders in franchising. It’s because of these women that our industry continues to grow stronger every day.”
The Annual 100 Influential Women in Franchising list is featured in Business Woman Magazine’s October 2020 issue, available at https://www.globalfranchisemagazine.com/assets/images/reports/BW-3.pdf.
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 Catherine Monson
Catherine became CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. in 2009, bringing over 25 years of franchising and management experience. In 2009, she received the International Franchise Association (IFA) Bonny LeVine Award in recognition of her contributions to the growth of the franchising industry and in 2010, the Dallas Business Journal named her a top Women Industry Leader in the Dallas Metroplex. In 2012, Catherine appeared on the Emmy Award-winning series Undercover Boss to learn new ways to advance the FASTSIGNS® brand. In 2013, she was named an “Innovator and Influencer” by Sign and Digital Graphics Magazine. In 2015, she received the IFA’s first Franchise Action Network “FAN of the Year” award for her advocacy work on behalf of the franchising community. In 2016, she was selected as a Soderstrom Society Inductee for her contributions to the printing and graphic communications industry and was also honored with the 2016 Leadership Award from the Women That Soar organization. Under Monson’s leadership, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. received the 2016 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition presented by the Department of Defense to employers for their exemplary support of National Guard and Reserve members. In 2017, Monson received the Distinguished Women Award presented by Northwood University in Midland, Michigan. In 2018, she was honored by the Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) with their Ambassador of Free Enterprise Award. Catherine has served on the Board of Directors of the IFA since 2008 and is currently Vice Chair and will become Chairwoman in February 2020. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors of Brain Balance, a franchise company with a non-drug alternative for children with behavioral challenges, and on the Board of Directors of the franchisor Big Blue Swim School, one of the nation’s fastest growing swim schools. She is a keynote speaker at many franchise industry events, as well as at many sign and visual graphics industry events.
For more videos on Catherine Monson, visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7qJckb26TTPGWl9wQJNjKA. Visit the section, “Get to Know the FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson,” and click to the right.
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.
In 2020, Fastsigns Holdings Inc. acquired GTN CAPITAL GROUP, LLC the parent company of NerdsToGo, an emerging IT services franchise brand. 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.