According to Joel Carlsen, the national sales director of Bitbox ATM, as well as daily news reports on Bitcoin’s growth and popularity, now is the time to take advantage of one of the biggest trends on the planet. By Cindy Charette
Named America’s #1 Dog Training Franchise, Dog Training Elite was built on a foundation of over 40 years of experience from its founder, John Mestas. It offers seven different types of training that are not commonly found with its competitors: Obedience, Puppy Services, Service Dog Training, Personal Protection, Anxiety and Aggression Training, Service Dogs for Military/Retired Veterans, and Therapy Animal Training. By Charlotte Wagner
Richard Compton planned to open his Florida-based Handyman Matters franchise in March 2015. But when Pensacola News Journal published an article about his business a month sooner, Compton’s phone started ringing. “It put us out there, and it was a frenzy,” Compton recalled. By Lizzy Yeserski
To commemorate their 20th anniversary in June 2019, InXpress spearheaded their first-ever #InXpressGivesBackGlobal campaign. Office teams around the globe, including franchisees and their employees, came together to support multiple charities. By Lizzy Yeserski
Christina Peregrym, a Jabz Boxing franchisee since 2016, has a heart for her two growing studios in Phoenix and Peoria, Arizona, as well as for CURE, a nonprofit organization that focuses on conquering childhood cancer through research. By Cindy Charette
Growing up on the streets of Brooklyn, New York, Michael Kraner learned the best life lessons from sports, including confidence, integrity, and teamwork. Now, as founder and CEO of My Backyard Sports, he’s come full circle to translate those lessons and says he couldn’t be happier. By Lizzy Yeserski
FASTSIGNS® Was Recognized for the Third Consecutive Year for Its Strong International Franchise Program across Nine Countries.
CARROLLTON, Texas — Propelled Brands announced today that FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, has been named the Best Communications & Signage Franchise in Global Franchise magazine’s Global Franchise Awards 2021. This is the third consecutive year that FASTSIGNS has received this recognition.
“We are thrilled to once again receive this prestigious honor from Global Franchise Magazine. The last 12 months have been challenging, and I am incredibly proud of how our support center team and network of franchisees united to ensure that the FASTSIGNS brand would emerge stronger than ever,” said Catherine Monson, CEO of Propelled Brands, a newly formed corporate umbrella set to focus on operating and growing service-oriented franchises. “At FASTSIGNS, we continue to seek ways to increase our franchisees’ profitability, create new products and services, excel in customer service, be the world-class leader in franchise support, and be the best example of excellence in our industry and across the franchising community. Being recognized as one of the most credible brands in franchising is a testament to the durability and strength of our franchise opportunity.”
FASTSIGNS reported exceptional results in 2020, including the signing of over 31 franchise agreements in the U.S and Canada to develop new, co-branded, and conversion centers and the opening of more than 30 locations, including its first center in the Dominican Republic. Much of FASTSIGNS’ success in 2020 can be credited to centers being deemed essential businesses, allowing franchisees to pivot their services to focus on serving their customers.
In 2021, FASTSIGNS is looking to sign at least 35 franchise agreements, targeting Southern California, the Midwest, New England, and along the Northeast Corridor. FASTSIGNS is particularly focused on its co-brand and conversion programs, which help existing business owners add a FASTSIGNS to their store or fully convert their business to a FASTSIGNS franchise. FASTSIGNS has helped countless owners of print shops, photography studios, camera stores, embroidery shops, and more, diversify their product lines and services to meet the growing demand for signs, graphics, and visual communication solutions. Both the co-brand franchise opportunity and conversion can be started with only $15,000 down on the initial franchise fee.
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 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.
For more information about Propelled Brands, visit propelledbrands.com. To learn about franchise opportunities with FASTSIGNS, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@propelledbrands.com or call 214.346.5679).
About Propelled Brands®
Propelled Brands is the corporate umbrella of FASTSIGNS®, SIGNWAVE® and NerdsToGo®. Focused on service-oriented franchises, the Propelled Brands team assists each brand in its portfolio to confidently navigate forward based on their unique position, momentum and purpose. Propelled Brands advances the strategic path for each brand, offering support, guidance and a clear vision to fully equip every franchisee, helping them maximize success.
Propelled Brands is looking to partner with other service-oriented franchise concepts that align with its forward-thinking growth objectives.
Leading window treatment franchise to deliver top-notch consultation services to Southwestern Pennsylvania.
PITTSBURGH — Gotcha Covered, a leader in custom hard and soft window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada, is expanding their franchise with a new location in the North Hills area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The new business is expected to open in May.
The North Hills center will be owned and operated by Josh and Julianna Kish. This location will provide end-to-end consultative services for soft and hard window treatments to the residents of southwest Pennsylvania while offering a variety blinds, draperies, and much more.
“At Gotcha Covered, we deliver a customer experience that is second to none,” said Paul Linenberg, president of Gotcha Covered. “Our previous clients have given us a 4.9 out of 5-star rating for our efforts in guiding them in their journey for new window treatments. We are confident the North Hills location will continue to showcase our excellence in customer service while also providing homeowners with a product that serves their personal needs.”
Adding 27 new franchise locations in 2020, Gotcha Covered currently has over 120 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada. The franchise has been operating under the Gotcha Covered name since 2009.
For more information or to find your local Gotcha Covered consultant, visit https://www.gotchacovered.com.
About Gotcha Covered
Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom soft and hard window treatment consultation in the U.S. and Canada. Flying under their Gotcha Covered flag since 2009, they offer custom window treatments including blinds, draperies, shutters and much more. They offer end-to-end consultation with the customer’s specific needs and goals in mind. The company currently has over 120 total franchises across the U.S. and Canada.
Various Industries to be Featured During 2021 Small Business Month.
CARROLLTON, Texas — In honor of Small Business Month, FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS®, the leading sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise, is hosting a social media takeover across their brand channels throughout the month of May. With a focus of businesses empowering and supporting each other to come back stronger than ever, posts will highlight the expansive capabilities that FASTSIGNS has by featuring comprehensive projects from several industries including education, healthcare, restaurants and retail, and property management.
Last year revealed that the 30.7 million business owners in America can truly make a difference when they support and rally around other local businesses. By working together, small businesses kept communities safe, fed, entertained, engaged and moving forward.
One aspect of the Small Business Month mission highlights companies who desire to witness the growth and success of other small businesses. Franchising provides a way for entrepreneurs to invest in themselves and open their own small business, using a proven model and access to unique expertise in the space. As businesses slowly come back, locally owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers have proudly supported and empowered fellow businesses in their communities every day across the country.
Catherine Monson, CEO at Propelled Brands® and FASTSIGNS International, Inc., and Chair of the International Franchise Association dedicates her time, energy and resources to herald small businesses as she has led not only her own network but other franchise organizations through the uncharted waters of 2020 and 2021.
“At FASTSIGNS, we support Small Business Month, because the franchise world is made up of small business owners across the globe who are in business for themselves, but not by themselves,” said Catherine Monson. “We recognize the value of each and every one of the business owners we represent–and the IFA represents–and the important role they play in the economic landscape of our country.”
To learn more about the Small Business Month at FASTSIGNS, visit www.fastsigns.com.
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the leading sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 750 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, the Dominican Republic 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 is consistently ranked as a top franchise opportunity. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500® ranks FASTSIGNS as #44 overall — the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100 — for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. In 2021, FASTSIGNS was named one of Franchise Direct’s Top 100 Global Franchises and Franchise Gator recognized FASTSIGNS as one of the Top 100 Franchises. In 2020, Entrepreneur magazine named FASTSIGNS a Top Growth Franchise and one of the Top Franchises for Veterans. Additionally, FASTSIGNS was ranked on Franchise Times’ annual Top 200+ list and Franchise Business Review named FASTSIGNS one of its Top Franchises for Second Careers and Top Franchises for Veterans. In 2019, the brand was named to America’s Best Franchises to Buy list by Forbes magazine. 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 one of its Top 50 Franchises for Women and Top Service Franchises lists in 2019. FASTSIGNS has also received the Canadian Franchise Association Franchisees’ Choice for 8 consecutive years.
In 2021, Propelled Brands was formed, the corporate umbrella that includes FASTSIGNS®, SIGNWAVE® in Australia where FASTSIGNS centers operate under the SIGNWAVE brand, and NerdsToGo®, an emerging IT services franchise brand acquired in September 2020. With a focus on business-to-business franchises and the people behind those businesses, Propelled Brands will help each franchise confidently navigate forward based on their unique position, momentum and purpose.
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. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or call 214.346.5679).
Retail Eyecare Franchise Ranks as No. 3 after an Impressive Year of Growth.
PALM SPRINGS, Fla. — My Eyelab, a retail brand of Now Optics, announced today that the company has been ranked on Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Top New Franchises and Fastest-Growing Franchises lists. Impressively, My Eyelab came in at No. 3 on the Top New Franchises list, which features 100 rising stars in the franchise world. Earlier this month, My Eyelab also ranked on the publication’s Top 500 Fastest-Growing Franchise list, which identifies franchises’ ability to leverage their ability to scale quickly across the globe, coming in at No. 148.
Entrepreneur Magazine’s annual Top New Franchises list features up-and-coming businesses that have been franchising for five years or less. The rankings are judged based on each brand’s score received in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list that covers key areas like financial strength and stability, company size and growth, brand recognition and franchisee support. This prestigious list emphasizes attractive franchise brands across the U.S. to help potential business partners make high-upside investments. My Eyelab also recently ranked in the top 100 of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 this past January.
“As we look forward to another year of growth and expansion, we accept these great honors as an opportunity to recognize the tremendous job our teams did serving our communities during the COVID 19 pandemic,” said Daniel Stanton, Founder and CEO of Now Optics. “Our dedicated franchisees and employees understand the power of our telehealth services and the impact it has on our patients that need it. We can’t wait to see where we go next as we continue making eye care easy, and the demand for convenient and affordable eye care increases.”
Building off an impressive year of success in 2020, My Eyelab is staying true to its vision of modernizing the eye care experience for all people in 2021 and beyond. The company is forecasting 50 new franchise locations and 25 new corporate locations to arrive by the end of this year, including expanded reach into three new states.
To continue its impressive trajectory, My Eyelab is seeking qualified entrepreneurs that share the same vision and have a passion for managing their own business. My Eyelab’s streamlined business model makes it easy for anyone to own and operate a retail eye care store and hit the ground running from day one. Their corporate team of experts have over 50 years of combined experience to share and provide the needed training and on-going support in all aspects of running the operation, from site selection to marketing, merchandising and technology.
To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit www.myeyelabfranchise.com.
ABOUT NOW OPTICS:
Now Optics is a leader in the eye care industry. Its retail brands, My Eyelab and Stanton Optical, are among the nation’s fastest growing, full-service retail eye care centers. The company continues to expand its retail footprint with over 200 corporate and franchise locations in 28 states while delivering affordable eye health and eyewear solutions. The company consistently ranks among the largest optical retailers in the country by Vision Monday and was ranked #3 on Entrepreneur’s list of Top New Franchises in 2021. Visit myeyelab.com or stantonoptical.com for more information. Find details about franchise opportunities at myeyelabfranchise.com.