franchisee of the year

WACO, Texas — Painting your home is harder than it looks, and keeping it looking nice is even harder! From the wear and tear of unruly kids and pets to the less-than-professional DIY attempts, if your walls could talk, they would definitely say you need some help. In hopes showing homeowners everywhere they are not alone in this struggle, Five Star Painting, a Neighborly company and North America’s leading residential and commercial painting franchise, is launching a #WallFails photo contest, to give North America’s homeowners a chance showcase their most ridiculous wall fails.

To enter the #WallFails Facebook contest, visit https://contest.app.do/wall-fails-story-and-photo-contest and submit a photo or detailed story of your best wall fail by Friday, November 16, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. CT. Five Star Painting will reward five random winners with a $200 Sherwin Williams gift card.

“Although we don’t always think about it, the walls of our home are the silent observers of our daily lives. They endure everything we throw at them, hang on them and put in front of them,” said Five Star Painting President Mary Kay Liston. “We are so excited to debut our #WallFails contest to show homeowners across North America that they are not alone, and Five Star Paining is here to help!”

SARASOTA, Fla. — Le Macaron French Pastries, an elegant French patisserie that offers guests the finest, authentic French macarons and pastries, has announced a new mobile kiosk franchise opportunity. Folded into its overall growth strategy, the brand looks to launch this new opportunity with strategic franchise partners who are seeking flexibility with their business and a lower cost investment.

The new franchise opportunity aims to lean into the growing quick-serve and snack brand trend of kiosks, mobile carts, and express locations. As consumers’ on-the-go lifestyle continues to accelerate, Le Macaron French Pastries seeks to capitalize on these captive audiences at malls, airports, sporting events, festivals and other gatherings.

“We wanted to create an opportunity that allows our franchise owners to work in nonconventional environments and offer guests a sweet treat when they are unable to access one of our locations,” said Rosalie Guillem, CEO and co-founder of Le Macaron French Pastries. “Our products can easily be eaten on the go, so a mobile kiosk aligns perfectly with our brand. This will only accelerate our growth as we welcome a new group of franchisees looking to enter the fast-casual industry.”

The mobile kiosk investment ranges between $91,000 to $127,000—making it an ideal opportunity for entrepreneurs who are looking to enter the space at a lower investment with a simple business model and unlimited growth potential. Le Macaron French Pastries operates through a simple business model that requires zero on-site baking from franchisees. All products are made by French Chef Didier Saba in the kitchen headquarters, allowing café owners to focus on customer service.

Le Macaron French Pastries was founded by France National and mother-daughter team Rosalie Guillem and Audrey Saba. The brand now has more than 50 cafés open and operating with two mobile kiosks open in Sarasota, Florida and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Most known for providing guests with a light dessert with lesser calories, the brand offers more than 20 flavors of macarons, as well as seasonal flavors, and the menu extends to include pastries, gelato, coffee, cakes, éclairs, and more.

“We opened a Le Macaron French Pastries mobile kiosk because of the simplistic business model, reduction in overhead costs and finding real estate for the cart is easier since it has a smaller footprint,” said Luke Freshwater, owner of Le Macaron French Pastries in Pittsburgh. “We are seeing incredible success because the French macarons are a high-quality product and we are able to connect with our customers since we have such a small and passionate staff.”

KAPOLEI, Hawaii — Teriyaki Madness (TMAD) is taking a deep dive into the Pacific Ocean. The franchising rights to develop the entire state of Hawaii are now under the ownership of entrepreneur Ohmar Villavicencio, as the island expansion becomes the first venture of its kind for the rapidly-growing, fresh-Asian fast casual. The growth efforts will begin on Oahu in Kapolei, and Villavicencio will go on to open TMADs throughout the Islands.

An ideal franchisee, Villavicencio comes to TMAD as both a fan of the brand and a successful entrepreneur. For the last 15 years, he and his wife Lizzel Villavicencio owned an international project management company with a client list featuring high-profile brands like PetSmart, Amazon and Kroger. His family split time between Hawaii and Las Vegas and it was in Las Vegas where Villavicencio became a regular customer at TMAD.

“When I’m in Las Vegas, I eat Teriyaki Madness weekly – it’s healthy, delicious, and filling every time. I am eager to introduce the Spicy Chicken Bowl to the Islands,” said Villavicencio. “More than falling in love with the food, Teriyaki Madness is the best business for my family because of the way CEO Michael Haith has built the brand. He and the experienced team have thought of everything, and I am confident that they have perfected the art of running a Teriyaki Madness. That TMAD trusted Lizzel and I as the only franchisees for all of Hawaii was just icing on the cake.”

All of Hawaii’s TMADs will truly be a family business. Ohmar and Lizzel are both fully committed to working in the locations, and as each of their three kids gets old enough, they too will work at the different TMAD locations. With a second home in Kapolei, the Villavicencio clan will plant permanent roots on the island. “Family is the most important thing to me, and I want this to be a family business for a lifetime,” said Villavicencio.

“We are thrilled to be expanding into Hawaii, and Ohmar is the perfect partner for our brand,” says Teriyaki Madness CEO Michael Haith. “He has an impressive resume, and he’ll be a valuable asset in helping us grow and develop throughout the state. Our excitement for this expansion has corporate employees fighting over who gets to go to Hawaii to train the franchisee! It’s a great time for our brand.”

The first TMAD location in Kapolei is set to open in 2019.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today it has signed a Master Franchise Agreement to expand to mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands, and Gibraltar. Chris Kirby, an existing FASTSIGNS franchisee, will develop a minimum of 10 locations, specifically targeting initial development in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Milaga.

“Earlier this year we visited Barcelona and Marbella and were immediately impressed with the welcoming business atmosphere and the potential for FASTSIGNS to flourish. Needless to say we are proud to announce Spain and Gibraltar as the latest addition to our aggressive international expansion,” said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “Chris has a very strong business acumen that has been proven over and over again, and we’re elated to have him pioneer the brand’s presence across this region.”

Kirby joined FASTSIGNS in 2016 when he acquired an existing center in Boca Raton, Florida. Since then, Kirby’s business has been recognized as a top-performing center out of nearly 700 FASTSIGNS locations worldwide as a result of increasing sales by 370 percent in the first year. Originally from London, Kirby realized the growing need for signage and visual communications across Spain and Gibraltar and is excited to spearhead the brand’s international growth in these markets.

“Having been a FASTSIGNS franchisee for two years and experienced record-breaking success, further expanding my investment in FASTSIGNS was a natural decision,” said Chris Kirby. “As the brand continues to thrive in new international markets across the world, I am confident that the proven business model and unconditional support offered to franchisees will propel our success abroad as we embark on this new endeavor.”

FASTSIGNS has experienced explosive international growth in 2018, including opening 24 locations in the U.S. and Canada, one in Chile, and two in Australia. FASTSIGNS is continuing to seek qualified candidates to grow its international footprint in markets throughout the world, including Europe, Brazil, Québec, North Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America.

Kirby will attend the European Master and Multi-Unit Franchising Conference in London from Oct. 23-24 and the International Franchising Show in Valencia, Spain, from Oct. 25-27 to meet with potential franchisees to discuss new center, co-brand and conversion franchise offerings with entrepreneurs and existing business owners.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — American Family Care (AFC), the nation’s leading provider of urgent care, accessible primary care, and occupational medicine, announced today it will once again undertake a national campaign to promote flu prevention in the United States. Central to the effort is the company’s reprise of its highly successful National Flu Prevention Week, from October 22 to October 28.

CINCINNATI — FirstLight Home Care, a leading national provider of non-medical home care, was ranked by Franchise Times as one of the top franchise systems in the U.S. for the sixth year in a row. Coming in at No. 321, FirstLight improved on last year’s ranking by 31 spots.

“Making the Franchise Top 200+ for six straight years is a testament to our individual franchise owners, as well as our home office staff,” said Jeff Bevis, CEO of FirstLight Home Care. “The business is only as good as the people working in it, and we have great people who have made us successful.”

The Franchise Times Top 200+ list is an annual ranking of the 500 largest franchise systems in the U.S. based on system-wide year-over-year sales growth. The research team uses a combination of companies’ voluntary reports and publicly available data, including the franchises’ most recent franchise disclosure documents and Securities and Exchange Commission filings.

“Our business has seen rapid growth as the U.S. population ages and the need for non-medical home care continues to grow,” Bevis said. “As more baby boomers become seniors, demand for home care is only going to get higher.”

FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. Their caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.

POTOMAC, Md. — Get swept away with the new Taco Tornado Burrito at California Tortilla^®, a fast-casual Mexican-inspired restaurant franchise serving fresh, made-to-order dishes. For a limited-time only, guests can try this new burrito infusing savory flavors from a cheeseburger with the spice of Mexican cuisine. The Taco Tornado Burrito is available at all California Tortilla locations now through January 13, 2019.

The Taco Tornado Burrito combines one of America’s favorite foods, cheeseburgers, with California Tortilla’s signature flavor blends. Using ingredients like rice, taco beef, queso, pickled jalapenos, salsa, fresh avocado and Screamin’ sauce, customers can enjoy this mouthwatering flavor combination for a limited time.

Struggling to find the perfect name for this new and delicious burrito, California Tortilla created a contest on its social media channels to crowdsource a new name. After seeing only the ingredients, loyal Cal Tort fans could submit ideas in the comments using #NameThisCTBurrito. Suggestions from participants poured in and were narrowed to the top three – Baja Beef Burrito, Chesseburg-rito and Taco Tornado Burrito. People were able to vote for their favorite and “Taco Tornado Burrito,” as suggested by Instagram user @rachel_jones5, was selected as the top choice. She was gifted a one-of-a-kind California Tortilla Swag bag and is proudly credited on all the marketing materials for this limited-time offer.

“We are extremely excited to have incorporated our dedicated fan base into the creation of this limited-time offer,” said Keith Goldman, California Tortilla Chief Operating Officer. “At California Tortilla, we’re known for our experimentation with global flavors and unique specialty menu offerings that our customers look forward to several times a year. We’re looking forward to offering this new item to our Cal Tort fans.”

Guests can purchase the regular size Taco Tornado Burrito for $7.99 and a small for $7.19 at all California Tortilla locations. For an extra flavor blast, guests are encouraged to add bacon for an additional $1.

Serving made-to-order burritos, bowls, street tacos, quesadillas and salads, California Tortilla is dedicated to serving farm-fresh, never frozen ingredients where everything is hand prepared in small batches daily in scratch cook kitchens. The innovative menu is grounded in a foundation of Mexican cuisine and features 25 unique chef-created dishes, such as the Korean BBQ Burrito, Blackened Fish Tacos and California Sunset Bowl. Every California Tortilla features a Wall-of-Flame, a towering display of 75 distinct hot sauces, ranging from mild to tongue-melting, allowing guests to further customize the flavor and heat level of their meal.

CARROLLTON, Texas — FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today that CEO Catherine Monson will be the keynote speaker at the European Master and Multi-Unit Franchising Conference on Oct. 23 at the Park Plaza Victoria in London. With over 30 years of experience in franchising, Catherine will share her insights on the strength of the industry worldwide.

Additionally, Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development for FASTSIGNS International, Inc., and Hamdi Osman, FASTSIGNS Master Franchisee for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and North Africa, will speak on Oct. 24 about the franchisee-franchisor relationship in master franchising, building infrastructure, and franchise sales. Osman opened the first FASTSIGNS location in the UAE in 2015 in Dubai and has since celebrated his success as a top international center with the highest country sales volume. As part of his Master Franchise agreement, Osman will open a total of 12 locations in the UAE and 25 centers in North Africa — specifically targeting, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya.

“Since launching our international expansion efforts, FASTSIGNS has built a proven business model that has the flexibility to be replicated in any international market, allowing us to grow to nine countries,” said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “With the increasing need for signage and visual communications worldwide, we continue to emphasize the importance of providing the tools and resources that set our Master Franchisees up for success while simultaneously catering to the specific needs of their country and business. We’re looking forward to networking with potential Master Franchisees to explore how FASTSIGNS can continue to grow throughout Europe.”

FASTSIGNS has experienced explosive international growth in 2018, including opening 24 locations in the U.S. and Canada, one in Chile, and two in Australia. In Europe, the brand recently signed a Master Franchise Agreement to open at least 10 locations in Spain, the Balearic Islands, and Gibraltar. FASTSIGNS is continuing to seek qualified candidates to grow its international footprint in markets throughout the world, including Europe, Brazil, Québec, North Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and Latin America.

“The European Master and Multi-Unit Franchising Conference brings together a highly experienced group of international franchise business leaders,” said Therese Thilgen, Co-founder and President, Franchise Update Media Group. “We’re thrilled to have FASTSIGNS be a part of it as we address the growing trend of master franchising as the primary method of international expansion for franchise brands.”

SPRING, Texas — In honor of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, Always Best Care of the Woodlands, in partnership with PetSmart, Montgomery County Animal Shelter and Texas Litter Control, will host a free pet adoption event for local seniors from 12-4 p.m. on Oct. 21, 2018, at the PetSmart located at 19075 Interstate 45, South Shenandoah, TX 77385. The partnering agencies plan to cover all qualifying adoption fees for dogs adopted by seniors 65 and older. The agencies will also cover a portion of adoption fees for all ages, including $40 for dogs and $25 for cats. PetSmart will be providing a free adoption coupon booklet that will include a free bag of food, free canned food, money off grooming and boarding services as well as much more.

“In our local community there are so many shelter dogs and cats in need of loving homes, and we’ve found that the seniors we care for experience immeasurable benefits from pet ownership,” said Maggie Fontenot, Always Best Care of the Woodlands Event Coordinator. “Studies continue to prove that pet ownership helps lower stress levels, blood pressure and depression. By teaming up with PetSmart, Montgomery County Animal Shelter & Texas Litter Control, we plan to cover adoption fees for dogs in an effort to combat the ongoing issue of depression in Americans over the age of 65. We’re excited to help connect seniors and their loved ones with pets in need of a home.”

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 now being phased in throughout the country.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — AtWork Group, a rapidly growing national staffing franchise, was recently recognized as one of the nation’s top 100 most innovative franchises by Franchise Business Review in its Top 100 Most Innovative Franchises report.

Over 24,000 franchisees from a number of leading national brands were surveyed in order to determine the most innovative franchises, based entirely upon franchisee satisfaction. Survey participants were asked 33 benchmark questions about their franchisor that focused on areas such as leadership, training, and core values, as well as 16 more personal questions concerning their business lifestyle and overall enjoyment of running their franchise.

“We’re so proud to be recognized by Franchise Business Review as one of the most innovative franchises in the country,” said Jason Leverant, president and COO of AtWork Group. “This recognition reinforces that by striving to live our mission of being “AtWork for You”—our clients, employees, and franchise partners—and relentlessly providing the industry’s best service, we are able to create an atmosphere of creativity, innovation, and success that will continue to help us realize unprecedented growth.”

AtWork was recently ranked No. 88 in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500® ranking and No. 106 in their Fastest Growing Franchises ranking. The company was also ranked No. 18 in the Franchise Times Fast & Serious list, in addition to receiving a Franchise Times Top 200+ ranking five years in a row. Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) recognized AtWork as being one of the largest staffing companies based on revenues, as well as one of the fastest-growing staffing firms in the U.S. in 2018, and Inc. Magazine ranked AtWork on its Inc. 5000 annual list for the fifth consecutive year, placing the company at No. 3,643.