Franchise Today

Some have suggested that Floor Coverings International is to the flooring industry what Amazon is to retail.”  My guest today, Floor Coverings International President and CEO Tom Wood says, “This business model is only becoming more and more relevant. Homeowners are looking for convenience and value, and they reward us for delivering it. Our ability to disrupt the flooring industry by bringing the flooring directly to the customer is exactly why our franchise will continue to grow over the coming years.

Tom Wood joined Floor Coverings International in 2005 after previously serving three years as a Vice President of it's parent company FirstService Brands,overseeing the strategy and operational direction of several brands within their franchising portfolio. Tom actually initially joined FSB as a franchisee in 1985 and had worked in a few of its sister companies, including: College Pro Painters as both a franchisee and as an executive at CertaPro Painters as Vice President and part of the founding team. This week, it is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, Tom Wood, President and CEO of Floor Coverings International.

Bio-One Inc. is the first crime and trauma scene cleaning franchise, with over 100 locations operating in 41 States. Bio-One is committed to providing excellent service in recovery and suicide cleanup, homicide cleanup, hoarding situations, junk removal, deceased animal recovery, and much more.  Leading the charge, Bio One President Danessa Itaya is no stranger to franchise leadership in the service brand space.  In fact, she brings 30 years of experience in the franchise industry, 10 of which were spent in national and international leadership roles, growing what are now household brand names, like: Molly Maid, Maid Right, and Property Management Inc., (PMI). Danessa also serves on the IFA’s  Women in Franchising Committee and was named one of Entrepreneur’s Top Influential Women in Franchising in 2022. With her lead by example style, she’s excited to embrace the culture of ‘Help First’ and continue making a difference in the lives of others.

Danessa Itaya, this week on Franchise Today.

This week I feature another in my series of Rising Stars in Franchising.  In fact, this week’s Rising Star also checks the box for amazing women in franchising as well..My guest is Julie Cartwright, a truly inspiring, emerging franchisor, who is making all the right moves to assure sustainable growth through sensible franchising.  Julie is the President of an impressive, emerging brand called Pvolve. 

In 2017 Julie’s partner, Rachel Katzman went searching for solutions to feeling broken from high-intensity workouts, which when mingled with her chronic scoliosis pain, caused her to search for a better way to get the results she wanted in terms of sculpting her body, minus the aches and pains and broken body that comes along with high intensity workouts. 

So, with that as her motivation, Rachel sought some seed capital to create a new modality that they’ve now dubbed, “functional fitness.”  That investor, a successful serial entrepreneur in his own right, also just happens to double as Rachel’s dad.  With his investment and belief in the concept, these founders put together a Clinical Advisory Board, a team of expert trainers, obtained patent on some amazing and unique equipment, and with an equally impressive team of franchise professional to guide them, these women are now disrupting the fitness industry, offering P-Volve franchises, which includes a hybrid of streaming and in-studio experiences for their members to benefit from, getting the look they want, minus the drain of high intensity workouts.  P-Volve has literally put to rest the old adage of  “no pain, no gain” and replaced that notion with low-impact, big results fitness, enabling one to still break a sweat, but not break one’s body. 

This brand has captured the interest of early investors, includinging Jennifer Anniston, a Pvolve member and subsequent investor.

This week I’m joined again, by industry veteran Greg Longe, CEO at Phoenix Franchise Brands, the franchisors of Fetch Pet Care, Door Renew, Spray Foam Genie and Furry Land, Mobile Grooming.  In our first installment, we talked about his storied franchise career and how that's led to the creation of Phoenix Franchise Brands.  This week, we discuss the road aheadd and how their mission is to, “Help those with entrepreneurial spirits create a legacy for themselves, their families, and the communities that they serve.” They do so living and breathing the following five core values:  Honesty, Character, Courage, Inclusivity and Integrity.  As you’ll hear yet again, Greg is rich in experience and collectively, his team is changing lives, one business at a time, across their ever-expanding portfolio of brands, with a combined 130+ years of franchising experience.  

Greg Longe, with a look ahead, this week on Franchise Today.

Frank Fiume is a pioneer in the youth sports industry and the founder of i9 Sports—the nation’s first and leading franchisor of youth leagues and camps. Since 2003, i9 has generated over 300 million dollars—with more than two million participants in 900 communities across 30 states nationwide.  A baseball fanatic and native of Queens, New York, Frank graduated from St. John’s University and began a career as a medical equipment sales rep, though he was determined to pursue his life’s true purpose. So in l995, he created his own adult men’s softball league, ABA Sports. The start-up company quickly grew to over 900 teams in just six years, making it the largest adult sports organization on Long Island.

In 2003, Frank sold ABA in order to create i9 Sports, a business that catapulted him to national recognition and that Entrepreneur magazine ranked as the #1 children’s fitness franchising.

Frank has been featured on Fox Business News, HBO Real Sports, and in dozens of publications and national news media outlets, including USA Today, Sports Illustrated, and The Wall Street Journal.

In 2017 Frank sold i9 Sports to a private equity firm, but like any founder still feels a great affinity for the brand and is passionate about helping other emerging franchisors find their way as they take their similar journeys.

This week I’m joined by industry veteran Greg Longe, CEO at Phoenix Franchise Brands, the franchisors of Fetch Pet Care, Door Renew, Spray Foam Genie and Furry Land, Mobile Grooming.  Their mission at Phoenix, is to, “Help those with entrepreneurial spirits create a legacy for themselves, their families, and the communities that they serve.” They do so living and breathing the following five core values:  Honesty, Character, Courage, Inclusivity and Integrity.  As you’ll hear Greg is rich in experience and collectively, his team is changing lives, one business at a time, across their ever-expanding portfolio of brands, with a combined 130+ years of franchising experience.  

Greg Longe, this week on Franchise Today.

Brad Hillier, CEO of Re-Bath, who has successfully prioritized strategies to energize frontline workers and generate impressive results.Brad emphasizes that while digital technologies are essential, authentic human connection and 'real' experiences play a crucial role in making brands great. He has identified several best practices that have proven effective in energizing frontline workers:

Cultivate a Culture of Appreciation: Recognize and appreciate frontline workers for their invaluable contributions. Implementi employee recognition programs, foster a culture of appreciation, and celebrate individual and team achievements, organizations can boost morale, job satisfaction, and overall productivity.Empower with Autonomy: Grant autonomy and decision-making power to frontline workers enabling them to take ownership of their work and make meaningful contributions. Allow employees to leverage their firsthand knowledge and expertise, fostering innovation, problem-solving capabilities, and increasing engagement.Prioritize Ongoing Training & Development: Understand that continuous learning and growth opportunities are essential for keeping frontline workers motivated and engaged. Invest in robust training programs, skill development initiatives, and career advancement pathways helps boost morale and empowers frontline teams.Enhance Communication Channels: Transparent and effective communication is vital for any successful organization. Brad encourages establishing open lines of communication with frontline workers, actively seeking their input, ideas, and feedback. Regularly updating employees on company news, providing clear direction, and creating platforms for meaningful dialogue contribute to a collaborative and engaged workforce.

Huey Magoo’s was founded in 2004 by Matt Armstrong and Thad Hudgens, two southern boys with a passion for quality chicken and a penchant for serving others. Now, Andy Howard and other former executives from one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing franchise chains, Wingstop, have partnered with the founders, bringing a shared passion and laser-like focus for the perfect chicken tender, crafted into everything that Huey Magoo’s offers today. Their leadership team includes other notables of Wing Stop fame, including Wes Jablonski, Mike Sutter, Matt Poleos, and Bill Knight.This week,Huey Magoo's President and CEO Andy Howard serves it all up, on Franchise Today.

Master Messaging helps clients increase their revenue in predictable and sustainable ways. Their approach applies the latest principles in behavioral psychology. These include how individuals perceive value and communicating in ways that increase engagement throughout the buyer’s journey. This empowers sales reps to communicate value with prospects and customers, which is crucial for increasing revenue.

David Kurkjian, Author of "6X - Convert More Prospects to Customers: A Road Map for Early-Stage Sales Conversations" and Creator of Master Messaging, breaks it all down.  This week, on Franchise Today.

Celebree School is a Maryland based company which has been in business since 1994 and is on a mission to grow its portfolio of franchised schools across the country.  Franchising only since 2019, they boast 42 locations open and operating, with 51 more in development, across 13 states.  As a company, their mantra is to elevate the level of early childhood education through their unique offering of brand, curriculum, talent and experience, all carefully woven into the fabric of the communities that they serve.   

This week, we hear all about it from Celebree School's Founder, President and CEO, Richie Huffman.