Franchise Interviews

There’s a better, smarter, more efficient way to buying a franchise, and Chicago entrepreneur Craig Slavin has developed it.   A 40-year franchise veteran, Slavin has been involved with all aspects of the franchising industry from concept creation and refinement to management and national/international growth; including his role as the former CEO and President of Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Pizza.  He has not only led major franchise organizations to success, but he has also helped hundreds of franchises reposition their concepts, streamline their operations, and grow their businesses.  It was this ongoing pattern of poor choices and wasted time that led Slavin to research and develop ConnectMe, a free on-line survey that guides prospective franchise owners to the right franchise for them – what many have referred to as the e-Harmony or Match.com of franchising.          

Franchise Interviews Hosts the first ever Retail Sympossium - On Thursday, January 10, Franchise Interviews will host our first retail symposium. You will hear interviews with retail franchises like Aaron's Sales and Lease, Max Muscle Sports Nutrition, Verlo Mattess, and Tasty Image.

We are meeting with Anthony Russo of the Russo’s NY Pizzeria and Russo's Coal-Fired Italian Kitchen.   The Russo family opened "Russo's Italian Restaurant" in 1978 after moving from New York to Texas. Russo's Italian Restaurant was a fine dining establishment that used recipes passed down through generations from the Russo family. Anthony Russo is a first generation Italian. Both parents immigrated from Sicily and Naples, Italy, to New York in 1962. At the early age of 12, Anthony spent a lot of time with his family and other influential Italian chefs in the kitchen learning how to prepare fine Italian meals and New York style pizza. His dad's phrase was: "If you can't make it fresh, don't serve it!". In the early 90's, Anthony opened up his first restaurant in Clear Lake, Texas called "Anthony's Pizzeria". Anthony's goal was to bring the real New York style pizza down to the Texas marketplace. By using his culinary experience, Anthony was able to blend the simplicity of the Pizzeria with the freshness o

We are meeting with John Martin, Co-founder & CEO of Daily Juice  Daily Juice serves made-to-order juices and smoothies prepared from fresh vegetables, fruits and superfoods, as well as highly nutritious grab-and-go foods in a quick-service, uniquely cultural environment. Health-conscious consumers who are on-the-go see Daily Juice as a destination for unique drinks and products with an emphasis on health and nutrition. Daily Juice is seeking to become a global brand by providing an accessible source of authentic, nurturing energy to the world one community at a time. In part 2 you will hear our interview on CBS radio.

We are meeting with Jeni Garrett, Founder, President and CEO of The Woodhouse Day Spa. The Woodhouse Day Spa is an upscale chain of day spas offering more than 40 different treatments that encompass skin and body care, hand and foot care, massage therapy, specialty treatments and more. Treatments use organic skin and body care products made from sustainable ingredients that are healthy for both guests and the planet. DAYSPA magazine named The Woodhouse Day Spa the Best Day Spa Chain in America.    

We could not think of anyone better to celebrate our 6 year anniversary and 300 show than with Melanie Bergeron, Chair of TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.  It all started as an after-school business for two high school boys.  Now, 20 years later, TWO MEN AND A TRUCK®/INTERNATIONAL, Inc. has grown both domestically and internationally.  This is an amazing story as well as franchise.  Find out why by listening to the show.  We are also going to hear clips from our interview with Lonnie Helgerson.  Lonnie is a franchise author, franchise speaker, and serial frantrepreneur.  Lonnie Helgerson.  Lonnie has over 27 years in the franchise industry working with companies such as Super 8 Motels, Ident-A-Kid, and many more.  We also hear a clip with the star of Undercover Boss Catherine Monson.  Catherine Monson is also the CEO of FASTSIGNS.  FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the worldwide franchisor for the more than 530 FASTSIGNS® sign and graphic centers located in the US, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Aust

One day in March 2009, Stephanie King-Myers – the daughter of a French artist who had been painting her entire life – was entertaining a friend who admitted that she was envious of the artistic talents of King-Myers and her husband, Nick, who had attended art school. The couple convinced their friend that she could paint with the right inspiration, too, as they pulled out a blank canvas and a bottle of wine. After helping her friend successfully create her first masterpiece, a business idea was born for King-Myers, who along with her husband, had been laid off from their jobs a couple of weeks earlier. Taking advantage of her entrepreneurial spirit, King-Myers’ idea blossomed into a thriving and exciting mobile business throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods. In 2010, the success and potential of the business caught the attention of franchise executive Nancy Bigley, who has more than 18 years of franchise operations experience with such brands as Baskin-Robbins, Mr. Electric and American Leak Detection. Big

First, we are meeting with Kevin Wilkerson.  Kevin and Laurel Wilkerson own a Marco’s Pizza franchise in Broken Arrow, OK.  Kevin spent 24 years as an Army Infantry Officer and retired in 2005 as a full Colonel.  Laurel served on active duty with the Army as an attorney for over 20 years, retiring in 2008.  He later learned of Marco’s and decided to get involved in entrepreneurship.    Next, we meet with Chris Rolen.  Chris spent eight years on active duty in the Army, including a 2002 deployment to Iraq for Operation Enduring Freedom.  Chris decided to open a Weed Man franchise and received a 25% veteran’s discount.  He opened Weed Man of Loveland in January 2012 and participates in a program called Project Evergreen, a service that reaches out to wounded warriors.  Did you know one in three seniors in the United States is a veteran or surviving spouse of a veteran?  Every day, many of these men and women go without the health care they need simply because of lack of information or assistance.  Recognizing t

Get In Shape For Women was founded in 2006 by Brian Cook after 15 years of leadership in personal training and franchise sales. Brian’s intention was to create much more than a women’s gym. He wanted to create a complete fitness program for women, combining such activities as cardio and weight training for women with nutrition information for a healthy diet and accountability through personal trainers. Brian knew from experience that a personal trainer has great value and knew that all members of Get In Shape For Women could get the results they've always wanted with the education and motivation provided by personal training. He developed a unique concept called Small Group Personal Training, where a personal trainer works with up to 4 women. And the most effective program ever for women's fitness, weight-loss and body transformation was created. We are meeting with Lou DeFrancisco.

Over the years, Franchise Interviews has had some amazing quotes and advice from our guests. Today you are going to hear some of the best clips and advice suggested on our weekly radio show that made our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast. This special two hour show will have over 20 clips from people like the great Michael Gerber, entrepreneurship expert Dr. Scott Shane, some of the top franchise experts and attorneys in the country, and of course us! Sit back and enjoy!

We are meeting with Braden Poole as Operations Manager of Honest-1 Auto Care.  Honest-1 Auto Care® is the only national full-service auto care company that is 100% ESA® Certified Eco-Friendly. Honest-1® leads the industry in numerous eco-friendly initiatives including strict recycling of automotive materials, pollution prevention, resource conservation and offering Eco-Friendly Auto Care® services such as the ECO TuneUp® and ECO Oil Change. In addition to its high environmental standards, Honest-1® has a very unique customer centric approach to the auto care industry providing centers which are family-friendly, characterized by clean and upscale waiting areas, Internet cafes, children's play areas, comfortable leather chairs and couches, big screen TVs and complimentary beverage stations. With 30 locations operating, Honest-1® plans to open 15 more locations nationwide in the next year. Honest-1® was ranked 338 in Entrepreneur magazine’s 2011 “Franchise 500.” Additionally, Honest-1® ranked as one of the top

We have a great show today.  We are meeting James Walker of The Brass Tap.  The Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer and wine bar celebrated for its more than 300 varieties of imports, local craft beers and a large selection of premium wines and cigars. With three open units and 19 signed agreements, The Brass Tap is positioned to quadruple in size in the Southeast and beyond. In June 2012, Beef ‘O’ Brady’s acquired the rights to franchise The Brass Tap.

Founded in 1991 by Marie DeNicola as a direct sales company, Mainstream Boutique is a women's retail clothing and accessories franchise that offers a variety of affordable, fashion-forward pieces for women of all ages. The franchise has 22 successful boutiques operating in 10 states with four locations currently under development. The Minnesota based company, which began franchising in 1998, is set to double in size by 2014 with expansion plans in Texas, Illinois, Colorado and Wisconsin.  In part 2 we meet with the legendary Michael Gerber on our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.    

We have a great show today.  We are meeting with Matthew Eichhorst, President of Expedia CruiseShipCenters, and Mary Beth Casey, franchisee of Expedia CruiseShipCenters in Ft. Lauderdale. ABOUT EXPEDIA CRUISESHIPCENTERS Expedia, Inc., the largest online travel company in the world, has partnered with Expedia CruiseShipCenters to provide travelers a one stop shop for cruises and vacations.  Expedia CruiseShipCenters was founded in 1987 and offers the best value in the industry with nearly 4,000 Cruise Consultants in more than 150 franchise locations throughout North America.  In part 2, franchise expert Gary Ochiogrosso discusses the "Three Legged Stool" of franchising on our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.

Today's show we a talking about adding a franchise to your existing business.  Dan Lyden of Eradico Services will highlight both the Weed Man and Christmas Decor franchise opportunities. Eradico Pest Control was founded in 1931 by entrepreneur Myron Sempliner. Today Eradico Services, Inc. unifies all of our affiliated services under one recognizable brand. They remain committed to continually improving our customer care, which includes implementing advancements in technology and incorporating new research into our methods. In segment 2, you will hear part of our interview on CBS radio with Lynn Johnson.

The Lash Lounge, headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, currently operates six franchise and corporate locations throughout Texas.  The company was founded in 2006 and is the first franchise concept of its kind, specializing in the art of semi-permanent eyelash extensions and permanent make-up.  To add to the luxurious spa experience, each Lash Lounge location offers a variety of beauty products and trendy ladies’ boutique items for customers to browse while they receive services by Lash Lounge’s licensed technicians.  A comprehensive training model has been developed by Founder Anna Phillips to ensure a visit to any Lash Lounge exceeds industry standards and customer satisfaction.  The tried and true methods have been seamlessly replicated in each salon to make effortless glamour more convenient.  We are meeting with Anna Phillips, Founder, and President of The Lash Lounge. In part 2 we meet with franchise expert Karol Mercurio.  Karol gives advice to aspiring frantrepreneurs.

On Thursday, August 30, Franchise Interviews weekly radio show will host its first Automotive Symposium.  Marty McDermott, the President of Franchise Interviews stated, “Listeners will be supplied with a great deal of information on the automotive industry.  They might be pleasantly surprised.”  Interviews with automotive franchises like Aamco, Maaco, 1-800-Radiator, Express Oil and Moran Industries. 

We arre meeting with Jerry Flanagan, of J Dog Junk Removal.  J Dog Junk Removal is a full-service junk removal company that removes almost anything. We offer junk removal services for your home or business including offices, retail locations, storage units, churches, apartments, warehouses and more. Junk Removal, a full-service junk removal franchise, which is taking veteran employment assistance to new heights with the creation of a low-cost franchise opportunity, offered exclusively to veterans and active-duty members of the United States Military. The newly-launched concept was created by an Army veteran in response to the disproportionately high unemployment rate for returning service members.   In an effort to ease the transition from military to civilian life, JDog Junk Removal offers veterans and active-duty Military members the hands-on training, business support systems and assistance programs needed to effectively get their business off the ground quickly. The concept has a rapid launch capabilit

We are meeting with Steve Baxter – General Manager, Global Mid-Market Solutions of Satmetrix. Satmetrix is the leading provider of cloud-based customer experience software for companies worldwide. As co-developer of the industry-leading Net Promoter® methodology, their applications deliver full process support to help companies reduce customer churn, mobilize loyal promoters, generate more powerful insights, and drive customer obsession through accountability. Steve talks about what the Satmetrix software can do for franchise businesses. In part 2, we hear from two franchisees from the franchise opportunity Cartridge World for our Great Quotes in Franchising Podcast.  We speak with Jeffrey Bier who owns and operates the Franklin Lakes, New Jersey location and Norman Friedman a multi store Cartridge World owner who owns and operates the Brick, New Jersey and the Toms River, New Jersey Cartridge World locations.

We are meeting with Emma Dickison of Home Helpers – Emma is the President of a nationwide home care agency franchise. According to a recent report by Ed Teixeira, there are more than 40 home health care franchise companies with approximately 12 million clients, and Home Helpers ranks number two among them all. Emma can talk about how to stand out in such a crowded arena. She will talk about staying ahead of the curve as well as home health care topics including technologies that keep aging loved ones at home longer. As everyday life becomes more challenging, a little help can go a long way. For over a decade, Home Helpers’ Compassionate Caregivers have been providing one-on-one companion care and in home care services to seniors, new & expectant mothers, working parents and individuals in need of continuing and recuperative home care. From a few hours a week to 24/7 home care, we’re there when and where you need us to help make life easier and maximize independence!