Archive for the Franchise Category

Relax The Back & Tempur-Pedic Help Soldiers Sleep More Soundly

By on July 12, 2011
This entry is filed under Company Happenings, Franchise.

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In March, Relax The Back of Austin was contacted by an organization called Operation: Pray Me Home.  This organization was given a ‘Wish List’ of items the soldiers would like to have in their packs to take to Afghanistan.

The soldier’s #1 requested item was a small pillow that could be carried with them to ease the pain of sleeping in crowded air transports and the ground in some very uncomfortable situations. Since this is the 3rd and 4th deployment for this group of dedicated men and women, they requested this comfort from home to have with them.

We are happy to report that 450 soldiers from Ft. Hood 1st Cavalry Division will be resting more comfortably with the help of Relax The Back Stores of Austin, Texas and a generous donation from Tempur-Pedic.  Tempur-Pedic provided 450 of their Comfort Travel Pillows for the soldiers.

Bill and Barbara Simpson, franchise owners of the Austin area Relax The Back Stores were fortunate to meet some of these brave and dedicated soldiers and their families on June 18th at a deployment party. “We are thrilled and thankful to see that Relax The Back and Tempur-Pedic were able to help our soldiers get the rest they so need and deserve,” said Barbara Simpson.

Franchisee of the Year

By on June 22, 2011
This entry is filed under Franchise.

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Relax The Back’s Jerry Swerdlow Franchisee of the Year Award is not given lightly. A lot of time, thought, and effort go into choosing the franchisee who best embodies the company’s ethics, service, and growth.

This year, Relax The Back broke precedent and awarded the honor to Chuck Keyser and Ernest Jordan for a second time, making them the only franchisees to win the award twice. Chuck and Ernest last won it in 2007, after displaying a commitment to excellence that has made them owners of five of the top 10 stores today.

“We’re honored to win the award, especially considering how many deserving candidates there are,” said Keyser. “To win it twice is doubly special.”

Keyser and Jordan own 12 stores in Florida, Texas, and Missouri. For years, they have had success using a formula of hard work, innovation, and flexibility, all while maintaining a keen eye on the bottom line. Great products and excellent customer service are also hallmarks of their ownership.

“We care about the customer,” Jordan said. “Oftentimes people come to us when they’re in pain, so we make sure we listen to them. From the beginning, we’ve known that success starts with taking care of the customer.”

Each year, the company chooses the award’s recipient based on numerous factors. Financial growth is important, but it’s far from the only consideration. Store presentation, marketing, customer relations, and employee satisfaction all go into determining the Franchisee of the Year.

“It’s an art and a science,” said Dick Palfreyman, CEO, Relax The Back. “It’s a big responsibility, and we owe it to our hard-working franchisees to look at everyone’s contributions throughout the year.

“This year, we are pleased to award it to Chuck and Ernest, for their continued excellence,” he added.

The award is named for Jerry Swerdlow, a pioneering owner since the company’s got its start in 1984. The Swerdlow family owned the #1 store in sales 13 times before Jerry passed away in 2004. Today, Jerry’s daughters, Robyn and Marcy, continue his legacy, owning successful stores in Chicago, Lincolnshire, IL, and Northbrook, IL.

Things to Consider before Starting a Franchise

By on June 17, 2011
This entry is filed under Franchise.

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Things to Consider Before Starting a Franchise

While starting a business or pursuing any goal, it is not always an easy feat to achieve, but anything is possible so long as you are willing to understand what it entails and the price you must pay.

If you have been thinking of starting your own business, but don’t want to start it from scratch, then you should consider an existing business opportunity or franchise. The word “franchise” literally means to be free. With a franchise you are purchasing a proven method of doing business. It is an opportunity to utilize tools and resources already developed and have proven successful by established franchise owners. It is the opportunity to be a part of a large organization, but still have the freedom to run your own business. However, as with any freedom there are responsibilities. These responsibilities have to do with the franchisee’s commitments and obligations, which are set forth in a franchise agreement or contract, to the franchise system. The franchise system, often referred to as the franchisor, is the one who owns the rights to the name or trademark of the business. The franchisee purchases the right to use the trademark and the complete system of doing business. For these services the franchisee will pay an up-front franchise fee and an on-going royalty which enables the franchisor to provide training and support for the entire business. So how do you determine if a franchise is right for you?

1) Motivation: What are your motivations? Why now? Identify the emotions that moved you to take action to exploring business opportunities and write them down. Keep the list in a place where you can see it. This understanding will not only make the experience more fulfilling, but it will serve as constant reinforcement to keep you focused while you explore the thousands of business opportunities available.

2) Goals: What are your goals? What do you personally want to get out of the ideal business? How many hours do you want to work? How many employees do you want to have? How much money do you want to make? The idea here is to get as clear a vision as possible of what your business will look like when it its established so you will know what needs to be done to get there.

3) Cost Factors: Do market research to determine how much you will be able to charge for your product or service and what volume you will be able to sell. Think about how many hours you will be able to work in a day and get a rough idea of the maximum amount you could make. Next you will need to figure franchise and advertising fees? What is the cost of doing business as a franchise? Once you have rough estimate for those figures, you can decide if the money you could make or the time you need to put in will be worth the effort. Perhaps one unit may not support your financial goals? You’d be surprised at how many people spend years working in a single unit business that is just not capable of becoming what they hoped it would, even if it went perfectly.

4) The Plan: Independent of what you aspire to, everything starts with a plan. Plans may be methodical and based on extensive data, trends and opportunities, or they may be gut feelings that push you to take action. Depending on your personality and risk aversion, only you know how much planning is necessary before you undertake a project.

5) The Best Fit: One way to judge a franchise is to listen to the people who are already doing it. Ask questions? Talk to other franchisees. Ask what their relationship with the franchisor is like. You should get to know the principal directors of the company and their business background. One of the most important elements of a franchise is theongoing support and contact you will have with the franchisor. For this reason, you should feel comfortable with the people you will interact with for a number of years. The goal here is to determine if the company system is a good fit for you.

Buying a franchise is not a 100 percent guarantee of success. By carefully evaluating yourself and the franchise you are considering purchasing, the chances of success become greater. Will you succeed or fail when you buy the franchise? There are not too many franchise failures, but there are people who fail. Your success or failure is really in your own hands. Evaluate carefully the franchise you desire to purchase and your own attitudes and abilities. By so doing, the wonderful dream of business ownership and controlling your future could be reality.

 

Relax The Back History

By on April 28, 2011
This entry is filed under Franchise.

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Relax The Back History

Having grown from just one retail store in 1984, Relax The Back stores today are part of a nationwide network dedicated to serving customers seeking relief from and prevention of back and neck pain.

In 1984, an osteopath in Austin, Texas established a unique specialty retail store with nearly 40 products geared toward health and posture.  In 1987, an entrepreneur recognized the potential of this business and decided to purchase the original store. The systems developed and used by the Austin store were then packaged into a business format that was successfully duplicated in franchised locations.

In 1996, Relax The Back’s largest franchisee recognized the business opportunity offered in providing long-term solutions to back pain, and soon bought the company, serving as CEO.

In 1999, Relax The Back.com was launched as another method to introduce consumers to the brand.  The company also focused on an aggressive catalog program created to direct customers to the retail stores and the internet site.

During the first half of 2001, the company was again purchased by 2 investment companies and formed a new management team.  By April 2001, the company had successfully reorganized and began focusing on the expansion of support programs to rebuild a stronger network.

The Relax The Back franchise network has experienced strong growth as a result of the expanding support programs.  Existing franchise owners are developing new stores, and new franchise owners are joining Relax The Back to develop new markets.

Today, the Relax The Back franchise program offers entrepreneurs the opportunity to benefit by representing the Relax The Back brand and become part of the strongest network in the $70 billion Health & Wellness Industry.

With over 100 locations in 31 states and Canada, Relax The Back remains the North America’s largest retailer of comfort, wellness and ergonomic products.  Relax The Back continues to change lives by helping people live a healthier, more comfortable life.