Cincinnati, OH Fresh Coat Painters is
expanding operations in the Dallas, Texas, area with the opening of
Julie Creel's franchise
southwest of the city to serve residential and commercial clients
in Arlington, Mansfield, Midlothian, Red Oak, Waxahachie and
surrounding communities. As part of her launch, Creel will
participate in the 28th Annual Dallas Home & Garden Show in
September.
For Creel, buying a was all about investing in her family's future – not just her own, but also that of her 26-year-old son and 2-year-old grandson.
"My father worked for years with AT&T, and then he retired with full, lifetime benefits," she said. "Those days are behind us. I wanted to use my money to build some security for myself, get my son involved, and leave a legacy for my grandson."
Bernie Brozek, president of Fresh Coat Painters, said Creel's vision is a common theme and one the company embraces.
"We want our owners to succeed, so we give them tools they can use and pass along to their children and grandchildren," he said.
Creel researched various franchises before deciding on Fresh Coat because of its low startup costs, short training time, flexible time requirements, and "tried and proven" business structure. It was that professional structure that most impressed her, she said, because she had first-hand knowledge of the downside of dealing with unprofessional painters.
"It was not a good experience," she said. "Just trying to get someone here for a quote was next to impossible. We'd set appointments, and they didn't show. And the crew I did hire came and went at random times, then left a mess when they were done – paint on the shrubs, splatter on the windows. They even left paint here. What am I supposed to do with three, five-gallon buckets of paint? I thought there was surely a better way."
Brozek said the Fresh Coat professionalism is the hallmark of the business model, which earns praise from owners, painters and clients.
"Professionalism is the priority," he said. "Our owners spend their time promoting and growing their franchises while the client service managers and painters focus on the projects. With that commitment to quality, the client gets the best skills of each person. And, because we hire only employees, never subcontractors, the painters appreciate the stability of the work as well."
Creel also sees it as a winning combination. Throughout her career, she has worked in marketing and enjoys being in the community, talking with business associates, and creating long-term relationships.
"I like that side of things," she said. "I am not a good painter. I want to hire good painters who like that side of things and take pride in their work. I'm finding good people who are looking for steady employment. One man has experience as a foreman on some big jobs and knows well how to run a crew, but he hasn't had steady work for a couple of years. That's what painters are wanting. And, without the marketing side of it, they can't have full-time jobs."
More importantly, clients want that continuity, she said. When management and staff work together to serve the client well, that client appreciates it and not only provides repeat business, but also significant referral business.
"That painter I hired, I won't be calling again," she said. "And I certainly won't be sending any business his way."
Brozek said Creel shows a keen understanding of the value of a unified team.
"Julie's expertise, commitment and leadership skills provide her with a solid foundation for success," he said. "We want to support her and all our owners by complementing their inherent abilities with quality marketing, training and resource materials."
Among those materials are several client assistance programs including a 24/7 call center, proprietary EPIC estimating system, Paint Now-Pay Later 12-months-same-as-cash financing, Automatic Touch-Up for businesses, and fund-raising opportunities for charities.
The 24/7 call center is "just genius," Creel said, noting the importance of a client being able to reach a live person at any time. "It's like having a personal secretary."
Describing herself as a "Texas girl born and raised," Creel said she also looks forward to being able to give back to her community through fund-raising support for school events, football boosters and business organizations.
"It's important to me and to my son," she said. "My family is from this area … forever. And so is his dad's. We know the area, and we know a lot of people. This is our community. These are our people."
To learn more or to schedule a free on-site quote for residential or commercial projects in Arlington, Burleson, Kennedale, Mansfield, Midlothian, Red Oak, Waxahachie or their surrounding Texas communities, call 469-672-4991 or visit http://www.freshcoatdfwsouthwest.com.
Founded in 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fresh Coat Painters provides services for residential, commercial and governmental customers in more than 100 major cities across the United States and Canada. Fresh Coat is part of the International Association, the Small Business Association's Registry, VetFran and Minority Fran. For more information, call 866-708-9355 or visit http://www.freshcoatpainters.com
For Creel, buying a was all about investing in her family's future – not just her own, but also that of her 26-year-old son and 2-year-old grandson.
"My father worked for years with AT&T, and then he retired with full, lifetime benefits," she said. "Those days are behind us. I wanted to use my money to build some security for myself, get my son involved, and leave a legacy for my grandson."
Bernie Brozek, president of Fresh Coat Painters, said Creel's vision is a common theme and one the company embraces.
"We want our owners to succeed, so we give them tools they can use and pass along to their children and grandchildren," he said.
Creel researched various franchises before deciding on Fresh Coat because of its low startup costs, short training time, flexible time requirements, and "tried and proven" business structure. It was that professional structure that most impressed her, she said, because she had first-hand knowledge of the downside of dealing with unprofessional painters.
"It was not a good experience," she said. "Just trying to get someone here for a quote was next to impossible. We'd set appointments, and they didn't show. And the crew I did hire came and went at random times, then left a mess when they were done – paint on the shrubs, splatter on the windows. They even left paint here. What am I supposed to do with three, five-gallon buckets of paint? I thought there was surely a better way."
Brozek said the Fresh Coat professionalism is the hallmark of the business model, which earns praise from owners, painters and clients.
"Professionalism is the priority," he said. "Our owners spend their time promoting and growing their franchises while the client service managers and painters focus on the projects. With that commitment to quality, the client gets the best skills of each person. And, because we hire only employees, never subcontractors, the painters appreciate the stability of the work as well."
Creel also sees it as a winning combination. Throughout her career, she has worked in marketing and enjoys being in the community, talking with business associates, and creating long-term relationships.
"I like that side of things," she said. "I am not a good painter. I want to hire good painters who like that side of things and take pride in their work. I'm finding good people who are looking for steady employment. One man has experience as a foreman on some big jobs and knows well how to run a crew, but he hasn't had steady work for a couple of years. That's what painters are wanting. And, without the marketing side of it, they can't have full-time jobs."
More importantly, clients want that continuity, she said. When management and staff work together to serve the client well, that client appreciates it and not only provides repeat business, but also significant referral business.
"That painter I hired, I won't be calling again," she said. "And I certainly won't be sending any business his way."
Brozek said Creel shows a keen understanding of the value of a unified team.
"Julie's expertise, commitment and leadership skills provide her with a solid foundation for success," he said. "We want to support her and all our owners by complementing their inherent abilities with quality marketing, training and resource materials."
Among those materials are several client assistance programs including a 24/7 call center, proprietary EPIC estimating system, Paint Now-Pay Later 12-months-same-as-cash financing, Automatic Touch-Up for businesses, and fund-raising opportunities for charities.
The 24/7 call center is "just genius," Creel said, noting the importance of a client being able to reach a live person at any time. "It's like having a personal secretary."
Describing herself as a "Texas girl born and raised," Creel said she also looks forward to being able to give back to her community through fund-raising support for school events, football boosters and business organizations.
"It's important to me and to my son," she said. "My family is from this area … forever. And so is his dad's. We know the area, and we know a lot of people. This is our community. These are our people."
To learn more or to schedule a free on-site quote for residential or commercial projects in Arlington, Burleson, Kennedale, Mansfield, Midlothian, Red Oak, Waxahachie or their surrounding Texas communities, call 469-672-4991 or visit http://www.freshcoatdfwsouthwest.com.
Founded in 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fresh Coat Painters provides services for residential, commercial and governmental customers in more than 100 major cities across the United States and Canada. Fresh Coat is part of the International Association, the Small Business Association's Registry, VetFran and Minority Fran. For more information, call 866-708-9355 or visit http://www.freshcoatpainters.com
