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"I've
always used a dry cleaner and I always have had
to remind myself to pick the clothes up. It's one
more headache for a Saturday afternoon."
"Now, for the first time, I have a whole rack of
clothes in my closet that are clean. It's working
out very well."
Scott Albert,
Merrill & Bryan
"I took a look at the Pressed4Time brochures and
decided we'd give it a try. The prices are comparable
and the [local franchisee] is pleasant, professional
and dependable. We're really pleased."
Karen Martin,
Donald K. Martin Insurance |
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The enterprise of franchise
That face to face approach is what drives Jim Barbour to go that extra mile for his customers, literally, as he has made it his business to pick up the dry cleaning his customers can’t seem to get dropped off.
“The fun part for me is the people. Even though it’s called marketing and sales, it’s really not like that for me. Because I’m going to these places offering something to save them time and money,” says Barbour, who was the sole franchisee at our dinner table.
“I shopped around for the right franchise for years. I’ve been wanted to go into business for myself since I was a little kid.”
Barbour’s business, Pressed4Time, picks up and delivers dry cleaning, alterations, and even makes shoe repairs. In between pick-ups and day-to-day managing of his territory, Barbour says he enjoys more quality time with this family.
Another advantage of going the franchise route says Barbour is the marketing support he receives from the franchiser, in a business that pretty much comes ready-built. He does warn that not all franchises are created equal, some require substantial set-up fees and a swift turn-around of sizeable profits to the franchiser, which makes starting a business all the more stressful.
After years of making the rounds in the telecommunications sector and traveling as far as the Middle East and South Africa on business, Barbour’s realization it was time for a change came when he was greeted by an uninspired welcome home form his high school age daughter. The kicker, Barbour says, was that she was actually in middle school when he left on his trip.
Barbour made good use of his down-time while traveling though pouring over every type of entrepreneurial-related magazine and website he could find, researching his options thoroughly before making his choice of franchise. He says all the research was definitely worth it.
“I haven’t looked back. I have been happy to spend the time at home and do the things that I want to do.”
From "The Style Supper Club"
by Lisa J. Gotto
Lehigh Valley Style
May/June 2004 |
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"For
22 years, Dave Schenkelberg ... drove 30 miles to
his job as an accountant, clocking 50 hours weekly
at a 100-employee firm. Four years ago, things changed.
Schenkelberg got bitten by the entrepreneurial bug
... he knew what he didn't want - anything with
employees or a retail location. Pressed4Time fit
the bill. Schenkelberg bought one of its franchises
and runs it solo from his home office in St. Louis,
Missouri. At 48, he's happier and more satisfied
than ever before."
Business Start Ups, Sept. 1997
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My husband and I sent out about 100 letters to different
franchises; and after receiving all of them we chose
Pressed4Time. A lot of it was the concept - it's
a needed service... it's a lot of work, but it's
already exceeding all of our expectations."
Tonya Destarac,
Broomfield, CO
"I'm not a salesman; actually, I was in the hotel
business. It was long hours, no recognition. Then
I saw an ad for Pressed4Time. My wife and I both
work, so we knew it was a needed service... I enjoy
it because you deal with customers face to face
and you can satisfy their needs immediately. Financially,
personally, professionally, it's all way more than
I ever expected.
Patrick McClune,
Hackettstown, NJ |
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