Posts tagged five star painting franchise

Dismal housing news shines light on importance of a expert paint job.

It’s sobering news for homeowners, but good news for Five Star Painting franchisees.

Industry analysts say the housing market will remain lukewarm – at best – for the next two years. The Mortgage Bankers Association, a national trade group that represents more than 80 percent of the nation’s mortgage business, predicts that overall home sales will inch down less than 1 percent this year and that 2012 will see an increase about a 1 percent.

Yet, there’s never been a better time to open a Five Star Painting franchise.

Why? The homes that sell in this market are the ones with tasteful, professional interior and exterior paint jobs. Homeowners, especially those who’ve been planning on putting their homes on the market, need expert painting professionals to help get their homes sold for top dollar.

Housing experts say you can sell your home if you understand the ultra-competitive nature of the housing game in 2011.The National Association of Realtors says that a tasteful painting job inside and out can increase the value of a home up to 20 percent. Texas real estate writer and Realtor Mike Stevenson says homes can sell if the owner makes “the house both available and sellable.”

Before

After

“At the intersection of price and appearance lays a valuable commodity — paint,” Stevenson writes in his blog at DFW Texas Homes. “This lovely liquid magnifies both the price and appearance of a home.  I believe it’s safe to estimate that well-chosen paint will increase the sales price of an average house by $300 for every paint that’s correctly applied.”

It’s a no-brainer that painting can immediately increase home value. But there’s more to it than that, and that’s where Five Star Painting consultants and painters come in. Our consultants are knowledgeable and trustworthy professionals who work closely with clients to find the right look for the right price. We have an extensive certification and training process, which every Five Star painter must complete. Every single painter is screened, tested and educated in the best painting practices.

Botched paint jobs simply don’t happen.

The opportunity is immense. If want to learn more about a Five Star Painting franchise and see it if is a good fit, please fill out the form at the bottom of this page and we’ll start a conversation with you.

At Five Star Painting, we believe in fun. The company, including Five Star franchisees, takes a cruise every winter; this year our five-day excursion started in San Diego and visited Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada, Mexico. We could talk more about it, but the pictures do a better job. We work hard all year and then get together to celebrate our successes.

Jordan Gross (Provo, UT) and wife Katie take to the sky, daring a double parasail.

Eunice Martinez (Five Star corporate receptionist) and Conrad Kolba (COO) await their turn to go parasailing.

In Cabo - Mike Otani (Toronto, ON), Katie Gross, Adriana Otani, Jordan Gross (Provo, UT), Pasquale Lauria (friend of James Greig), Shawna Jones, Chad Jones (VP), Conrad Kolba (COO), James Greig (Edmonton, AL), Mason Dahl (Calgary, AL), Steve Kennett (Edmonton, AL) and Britania Kennett, Wendy (cousin of Eunice), Eunice Martinez (Five Star Corporate receptionist)

The Five Star gang explored the depths as well as the sky; here, a crew is on its way to snorkeling.

A beach without four-wheeling? Not with this group.

Tom Hodgson (Columbus, OH) and Scott Abbott (CEO) prep for a group picture.

Our temporary home “office”

Folks get ready to tackle a fishing excursion.

Scott Abbott (CEO) catches a fish.

Mike Christensen (Dallas, TX) catches a skinnier fish.

Scott Abbot (CEO) congratulates Brandon Oquendo (Salt Lake City, UT) , who won gift cards for winning third place in franchise growth.

Mason Dahl (Calgary, AL) scores an iPad for Top Sales. CEO Scott Abbott is on the left.

Chad Jones (COO), Pasquale Lauria (friend of James Greig), James Greig (Edmonton, AL), Scott Abbot (CEO), Jordon Gross (Provo, UT) throw the ‘Five Star Gang Sign’ on a break from four-wheeling

The group gets ready to ride.

More fourwheeling

No-wheeling

Scott Abbott (CEO) takes charge.

More no-wheeling

Our hotel in San Diego before departure.

Dinner - Tony Casey (Columbia, SC), Brad Baghetto (Winnipeg, MB), Heidi and Scott Abbott (CEO), James Greig (Edmonton, AL), Pasquale Lauria (friend of James Greig), Chad and Shawna Jones (VP)

Dinner on the cruise - Conrad Kolba (COO), Scott Abbott (CEO), James Greig (Edmonton, AL), Pasquale Lauria (friend of James Greig), Chad Jones (VP)

Pasquale Lauria (friend of James Greig) and Conrad Kolba do a slow-motion model walk after snorkeling.

Snorkeling

Getting wet

Getting wetter

The team tees up for a great 2011.

James Greig (Edmonton, AL) and Pasquale Lauria parasailing

Cabo San Lucas

Want to learn more about how fun owning your own business can be? Start a conversation with us about opening a Five Star Painting franchise in your area by filling out our simple request information form.

Largest, richest U.S. generation more likely to hire out painting

Sociologists have compared the Baby Boomer generation to a pig moving through a python. They represent a humongous population born between 1945-1964.
Why should a painting franchise care?

Because this 76 million-plus demographic will help grow a painting business. Baby Boomers are the wealthiest generation in the U.S, with an annual spending power of more than $2 trillion. The vast majority of them want to “age in place” in their homes. And those homes —  many of which are older houses and condos —  need updating, renovation and interior and exterior painting.

According to the Mature Market Institute, nearly two-thirds of Baby Boomers (63 percent) plan to stay in their current home as long as they can. That number rises to 78 percent for those aged 75 and older. Not only are they staying put, they are not interested in painting rooms themselves like younger couples.

In a report by the Natural Marketing Institute, Managing Partner Steve French says Baby Boomers are “responsive to companies that can deliver pragmatic value and style” and those that are rooted in “sensible luxury.”

Here’s more about Baby Boomers from the Natural Marketing Institute:

* Boomers show strong brand loyalty to products and services they use.
* Proof of a product’s quality increases their likelihood to purchase it.
* They prefer advertisements that capture the flavor of their generation and understand their uniqueness.
* They prefer to purchase from socially and environmentally responsible companies.
* They are influencers, often telling family and friends about new products.
* They prefer to find out about products on their own compared to traditional advertising, highlighting the importance of viral marketing.

All of this is great news for Five Star Painting and its franchisees. They account for well over 50 percent of our customers and individual ticket prices are larger.  As this enormous generation ages, their demand for painting is expected to sharply increase, especially in the next 10 to 15 years.

Interested in how you could open a business designed to cater to this need? Start a conversation with us about opening a Five Star Painting franchise in your area by filling out our simple request information form.

Adam and Meredith Gilpatrick own two Five Star franchises in North Carolina’s fast-growing Research Triangle area. They are self-described “do-it-yourselfers.” Before buying their franchises in 2006, the couple renovated housing properties on the side. Adam says one key to their success is their opposite – but compatible – work styles. Meredith is the detail person. Adam is the big thinker. The Gilpatricks also share tasks and learn from one another. Adam started out as the lead manager, though Meredith is now in charge of day-to-day management tasks.

FS: How long have you been Five Star Painting franchisees?
Meredith: We are going into our fifth year. We started when Five Star was relatively new and bought the 17th and 18th franchises.

FS: Why Five Star?
Meredith: We have a knack for housing-related projects. We’d bought and renovated apartments and designed our own home. We felt like painting would be a great business in any economy and started doing research. We looked into competitors, such as Certapro. Quite frankly, once we found out about Five Star and actually met their team it was an easy decision to go with them — a no-brainer. A lot of franchises sound good on paper, but as a new franchise owner you want to be sure you are working with a team that really believes in you and wants to see you succeed. When we meet the guys behind Five Star, it was very clear to us that we’d found a home.

FS: How did you hear about us?
Adam: We found Five Star on the Internet. We liked the idea of being with a company that was new, innovative and so energetic. I’ll never forget going to our first Five Star Painting conference. After a day’s worth of work we all hung out at the CEO’s house and played video games in his basement. We responded not only to Five Star’s expertise and business savvy but to the natural, family-friendly feeling of the franchise.

FS: How do you work as a husband and wife team? Meredith, what’s it like being a female in the business of painting?
Meredith: Right now I am managing our two franchisees. When we started out it was just the opposite. Adam took the lead.  As the kids got bigger, I naturally grew into the job and gradually picked up the reigns. Adam is now able to work another job in corporate finance, so we have two very healthy incomes coming in.

I do think there’s a stereotype, which is true to some extent, that the painting industry is made up of mostly men. Of course, that means it’s a great opportunity for women. I can tell you, I’ve learned to be a lot more assertive. It’s pretty much required if you are a female boss in this industry. You have to have a bigger personality than you thought you could have. I don’t think any of our painters have had a female boss before me. A lot of our painters have been with us for a long time and they know I’m not out to kill them with work. I can be strict, but I’m also very fair. We have a mutual respect and are like family.
Adam: We are a great combination. I am a big picture person, a dreamer and big thinker. Meredith dots all the i’s and crosses the t’s.

FS: What are your backgrounds?
Adam: I’ve worked mostly in corporate finance with corporate budget analysis. Meredith and I always pursued housing investments and projects on the side, so you can say we both have a love of beautiful homes and most things housing-related.

FS: What do you like best about the Five Star franchise opportunity?
Adam: Five Star has a phenomenal grasp of technology, marketing and brand awareness. They are visionary thinkers and are always thinking about the next big thing. They are just very smart and savvy people.
Meredith: It’s an exciting franchise. It’s been great seeing all the changes they’ve gone through in the past few years. I’m so glad we were one of the people who got in early. We’ve grown with them. As Five Star gets bigger, there’s more momentum. The brand just keeps getting better and more exciting.

FS: Can you share one of your secrets? What really works for you in your market?
Meredith: We are taking a unique approach to the way we manage our franchises, and it’s really working for us. We manage our employees, including a sales staff. Many franchisees perform direct sales themselves, but we have two residential sales professionals who’ve been with us for a long time. We were just able to bring on someone for commercial sales. We do all the hiring, accounting, management, marketing and make sure leads are coming in. I think it makes sense to hire people who are best at what they do. If you aren’t the best at sales, then it makes sense to find someone who is. (Additionally, Five Star’s call center in Utah generates leads and makes appointments for local owners).
Adam: Our philosophy is that we’ll paint anything. We do have a three-room minimum, but beyond that every job is important. Jobs range from a quick $500 three-room painting contract to a 56,000-square-foot warehouse job. That one was an $18,000 contract! Small jobs are just as important as the big ones. Not only are they more manageable, they are a great way of getting your name out there.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned?
Meredith: When Adam first came to me with the idea of buying a painting franchise, I couldn’t believe that many people would hire out for painting. We are do-it-yourselfers. I just didn’t realize how big of a market there is for painting. It really blew my mind when I saw how many people want to hire out for interior and exterior painting.
Adam: During our first year in business we bit off more than we could chew and grew too fast, especially on the commercial side. We went back and regrouped and got back to basics. We actually made less money on paper during our second year, but it was sustainable, managed growth. So, one of our secrets, which we learned the hard way, is that it’s OK to grow at your own rate.

FS: What keeps you active in your free time?
Meredith: Our girls, Addyson and Josie, are both involved in dance. We go to competitions and conventions. Last year I took an adult dance class and decided I would have love a second career as a hip-hop dancer. Owning a Five Star franchise gives me the flexibility of also being a hands-on mom. I can write paychecks in my yoga pants. I can still volunteer at my kids’ school.
Adam: I used to only have one hobby – home renovation. Two years ago I took up golf. Now I love it. My four-year-old likes to come out to the course with me and “drive” the golf carts.

Why would you recommend Five Star Painting to someone interested in owning a business?
Adam: There’s a built-in market for painting. There’s always going to be a need for it. Five Star has a low barrier of entry, which makes is easier to get your franchise up and running. And last, but not least, the guys behind Five Star are great people who want to help you succeed. You are not a number at Five Star. You are a member of the family.
Meredith: The corporate management at Five Star wants you to be as successful as you can possibly be and they back that up. The support is just amazing. For example, the call center performs a vital function for the franchisees. Over the years, we’ve worked with them closely, exchanging endless emails and phone calls. They are essential to our success.

(Source: 5starfranchising.com)

Painting franchisor up 45% for 2010; 4th record-breaking year in a row

Five Star Painting Inc. continues to be a big success story in the slumping home services market.

Despite a sluggish economy, the painting franchisor posted a 45% percent gain in individual franchise revenue for 2010 and expanded its franchise system nationally and internationally. It is Five Star Painting’s fourth consecutive year of double digit growth.

“The fed says the recession is now over, but we posted positive gains throughout,” said Scott

Abbott, Five Star’s CEO. “Painting is a $16 billion business in the U.S. alone, and that figure will continue to grow as more Baby Boomers opt to stay in their homes and tough credit markets create greater demand for rental property.”

Five Star Painting is doing well because it delivers what today’s consumers want — top-quality work and excellent customer service. Franchising since 2005, Five Star Painting set out to upgrade the image of the painting industry, positioning its local owners and their workers as reliable professionals.

“We are growing because Five Star responds quickly, acts professionally, provides a valuable home service and still beats the bids of competitors,” says Abbott.

Several factors point to continued growth for Five Star: More Baby Boomers remaining in their

homes past retirement; more older houses; more renters, which translates into frequent painting; and more homeowners who want to dress up their homes rather than trade up.

Five Star Painting leapt ahead of competitors in the way it acquires and retains new customers, focusing on leveraging positive customer reviews online and in social media. The effort paid off - Five Star’s franchisees dramatically increased customers that originated from the Internet in 2010, taking the technology lead in the painting industry.

“The timing for Five Star is especially good right now,” Abbott says.

Five Star also expanded its franchise system this year, adding 14 franchise units, including the first two in Brazil.  Five Star has grown to more than 75 franchises in North America with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Brazil.

For more information about Five Star Painting franchises, please visit www.5starfranchising.com.