Dwyer Group Awards First International Multiple-Concept Franchisee

The Dwyer Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:DWYR), one of the world's largest Franchise providers of residential and commercial service businesses, has awarded its first international multiple-concept franchisee.

Co-owners Robert Rabaiotti and Paul Fulgoni, of the United Kingdom, have purchased Mr. Electric and Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, making them the first international franchisee to own more than one Dwyer Group franchise concept.

"We've awarded multiple concepts to a few outstanding franchisees in the U.S.," said Dina Dwyer-Owens, CEO and president of The Dwyer Group, "but this makes a huge statement for how our services compliment each other in foreign markets."

Rabaiotti, who was searching for a career change, discovered The Dwyer Group opportunities when he researched franchisor members of the British Franchise Association.

"When I looked at it on the financial side, it made perfect sense to me," Rabaiotti said about the decision to enter franchising. "You get the system and you're up and running in a short space of time."

Rabaiotti, the managing director of the business, and Fulgoni, the technical director, purchased a Mr. Electric in Penarth, Wales, and grew the business to four trucks in three months.

Fulgoni credits the Franchising system with the company's quick success. "It probably would have taken 12 to 18 months to open a Mr. Electric without The Dwyer Group and get where we are today," he said.

Since then, they most recently added Aire Serv Heating & Air Conditioning, which is scheduled to open sometime in August.

"I don't think it was the desire to have another concept so much as it was a good fit (with Mr. Electric)," Rabaiotti said. Dwyer-Owens agreed, saying that successful multiple-concept franchisees take advantage of a marketing edge to bring added services and value to the same customer base.

"It fulfills the original vision that my father (Founder Don Dwyer Sr.) had for the company," Dwyer-Owens said. "It was to give franchisees the opportunity to expand within the same company for the same customer."

Rabaiotti and Fulgoni will operate both concepts out of the same headquarters. They expect to grow the two businesses to 50 trucks in six years.

Mr. Electric offers professional electrical service and repair and has approximately 120 franchisees in four countries. Aire Serve offers quality heating and air conditioning services and also has grown to approximately 61 franchisees in four countries. Both concepts serve residential and commercial markets. International Franchises are awarded through Master Licensees in foreign countries. In the UK, those Master Licensees include MEB (Contracting) Ltd., trading as Mr. Electric, and AIRREX, PLC.

The Dwyer Group Inc., is based in Waco, Texas, and supports over 900 franchises in the United States and nearly 400 franchises in 23 countries. The Dwyer Group's franchise concepts include: Rainbow International® Carpet Care and Restoration Specialists™, Mr. Rooter® (Drain Doctor® in the UK), Mr. Electric®, Mr. Appliance®, Glass Doctor®, Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning® and an associate company, DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen by Worldwide™. For more, visit http://www.dwyergroup.com/.