Salesmen Take Leap of Faith to Launch Nation's First SaveItNow Franchise

Taking control of their own destinies in a volatile economy, SaveItNow! employees Harvard Whipple and Jeff Hix have decided to take the plunge from being employees to being commander-in-chiefs of their own Franchise operation.

The irony is the source of their income hasn't changed a bit - technically, that is.

After dedicating more than 19 years combined as Atlanta-area salesmen for SaveItNow!, Whipple and Hix decided to continue their success in the region, except this time as pioneers for SaveItNow's emerging franchise system. By doing so, the two entrepreneurs will demonstrate their confidence in the potential of SaveItNow's promising franchise concept.

"SaveItNow! has everything in place for us to get off the ground quickly and can support us with a strong backbone on all levels of our business," Whipple said. "This opportunity is truly recession proof and offers tremendous potential for growth."

When SaveItNow!, a 16-year-old respected leader in cost-saving solutions for small and medium-sized businesses, launched their franchise program in late 2002, Whipple and Hix recognized it as the opportunity of a lifetime.

"We knew it was a perfect fit for us," Hix said. "We believe in the quality of the product we've been selling for so many years, as well as the business philosophy that SaveItNow! was built upon."

Looking ahead, Whipple and Hix are confident of their ability to continue their success as SaveItNow! franchisees. In addition to Atlanta, they also have plans to bring the concept to Charlotte and Asheville, NC. Especially during these turbulent economic times, there has been a stronger need for new concepts whose mission is to "nurture" small businesses through cost-efficiency programs such as SaveItNow's group purchasing organization.

"Jeff and Harvard bring a wealth of knowledge and experience with them that will help take SaveItNow! to the next level of continued growth and success," Jim Dodson, president and CEO of SaveItNow said. ?It's an honor and a great testament to our credibility as a company that our first franchisees just happened to also grow with us as employees. It's all extremely exciting."

In 1986, Jim Dodson became frustrated about large companies obtaining better prices and service on air express, long distance and office supplies than smaller businesses. He responded by forming a group purchasing organization and the SaveItNow! programs. With the buying power of the group, he negotiated Fortune 500® volume discounted prices of up to 40 percent and service guarantees with major national vendors. Today, more than 4,000 small to medium-size businesses take advantage of his group-buying solutions.