Editorial

Technology franchise protects and empowers businesses and customers

The best way for anyone to manage their business is to be there at all times, keeping track of both employees and customers – not just in the store but in the warehouse and parking lot, too. Does this sound impossible? A new company called EYESthere is using the latest in digital technology to help business owners keep track of their valuable assets and they are looking for franchisees to help them manage the influx of customers for this product.

Rick Rene, CEO of the Dallas, Texas-based company, admits to being a “gadget geek” who wanted to start a business managing something he loved. “I was always doing something with digital movies and pictures and knew this was my passion. I bought a digital security company in Portland, Oregon and, with co-founder Randy Andrews, turned that into a full-service business,” says Rene.

With exploding demand for digital video security solutions, an EYESthere franchisee will work with a large variety of commercial businesses, such as auto dealers, warehouses, retail stores, property management companies, and others to provide video security. Installations range from a three-camera set-up at a 7-11 store to up to 45 cameras at an auto dealership.

“Our cameras only record motion,” says Rene, “more like a TiVo box than a VCR. You never need to rewind or replace the tape and the customer chooses the length of storage time needed. This is a productivity tool as well as a protection tool. Not only can a business owner keep track of the activity and actions of customers and employees, but he can do it remotely from anywhere, 24-hours a day, using an internet connected PC or supported PDA.”

For someone managing multiple locations, the EYESthere product will allow him to more effectively connect with his business locations and avoid the unproductive travel time going from one to the other.

Besides the initial charge for installation, the EYESthere franchisee will collect a monthly fee from each customer for ongoing tuning and support and service. This means the client receives the very best customer service and technical support available but it also means that the franchisee has another source of revenue.

Franchising just since April of this year, EYESthere has two fast growing company stores, one in Portland and the other in Dallas. Exclusive territories will be granted and as an added advantage, the corporate office will handle initial calls from clients, allowing franchisees to concentrate more on growing their business. They are ready to Franchise in 46 states and filing in the other states will be completed soon.

“The franchisee will be a team builder, rather than someone doing all the work themselves,” says Rene. “He or she will manage a sales team, a project coordination team, the technical team and also hire subcontractors to do the cable installations.”

An EYESthere business can be located in a non-retail space but one very visible to drive-by traffic, says Rene. “One of the best advertisements we have is the Honda Element vehicle installers use, which is wrapped completely with the EYESthere logo and marketing messages. Once people see the cars outside of our office, they come to us looking for the service we provide.”

The EYESthere corporate office provides complete training for franchisees including both classroom work and hands-on training that involves shadowing sales people, project managers and installers. The initial training is provided at headquarters in Dallas, and EYESthere will also send personnel to the franchisee’s location to help set up the business. EYESthere has a 15-channel marketing plan that very aggressively creates a significant lead flow for franchisees. This includes the EYESthere wrapped vehicles as well as radio advertising and direct mail which have proven to have great impact on introducing the business in new markets. They plan to continually introduce and test new market promotions, including a current project which will feature a billboard with an enormous 8-foot camera pointed at the oncoming traffic.

“This is a business that really solves true issues for business owners,” says Rene, “and the market is wide-open. Virtually any kind of business can use our service and because we record only when there is motion, recordings can be viewed very quickly. Whether the cameras are used to monitor a location, provide theft prevention or for customer safety, the service can pay for itself quickly and our current customers are the best advertisement we have.”

Current customer testimonials emphasize how valuable this service can be to a business provider. Whether the recordings help the police track down thieves, helping to settle disputes between customers and employees, or just providing the owner with the ability to take a day off while still keeping his eyes on the store, the EYESthere system is more than just a tool; it is an integral piece of the business.

Although 90% o their current client base is commercial, there is potential for consumer use as well. Rene and his wife have several cameras in their home and use them in various ways, such as keeping in touch when Rene is on the road and also to record special family events. People with expensive collections, or who have a number of service people entering their homes will also appreciate the EYESthere product because of its ease of use and customer support features.

If you understand the value of digital video technology, you may be the kind of person who can grow your own business with EYESthere. “One of your best customers,” says Rene, “will be other franchisees and your first customer will be yourself as you completely outfit your office with the same equipment you will be selling.”