The agreement is a significant step towards FASTISGNS’ strategic plan to increase overall franchise unit growth and outpace the competition in the more than $12 billion quick-sign industry.

The conversion initiative allows independent owners to partner with the company in reaching their full potential and long-term goals. Already, FASTSIGNS has successfully converted several stores throughout the country, said Mark Jameson, Senior Vice President of Franchise Development for FASTSIGNS, noting the growing interest in graphics businesses looking to become part of one of the most successful franchise systems in the business services category. 

As a part of the initiative, FASTSIGNS offers the dominant brand name in the quick sign industry, sophisticated e-commerce capabilities and the latest technology, access to endless marketing resources and benefits that come from networking with the over 530 FASTSIGNS centers nationwide. For a limited time only, FASTSIGNS is also offering reduced franchise fees and other financial incentives to qualified conversion candidates.

“FASTSIGNS is attractive for investors and business enthusiasts because of the proven economic model and stability that the brand retains,” Jameson added. “It’s imperative that we continue to grow our company with people who are passionate and demonstrate aptitude for the industry – who better than existing sign shop owners?”

Miele Amusements, a national manufacturer of juke box conversion kits, is the latest business to convert its operation to a FASTSIGNS center. Under the terms of the agreement, Miele Amusements will open three centers in the next three years, with the first center expected to open in Williamsport in May. Two additional centers will follow in State College and Selinsgrove.

“As a FASTSIGNS franchisee, we have the benefit of one of the most respected names in the sign business - and in franchising as a whole,” said Nicole Soha, co-owner of the new centers. “The conversion has provided us with a strategic partner that shares our vision for continued success and profitability.”

About FASTSIGNS International, Inc.
FASTSIGNS® sign and graphics centers use innovation and technology to make effective, impactful signs and graphics, and to make the sign buying process fast and simple. Centers provide consulting, file transfer, design, production, delivery and installation for a full range of custom sign and graphic solutions. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the worldwide franchisor for the more than 530 FASTSIGNS centers located in the US, Canada, the UK, Brazil, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate under the name SIGNWAVE®).

• Todd Borom in Long Island, NY
• Larry and Judy Patten in Nashua, NH
• Irvin Chen in Pasadena, CA
• Ricardo Feliciani and Delia Ferreira in Westin, FL
• Mark and Sarah Buchanan in Phoenix, AZ
• Tom and Susanne Beckes in Milwaukee, WI

“We are excited to welcome all these new franchise owners to the Molly Maid family and they are thrilled to be affiliated with our trusted brand name,” Mailloux said. “In addition to opening their new business, these franchisees will be backed with top-notch training and ongoing marketing support from our home office. It’s the best of both worlds.” 

To date, Molly Maid has cleaned 17 million households around the world and performed 1.4 million cleaning jobs in 2009 alone. Molly Maid franchise owners don’t actually clean homes, rather they receive training and support from the home office to recruit, train, motivate and manage employees to clean customers’ homes in the utmost professional and thorough manner. Employees are screened and properly insured. The Molly Maid franchise opportunity, ideal for entrepreneurs with a sales or management background, provides franchise owners with unlimited room for growth without working nights and weekends.

The average cost to open a Molly Maid franchise is approximately $165,000 with a franchise fee of $ 14,900.

About Molly Maid
Molly Maid, based in Ann Arbor, MI, is one of three service companies under Service Brands International. The residential cleaning franchise, ranked number one in the United States, was founded in 1979 and began franchising in 1984. Currently, more than 450 Molly Maid units are operating in the United States alone, with an additional 300 operating throughout Puerto Rico, Canada, Japan, England and Portugal. Molly Maid has consistently ranked well in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 rankings, currently at number 81. Molly Maid has also been the recipient of numerous awards for entrepreneurialism, software innovation and humanitarian causes, including the Ms. Molly Foundation, which collects money and goods for safe houses and shelters for victims of domestic violence. Molly Maid is currently seeking franchise partners in strategic markets across the country.

 

The cover story: “Massage Franchises: The Impact on the Profession,” by contributing editor Karrie Osborn, highlights how massage franchises have come to fill crucial roles within the profession, helping to make massage accessible in new markets and provide jobs at the same time.

The article reveals that massage has become a booming business and states: “When you consider the expansion of retail massage outlets and the fact that many of these sites are being opened by business and franchising veterans, it becomes readily apparent that massage is now a lucrative investment for entrepreneurs of all shapes and sizes.”

That growth has made massage attainable for a growing audience of customers. Michele Merhib, founder of Elements Therapeutic Massage, told the magazine, “Until recently, the massage profession still had an unknown, back room sort of feel to it. Today, [franchises] are trying to fill a niche for people who wanted a massage but didn’t know where to go.”

Elements, labeled as one of the largest massage franchises by Osborn, has more than 75 locations in 22 states. 

“Retail massage has brought an acceptance and we’ve been able to build on that, not just from relaxation, but from health benefits of what it means to get frequent massages,” added Jeff Jervik, president and CEO of Fitness Together Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Elements.

About Elements Therapeutic Massage, Inc.:
Elements Therapeutic Massage, is headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and owned by Fitness Together Holdings, Inc. The parent company oversees Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, a one-on-one personal training fitness franchise that began franchising in 1996, and Elements Therapeutic Massage, a massage therapy franchise that began franchising in 2006. Today, the combined franchise network has sold hundreds of franchises across the United States, Costa Rica, Israel, Ireland, and Canada.

With the success of the chain and escalating demand for services, Elements Therapeutic Massage plans to award 12 more locations in Massachusetts in 2010. The expansion answers a growing trend in the number of Americans seeking massage therapy to address stress, tension and muscle pain.

“With so much of the public spotlight on the high cost of healthcare treatment, preventative approaches such as therapeutic massage are quietly emerging as an alternative to traditional medical treatments,” says Bob Haimes, chief growth officer of Elements Therapeutic Massage. “The use of therapeutic massage is growing as a means to reduce stress and provide pain relief.  Currently, 75 to 90 percent of all doctors’ office visits in the U.S. are for stress-related ailments. Additionally, back pain affects 80 percent of all Americans at some point in their lives; so we expect to see the growth trends continuing for a long time to come.”**

In Massachusetts, repeat business, referrals and membership enrollments are at an all-time high for visits to local studios.

“With our Wellness Program, many clients are choosing to go beyond using massage for pain relief and seeking the on-going wellness benefits that result from routine monthly massages at an affordable cost,” Haimes says.

The numbers are also attractive to people looking to buy a franchise, be their own boss and own a business with a good reputation in a growing industry.  With 78 studios across 22 states, business has expanded each of the last three years since franchising began.  And Massachusetts has become the number one market in the system.

Honored in Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Fastest-Growing Franchises” in 2009, and named one of Dun & Bradstreet’s “AllBusiness Franchise AllStars” for 2010, Elements Therapeutic Massage is

targeting multi-unit franchisees, entrepreneurs and corporate evacuees in the Northeast to join the network in meeting the rising demand for its health and wellness services.

The company is hosting a “Discover the Elements of Success” franchise event at the Marriott in Newton, Mass., on April 7th to meet with prospects and showcase opportunities throughout Boston and surrounding areas. 

About Elements Therapeutic Massage, inc.:
Elements Therapeutic Massage, is headquartered in Highlands Ranch, Colo., and owned by Fitness Together Holdings, Inc. The parent company oversees Fitness Together Franchise Corporation, a one-on-one personal training fitness franchise that began franchising in 1996, and Elements Therapeutic Massage, a massage therapy franchise that began franchising in 2006. Today, the combined franchise network has sold hundreds of franchises across the United States, Costa Rica, Israel, Ireland, and Canada.

By entering into a partnership with Batteries Plus, facilities management operators are provided with access to more than 40,000 types of batteries and accessories, an ongoing hands-on battery education provided by battery experts to show how to properly work and extend the use of any battery, and the utilization of the Batteries Plus recycling program. 

“Batteries Plus arms facilities operators with substantial buying power,” said Russ Reynolds, CEO of Batteries Plus. “Operators won’t have the need for multiple invoices from multiple suppliers. Instead, they can simply peruse through our unmatched variety of battery products to experience significant savings on batteries, while enjoying unrivaled technical education and customer service that solidifies the relationship.”

Recently, the Wisconsin Public School Districts entered into a partnership with Batteries Plus and has significantly reduced the district’s annual battery costs. At the onset of the partnership, the school district maintenance supervisor was invited to a Batteries Plus “Savings Seminar”. During the seminar, the company’s battery experts give a one-on-one education tutorial on all aspects of the facilities management partnership, from the number of batteries available to fit specific needs to how the company can reduce annual costs associated to battery and battery related products.

In addition to cost incentives, Batteries Plus will also assist facilities management operators with the disposal of their batteries for recycling. As a leader in the recycling of Lead Acid, Nickel Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lithium Ion, and alkaline batteries, Batteries Plus participates in EPA approved methods of recycling in full compliance with all federal, state, EPA, and DOT regulations governing the disposal and recycling of batteries and select electronics.

Batteries Plus has created the ideal retail, warehouse distribution and technical service center model to fulfill the battery-related needs for virtually any company or public entity. For most large B2B orders, Batteries Plus offers same or next-day delivery for free or minimal delivery charges. There is also a national warranty program between all locations, offering local service with national capabilities.

In addition to providing batteries, battery education, and recycling opportunities to facilities management operators, Batteries Plus has also grown to become the largest single source supplier of batteries serving all industries in the United States and Puerto Rico, including manufacturing, communications, government/municipal, transportation, utilities, construction, medical, recreational, and agricultural/mining, among others. Current national business accounts include such prestigious names as Siemens Building Technologies, Sysco Foods, Anheuser-Busch InBev., 3M and Diebold.

Batteries Plus has been keeping up with the “batteries required” demand since opening its first store in 1988. The franchise system’s growth continues to be driven by consistent demand for battery products and services, including battery powered electronic devices such as cell/smart phones, laptop computers and digital cameras and camcorders. This demand, coupled with the high level of support and training the company provides to franchise owners, as well as national brand recognition, makes Batteries Plus one of the most attractive franchise opportunity offerings in the country.

In 2009, Batteries Plus, enjoyed its most successful year in the company’s more than 20 year history. The franchise company opened 43 new stores, signed 40 franchise deals for another 52 stores and saw the continuation of double-digit same store retail sales, a trend that is now four years running. Batteries Plus plans to open more than 40 additional retail stores in 2010.  

ABOUT BATTERIES PLUS
Batteries Plus is the nation’s largest and fastest growing battery retailer, selling more than 50 million batteries per year. Batteries Plus, designated by Inc. Magazine as the nation’s fastest growing specialty retailer and ranked as the #1 Battery Franchise by both Entrepreneur Magazine and D&B AllBusiness.com, has 400 locations in 43 states and Puerto Rico. With access to more than 40,000 types of batteries and accessories, Batteries Plus has the widest selection of batteries and battery-related products and offers unmatched service to consumers, businesses and government entities at the national and local levels. Batteries Plus stores also feature Tech Centers equipped to design, assemble, rebuild, and test custom battery packs. Batteries Plus continues its reign as the undisputed battery retailing leader in the expanding $24 billion battery category, estimated to reach $33.6 billion in 2012.