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Our Town America Named 2022 Best Advertising Franchise by Franchise Business Review

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
2022 Top Advertising and Sales Franchise Our Town America

Clearwater, FL – Our Town America has once again been named Best-in-Category in the Advertising and Sales sector on Franchise Business Review’s list of the Top Franchises for 2022. This is the 17th annual ranking of the 200 best franchise opportunities as rated by franchise business owners. The list is available here. Since 1972, Our Town America has been welcoming new movers with one-time gifts, inviting them to sample neighborhood businesses upon move in. This unique advertising model has helped local establishments across the nation grow loyal customer bases while allowing Our Town America to thrive for five decades. Franchise Business Review, a market research firm that performs independent surveys of franchisee satisfaction and employee engagement, provides the only rankings and awards for franchise companies based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes its rankings of the top 200 franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises. Our Town America was among over 300 franchise brands, representing more than 30,000 franchise owners, that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research. Our Town America’s franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity. In 2022, Our Town America has also been recognized as a Top Franchise in the following categories: Overall Top Franchise Top Low Cost Franchise Top Franchise for Women Overall Brand Culture Our Town America has also been recognized in 2022 for their Rockstar Franchisees, Scot and Amy Hecht of Boise, ID. The Hechts, a husband-and-wife team, have run the Our Town America of The Treasure Valley franchise for eight years. “They’ve done a wonderful job of introducing local businesses to our New Mover program, Saturation and Targeted postcards, and our digital apps,” said Brittany Johnson – Chief Marketing & PR Officer of Our Town America. “Everyone in our system values their input, hard work, consistency & arguably most important during the past few years – their optimism.” “While the pandemic impacted various business sectors differently, the last 18 months have clearly demonstrated the inherent strengths of the franchise business model. The old franchise adage of ‘being in business for yourself, but not by yourself’ has never been more important,” said Franchise Business Review founder & CEO Eric Stites. “Thanks to fast innovations, significant support, and responsive crisis management, many franchise brands have emerged stronger from the pandemic, and that is reflected in high franchisee satisfaction.” “We are honored to be named the Top Advertising & Sales Franchise by the Franchise Business Review,” said Our Town America President/CEO, Michael Plummer, Jr. “While we appreciate each and every achievement, this one – being named Best in Category – is really special to us as this is our forte. For 50 years now, we have been helping local businesses gain new, loyal customers and it never gets old!”     ### About Our Town America For 50 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium welcome package. Since the company started franchising in 2005, Our Town America has consistently been placed in the Franchise Top 50, ranking top in their category for franchisee satisfaction. The franchise is also the #1 Advertising & Sales Franchise as ranked by the Franchise Business Review. Our Town America’s dedication to the “sponsor exclusivity” concept, meaning Our Town America will only recommend one of each business type in any specific zip code within its welcome packages, has been one of the key catalysts for the company’s long-term success. In addition, sponsors consistently rave about other unique aspects of the new mover marketing program – such as their ability to reach a brand-new audience of impressionable new movers each month and the insightful data/metrics delivered by Our Town America’s innovative pinpoint tracking system. Due in large part to Our Town America’s devotion to those concepts, thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, dozens of locally owned franchisees validate Our Town America’s concept as a viable business opportunity. It is Our Town America’s mission to assist new movers adjusting to their community, help businesses gain new and loyal customers, and provide franchisees with an excellent opportunity. The eight million households who receive Our Town America’s welcome packages each year prove that Our Town America is committed to following through on that mission statement. Visit ourtownamerica.com or call 1-800-497-8360 for more information.   About Franchise Business Review Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year on their website. Click here to read their publications. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Our Town America Ranks as a Top Franchise in 2021

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America a Top Franchise 2021 Franchise Business Review

Our Town America, the nation’s premier new mover marketing program, is being recognized by Franchise Business Review as one of the best franchises to buy in 2021. Each year, FBR surveys thousands of franchisees confidentially and compiles a list of top franchises based on the results. This year’s survey put Our Town America near the top in several categories, listed at No. 25 in the overall “FBR Top 200 Franchises” rankings along with a Top 5 placement in the “Small” category. “Earning such high rankings in the FBR survey is a great accomplishment each year,” says Michael Plummer Jr., Our Town America President/CEO. “We’re pleased to continue to get internal validation from our franchisees, especially after a tough year for so many businesses in 2020.” The FBR Top 200 Franchises Ranking is the most comprehensive list of the nation’s top franchise opportunities based on actual reviews of more than 28,000 franchisees across more than 300 of the nation’s leading franchise companies. The franchisees are asked nearly three dozen benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, like training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations and financial opportunity. Below are Our Town America’s FBR survey rankings for this year: 25 overall on the 2021 Top 200 Franchises list Top 5 in the “Small” (under 55 units) Category #1 “Advertising and Sales” Franchise Our Town America also made all three lists, including: Top Low-Cost Franchises Top Franchises for Women Top Recession-Proof Franchises You can view the complete list of the 2021 Top Franchises at FranchiseBusinessReview.com. The publication showcasing all rankings is now available.         ### About Our Town America For over 48 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium Welcome Package. Since the company started franchising in 2005, Our Town America has consistently been placed in the Franchise Top 50, ranking top in their category for franchisee satisfaction. Our Town America’s dedication to the “sponsor exclusivity” concept, meaning Our Town America will only recommend one of each business type in any specific zip code within its Welcome Packages, has been one of the key catalysts for the company’s long-term success. In addition, sponsors consistently rave about other unique aspects of the New Mover Marketing program – such as their ability to reach a brand-new audience of impressionable new movers each month and the insightful data/metrics delivered by Our Town America’s innovative pinpoint tracking system. Due in large part to Our Town America’s devotion to those concepts, thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, dozens of locally owned franchisees validate Our Town America’s concept as a viable business opportunity. It is Our Town America’s mission to assist new movers adjusting to their community, help businesses gain new and loyal customers and provide franchisees with an excellent opportunity. The eight million households who receive Our Town America’s Welcome Packages each year prove that Our Town America is committed to following through on that mission statement. For more information, visit the Our Town America website or call 1-800-497-8360 ext.236.   About Franchise Business Review Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year.   Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Why Are Home-Based Businesses So Popular?

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Home-based Businesses Our Town America Franchise Work From Home Low-Cost Franchise

Even before the pandemic, home-based businesses were extremely popular. Working from the comfort of your own home provides flexibility and comes without the high price tag of office or retail space. The pandemic aided in increasing the appeal of this business model. While businesses across the country were forced to shut their doors, those working from home were able to remain open and available to customers. Many businesses had no choice but to lay off hardworking people who are now among the many searching for new ways to escape the grind and instability of corporate life. Franchising can be a great option for those looking to take control of their future. Most of the time when people think of franchising, they picture a fast-food restaurant or retail store. Each of these options comes with high costs and requires a large staff to be successful.  Luckily, the franchise industry offers a plethora of options for people on a budget, including business opportunities you can tackle from the comfort and safety of your own home.  Top Reasons to Choose Home-Based Businesses Here are just a few reasons home-based businesses are here to stay.   Create Your Own Schedule. Operating a home-based business puts you in the driver’s seat. You are in charge of your schedule and can adjust your schedule to attend dance recitals and baseball games. Being your own boss allows you to create the work-life balance you and your family need to flourish. Less Risk. Low-cost franchises require a smaller investment. You won’t need to commit to a lease, and many small franchisees do not require you to keep inventory on hand, which helps reduce the risk of your new business venture. Tax Deductions. Home-based franchises offer valuable tax advantages. If you meet guidelines stipulated by the Internal Revenue Service, you can take numerous home-related deductions and even save money on making home repairs. New business owners should work with a specialist to make sure they are maximizing their deductions. Job Security. While job security is always sought after, the onset of the pandemic opened many Americans’ eyes to the importance of having control over their own destiny. According to The Commonwealth Fund, at the outset of the recession in April, nearly 18.2 million of the 23.1 million workers who were unemployed were temporarily laid off or furloughed. Nobody wants to lose their job at the blink of an eye — especially after years of dedication and loyalty to a company. When deciding on what line of work to go into or what type of business to open, the ability to support your family through tough economic times or personal life changes is crucial. For those in search of this type of business, it’d be a disservice to not mention that Our Town America is one of just 100 companies to be rated a 2021 Top Recession-Proof Franchise. Owning your own business provides that opportunity for you. Owning a business that allows you to work from home – without any overhead of rent, an additional mortgage or employees – is even better.  Our Town America Offers Low-Cost Franchise Opportunity Once you are up to speed on the advantages of a home-based franchise, it’s time to start the search for an option that ticks all the boxes. Our Town America offers a home-based franchise that plays a vital role in helping businesses in your local community thrive. From your home-based franchise, you can help mom-and-pop businesses build their loyal customer base and increase sales. Our Town America specializes in new mover marketing by gifting new residents with an exclusive welcome package designed to introduce them to area businesses by providing a proven offer. As an Our Town America franchise owner, you offer our multiple direct mail services to local businesses. Our Clearwater, Florida-based headquarters takes care of all of the printing, list compiling and mailing. Combine your desire to succeed with Our Town America’s proven process to create a winning strategy that offers flexibility, unlimited earnings potential and low risk. If you are ready to be your own boss from the comfort of your own home, contact Our Town America today to learn more about our franchise opportunities. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Moving Homes, The Covid-19 Pandemic and a Big Cashout!

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
2019 New Mover Survey Winner Shylia Perez of Woodland, CA

Right before the Covid-19 pandemic swept the nation, a Woodland, CA resident was informed that she won $3,000 for completing the New Mover Survey by Our Town America, the nation’s premier new mover marketing franchise. Every year, Our Town America awards just one new mover out of the millions mailed the previous year. How is the winner selected? While roughly 5 million new movers are mailed a Welcome Package each year, Our Town America narrows it down by drawing a name out of the tens of thousands of new movers who complete the New Mover Survey. In 2020, Shylia Perez was that lucky respondent. Perez was thrilled when she was notified in February that she would be taking home a $3,000 check as she had never won anything!  She was looking forward to celebrating her winnings and putting the money back into her local economy. How does the winner receive the $3,000? This is the fun part, right? The local Our Town America owner schedules a meet up at one of their partnered local businesses that originally welcomed the new mover to the community. What better way to welcome someone than to introduce them to other community members AND award them with $3,000 to spend or save how they see fit. Perez and David Frisch, Sacramento’s local Our Town America owner, had a plan to meet at Woodland’s own Country Waffles on Thursday, March 19, 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic hit and California lockdowns were heavily enforced. So instead, Frisch mailed Perez her $3,000 check – after all, we know best how critical it is to check your mailbox! 🙂 They promised to meet once things calmed down a bit. “It was so cool to win this! Lockdown in CA began soon after moving into our new home, so the $3,000 cash from Our Town America came at a critical time,” said Perez. “The unexpected housewarming package full of free offers for local businesses was generous enough, and then a few months later I won the drawing for simply sharing my feedback! I used the money to take a trip to Texas to visit and care for my Mom after she was in a terrible accident. I can’t thank Our Town America enough. The world needs more of this!” Many months later, Shylia and family were finally able to meet Frisch in front of Country Waffles Restaurant – masked up and outside in fresh air! Our Town America is happy to bring joy to new movers and local business owners – especially during this stressful time. Frisch is committed to his local community and wants both Woodland new movers and local business owners to know that he is here to help local businesses thrive through our multiple direct mail programs. With a decrease of people exploring their local communities on a whim, this is an opportune time to try new mover marketing, as well as postcard marketing (Saturation or Targeted). These methods reach out to consumers without them having to leave their home, which is key – especially now. If community members are not roaming the streets, guide them to your business by reaching them where they feel most safe and comfortable – their home! Housewarming traditions aren’t going anywhere. After 49 years, we are proof of how important it is for local business owners to reach out to new movers who appreciate a helping hand in their new community. Moving is expensive. Local businesses need support. Our Town America is the solution. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Our Town America Ranks on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500® for the 3rd Time

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Ranks on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500® for the 3rd Time

Entrepreneur Franchise 500 – Our Town America, the nation’s leading new mover marketing franchise, recently ranked as #394 in Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Placement in the Franchise 500® is a highly sought-after honor in the franchise industry making it one of the company’s most competitive rankings ever. Recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees, the Franchise 500® ranks Our Town America, for the third time, for its outstanding performance in areas including unit growth, financial strength and stability, and brand power. “2020 was a challenging year for everyone, but it was also a year of unusual opportunity,” says Jason Feifer, Entrepreneur editor-in-chief. “Franchises were able to be nimble and innovative, serving the needs of franchisees and customers in ways that will resonate for many years to come. We believe that, when we eventually look back on this time, we’ll see it as a moment when many brands defined themselves for the future.” In Entrepreneur’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company’s 42-year-old ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The key factors that go into the evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranking order. Throughout its 42 years in existence, the Franchise 500® has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. Our Town America’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity. “Our brand making this distinguished list for the third time despite the challenges of the 2020 pandemic – including business closures and some scaled-back marketing budgets – is a testament to our resilient business model as well as the hard work and dedication from our system as a whole,” says Our Town America’s CEO Michael Plummer. “We are very proud of this accomplishment and are looking forward to another fantastic year helping businesses gain and retain new customers through our new mover marketing program, postcard programs and various other direct mail offerings”. To view Our Town America in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February 2021 issue of Entrepreneur. — About Our Town America For over 48 years, Our Town America has been providing new movers with traditional hospitality by mailing warm housewarming gifts from local neighborhood businesses in a premium Welcome Package. Since the company started franchising in 2005, Our Town America has consistently been placed in the Franchise Top 50, ranking top in their category for franchisee satisfaction. Our Town America’s dedication to the “sponsor exclusivity” concept, meaning Our Town America will only recommend one of each business type in any specific zip code within its Welcome Packages, has been one of the key catalysts for the company’s long-term success. In addition, sponsors consistently rave about other unique aspects of the new mover marketing program – such as their ability to reach a brand-new audience of impressionable new movers each month and the insightful data/metrics delivered by Our Town America’s innovative pinpoint tracking system. Due in large part to Our Town America’s devotion to those concepts, thousands of satisfied business owners throughout the United States attest to the success and effectiveness of the program. Additionally, dozens of locally owned franchisees validate Our Town America’s concept as a viable business opportunity. It is Our Town America’s mission to assist new movers adjusting to their community, help businesses gain new and loyal customers and provide franchisees with an excellent opportunity. The eight million households who receive Our Town America’s Welcome Packages each year prove that Our Town America is committed to following through on that mission statement. For more information, explore our website or call 1-800-497-8360. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Why a Home-based, Low Cost Franchise is Ideal

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Work From Home Low Cost Franchise Our Town America

Americans are re-evaluating their careers as they navigate social distancing guidelines, telework and remote learning, prompting many to turn to franchising as a solution that provides flexibility and high earnings potential. Whether you were already considering franchising or just trying to find a career that will allow you to fulfill your responsibilities as a parent or spouse, home-based franchises can be an affordable option to consider. Like many Americans, you may be already working from home and learning to find your footing in a telework environment. According to research from the Brookings Institution, about half of Americans are working from home. Higher-income workers are much more likely to be working from home during the pandemic, and many experts predict the telecommuting trend is unlikely to end anytime soon. If you are considering opting out of the corporate rat race, now is an ideal time to consider entrepreneurship with a home-based franchise, like Our Town America, the nation’s leader in new mover marketing. Despite a difficult time immediately following the outbreak of COVID-19, the future of franchising is bright. Experts predict franchise sales to rebound. Industry leaders are forecasting that 2021 will be one of the strongest years ever for franchising, according to Franchising.com. Job insecurity and access to debt capital at low interest rates are prompting many Americans to consider franchising. High unemployment numbers are making it easier for franchisees to hire qualified employees, alleviating one of the primary concerns of new business owners. “We are truly committed to our culture and the people who make up our franchise system,” said Michael Plummer Jr., CEO of Our Town America. ”During this unprecedented time, Americans are struggling to balance work, family and safety. Putting an end to job insecurity by taking control of their career is a great first step to keeping worries at bay. Our home-based franchise offers business owners a proven model designed to fuel local businesses and help build and sustain economies.” Our Town America specializes in helping new movers adjust to their new communities and assisting local businesses to gain loyal customers. The company connects its partnered businesses with a new audience of movers every month, resulting in loyal, long-term customers and a welcoming sense of community. Some of the company’s valued well-known sponsors include Back Yard Burgers, Texas Roadhouse, and Mellow Mushroom, as well as numerous hair salons, dentistry offices and grocery stores. Our Town America provides franchisees with a proven business model they can tackle from the comfort of their home. At a time when safety and security are top-of-mind, teleworking provides a secure solution for a new entrepreneur. To determine if a home-based franchise is the right choice for you, here are some of the benefits of this business model. No Real Estate or Construction. Home-based franchises allow you to skip the difficult process of finding the ideal business location. Construction required to adapt your new location for your franchise model can be a costly and lengthy process. Working from home requires little more than investing in a good modem and laptop. During the pandemic, many businesses had to unexpectedly shut down during stay-at-home orders. Without a revenue stream, brick and mortar franchisees were unable to make rent payments, and many had to rely on government funds or dip into savings to stay afloat. A low-risk, home-based franchise is designed to weather the unexpected. Low Initial Investment. Home-based franchises offer a low initial investment as well as saving on construction costs. Our Town America’s up-front franchise fee is under $50k and is significantly reduced even more so for veterans. They are consistently ranked a Top 50 Low-Cost Franchise by the Franchise Business Review.  Flexibility. Home-based franchises give owners the opportunity to work at their own pace. They offer unlimited earnings potential, coupled with the time you need to take your children to their extracurricular activities. Technology That Gets The Job Done. Some home-based franchises offer their business owners the latest technology to help their businesses thrive. Our Town America provides an unmatched filtration process that produces a high-quality list of new movers. They mail to all new movers, not just homeowners. They offer a Welcome Package designed to appeal to new residents, and they send follow-up mailings to encourage repeat business. Our Town America uses proprietary management software so franchisees can easily manage their business on-the-go, along with full security and tracking features, mobile applications, social media, loyalty programs and more. If you’re considering opening a low cost franchise, please contact us to learn more about investing in a successful home-based franchise. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Franchise Consultants turned Our Town America Franchise Owners

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Time to Franchise John Groppoli Peter Carlson Our Town America Franchise Consultants

John Groppoli and Peter Carlson aren’t typical Our Town America franchise owners, but talk to enough Our Town America franchise owners, and you start to get the idea that nobody is typical. Everybody has their own unique tale. That’s because Our Town America is a franchise that appeals to entrepreneurs from all different backgrounds. Still, Groppoli and Carlson’s story is different than most. As Groppoli explains it, “Peter Carlson and I are business partners, and we came out of the franchise consulting world. That was the world we lived in. We helped individuals find the right franchise to invest in, as well as guide franchisors with their sales process. That was our background, and that was how we came across Our Town America.” Groppoli and Carlson wound up helping a couple of their clients invest in Our Town America. Thus, they noticed that there wasn’t much of a presence in their state of Minnesota. This sparked an idea, and they started discussing the possibility of becoming regional developers. In October 2009, the two purchased the RD license for Minnesota with the vision of developing Our Town America regionally. Today, Groppoli and Carlson have awarded four territories in Minnesota to franchise owners — and kept one in St. Paul for themselves. We caught up with Groppoli — Carlson was out of the office, no doubt working hard for Our Town America — and we got his take on, well, just about everything. As you can imagine, Groppoli has a wealth of advice for anybody thinking of buying an Our Town America, or any franchise. What drew Groppoli and Carlson to Our Town America? “There were several attractions,” says Groppoli. “For one, ‘this is a lifestyle business’. You make your own hours. If there is a sporting event for one of your kids that you want to attend, you schedule around that and make it happen. Given the fact that this is a home-based business and you don’t have to worry about a brick and mortar location, it allows for a lot of flexibility”. Groppoli also said that they liked that this is a business, “in which you have the ability to develop a recurring revenue stream”. He explains that when you land new clients, business owners sign 12-month agreements, in which they’ll be targeting new movers. “So you aren’t chasing clients every single month and trying to re-up them, so to speak,” Groppoli says. “We have clients that have been mailing with us for eight years.” He also likes that there’s very little overhead. “You can ramp up quickly. Franchisees can make money after the first client they sign up, which is very unique. With many other direct mail businesses, you’ll need a base of clients to cover your overhead costs before you start making money.” Groppoli also says that he and Carlson simply liked the fact that it’s a community-oriented business. He imagines that it wouldn’t be fun working in direct mail if you were selling products and services to people who had no interest in them. “But with Our Town America, you’re helping new families and individuals get acclimated into their new neighborhood. People establish purchasing habits after living in their community for a while, new movers are actively looking for businesses that offer products and services in their new neighborhood, replacing the others that they left behind. When you’re new to an area, you want to know where to take your vehicle to be fixed, quality restaurants in the area or which dentist to go to. That was a big initial draw for us.” What makes a successful Our Town America franchise owner? “The people who are going to thrive with the Our Town America franchise are those who consider themselves social and extroverted. You need to be able to build business relationships. Experience in sales is also a no-brainer, “ Groppoli says. “The program has a 47-year track record of successfully introducing new movers to their local community businesses,” Groppoli adds. “So as long as you can explain to a business owner how the New Mover Program will help increase their bottom line, you should be successful”. Advice for people thinking of buying a franchise in general? “The most important thing to do, when you look at any franchise, is to take the time to call existing franchisees and make those validation calls,” Groppoli says. In other words, call people who own a franchise with the brand you’re looking at and ask them if they’re happy with their investment. “Most franchise owners will tell you the good, the bad and the in-between,” Groppoli says. “They’ll tell you their challenges, successes and struggles. I’d definitely encourage people to reach out to some Our Town America owners. They’re very approachable, and they’ll take the time to answer your questions. Remember, they were once in your shoes, looking at various investment opportunities”. Groppoli believes that anyone who takes his advice and connects with existing franchisees will likely walk away with the feeling that Our Town America is a ‘family-type franchise system’. He continues, “People are very close – always talking and supporting one another. Additionally, that same mindset and culture exist in the Our Town America corporate office as well”. “There’s very little turnover. Many employees have been with the company for over 10 years,” Groppoli says. “That tells you a lot about the culture and the type of company you’re working with”. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Like Everything in Texas, This Franchisee is Doing Everything Bigger

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Texas Marketing with Our Town America

Many franchisees understandably own just one store or territory. They settle in a city, and they work to scale the franchise bigger each year. It’s a system that works well. But Dan Schrobilgen is the owner or co-owner of multiple Our Town America territories. He spends most of his time in his Austin territory, where he lives and first started with Our Town America in 2006. But in 2015, he purchased the Dallas/Forth Worth territory, partnered with Clint Finch, who also owns a territory in Houston, and launched that venture. In that acquisition, Schrobilgen also purchased a territory in Tulsa, Oklahoma. How does he do it? Why does he do it? How has he come to champion Our Town America? We wondered. Before Our Town America. Schrobilgen says that he has been in marketing and advertising his entire career. He moved from Iowa to Texas in 1990 and spent 13 years rising in the ranks of a large media company before taking what he learned and striking out on his own. The new business was successful enough that he was able to sell it a few years later. He sold the company because he knew the timing was right and there were multiple interested buyers, but he also had a desire to end his travel and own a smaller company that would give him less headaches and more control. Schrobilgen couldn’t help but think there was a real downside in having a business in Phoenix when he and his family lived in Austin. It’s one heck of a commute. A 1,000-mile commute, in fact, and Schrobilgen was racking up an obscene amount of frequent flier miles. “My three kids were all under 10, and I was gone almost every week,” Schrobilgen says. That was painful for him. Finch, a friend who had also worked for the media company, had told him about an opportunity to own an Our Town America franchise in Austin. This Our Town America gig, one in which he would court businesses interested in marketing and attracting people who were new to the area — sounded like a business he would enjoy. Schrobilgen made the decision to begin the next phase of his career with Our Town America in Austin, and his sales and revenue quickly grew. As he realized that he was living his professional dream, he doubled down on it and purchased the additional territories from another franchise owner. Buying an Our Town America franchise… and then another… and another… To make a long story short, Schrobilgen and Finch ended up hiring someone to manage Dallas/Fort Worth. Between that business and his Austin venture, he keeps busy and he loves it. He says he found himself appreciating the Our Town America franchise model because, amongst many reasons, he felt like he had far more control over his present and future than he did working for a big media conglomerate. “There were many things out of my control when I worked for someone else,” Schrobilgen says. “Upper management was always making decisions that affected me.” Life as an Our Town America entrepreneur. Not to make it sound like this is an infomercial, where if you purchase an Our Town America franchise, your life will be suddenly transformed, and the gloomy, gray sky will be filled with rainbows and unicorns, but that’s pretty much what happened to Schrobilgen… okay, minus the rainbows and unicorns. “I just have these points of comparison from my previous two careers. I suddenly had no worries about how the stock price would affect my budget, no employee issues, and no office politics. I wasn’t traveling, and I got to sleep in my bed every night,” Schrobilgen says. Even better, he got to spend quality time with his wife and children. “I was able to help make their breakfast and school lunches every day when they were young. I made it to every dance recital, every Little League game, and was even able to coach my kids. Every karate class, every graduation and school event, every you-name-it, I’ve been to,” Schrobilgen says. His kids are well on their way to growing up – Grace, 22, is about to graduate college; Nate, 19, is a sophomore in college, and Ava, 17, is a high school junior — but what has been nice is that Schrobilgen has been around to experience it. If he had stayed with the large corporation or the business in Phoenix, he would have missed out on many of the kids’ important events and experiences, he asserts. “The quality of life with Our Town America, to be able to spend time with your family and friends in your community and still have a job that’s challenging, but one that you control, that’s a rare thing,” Schrobilgen says. He works with his wife, Jodi, who works part-time managing the administrative duties for his franchise, such as the finances and taxes. “All that fun stuff,” Schrobilgen quips. The rest of the workweek, he adds, she spends volunteering. For about six years, Jodi helped manage a food pantry and for the last few years she has been co-managing a free medical clinic, which specializes in providing medical care to the underserved, including many refugees and immigrants. Schrobilgen manages to volunteer as well. Every Monday since 2007, for a chunk of the time in the middle of the day, he participates in Meals on Wheels, delivering meals to senior citizens. They also both work together and with many other family members on a charity started by one of his siblings, an event that raises money for multiple charities in their home state of Iowa, as well as an orphanage in South Africa. The whole family, including all three kids, gets in on the projects and assists with the work needed to be done. That, too, wouldn’t be happening with a conventional job or even running a different business, Schrobilgen says. He likes that due to the flexibility that comes with the job, the Our […]

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Top-selling Franchisee Earns Italy Trip and Great Quality of Life

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
Our Town America Illinois Top Franchisee in Italy

If Hollywood ever needs an idea for a reality TV show, they should send their camera-crew to follow Mark Berggren around. Granted, there would have to be some editing since much of Berggren’s life as an Our Town America franchisee probably wouldn’t make riveting television. He generally starts his days, dropping his kids off at school, and then he works at home from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., often at a computer. And, yet, some of what would be filmed probably would make great TV. Berggren says that, over the years, “I’ve met everybody from dentists to pizza drivers to pet shop owners.” And when you do that, you start to pick up things. Berggren can probably now make a pizza about as well as any pizzeria. He has learned a lot about how car washes are run, discussing how much water typical facilities use in a day and what type of environmental regulations govern these businesses. He has a good understanding of how to treat back pain from all the chiropractors he’s talked with. And, once, when trying to get a pet storeowner to sign on as a client, he wound up holding a python. It wasn’t something Berggren planned on. “I said that I was afraid of snakes,” Berggren recalls, “and the guy said, ‘Well, there’s no better time to learn not to be than now.’” Before Our Town America. Berggren used to be a litigation consultant throughout his twenties. As his LinkedIn page puts it, his job was to “offer a wide range of electronic solutions and paper products to the legal and corporate community. Technical sales dealing in imaging/coding, data conversion, forensic evidence, and web-based repositories.” It was more interesting than it sounds, we think, but at the same time, Berggren often faced many challenges. For one, as attorneys started going digital, some of what Berggren was offering simply wasn’t needed. It was also a stressful job, working with anxious attorneys going to trial, so when Berggren’s older sister, Kathy, a headhunter at the time, mentioned Our Town America in the summer of 2006, the then-33-year-old found himself instantly intrigued. Berggren had recently moved from Chicago to the suburbs, so related to the premise of Our Town America. By September 2006, he found himself flying to the Our Town America headquarters in Florida to discuss becoming a franchisee. Before the year was up, Berggren had gone through a month and a half of training and was open for business. Open for business. Chicago is a tough city from a marketing standpoint, Berggren says. He isn’t sure why that is. Still, over the last 13 years, Berggren has made things work. “I think it’s personal consistency,” he says. In other words, he has worked hard, been committed and remained positive. He has been careful to find clients who he knows are a good fit for the Our Town America New Mover Program. After all, if you have to convince a client to sign up that isn’t a great match, they aren’t likely to remain a client anyway. Berggren is always eager to find restaurants, dental offices or car washes that want to be a part of the New Mover Program. But, one time – and this is one of the reasons we think Berggren needs his own reality show – he had a meeting with a startup entrepreneur who wanted to sell paraphernalia related to the cannabis industry, at a time when legal marijuana wasn’t exactly a thing. Berggren says: “I kept thinking, ‘This is a joke, right?’” Not surprisingly, the startup entrepreneur did not end up becoming a client. But while there were those types of dead ends, Berggren kept at it, and he saw his sales steadily climb over the years. In fact, they climbed so much that, earlier this year, as is the practice for top-selling Our Town America franchise owners, he won a free trip to Italy with his wife – paid for by Our Town America. Berggren says that being an Our Town America franchise owner has been a great experience. His wife, Kelle, is a dermatologist whose work schedule is generally booked out a year in advance. Berggren usually has his calendar mapped out a week in advance, so he has been able to carve out a career where, if needed, he can shuttle their kids – who are now 14, 12 and 10 years old. “It’s a career that has given me a structure that I like, while simultaneously providing flexibility,” Berggren says. He says he also loves that the Our Town America franchise model provides him the opportunity to meet with hundreds of small business owners likes himself. “It’s kind of an insider’s look into each of these industries to see what type of daily schedule they run,” Berggren says. For instance, restaurant owners have to be very hands-on – often working evenings and weekends. Berggren says that, over the years, he has gained a newfound appreciation for practically every industry he partners with. “It’s been really fascinating meeting with these business owners,” Berggren says. “Every day can be different from the one before.” He is very pleased with the path he has chosen for himself – no camera crew tailing he and his family needed. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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Our Town America San Francisco Small Business Owner on Her Success

Written by Brittany N. Johnson
San Francisco Bay Woman Finds Success with Our Town America

Long before investing in Our Town America, the nation’s leading New Mover Marketing franchise, Suzi Dupries was a small business owner wondering how to get more customers to walk through the doors of her beauty salon and retail store. “Back then, I truly felt that New Mover Marketing was the missing piece in my advertising pie,” Dupries says. “I actually was searching for something like this during the last couple years I was in retail.” In January of 2014, Dupries bought an Our Town America franchise territory in the San Francisco Bay Area, she helps local business owners connect with people who have just moved into town.   How Dupries found Our Town America. Similar to other retail storeowners experiencing the decline in sales due to their products sold cheaper online. Dupries started thinking it may be time for a new business plan. Dupries took her knowledge and began looking for a new career path for herself — and started working with a franchise broker to purchase a franchise that would provide growth potential and ongoing support.   Why Dupries chose Our Town America When Dupries first learned about Our Town America, she was immediately drawn to the business model. “I was very fortunate that Our Town America was a perfect fit for me,” she says. “I related to the community involvement which was important to me. I’m a strong advocate of shopping locally and supporting the local community.” Dupries isn’t just talking the talk. She says that she doesn’t shop online, lest the purchase take away from the businesses in her area. That’s a true commitment to shopping locally! “If we don’t do business in our local towns, we won’t have a town community,” Dupries says. “I think people need to know their neighbors and their business neighbors.” But there were other reasons Dupries liked the Our Town America business model. “When you look at all the types of businesses out there, Our Town America is unique. For one, I didn’t have to do a build-out for this franchise. I didn’t have to sign a long-term business lease. Instead, I can work from home, be involved in my community, grow the business and have many sales representatives if I choose to, or just do it myself. With Our Town America, you have flexibility and organize your own time.”   How things have been going so far In short, very well. Granted, Our Town America isn’t for everyone. If you aren’t a people person and aren’t a fan of sales, it may not be a fit. But Dupries clearly had all the right skill sets that aligned perfectly with what it takes to own and operate an Our Town America franchise. “I’m having the time of my life,” she says. She says she particularly enjoys that she can mix it up and be out in the field, talking to business owners about how the New Mover Program will benefit their business — and then other days, she can work from her home calling on businesses. “There are so few businesses where you can do that,” she says. “They’re out there, but often requires managing locations with multiple employees.” It probably helps that Dupries, who once managed employees and was always hustling to bring in new clientele, speaks the same business language her clients do. She can use her own experience as a small-business owner to explain the benefits of working with Our Town America to potential clients. Dupries says that sometime in the future she may hire some sales representatives and take her franchise to the next level — but for now, she is enjoying working solo. – If you’re a San Francisco area business looking to team up with Our Town America San Francisco, please contact Suzi at 415-755-4574. Non-San Francisco area businesses can reach out to the Our Town America corporate headquarters to get in touch with their local representative at 800-497-8360. Brittany N. JohnsonBrittany is the head of Our Town America’s corporate marketing department. She specializes in digital and print media, social media, and public relations. […]

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