Each of the two most recent industry trade shows featured the introduction of a new franchise opportunity for green industry contractors.
At the International Lawn, Garden and Power Equipment Expo in Louisville, Ky., the developers of the popular Christmas Décor franchise system introduced Nite Time Décor, a landscape lighting franchise system designed to offer contractors a new and highly profitable service.
"Customers like to do business with contractors they already know and trust," explained Curtis Hogan, executive vice president. "This program will be targeted at the average consumer and will offer them more than the standard runway lighting."
Hogan said Nite Time Décor franchisees will benefit from the organization's three-day technical training, marketing assistance, business management education and design tips.
Another benefit Hogan touted is product accessibility.
"Obtaining quality lighting products can be difficult because distributors don't typically keep large inventories of landscape lights," Hogan pointed out. "Because of the volume we plan on dealing in, we will keep substantial inventories for our franchisees to access."
Blake Smith, president of Nite Time Décor and Christmas Décor, said contractors who understand the challenges of landscape lighting enjoy high profit margins.
"Customers will pay more for services they don't understand," he explained. "Look at the profit margin for chemical lawn care vs. lawn mowing - that's a perfect example.
Smith said initial plans are to sell the first 10 franchises by the middle of September and then work with this group for approximately two months to perfect the system before selling additional franchises.
Franchises will $12,900 with royalty fees of 2 percent the first year, 3.25 percent the second year and 4.5 percent in all subsequent years.
For information on Nite Time Décor, call 877/552-4242 or visit www.christmasdecor.net.
LANDSCAPE DESIGN. Another franchise alternative was introduced at the Southern Nurseryman's Association World of Horticulture Show in Atlanta, and that organization is Earth Graphics.
This system is the brainchild of Tim Hanauer, a veteran landscape designer and computer programmer who decided that too many landscape designers sacrifice too much time and profitability by taking too long to produce designs for clients.
The franchise system being offered by Earth Graphics includes a design studio on wheels in the form of a van that has been adapted to function as a mobile office. Built into the van is all of the digital design equipment necessary - digital camera, computer system, landscape imaging software, color printer - so a landscape designer can arrive on a property and complete a landscape design without ever leaving the property.
"Time studies we conducted found the average landscape designer to only be spending 12 hours a week actually designing landscapes, and that's too little time," noted Hanauer, president/CEO of the organization. "Typically, six to seven weeks pass between the time of a client's first contact with a landscape company and the presentation of a design to that client. That's too much time to keep the client excited, but presenting that design on the very first day will keep clients excited."
Hanauer went on to recommend that landscape companies consider integrating the design franchise system into their company but establish it as its own company.
"Landscape design does not have to be a loss leader for landscape installation," he emphasized. "And if the franchise is set up so the designers have real equity in the system, then they will be motivated to grow the organization profitably as well."
Earth Graphics developed this system over the past five years through a fully operating landscape design company that grew to do $1.4 million in sales in 1999.
The estimated initial investment, which includes four weeks of training, the equipped van and other supplies, is between $34,000 and $40,250 with an annual royalty of 8 percent of sales.
For information on Earth Graphics, call 877/earthg1 or visit www.earthg.com.