Keepsake Companions' In Home Care Franchise Offers Coaching Program

Keepsake Companion franchise owner Porsha Vogt is set this month to complete one of the company’s signature programs, “Keepsake Coach,” in which she has received intensive, one-on-one business guidance from franchise founder and owner Kristen Chazaud. “I am so pleased that additional business administration help was available. In order to feel completely comfortable as a new business and franchise operator, I needed some tips, especially on effective marketing and sales techniques,” Ms. Vogt said.

“Because Kristen has run her in home care business successfully for so many years, she had some great, real-life examples to share. The coaching, added to my own experience, has really strengthened my confidence,” she concluded. Ms. Vogt is the company’s first franchisee. She is located in Carlsbad, California, and offers services to seniors and their families in the neighboring cities of ­­­­­­­Oceanside and Vista.

The unique "Keepsake Coach" program is one example of the on-going guidance provided franchise owners by company founders Henrì and Kristen Chazaud. Additional signature assistance includes a proven, innovative approach to care of senior citizens; a cutting-edge, Internet-focused marketing systems; and “Keepsake Cuisine,” which focuses on the “science and art” of food preparation and presentation. These programs enable new franchise owners to quickly put business practices and systems in place, often in as few as two to three months.

“Anyone deciding to own their own business will bring a lot of experience to the table. But everyone needs a little bit of help,” Kristen Chazaud said. "That's why we assign each new franchise owner a coach. We know our system works if the franchisees work the system, so we give personalized, one-on-one coaching to fill any gaps and link what they already know with our system.

“Maybe they need just a little bit more business information, or a filing system, or tips on organizing and planning. Maybe they need help with those living room conversations with new clients so they can show their genuine compassion and commitment to caring for seniors. Whatever they need they’ll get, so they can launch a successful business.” Both of the Chazauds had attained over a decade of experience in a variety of long-term care settings as well as a deep understanding of caring for seniors prior to founding Keepsake Companions in San Diego, California, in 2009.

Kristen garnered a wide range of practical knowledge working with seniors who lived independently, those who needed assisted or memory care, and those who required skilled nursing. Chef Henrì is a graduate of the prestigious Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, and worked in NYC in such fine dining establishments as Maximes, Oceana, La Cote Basque and Le Pavillon. Later, he was responsible for food services at Memorial Medical Center in New Mexico and mastered a spectrum of assisted living community operations in Monterey, Los Angeles, and La Jolla.

Prior to offering in home care, the Chazauds opened Keepsake Choices in 2007, a consulting, placement, and referral company that helps clients find the proper care to fit their needs and desires. The success of their placement and in home care business models led them to expand with Keepsake Companion Franchises in 2012.

The primary qualities sustaining the success of Keepsake Companions are a passion to care for seniors and serve their community. The Chazauds encourage individuals with an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to do what it takes to run a successful business to visit the franchise information page on their website at www.keepsakecompanions.com/franchises.html.

ABOUT KEEPSAKE COMPANIONS

Husband and wife team, Kristen and Henrì Chazaud, founded Keepsake Companions in 2009 to "improve lives, one household at a time." Located in San Diego, California, the in home care company serves seniors and the disabled in the cities of San Diego, Escondido, Poway, Rancho Santa Fe, Santee, Solana Beach, and all of San Diego County. They also operate Keepsake Choices, a client referral and placement service, and began offering home care franchises in 2012. They are members of the International Franchise Association and participate in the IFA Military Veteran Program (Vet-Fran) and the Minority Ownership Program (Minority-Fran) - www.franchise.org/Keepsake_Companions_franchise.aspx.

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Creative Franchise Group Launches Program To Assist Displaced Executives

Creative Franchise Group and Steve Picarillo announce the launch of a new program designed to assist displaced executive realize their dream of owning a business. After successful careers, many executives are finding themselves the victim of corporate downsizing and as a result they are looking for new jobs. With significant experience, the executive faces the battle of finding the right job that suits their experience and fulfills their monetary goals unfortunately, in this economic environment, high paid jobs are few and far apart.

Given the importance of networking, the executive calls and emails everyone they know, asking for help and contacts. Although the friends and colleagues have good intentions, with the unemployment rate over hovering between 7% and 8%, neither bears fruit. Creative Franchise Group (CFG), the franchise consultants of Creative Advisory Group, Inc, (CAG) has launched the 'Executive Campaign' to provide an additional resource to those seeking to replace an executive-level job.

“The demand for franchise ownership typically increases in times of high unemployment,” said Steve Picarillo, president of CAG. “We are a valuable resource for anyone who is looking for a business because we are specialists in matching people interested in business ownership to franchise opportunities.” The company’s logo is 2 matching puzzle pieces, which can be found are www.creativefranchisegroup.com. “Creative Franchise works with over 450 franchises and has the tools to narrow in on a franchise business that best match the franchisee candidate’s requirements,” added Mr. Picarillo

Seeking a business opportunity is a long and confusing journey. That’s where CFG’s free consulting services come in. The franchise consultant can save hours and hours of the executive’s time. The consultants work with the executive throughout the entire process, from the initial information gathering stage through the signing of the franchise contract.

“Our goal is to make the negative event of losing a job a positive, as it may be the perfect time for a change” continued Mr. Picarillo. “I am a believer that everything happens for a reason, often the loss of a job provides the push that initiates the franchise search,” Steve concluded.

As part of the ‘Executive campaign’, the Creative Group will reach out to recruiters, job boards, and other job search professionals to educate them about the free services, so that they can inform their clients. Secondly, over the next few weeks, Steve Picarillo, CFG and CAG will host a series of webinars to discuss topics such as the executive job search this environment, branding, and franchise ownership. Dates of these webinars will be posted on www.stevepicarillo.com in the Blog section and will be shared via email. To opt in to the mailing list, send your contact information to steve@creativefranchisegroup.com.

Steve Picarillo is an internationally recognized financial executive, corporate analyst and author. Steve has spent most of his career on “Wall Street” as a lead analyst covering the world’s largest financial institutions. Mr. Picarillo’s rapidly expanding global consulting business Creative Advisory Group, Inc. focuses on helping individuals and companies achieve their financial and business goals.  Steve is a franchise consultant, branding expert, motivational speaker, cost savings expert and an expert on the global economic environment.

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Iconic Retailer to Introduce New Franchising Program at 2013 National Hardware Show

In an effort to assist hardware store owners with diversifying their revenue streams and answering customer demands for expanded product assortments, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOS) is introducing a “mini-showroom” franchise opportunity at the National Hardware Show on May 7-9 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Scott Nichols, Director of Franchise Business Development for Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc., will be exhibiting at the show (Booth No. 3437) to discuss the “mini-showroom” and other franchising opportunities offered by the company.  

“This show provides the perfect setting for us to reach business owners that are looking for ways to distinguish their hardware store from others in the category,” Nichols said. “Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores is offering an avenue for businesses to do just that through our different franchising programs.”

The “mini-showroom” opportunity is an extension of the Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores’ conventional Home Appliance Showroom model and allows hardware and related category store owners to insert a small showroom with top appliance brands into their existing store.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores embraces the practice of “showrooming” that many big-box home improvement, home goods and appliance retailers are running away from. The company is insulated from consumers checking out products in the showrooms and leaving to purchase elsewhere because only Sears sells all of the top 10 appliance brands, including exclusive brands like Kenmore, and guarantees the lowest price on any of those brands. Each showroom is also equipped with an internet kiosk where employees can show customers similar products, price match with other retailers and order products not available in the showroom.

In addition to the showroom business model, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores also offers franchising opportunities through its Sears Appliance & Hardware Stores and Sears Outlet models. With four different store formats and several franchise opportunities, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores offers a unique business opportunity with valuable brand recognition for entrepreneurs interested in a scalable model.  As the fourth largest appliance retailer in the country, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores provides franchisees with extensive initial and ongoing training, support, purchasing power, inventory assortment and management and, as may be appropriate, assistance with financing, back-end management, computer systems and marketing. Mr. Nichols will be on site to answer questions about all of the store formats of Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores and to educate attendees about hardware store new development and conversion opportunities.  

“We’re also excited about the new, smaller Hardware store franchise opportunity we will be offering to existing owners of either Hardware franchisees or independent store owners,” Nichols added. “This opportunity will give current hardware store owners the chance to add the Sears brand name to their portfolio and benefit from the support and product assortment that we offer.”

For more information about Sears Hometown & Outlet Stores, please visit www.shos.com. To learn about the opportunity to own and operate a Sears Home Appliance Showroom, Sears Appliance & Hardware Store or other formats, please visit www.ownasearsstore.com.

About Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: SHOS) is a national retailer primarily focused on selling home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools and hardware.  Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. and its dealers and franchisees have stores located in all 50 states and in Puerto Rico and Bermuda.

In addition to merchandise, Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. provides consumers with access to a full suite of services, including home delivery, installation and extended service contracts.

Sears Hometown and Outlet Stores, Inc. operates through two segments—the Sears Hometown and Hardware segment and the Sears Outlet segment. The Sears Hometown and Hardware segment’s stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to a wide selection of national brands of home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, tools, sporting goods and household goods, depending on the particular store. The Sears Outlet stores are designed to provide customers with in-store and online access to purchase new, one-of-a-kind, out-of-carton, discontinued, obsolete, used, reconditioned, overstocked and scratched and dented products across a broad assortment of merchandise categories, including home appliances, apparel, mattresses, sporting goods, tools and lawn and garden equipment at prices that are significantly lower than manufacturers’ suggested retail prices.

For more information contact: Candice Hudson, Fishman Public Relations, at (847) 945-1300 or chudson@fishmanpr.com , or visit our corporate website at www.shos.com.

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