Creative Colors International

The Ultimate Franchise Opportunity Specializing in the Repair & Restoration of Leather, Vinyl, Fabric, & Plastic

Header Right

TwitterYoutubeFacebookLinkedin

Main navigation

Franchise News

CCI Offers Financial Security Despite Unsteady Economy

Top 5 reasons to buy a repair and restoration franchise

Creative Colors International Inc. is encouraging entrepreneurs to consider buying a repair and restoration franchise in 2020 to jumpstart earnings and improve their quality of life.

The deadline for setting New Year’s resolutions is here. Every year, Make Up Your Mind Day is celebrated on December 31. It marks the time when people stop debating future goals and start solidifying plans. As the volatile stock market sparks concern of a potential economic downturn, it’s time to start securing your financial future with a proven business model offering a solid track record of family values. Family businesses outperformed corporations during past recessions, according to The Conference Board, an economic think tank. Unlike their corporate counterparts, family businesses continued to launch new products during recessions, maintained advertising spending and placed an emphasis on corporate social responsibility.

CCI is the leader in mobile leather and vinyl repair. The 39-year-old company works hard to make sure a family atmosphere is instilled in each franchise, and a nationwide team of certified technicians provides customers with seamless repairs. The Mokena, Illinois-based company can repair or restore tears, burns, cuts, scratches, stains, fading and color restoration, seam slippage, and provide replacement parts. CCI saves customers time and money by repairing everyday wear and tear to extend the life of furniture and upholstery in cars, planes, boats, offices and more.

If you still need to “Make Up Your Mind”, here are the top five reasons to make 2020 the year you open a franchise in the repair and restoration industry.

1. Low overhead and start-up costs

CCI offers franchisees a proven business model with a low initial investment. The start-up program includes an equipment package, and each van comes with all the tools and supplies needed to hit the ground running. Operating a home-based business saves the costs and time of renting office space or stocking a storefront. Mobile businesses also build strong customer relationships because they offer repairs on-site, solving problems and building trust.

2.  Build your own schedule

CCI franchisees have the ability to create their own schedules in an exclusive and protected territory. CCI helps franchisees establish their client base. Workplace stress contributes to at least 120,000 deaths each year, according to research from the Harvard Business School. Having the flexibility to make time for important family events can help reduce stress levels and increase job satisfaction.

3.  Unlimited earnings potential
In addition to being able to develop a schedule that will work for your family, CCI’s business model is designed to offer franchisees unlimited earnings potential. The more customers you serve, the more money you earn. Motivated entrepreneurs can generate immediate income and expand their business over a wide variety of industries, including home furniture, automotive, planes, boats and RVs. Many franchisees also service doctor’s offices and restaurants.

 4.  Talented support system to help grow business
New CCI franchisees receive four weeks of initial training to learn the tricks of the trade and to practice the proprietary restoration techniques taught by the company. CCI offers 24-hour online support and a telephone helpline to answer on-the-job questions. CCI also holds an annual conference where franchisees and technicians meet to discuss best practices and new strategies to keep their business operating at peak performance.

5.  Challenge creativity and innovation
Every day is different in the mobile repair business. Each customer offers a new challenge, requiring franchisees and technicians to be creative to deliver superior service satisfaction.

 If you’ve made up your mind to make a change in 2020 and purchase a repair and restoration franchise, visit www.creativecolorsintl.com/franchise-opportunities to learn more about our franchise opportunities.

Army Training Creates Battle Plan for CCI Franchisee’s Success

Veteran Frank Earnest, a Creative Colors International franchisee, relies on lessons learned navigating war zones during his successful military career to help his Oklahoma-based business thrive.

“Owning my own business lets me be in charge of my own success,” Earnest said. “Each job is unique and requires us to think creatively to get the job done. In the military, quitting was not an option and I have the same view as a CCI franchisee.”

Attention to detail, dedication and leadership skills enabled Earnest to rise in the ranks of the military. Earnest enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1981 to help pay for college. After graduation, Earnest was commissioned as a second lieutenant and retired as a full colonel after 30 years of service. Early in his career, Earnest traveled to Germany with his young family, where he served as an infantry officer while his wife, Lena, taught classes in the Department of Defense Education Activity school system. Once he returned stateside, Earnest attended the U.S. Army Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and his wife continued her career teaching children with special needs. With each promotion, Earnest was consistently tapped for posts in dangerous locations, including Bosnia, Iraq, Columbia and numerous stints in Central America. Earnest’s leadership skills were put to the test when he coordinated land operations with FEMA to evacuate civilians during Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita in Louisiana.

During his military career, Earnest spent more than 14 years deployed away from his family in some of the world’s most dangerous war zones. After his retirement, he searched for an opportunity that would keep him close to home. “Seeing utter poverty, slavery and lack of freedoms people have in other countries really makes you appreciate how lucky we are in America,” he said.

A CCI franchisee from Texas inspired Earnest to look at the mobile, on-site leather and vinyl repair service as an option for business ownership. “I grew up on a farm and was used to doing things myself and working with my hands. As you get promoted in the military you do less and less hands-on work and more paperwork. I thought working as a technician to make repairs sounded fun,” Earnest said.

CCI is the leader in the leather, vinyl and fabric repair business. Certified technicians come to your location and use proprietary tools and techniques to repair, restore or replace damaged vinyl, leather, fabric or plastic goods. They can make your furniture, car, RV or office look brand new. Hiring CCI’s mobile restoration service can save customers up to 90 percent in expenses by salvaging damaged items.

Currently, Earnest and Lena operate four CCI vans and have five employees. They own exclusive rights to the area north of Oklahoma City, but their vans operate throughout the state and also provide services in nearby Arkansas and Missouri. Earnest fills in as a technician when his employees take vacations and Lena does the company’s books. Placing a special focus on RVs has been a big money-maker for his company, Earnest said. “The military instilled discipline and focus in me,” Earnest added. “It teaches you to look at different options other people might not have considered, which is a great asset for a business owner.”

Owning his own business puts him in the driver’s seat but having the support of CCI’s corporate office has been invaluable to his success, according to Earnest. One day during a difficult job, Earnest called the company’s support line for advice. When they couldn’t find someone to help solve his problem, Mark J. Bollman, CCI’s president and co-owner came on the line to help out. “Nobody at headquarters has the attitude that they are too important to help you. Everyone gives you advice,” Earnest said. “The support they offer to new franchises is absolutely fantastic.”

Celebrate Veterans Day this month by supporting a company that prides itself on offering great careers to our nation’s military heroes. Get your quote today.

AIR FORCE VETERAN DEPLOYS MILITARY TRAINING TO HELP BUSINESS SOAR

vets_profile_-_creative_colors_-_mike_mcnairy.jpgAir Force veteran Mike McNairy applies strategies and skills learned during his 21-year tenure in the military to take his Creative Colors International Inc. franchise to new heights.

“Franchising is a great transition for a military person,” McNairy said. “You learn about the specific skill, but you also get business background and help with marketing, sales and financial principles. It is basically an out-of-the-box business, and for someone who served in the military who is good with structure and organization, the model covers all the bases.”

Determination, confidence, teamwork and grace under pressure were attributes McNairy acquired while working with nuclear weapons and monitoring for inbound threats to North America during his career with the United States Air Force. McNairy joined the USAF in 1989 and retired as a lieutenant colonel from Air Force Space Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He held numerous operational positions at the squadron, wing and command levels.  He was an instructor at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, where he commissioned more than 100 second lieutenants. McNairy served during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Freedom and was called on duty following the terrorist attacks on the morning of September 11, 2001.

After retiring from the military, McNairy ran a successful auto repair business for approximately eight years. His wife, Lynette, encouraged him to open a CCI franchise in the Denver area. Lynette McNairy serves as the Chief of Operations and lead technician. McNairy manages the back-office operations at the family-focused company, overseeing personnel, accounting and expansion efforts. “We chose CCI because of the company’s team environment and their desire to see people succeed. We immediately noticed the family environment and knew we could make this business a success,” he added.

CCI is the leader in the mobile leather, vinyl and fabric repair business. Certified technicians work quickly to restore vehicles, furniture or other items, and make them look like new. The 39-year-old company has locations in nearly every state and is adding new franchises each year. Low investment, superior training and ongoing franchise support make it an appealing business option for entrepreneurs.

The military taught McNairy how to interact, lead people and manage operations. Advance preparation and contingency plans are key to any military operation and are important tools for running a successful business. The Air Force gave McNairy the opportunity to learn how to deal with setbacks and challenges. “You expect problems, and you learn not to fold as a result of it,” he added.

The military shaped McNairy’s values of duty, honor and commitment, helping make him an integral member of the local business community. McNairy is the Chairman for the Board of Directors of the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce and the Douglas County Veterans Monument Foundation. “In the Air Force, we lived by the code, ‘service before self,’ which I now apply to our community by helping whenever I can. We always operate with integrity and I strive for excellence in everything I do,” he said.

www.creativecolorsintl.com/franchise-opportunities

 

Franchising USA Magazine, link to full article:

https://franchisingusamagazine.com/air-force-veteran-deploys-military-training-help-business-soar

 

Make CCI’s Annual Conference Part of Your Game Plan

Make CCI’s Annual Conference Part of Your Game Plan

Starting a home-based business as a franchisee with Creative Colors International Inc. develops an ideal playing field for both high profits and flexibility. Tackle your competitors by adding our Creative Colors International Conference & Awards Gala to your annual schedule.

CCI starts entrepreneurs on a path to success by offering them a proven business model. As the leader in mobile leather and vinyl repair, we help new franchisees establish their client base in an exclusive territory and offer them ongoing training and support. New franchisees have access to CCI’s Slack collaboration hub and our annual sales and training conference.

Operating a home-based business has its perks. It’s convenient, affordable and provides great work-life balance. Yet, there is no substitute for in-person meetings. Eighty-five percent of participants believe face-to-face meetings build stronger and more meaningful relationships, according to a study conducted by Forbes Insights of 760 business executives. A whopping eight out of 10 surveyed prefer face-to-face meetings and many executives think they are essential to forming long-term business relationships.

In a world where conference calls, email and instant messaging are the norms, attending CCI’s annual conference will give your business a boost in the right direction. The company conference, most recently held in Minneapolis, provides dedicated franchisees with five important tools to win the game.

Educate: Learn the latest tricks of the trade to retain employees, increase profits and add customers. Part of the beauty of our brand is that we offer services to a wide range of clients in the automotive and service industry. As these industries evolve, we need to make sure to grow with them. Participating in our conference will keep you abreast of all the latest trends for the customers and employees you serve.

Recharge: Franchisees who are enthusiastic about the brand are better at retaining employees, according to the International Franchise Association, a trade association devoted to franchising. Spending time networking with your peers at our annual conference will increase your passion for the brand. Not only will meeting with other franchisees at our conference help build team unity, but it will also create renewed energy for your business.

 Share. Here is a chance to shine. Sharing your success stories with other franchisees at the conference is key. We are proud of your hard work and want to make sure everyone hears the unique ways you are succeeding. Sharing your triumphs will help solidify your status as a stellar CCI franchisee.

 Take home a winner. The conference showcases best practices you can implement in your own business. Make sure to take home a winner and implement at least one thing you learn at the conference. CCI advises franchisees to keep an open mind at the conference. Don’t dismiss new ideas for your business or your employees. Make sure to carefully analyze new information before deciding it isn’t useful. Keep an open mind and allow for change.

Fun. Successful franchisees take time to relax with family and friends, IFA contends. CCI knows being a franchisee can require an extensive time commitment. Spending time socializing with your fellow franchisees at our annual conference is a great way to unwind with people who share similar challenges and achievements.

Once you book your tickets to our annual conference, do your homework to make the most of the event. Make a list of how you’re hoping to improve your business. Think about who you want to see at the conference and develop a plan of attack before you arrive, to help you discover real solutions.

Learn more about how CCI supports its business owners by encouraging training, and franchise opportunities with CCI, here — www.wecanfixthat.com.

Romance and Repairs! The Two Really Can Go Together

Family is a word we use a lot here at Creative Colors International. The company was founded by, and is currently run by, a family… and we want to make sure each and every member of the CCI team feels like they are a part of it. We think it’s what helps make our franchisees happy and helps keep our customers calling us back again and again.

Family might be a word we use often, but romance? We’ll admit not everyone goes as weak in the knees as we do when we finish a fantastic leather repair job, but romance really is alive and well here at Creative Colors International. That’s in evidence by the number of husband and wife teams we have throughout the organization! In honor of Romance Awareness Month, let’s meet a husband/wife franchise team that’s making it work both on the job and off: Frank and Lena Earnest, owners of the CCI franchise in Oklahoma City North.

Everybody loves a love story. Can you both tell us yours?

 Lena: Frank introduced himself to me at a church dinner for college students. We talked and started dating. Most of our dates were walking around a park and talking. The more I was with him, the more I wanted to be with him.

Frank: I saw this small, beautiful, blonde, bubbly girl across the room. I kept trying to work my over to talk to her and, being the social butterfly, she kept moving. Other guys kept going up to her and talking to her. I finally got a chance to introduce myself and spoke with her briefly. She had to leave! It took me two weeks to track her down. Three months later we were engaged and then a year and a half later we got married.

You’ve been married for 38 years now, but you weren’t always able to spend them together.

 Lena: Frank was an officer in the Army. He was away from home training or on deployments. It was very lonely. I would worry about him. Back in our early years of marriage, we didn’t have the technology to communicate when he was away from home, so I didn’t know how he was.

Frank: I was extremely busy trying to ensure my soldiers were trained for combat and making sure they had everything they needed. I never wanted to have a soldier die on account that I failed to train them properly or provide them with the resources they needed. I always felt bad because Lena had to be a single parent, but I knew she would make the best decisions she could and that she would take care of our family until I could be there.

How did you make the decision to buy a franchise and work it together?

 Lena: We wanted to spend more time together. When Frank retired, we knew we would want to do something together.

Frank: Lena spent 30 years as a special education teacher. She was ready for a change too. We went to a job fair for veterans and that’s where we first heard about Creative Colors International.

 

Why did you ultimately choose Creative Colors International?

 Frank: Honestly at first we ruled it out. But, at another job fair, we met an owner of a CCI franchise. She explained more about the company, so we added Creative Colors back in our research process.

Lena: Frank has always enjoyed working with his hands. We also liked the concept of taking something and fixing it and making it look better. Frank also likes being able to start a project and see it through to completion. This provides instant gratification since most repairs are completed relatively quickly. We are proud of our work.

So what is a typical day like?

Frank: There is no typical day. Our day changes many times throughout the day! We supervise three other employees. We do repair work as well. A lot of our time is spent coordinating and getting the resources our employees need. We also do most of the estimates together.

Lena: We service 15 different RV dealerships! When they have a unit worth several hundred thousand dollars that needs to be repaired, they want it repaired ASAP! Our business is also growing in the restaurant and medical fields.

Some people would never DREAM of working with their spouse! How do you two make it work for you?

 Frank: It was rough starting out. With her work in special education, Lena was used to asking for permission, and as an Army officer, I was used to being the one giving the permission! Needless to say, we operated in different ways. We had to determine the roles that we would each play to ensure the success of our company.

What’s the best thing about working with your spouse?

 Lena: We get to spend time together. I like seeing Frank’s face after a repair is completed and he knows he’s done a good job!

Creative Colors has many successful husband-wife teams throughout our system.  If you and your spouse are considering opening a franchise together, be sure to check out your options with Creative Colors at https://www.creativecolorsintl.com/franchise-opportunities/. 

Creative Colors International Named Top Franchise for Under $100,000

Entrepreneur Magazine Names Nation’s Leading On-Site Repair and Restoration Franchise the #44 Bargain Buy in September 2019 Issue

 MOKENA, IL. – Ever dream of starting your own business but afraid you don’t have the money to make it happen? Creative Colors International, the nation’s leading on-site repair and restoration franchise, could make you reconsider. The company was just recognized by Entrepreneur magazine on its prestigious list of the top franchises under for $100,000.

The news was announced in the magazine’s September 2019 issue. Creative Colors International (CCI) ranked #44 on the list. It’s not the first time the company landed on the annual list – proof the company works hard to maintain its goal of keeping the dream of business ownership within grasp.

“How many give thought to owning their own business but never see it go any further than that? They never realize their dream because they automatically assume that it takes too much money,” said Mark J. Bollman, President of Creative Colors International. “Our mobile, home-based business model allows for low overhead and affordable startup costs, especially when you consider our financing options.”

“Business ownership is the American Dream. It’s the backbone of our country. To be recognized for helping put that dream in reach for more and more people is really quite an honor,” added Bollman. “And we don’t just cut our franchisees loose and say, ‘Good luck!’ When you buy a Creative Colors International franchise, you go into business for yourself — not by yourself.”

That includes initial and ongoing training, an established client base so your franchise begins generating revenues immediately, national accounts, and exclusive and protected territories.

“We’re proud to be considered such a cost-conscious investment by such a prestigious magazine as Entrepreneur. We know it’s a go-to resource for many people considering the purchase of a franchise,” Bollman adds. “When our franchisees succeed, we succeed.”

To learn more about Creative Colors International franchise opportunities, please visit www.creativecolorsintl.com.

About Creative Colors International

Launched in 1991, the Creative Colors International (CCI) franchise system was created through its affiliate, J&J’s Creative Colors, the original industry leader in refurbishment techniques and systems. Today, both companies continue to be family-owned and operated by the second generation. Catering to the abundance of upholstered items in every home, business, and vehicle, CCI is the ultimate in on-site repair, restoration, cleaning, protection, and dyeing of leather, vinyl, plastic, and fabric. Through proprietary technology, CCI restores damaged material at a fraction of replacement costs, saving customers up to 90 percent. CCI repairs are stronger than the original area and are nearly invisible to the naked eye. In the Automotive, Furniture, and Commercial Markets, CCI offers on-site repair and restoration to all types of leather, vinyl, fabric, plastic, and carpeting by repairing and re-dyeing holes, cuts, tears, burns, scrapes, fading, and discoloration. For more information on CCI’s services and franchise opportunities, visit www.wecanfixthat.com.

Media Contact:

Graham Chapman

919-459-8157

gchapman@919marketing.com

 

FAMILY STARTS AT THE TOP WITH CREATIVE COLORS INTERNATIONAL

It’s something that comes up time and time again when you talk about Creative Colors International: FAMILY-ORIENTED. It’s not just a slogan. It’s not just a marketing ploy. When it comes to family, Creative Colors International doesn’t just “talk the talk” – the company “walks the walk.”

Kelli Bollman, VP

Consider the founding of CCI. The top on-site repair and restoration service for leather, vinyl, plastic, and fabric, started out as a family-owned business and it continues to operate as one today. Included in the company is a diverse and dynamic family. “Being that it was started by our parents, and all three of their children, along with their spouses, are in the business, that tells us it works,” says Kelli Bollman, Vice President of Creative Colors International.

 That might make it a little hard to ever escape work, but it does something very valuable for the franchise — it keeps the organization very tight-knit and very family-focused.

Terri Sniegolski, Sr. VP

“Our franchise owners are like family and so are their employees,” says Terri Sniegolski, Senior Vice President, and sister to Kelli. “Everyone comes through our training program here at corporate and are with us for two to three weeks. There is a bond that comes naturally during that time period.”

The sisters each have their own tasks and departments to oversee, but they still work with one another quite a bit, seeking each other out for advice when needed. Terri calls them “a great brainstorming duo.” But they weren’t always so close, especially during the tough years as teenagers.

“We are four years apart and I am the older sister. I think we had a typical love/hate sister relationship,” says Terri. Kelli admits her teens were tough years. “As the younger sister, I always wanted to be just like Terri. I may have been a bit annoying. However, about the time I turned 17, Terri and I found that we really did enjoy each other’s company. We became best friends.”

Through the years, the two business leaders have somehow found a way to balance all of their roles: work, wife, mother, and sister. “I think it is important that we have time to be sisters and take a break from being business partners,” says Kelli. Terri looks back to weekends spent raising their children together and evenings spent bowling. “We bowl together once a week. For 25 years we were on the same team! We’re also in a couples’ league with our husbands every other week.”

Both Terri and Kelli work hard to succeed in all the different roles they have. It’s not always easy. It takes effort and strength to keep it all together — and running smoothly. It’s one of the things that Terri admires most about her little sister Kelli. “I admire her emotional attachment to the value of family.” And that attachment extends beyond the bonds of blood; when you treat your franchise owners and their employees like family. “When a franchise owner and employee do well, we celebrate it with them. When they hit roadblocks, we are there for them.”

Kelli believes her sister’s drive to make things better plays a huge role in their friendship and in their business. “I also believe that her huge heart and empathy is what makes our company and our sisterhood so great.”

Family is more than just an idea; it’s a daily way of life for sisters Terri Sniegolski and Kelli Bollman, and for all of the Creative Colors International corporate team. As Kelli puts it: “A parent’s goal is to teach their children how to live and survive without them. That is how I look at our franchisees — I want to teach them all they need to know to be able to succeed at this business for a long time. That is the same with us at CCI. We feel that all of our franchisees are a part of our family.”

If you like the idea of being in business for yourself, but not by yourself, then Creative Colors International may be for you. For more information, please visit here.  Our support staff is also just a phone call away at (800) 933-2656, and our online support and communication center gives you 24-hour access.

ENTREPRENEUR MAGAZINE NAMES CREATIVE COLORS INTERNATIONAL A TOP 50 FRANCHISE UNDER $100K

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Nation’s Leading On-Site Repair and Restoration Franchise Considered a Best Buy by Entrepreneur Magazine

 MOKENA, Ill. – (July 8th, 2019) – Everyone loves a bargain, and Creative Colors International, the nation’s leading on-site repair and restoration franchise, was recently named a top buy by Entrepreneur magazine. Creative Colors International was ranked #22 on the highly regarded magazine’s list of top franchises that can be started for less than $100,000.

The budget-friendly ranking was based on the scores Creative Colors International received in Entrepreneur’s 2019 Franchise 500 ranking – where the repair and restoration franchise ranked #224. Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500 is nationally recognized as an invaluable resource for potential franchisees.

“The Creative Colors family works hard to keep the cost of our franchises at a reasonable and attainable level,” says Mark J. Bollman, President of Creative Colors International. “Our goal is to help people take the dream of business ownership and make it into their reality. We do this by creating a totally mobile business that is home-based, creating low overhead and modest start-up costs.”

 

“With Creative Colors, you don’t need any prior experience in the service industry or even experience owning your own business. All you need to bring is your motivation,” Bollman says. CCI franchise owners undergo a complete training program and ongoing consultation services. Franchisees also benefit from:

  • Established client base, so your franchise begins generating revenues immediately.
  • Exclusive and protected territory.
  • National accounts.
  • Home-based business with low overhead costs.

“Our company is very family-oriented, and we want to make sure we instill that same atmosphere to all of our franchisees,” Bollman adds. “We treat our franchisees like family and we extend that same philosophy to our customers. That’s why our reputation and our national accounts list continues to grow and expand.”

For more information on Creative Colors International repair and restoration services, please visit https://www.wecanfixthat.com/.

For more information on the Creative Colors International franchise opportunity, please visit https://www.creativecolorsintl.com/.

About Creative Colors International

Launched in 1991, the Creative Colors International (CCI) franchise system was created through its affiliate, J&J’s Creative Colors, the original industry leader in refurbishment techniques and systems. Today, both companies continue to be family-owned and operated by the second generation. Catering to the abundance of upholstered items in every home, business, and vehicle, CCI is the ultimate in on-site repair, restoration, cleaning, protection, and dyeing of leather, vinyl, plastic, and fabric. Through proprietary technology, CCI restores damaged material at a fraction of replacement costs, saving customers up to 90 percent. CCI repairs are stronger than the original area and are nearly invisible to the naked eye. In the Automotive, Furniture, and Commercial Markets, CCI offers on-site repair and restoration to all types of leather, vinyl, fabric, plastic, and carpeting by repairing and re-dyeing holes, cuts, tears, burns, scrapes, fading, and discoloration. For more information on CCI’s services and franchise opportunities, visit www.wecanfixthat.com.

 

Media Contact:

Graham Chapman                                          Terri Sniegolski

919-459-8157                                                  800-933-2656

gchapman@919marketing.com                  terri.sniegolski@creativecolorsintl.com

CREATIVE COLORS INTERNATIONAL TOOK THE FEAR OUT OF MAKING A CHANGE FOR REBECCA PRESTON

Deciding to leave the comfort and the seemingly safe world of the known for the uncertain world of the unknown can be frightening. For Rebecca Preston, owner of the Creative Colors International franchise of Fort Worth, Texas, even the known world was a little scary!

“My dad got laid off when he was 55 years old. He’d been working for the same company since he was 18. He never could find another job,” Preston remembers. “I always had that fear in the back of my mind. At the time, the place where I was working was doing layoffs left and right.”

A solid work ethic was always a part of Preston’s makeup. After completing an engineering degree at Purdue University, she spent around 20 years working for some of the top companies in the manufacturing and defense industries. Still, her father’s experience was never far from Preston’s mind. She started doing her research into self-sufficiency and particularly franchising!

“I had always wanted to own my own business, but I didn’t know what I could do. I only knew what I liked to do,” said Preston.  “I like to do things with my hands. I like fixing things. I like to get to the root cause of a problem.”

When Rebecca learned about Creative Colors International, it seemed like a perfect fit! Many potential franchisees worry about having no experience in the automotive, marine, or RV service industries, but CCI offers a training program of up to three weeks. CCI teaches sales and marketing techniques, financial controls, and of course, our upholstery coloring, restoration, and repair methods.  CCI even has field representatives work with new franchisees for a week when they open their own business.

Taking that leap to the unknown wasn’t easy. But Preston found that the CCI family worked hard to make the transition less frightening. “They were very welcoming on discovery day, and I found they were very nice people. The company seemed honest and down to earth,” Preston remembers. “You begin developing the trust very early.”

Now a part of the CCI family since 2013, Preston has found that buying her own franchise has been the catalyst for realizing her dream of moving back to Texas. As part of her research, she knew the area of Texas she wanted to live in was full of RVs. Discovering a franchise that showed her how to fix and repair RVs – as well as the rest of CCI’s full range of services and industries – made for an obvious winning choice. “When you do your due diligence, know your community. Know what’s going on. If I hadn’t known that there were RV dealers in this neck of the woods, then I wouldn’t have all the business that I have,” Preston advises. “Know your area!”

Linoleum-Before

Linoleum-After

Her work speaks for itself. Now RV manufacturers call Preston and ask her to travel all over the state of Texas to make repairs to linoleum and upholstery. Rebecca Preston is happy to do it, and even more happy that she made the decision to take that leap into the unknown.

“It’s scary to leave something that you know, but life is too short not to live the way you want. I don’t want there to be any regrets.”

Making a change doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It all starts with educating yourself on potential business ownership opportunities and finding the right match for your skill set and idea lifestyle.

If Creative Colors International sounds right for you, as it did for Rebecca, get started on your path to franchise ownership here.

GIVING YOURSELF A GIFT THIS FATHER’S DAY

This Father’s Day is bound to be full of the wonderful traditions dads everywhere appreciate. There’s a funky new tie, a great meal (perhaps prepared by your budding “chef” of a child), and some quality time with your family. All jokes aside, it’s the quality time with family that dads look forward to most. It’s a day you can spend getting to have fun with your family and getting to know your children better, and in return, letting them learn something new about you too. Wouldn’t it be great if every day could be Father’s Day? What if we told you it could happen?

  1. So maybe not every day! But there is a way where you can spend more time with your family while at the same time having more time for yourself AND achieve the financial security you want. This Father’s Day take some time to look at what could be possible if you owned your own Creative Colors International franchise.

THE GIFT OF TIME

Consider your current situation. Maybe you’re working in corporate America. It’s a good job — you make OK money, you’ve got your benefits, and at least your boss isn’t a total jerk all the time. Maybe you have to work late — again — and miss your son’s afterschool band concert. Maybe you have to go in on a Saturday — again — and miss your daughter’s ball game.

Creative Colors International is the leader in the mobile repair, reconditioning, protections, and color restoration of leather, vinyl, fabric, plastic, and carpeting. We offer cost savings and convenience, which makes us the go-to service provider for the automotive, marine, RV, furniture, commercial, and residential markets. More importantly, we allow you to be in business for yourself, but you won’t be in business by yourself.

As a CCI franchisee, you’ll be in charge of your work schedule, not someone else. If you want to be off on Thursday to chaperone your child’s school trip to the museum, make sure and schedule around it! Want to take your family on a week-long beach adventure this summer? Block it out and schedule around it. Sure, there may be times when you see the need to work late hours to get a rush job done… or a weekend for a special client who has come to depend on you. The difference is those hours you put in, and those special moments you might miss because of it, are all an investment in YOUR business… not someone else’s!

THE GIFT OF FINANCIAL FREEDOM

What role do you play in your family? Researchers with the Pew Research Center found that most Americans expect dads to be more of a moral teacher than an income provider. Still, many men feel the pressure to provide for their families’ needs and future. The threat of downsizing, layoffs, or being fired is a real concern for many. Consider this — when you own your own business, you can’t be laid off, fired, or downsized.

With a Creative Colors International franchise, we bring the opportunities — you bring the motivation.

  • We help establish your client base so that your franchise starts generating revenues immediately.
  • Start-up costs are modest and include a complete training program.
  • We are a home-based business, so overhead is low.
  • Your territory is exclusive and protected.

You don’t have to have any kind of special background — our franchisees come from nearly every background and skill set.

THE GIFT OF KNOWLEDGE

So, this Father’s Day, enjoy the ties, specials dinners, and quality time with your family, but also give yourself a gift. Look into the possibilities and options that owning your own Creative Colors Franchise can open for you and your family.

For more information about Creative Colors International franchise opportunities, please visit https://www.creativecolorsintl.com/.