Creative Colors International

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

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COVID-19 Cleanup Process and Products: How to Clean SARS-CoV-2

This article provides you with a complete walkthrough of how CCI does COVID-19 cleanup for automotive dealerships, restaurants, hotels, and other industry clients. Read about the process and products used by CCI to treat coronavirus in an industrial setting. The intent is to direct the efficacy with which you make decisions on how best to disinfect your business’s facility and equipment.

Learn about CCI’s EPA-certified cleaning solution to COVID-19 disinfection and sanitization. Find out about the CCI Certified Clean standard, and how it protects the health of your customers and employees against SARS-CoV-2.

CCI’s Industrial COVID-19 Cleanup: Stopping the Spread of SARS-CoV-2

Six months ago, COVID-19 was not a colloquial term in the lexicon of the World. But, today, things are different – not only for you but for your business. This is especially true for restaurants, hotels, hospitals, vehicle rental lots, and fitness centers.

Before the world can get back to “normal,” ongoing and widespread COVID-19 cleanup efforts must be taken. Every industry is experiencing this change, to one degree or another. This has the greatest impact on your business cleaning procedures, products, and frequency.

What makes the SARS-CoV-2 virus especially contagious is how long it survives on hard surfaces – especially, stainless steel and hard plastics.

How Long Does the Virus Live on Stainless Steel, Plastic, Copper, Cardboard, and in the Air?

The coronavirus that everyone is talking about, SARS-CoV-2, demonstrates traits that are similar to SARS-CoV-1. A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, conducted in partnership between the National Institute of Infectious Disease, Princeton University, the Center for Disease Control – and others, looks into the lifespan of SARS-CoV-2 in lab testing.

The study finds that CoV-2 lives the longest on plastic, for up to 72 hours, and, up to 48 hours on stainless steel. It finds that the virus lives for up to 4 hours on Copper, and up to 24 hours on cardboard. Finally, the study shows that the virus can live on saliva particles in the air for around 3 hours, depending on the airflow rate, temperature, and more.

Since SARS-CoV-2 lives on hard surfaces for up to 72 hours, the virus is highly transmissible through human to human contact. You have to adopt the logic that surfaces are infected after every human contact, and must be disinfected. That is why it is crucial to use cleaning products that are effective against the human coronavirus for COVID-19 cleanup to be effective in preventing further transmission.

CCI’s EPA-Registered Sanitizer and Disinfectant: Specifications and Features

Seeing as the virus is so infectious and easily spread, a reliable and conclusive disinfecting process is essential. When it comes to disinfecting and sanitizing your business’s facility and equipment, you need a hospital-grade disinfectant that is effective against a broad-spectrum of pathogenic organisms – and that specifically kills the human coronavirus.

To meet these needs, CCI is using a  one-step hospital-grade cleaner, deodorizer, and sanitizer. The product is EPA-registered and recommended for COVID-19 cleanup. CCI’s Sanitizer & Disinfectant cleaner acts as a germicidal disinfectant that kills viruses on-contact.

CCI’s Sanitizer & Disinfectant is effective on many surfaces, including stainless steel, plastic, cardboard, copper – and many others. Unlike many consumer-grade cleaners, CCI’s Sanitizer & Disinfectant is fully effective on porous surfaces, like fabrics, furnishings, vinyl, and leather.

Since you should practice disinfection regularly, it is important to use a product with as few toxic chemicals as possible. CCI’s Sanitizer and Disinfectant is derived from environmentally friendly EPA-approved chemicals. And, it is hypo-allergenic, so you can use it daily and often without any negative risk from exposure.

CCI’s Sanitizer and Disinfectant is designed to work fast and without any scrubbing. When used as a contact sanitizer, CCI’s cleaner reduces bacterial, viral, and fungal contaminants by 99.999% – within 1-minute of exposure. CCI’s EPA-Registered Sanitizer and Disinfectant ensures that facilities and equipment are safe to use in a timely manner.

How Does CCI Do COVID-19 Cleanup?

Creative Colors International advises following the CDC’s COVID-19 cleanup guidelines as a baseline for quality control. The CDC recommends a 2-step approach to COVID-19 cleanup: First, cleaning the area, then; disinfecting the area.

When servicing automotive lots, CCI gives each vehicle a thorough treatment through these steps. First, CCI cleans the interior to remove germs, dirt, and particulates from all surface areas. CCI uses a water-based antimicrobial cleaner to remove as many contaminants as possible before sanitization and disinfection take place.

Once the surface areas have been cleaned, CCI sanitizes and disinfects the clean areas to ensure that all microbial contamination is sterilized. This step is essential for neutralizing any lingering germs or viruses in hard-to-reach areas.

Cleaning surfaces in your facility is the first step to COVID-19 cleanup. The CDC recommends using disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting. Soap and water is the primary cleaning agent to remove dirt, dust, and impurities on surface areas. This step is especially crucial for areas of high-contact.

Tables, light switches, doorknobs, and phones are just a few examples of surfaces that need to be cleaned throughout the day, before being disinfected. The more surface contamination, the less effective a sanitizer, and disinfectant product will perform. You have to expose the hard surface by cleaning off the dirt or else the virus will hide under dust and dirt particles.

Once a surface is clean and dry, use CCI’s Sanitizer and Disinfectant to kill coronavirus on-contact. Allow the surface to remain wet with the solution for at least one minute. After the minute is up, the surface is sterilized and free from contamination.

Get CCI Certified Clean

COVID-19 cleanup is essential for reopening the country and getting back to a “new normal.” Likely, you are adopting new habits to regularly clean and disinfect your business and home. Using CCI’s Sanitizer and Disinfectant ensures that your efforts are well spent.

If you want to learn more about CCI’s Covid-19 cleanup services and products, contact us today. And, share this article with your social media community to help spread the word.

CCI Offers Safety Net for Franchisees During Pandemic

Creative Colors International Inc. is taking steps to ensure a bright future for its franchisees as they learn how to adapt to sales declines in the wake of the pandemic.

Since the first case of COVID-19 was discovered in the United States in mid-January, the country has watched the death toll climb and the economy take a nosedive. As of May 12, the Centers for Disease Control reported more than 1.34 million cases in the United States, with nearly 81,000 deaths. The U.S. economy lost more than 20.5 million jobs in April, and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Stay-at-home orders shuttered schools, closed stores and required businesses to get creative to generate sales. Restaurants started offering curbside pick-up and free delivery. Clothing stores turned to online sales and hair salons offered at-home kits for dyeing hair. Stay-at-home orders are temporarily impacting the bottom line of many CCI franchisees. Supporting its dedicated franchisees during this unprecedented time is one of CCI’s top priorities.

“We are all living through a time of great uncertainty, where we do not know exactly what will come in the next hour, day, week or months ahead. During these times, it is as important as ever to lean on each other,” said Mark J. Bollman, President of CCI. “As many states begin to ease their stay-at-home restrictions, our franchisees are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and are prepared to help Americans adjust to the new normal.”

New Sanitizing & Cleaning Raises Bar

CCI, the leader in mobile leather and vinyl repair, sped up development on a new Sanitizer & Disinfectant designed to kill viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew, as the impact of COVID-19 on businesses became clear. The hospital-grade sanitizer is a disinfecting agent that also contains stabilized chlorine dioxide that is approved by the Environmental Protection Agency as safe and dependable. Franchisees who are able to continue operating are using the new sanitizer and disinfectant to clean cars at dealerships, sanitize police cars and ensure customers another layer of protection when providing regular services.

“The new Sanitizer & Disinfectant has been well received by our franchisees who are still able to operate. It has been accepted as an additional service to their clients who are currently open, such as car dealers, rental car customers and medical facilities,” Bollman said.

To raise awareness of its new product, CCI produced marketing materials to help franchisees get the message out about the new product. CCI’s certified technicians are trained to restore or replace damaged vinyl, leather, fabric and plastic goods in offices, homes or vehicles. “Everyone will more than likely stay vigilant in keeping their possessions clean and sanitized. If we can help be a part of this new culture change, it will be beneficial for everyone,” Bollman said.

Financial Incentives Help Franchisees Stay Afloat

CCI took financial steps to make sure its franchisees stayed the course. The company made the decision that no minimums would be due on royalties for March and April in order to help its franchisees combat slow sales. CCI also extended credit net terms on products purchased from its Mokena, Illinois, headquarters. Franchisees who lease their mobile service vans are also getting a break. CCI negotiated with its vendor to defer and push payments in April.

Corporate Headquarters & Affiliate Open to Offer Help, Share Advice

While CCI’s corporate headquarters remains open, it took steps to ensure staff could work remotely with call forwarding if they prefer. To keep workers who continue to report to the office safe, the company sanitizes and disinfects the entire headquarters daily. Keeping its corporate office online helps ensure franchisees easily get the support and assistance they need without disruption.

CCI shared what it is doing with its company-owned and affiliate-owned mobile units to help provide franchisees with guidance. J&J Creative Colors Inc. allowed its employees to stay home if they were concerned about safety. The company offered to pay employees accrued vacation time and is considering advances on their pay. J&J planned to furlough commission-based employees as sales slow, enabling them to collect unemployment benefits to generate income for themselves. J&J is also using a GroupMe communication app for employees to share their day-to-day experiences and provide best practice solutions. “Sharing information is great for your team, offers encouragement and allows you to stay in touch,” Bollman added.

CCI’s goal is to instill a family atmosphere in each franchise. The company makes it a priority to support its work-family during tough economic times. To learn more about how CCI supports its franchisees with superior training and high-quality products, visit www.creativecolorsintl.com/franchise-opportunities.

CCI Franchisee Helps Local Police Stay Healthy

A Creative Colors International Inc. franchisee in Colorado is helping the local community navigate the new normal by protecting police officers on the frontlines from the novel coronavirus.

Police officers spend the majority of every shift in their vehicles, patrolling the community. Vehicles are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Car interiors are more than 2,144 times dirtier than the typical smartphone, harboring an average of more than 200 infectious bacteria per inch, according to a report by CarRentals.com, a division of Expedia Group. Making sure that police officers have a clean and sanitized work environment is an essential service during the pandemic. Mike McNairy, the franchise owner with CCI of Douglas County, started using the company’s new Disinfectant & Sanitizer to clean the Castle Rock Police Department’s patrol cars each week to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Police officers hold a space in my heart. They are frontline warriors who have to be in contact with people who need their help. We want to keep our officers as healthy as possible,” said McNairy.

As part of the cleaning service, technicians use an antimicrobial cloth to wipe down all the frequently touched areas in the car. The crew wears respiratory masks as a safety precaution and focuses their cleaning efforts on high-touch areas, such as steering wheels, door handles, seat belts and electronic controls. The average steering wheel of a car is nine times dirtier than a public restroom, and a vehicle’s interior has 40 percent more germs than a toilet seat. McNairy also disinfected equipment and hand grips of any firearms kept inside the patrol car. Following the spot cleaning, a technician fogs the interior of the patrol car with CCI’s new Sanitizer & Disinfectant.

McNairy’s effort to protect the safety of frontline workers provides a unique service for his business during this unprecedented time. CCI, the leader in mobile leather and vinyl repair, normally helps customers save money by making repairs to extend the life of their products. Denver television stations recognized CCI of Douglas County’s creativity and community support by airing 20 news stories showcasing one of McNairy’s recent trips to the station to sanitize vehicles.

Staff from the corporate team at J&J’s Creative Colors also did several rounds of sanitizing and disinfecting patrol cars and fire trucks with the Mokena and Fire Police Departments.  The CCI family is proud to provide a safe work environment for the officers and first responders who are on the front lines in keeping our communities safe from the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

CCI’s New Cleaner Helps Franchisees Boost Bottom Line

The Sanitizer & Disinfectant McNairy used to clean police cars in Castle Rock was recently added to CCI’s lineup of products to give franchisees a new offering to generate sales during the pandemic.

“As part of the new normal, we expect customers to continue to stay vigilant in keeping their possessions clean and sanitized,” said Mark J. Bollman, CCI’s president and co-owner. “Our new Sanitizer & Disinfectant will help ensure the safety of our employees and allow us to provide another vital service to customers.”

CCI Sanitizer & Disinfectant has powerful, long-lasting effects that kill viruses, bacteria, mold and mildew. It is approved to be used to safely sanitize against COVID-19. The antimicrobial cleaner is biodegradable and hypoallergenic. It is fragrance-free and also eliminates odors from organics, inorganics and pathogens. The safe and reliable cleaner can be used to kill pathogens on any surface. CCI technicians can apply the product quickly with a spray gun. Technicians have the option to allow surfaces to air dry or wipe them down after 60 seconds. The solution was designed to properly disinfect interior surfaces without drying or fading the material.

To learn more about how CCI supports its franchisees by offering innovative products and services, visit www.creativecolorsintl.com/franchise-opportunities.

How Executive-Style Owners Thrive at CCI

How Executive-Style Owners Thrive at CCI

When Jim and JoAnn Foster hit the streets of Chicagoland back in 1980 with a stocked van and the know-how to dye and restore vinyl,, it didn’t take long for them to see they were on to something that could be so much bigger. One van became two, then eight, then 18. By 1991, they began franchising as Creative Colors International, and gave other entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a career that rewards their life experiences and helps them achieve their lifestyle goals.

Both executive-style owners and single-unit owners can be successful as CCI franchisees, although their mindset, skills and expectations may be very different. Here are some key differences:

          Executive-Style Owner                             vs.                     Single-Unit Owner

·       Invests $180–266k for a 3-pack or more ·       Invests $95–120k for a single unit
·       Buying a business to scale and grow ·       Buying a job to become own boss
·       Knows how to hire, manage and build a team ·       Prefers to work alone or with one employee
·       Looking for higher revenues and bigger payout ·       Looking for a lifestyle income

Edgar the Executive

Edgar has spent enough time working in corporate America that he understands how profitable a business with low overhead and high scalability can be. His background in sales, operations, or marketing, along with his growth mindset, are key ingredients in hiring and building a team that can cover a lot of ground. He may end up with 15–20 trucks or more. He enjoys managing people and always has his eye on the big picture. With multiple franchise units, Edgar could serve a metropolitan area of approximately a million or more people and develop revenues of three million or more. Profitability is high with the executive model and Edgar is motivated by the idea of growing and developing his franchise to be the biggest and best it can be. Whether he decides to leave corporate America to build his own empire or simply diversify his business interests, Creative Colors International executive-style ownership will be a venture that can bring a big payout that will secure Edgar’s retirement.

Single-Unit Sam

Sam is not afraid of hard work. In fact, he has spent years putting in 60-hour-plus workweeks — so someone else’s company would be successful. Now, he’s been downsized! Ready to take control of his destiny and answer to only himself, he decides to purchase a single unit with Creative Colors International. Sam’s territory will consist of two trucks and will probably service a population of about 300k people. He enjoys doing the repair work himself and is happy to keep things small with only one or two employees. He sets his own hours and doesn’t have to hassle with upper management anymore. Revenues of approximately $250k a year allow Sam to live comfortably and still put something aside for retirement. Life is good.

The beauty of owning a Creative Colors International franchise is that it can be tailored to the executive-style owner or the man-in-a-van. Some franchisees start small and find they want to expand. CCI serves nearly 50 different types of businesses ranging from the auto, RV, and marine industries to restaurant, furniture and medical industries. The growth opportunity is almost limitless.

Both new markets and expansion markets are currently available. Visit us today to learn how you can thrive with CCI!

New Mobile, AL. Couple Plants Roots and Launches Newest Creative Colors International Franchise

Industry Leading On-Site Repair and Restoration Franchise Saves Local Customers 90 Percent on Replacement Fees

(Fairhope, Alabama – July 2nd, 2018) – Creative Colors International (CCI), the nation’s leading on-site repair and restoration franchise, launched its newest location June 25, on the eastern shoreline of Mobile Bay in Fairhope, Alabama. This is big news, as more local business owners and cost-conscious residents than ever before are seeking out alternatives to astronomical upholstering charges and replacement fees associated with damaged possessions that are made of leather, vinyl, plastic and fabric.

Husband and wife team Paul and Jennifer Batchelder have chosen Baldwin County and the beautiful shores of South Alabama to open their new business and start a new chapter in their lives. Jennifer is a South Mississippi, native, and although Paul grew up in Upstate New York, he went to school at the United States Sports Academy in Daphne twenty-eight years ago and has never forgotten the allure of the deep south.

“When we decided to leave the Dallas area, we were drawn back to this area because of its more rural way of life, the genuine and caring vibe that comes with southern culture, and of course, being in a beach community,” said Paul Batchelder. “We are looking forward to making this our new home.”

The opportunity to open a Creative Colors International franchise is also a great fit for the Batchelders. Paul worked 27 years in college athletics and Jennifer has honed her skills, creativity and expertise within the restaurant industry and event management arena. The couple accumulated decades of experience in marketing, business development, customer service, and building relationships. With Creative Colors International, they will be able to bring all their skill sets and expertise together to build a successful business of their own.

“Jennifer is very artistic and creative, I like to fix things and get things done and we are both very detail-oriented,” explained Batchelder. “If I had known 15 years ago what I know today, I might have done this 15 years ago.”

The Batchelders chose to become CCI owners for two primary reasons – the great products and service training that is provided by the family-owned business based out of Chicago and the reasonable start-up costs with the potential to scale into something bigger.

“The overwhelming reason we chose this franchise was the endless business development opportunities through CCI,” said Batchelder. “To be able to service vinyl, leather, upholstery and plastic in the auto, marine, restaurant, office and hospital industries just provides lots of opportunities. Those things aren’t going anywhere. Our plan is to start small, invest in and grow with this community and the surrounding area.”

The statistics suggest that repairing and restoring, as opposed to upholstering and replacing, can save local business owners and residents hundreds of dollars on any damaged item. For example, the costs associated with upholstering any type of seat can be very steep, ranging anywhere from $120 to $450 per cushion.

And according to Terri Sniegolski, Creative Colors International’s CEO, the commitment shared by all franchisees to help customers save up to 90 percent in replacement fees by repairing worn and/or damaged materials and deliver on the company’s “We Can Fix That” philosophy, has been the key catalyst for the company’s expansion to 82 locations in 28 states with 160+ mobile units since its initial inception in 1980.

“We’re excited to open our next Creative Colors location in Fairhope because we know Paul and Jennifer share the same ‘We Can Fix That’ attitude our other successful franchisees possess,” said Sniegolski. “We are thrilled about our expansion into South Alabama because we know the local business owners and customers in the community will be eager to repair and restore their possessions at a fraction of the cost.”

The Batchelders are also strong believers in community involvement and volunteerism and are ready to get deeply engaged in their new hometown.

“I feel like the keys to our success will be our dedication to building relationships in the community and our ability to be resourceful, detail-oriented, and enthusiastic in providing exceptional service to our new neighbors and customers,” said Batchelder. “We have been active and invested in every community we have lived in and we are excited to do the same in the Mobile Bay area.”

Serving the automotive, commercial and furniture industries, Creative Colors International offers affordable solutions for tears, holes, scuffs, scratches and other types of damage found on leather, vinyl, plastic or fabric through on-site repair, restoration, cleaning, dyeing and protection. For local residents, this means Creative Colors International can repair auto interiors, leather furniture, RV flooring, and boat vinyl, among other things. Additionally, for business owners, Creative Colors International can repair any upholstery found in critical locations around the company, such as waiting rooms, examination rooms, restaurant booths, hotel rooms, and theater seating, among others.

For more information on the Batchelders and their Creative Colors International location, please visit https://www.wecanfixthat.com/south-alabama/.

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 redyeing holes, cuts, tears, burns, scrapes, fading and discoloration. For more information on CCI’s services and franchise opportunities, visit www.wecanfixthat.com.