Finding the Right Franchise Fit

How Fibrenew Has Grown to 240+ Global Locations

We recently caught up with Fibrenew’s Director of Franchise Development, Bob Johnston. Bob joined the Fibrenew family in 2012, and he knows which qualities make a great prospective franchisee. As he tells it, finding the right fit has a lot do to with aligned values–namely honesty, and integrity. Fibrenew’s transparency is a big part of why we’re in the top 15% of Franchise Business Review’s 2017 Top 50 Franchise list. Of course, there’s a bit more to the story. Here’s how we help would-be owners decide to invest in a lifestyle franchise like Fibrenew.

 Getting Started
Finding the right fit starts with scheduling a phone call with Bob or a member of the development team to learn a bit more about each other, including why you’re considering a franchise. We hear from people with a variety of motivations, from a recent layoff, to a desire to be more self-reliant, i.e. ready to be your own boss. Once you’ve had a chance to ask questions, and you’re interested in continuing the conversation, Bob and the team will dig a little deeper to confirm you possess, what he refers to as “5 Essential Qualities”.

5 Essential Qualities of a Fibrenew Franchise Owner

Trait #1: A Tetrachromat
“Tetra-who?” – don’t let the term throw you off, it’s just the technical term for having complete color vision. A significant part of our mobile repair business involves working with color and color-matching, so being color-blind is one of the few things that might stand in your way of being a successful Fibrenew franchise owner.

Trait #2: Handy
Do you enjoy working with your hands? This is a great role if you like rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty on the occasional DIY project or light repair job. Keep in mind you don’t need technical knowhow to do our repairs just yet – that’s what we’re here to teach you about.

Trait #3: Trainable & Coachable
Be open to training and certified coaching. We’ve been fine tuning our processes since 1987. So while you will certainly bring your own personality and strengths to franchise ownership, please respect that we have a proven business model – reinvention of the wheel is not necessary.

Trait #4: In Shape
Doing repair work is going to require some bending and lifting. You don’t need to be a top athlete, but you do need to be in reasonable physical condition, as opposed to having chronic arthritis in your hands, or nagging knee or back issues.

Trait #5: People Person
According to Bob, the most important quality is being a people-person. As he explains, you need to be somebody who “isn’t afraid to introduce yourself, shake hands and go right to showing [before & after] pictures. When people see these pictures, their first words usually are ‘You can do that?’ ” Yes, we certainly can! continue reading!

Furniture Repairman Makes House Calls on Bike Lugging 100 Pounds of Tools

UPPER EAST SIDE, MANHATTAN — It’s possible to have almost anything delivered home in the Big Apple, from Chinese food to Christmas trees to karaoke machines.

Now, New Yorkers can add a new delivery option to the list: a personal home visit from a leather furniture repairman.

Saul Shapiro, a longtime bike enthusiast, travels on his 7-speed from his Upper East Side apartment to any Manhattan location to fix clients’ worn and torn sofas, chairs and ottomans.

He hauls about 100 pounds of equipment, including an airbrush painting system, behind his bike in a trailer he built by combining three carts, road-ready wheels and a strong hitch.

“I’ve had people stop me and say, ‘I love your cart,’” said Shapiro, a former engineer and public relations staffer who opened the city’s first franchise of Fibrenew, a company that specializes in repairing leather and vinyl upholstery.

“One woman stopped to ask me where I bought it because her husband is always trying to drag a telescope around on his bike.” continue reading here!

Franchise Business New Career Opportunity With Fibrenew

Every budding entrepreneur dreams of finding a business opportunity that’s unique in the market, has flexible work hours and of above all, presents the chance to build a dependable cash flow positive enterprise.

If you are looking to break out of the office and be your own boss, enjoy the freedom of a flexible lifestyle and build a solid financial future for you and your family, Fibrenew may be the unique opportunity for which you are looking.

Fibrenew is a market leader in the restoration of leather, plastic and vinyl. We are a home-based, mobile franchise service that caters to the aviation, automotive, commercial, marine, medical and residential markets. There is leather, plastic and vinyl everywhere that becomes damaged through normal wear and tear – in homes, offices, vehicles, hospitals, clinics, gyms, restaurants, hotels and much more.

With all these potential revenue streams and high demand for our services across so many markets, our company and franchisees have grown and thrived through every rise and fall of the economy. That really speaks to the fact that there is always a need for our services. Continue reading!

How to keep your boat’s interior in cruising condition

As the temperatures climb higher, boat lovers everywhere will be returning to the water every chance they get. Taking your boat out after a long, cold winter can be extremely refreshing, especially if you have been kept off of the water by the weather. While you’re gearing up for your joyride, remember to pay attention to your upholstery. Summer weather is beautiful, but it can also lead to worn down seats if you don’t properly care for your boat.

(Top) Mildewed seats. (Bottom) Seats looking like new after the Fibrenew touch

The first thing you should do upon exposing your boat to the summer elements is to find out exactly what type of material the seats on your boat are made of. Many seats are made with a combination of vinyl and leather, so make sure you know which category your boat falls under.
Choosing a good leather cleanser is the next preventative measure to take. We recommend using water based cleanser, which has fewer chemicals and is better for long-term use. Wiping down your seats regularly with a good cleanser is an excellent way to prevent major wear and tear as well as keep your leather looking clean and new.

Making sure to cover all upholstery on your boat is another great way to keep it from sun damage. Being openly exposed to the sun all the time will wear on the material and cause serious fading, so make sure to invest in a good cover if you store your boat in an outdoor area. Sun damage can cause cracking and fading, so protection is vitally important to keep the material in good shape. Covering up your upholstery will also help protect from dirt, which can stain, and dampness, which can cause mildew. Be sure to dry out the boat before covering it up. Trapped moisture can cause rotting and mildew of the boat’s interior.

Taking these precautionary measure will help keep your boat in fantastic shape. Prepare to relax and enjoy those long summer rides on the water!

Check out more of Fibrenew’s blog for other helpful tips.

Top 5 Myths about Leather Repair

You have tried your best keep your leather furniture safe, but accidents have damaged it. Well, it is normal for leather furniture to get destroyed as occasional scuffs, small tears and spills are bound to happen. However, there is no need to worry as leather can be repaired and restored to its original beauty easily.

There are many myths about leather repair, so when you are looking to fix your leather furniture, it is important to keep the myths at bay.

Myth 1:

Leather cuts cannot be repaired: The biggest myth that leather cuts cannot be repaired is absolutely FALSE. Although this is the hardest to repair, it certainly can be fixed. There are numerous leather repair kits available at most leather stores which come equipped with adhesives made especially for leather. If the cuts are big, then you might need to put some padding under the patch to completely mend it, but regardless of the size of the cut, it can be fixed!

Myth 2:

Super Glue can fix the minor tears in leather: Another myth which will ruin your leather furniture rather than repair it. NEVER ever use super glue to fix tears on your leather upholstery. Super glue is not flexible and therefore is not a good solution to fix torn leather. It hardens and causes more damage to it rather than repair it.

Myth 3:

Markers can be used for discoloration: Many old wives tales state that you can use markers to repair discolored leather. However, that is NOT true. Markers cannot match the exact appearance of the leather as it is not made for this purpose, so never use a marker to quickly remove the discoloration. You will only end up creating an irregular look... click here for more of the article!

Interview With Fibrenew CEO, Michael Wilson

(3 minute read) Fibrenew is a niche service mobile franchise business that specializes in the restoration of leather, plastic and vinyl in the automotive, aviation, commercial, marine, medical and residential markets.

To know and understand the unique culture at Fibrenew is to get inside the mind of CEO, Micheal Wilson. In this sit down interview, he answers questions about his background, Fibrenew’s inception, where the company is today and where it’s headed.

Tell us about the Fibrenew franchise concept.

Michael Wilson: We are a mobile operation that specializes in the restoration of damaged leather, plastic and vinyl. What makes us unique is that we are not a reupholstery service. Our products and techniques have our technicians repair holes, cracks, fades, stains, burns, etc. on any type of leather, plastic or vinyl ‘in situ’. This means that we repair the damaged items without having to remove them. It could be on furniture in a home, office or hotel, it could be on a vehicle’s seats, armrests, dashboard or panels, it could be leather, plastic or vinyl in a boat or plane, it could be medical exam tables or gym equipment, etc. We repair it on location and at a fraction of the cost of replacement.

How and when did you become involved with Fibrenew franchise?

MW: The previous owners of the company were just starting to franchise the concept and I had recently lost my construction company because of the devastating recession that had just happened. In a round about way, I bought my franchise out of an act of desperation – and I’m sure glad I did! It turned out to be one of the best business decisions I’ve ever made. My wife and I then had the opportunity to purchase the entire company in 1994. It was shortly thereafter that we pushed hard to expand the business across Canada, into New Zealand, USA, Mexico and Australia. I was the first franchisee, and today, we now have more than 230 locations in 5 countries around the world.

What was your background prior to joining Fibrenew?

MW: I’ve lived a very interesting life. I was born in New Zealand and grew up there spending most of my youth hiking in the southern alps and surfing the local beaches. After leaving New Zealand I spent 2 years in the outback of Australia, and 3 years in the Canadian High Arctic where I worked as a surveyor. I was an international yachtsman sailing my own boat, which I built in England, and other people’s boats around the world. I was a yacht builder and then I became a house builder, (now I am a company builder). I had my own construction company in Calgary just before I bought the Fibrenew franchise. I operated my own franchise for 7 years before purchasing the entire company and franchising it around the world.

What are some of the advantages in being a Fibrenew franchisee?

MW: The ability to generate a great income and if you work hard and stay focused on growing your business, a great income. I think the fact that we run a flat rate royalty system is a big advantage in the eyes of franchisees as well. This means that you really are your boss because there is no financial reporting, no red tape, etc. You you free to make as much or as little as you wish and you are charged the same rate. We are here to support you and guide you, but ultimately you are in control of your success. Another advantage is the fact that in most markets there is little to no competition. We are an extremely niche business and our franchisees appreciate that.

Who is your ideal franchisee?

MW: There are a few ‘hard-set’ criteria meaning that first, you have to be able to distinguish colour adequately. Matching colour is at the heart of out repair process so this is a must. Secondly, you should like working with your hands and using tools to a certain degree. Third, you can’t be afraid to talk to potential customers about how you can help them. Some call this ‘selling’ but it’s really just having a conversation with your neighbour, your kid’s coach, local business owners, etc. about what you do as a Fibrenew technician. The thing is, everyone has leather, plastic or vinyl in their home, vehicle or place of business. That means there’s a never ending list of people who will need your services. You just have to let them know what you do and how you can help them. Prior business experience is a nice to have but it’s not a show stopper. We will teach you those skills. Our business model and programs have been developed over the past 28+ years – it’s very refined and we know it works. If you stick to our template, there is a very good chance you’ll succeed.

Click here for more of Michael Wilson's interview Fibrenew CEO!