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!

Infographic: Keeping your Car Interior Clean

Keeping your leather in great shape isn’t very hard; a little time and effort is all that is necessary! When considering automotive upholstery restoration, you may want to look for a professional to take care of it for you. Simply conduct a search in your telephone directory or online to look for one in your area that can perform the job for you. Also make sure that the company you are going to deal with is a reputable one and be sure to obtain a price quote before confirming whether or not you chose them to restore it for you. Fibrenew is here to offer tips as well as assistance with car interior maintenance and repair. For more info visit your nearest Fibrenew repair guy at Fibrenew Franchising.

Source: Pinterest

Infographic: Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Professional Upholstery and Carpet Cleaning Service

This infographic shows some great tips to keep the areas of your home where your children may play clean and fresh. If you have pets then you especially may be interested in the tips provided here. Learn some great tips for cleaning your leather furniture; we all know this needs special attention. Keeping your leather in great shape isn’t very hard; a little time and effort is all that is necessary! Fibrenew is here to offer tips as well as assistance with difficult leather maintenance.

Source: Infographics Race

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.

Found in an Attic: Firsthand Accounts of World War II Experiences

Ken Gorrell of Fibrenew Lakes Region

Ken Gorrell of Fibrenew Lakes Region, grew up in an old New England farmhouse that has been in his family for generations. As a child, he would spend hours combing through the attic in search of lost treasures, convinced that there had to be an old coin, a map or other valuable trinkets waiting to be found. What he ended up discovering was an original manuscript of his grandfather’s cousin and once war-time United Press Correspondent, Henry ‘Hank’ Gorrell. “Eyewitness” as it was originally titled was a firsthand account of Hank’s war experiences from 1936 – 1943.

Ken revisited the manuscript as an adult and decided to take on the job of seeing it published as “Soldier of the Press: Covering the Front in Europe and North Africa, 1936-1943“. First, Ken spent time carefully editing the original manuscript, modernizing the spelling of place names and making sense of sections that had been cut out as a matter of security. He later fact checked the dates, names and places that Hank wrote about and finally negotiated a publishing deal with the University of Missouri Press.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Threatened by each side in the Spanish Civil War with death as a suspected spy, decorated for saving an airman’s life in a bullet-ridden B-24 Liberator over Greece, war correspondent Hank Gorrell often found himself in the thick of the fighting he had been sent to cover. And in reporting on some of the world’s most dangerous stories, he held newspaper readers spellbound with his eyewitness accounts from battlefields across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

An “exclusive” United Press correspondent, Gorrell saw more than his share of war, even more than most reporters, as his beat took him from the siege of Madrid to the sands of North Africa. His memoir, left in an attic trunk for sixty years, is presented here in its entirety for the first time. As he risks life and limb on the front lines, Gorrell gives us new perspectives on the overall conflict—including some of World War II’s lesser-known battles—as well as insights into behind-the-lines intrigue.

Gorrell’s account first captures early Axis intervention in Spain and their tests of new weaponry and blitzkrieg tactics at the cost of millions of Spanish lives. While covering the Spanish Civil War, he was captured by forces from each side and saw many brave men die disillusioned, and his writings offer a contrast to other views of that conflict from writers like Hemingway. But Spain was just Hank’s training ground: before America even entered World War II, he was embedded with Allied forces from seven nations.

When war broke out, Gorrell was sent to Hungary, where in Budapest he witnessed pro-Axis enthusiasts toast the victory of Fascist armies. Later in Romania he watched Stalin kick over the Axis apple cart with his invasion of Bessarabia—forcing the Germans to deal with the Russian menace before they had planned. Then he saw twenty Italian divisions mauled in the mountains of Albania, marking the beginning of the end for Mussolini.

Combining the historian’s accuracy with the journalist’s on-the-spot reportage, Gorrell provides eyewitness impressions of what war looked, sounded, and felt like to soldiers on the ground. Soldier of the Press weaves personal adventures into the larger fabric of world events, plunging modern readers into the heat of battle while revealing the dangers faced by war correspondents in that bygone era.

ABOUT THE EDITOR, KEN GORRELL
Ken Gorrell and his wife Holli own and operate Fibrenew Lakes Region in mid New Hampshire. To contact the Gorrell’s, visit their website at: www.fibrenew.com/lakes-region

Texan Makes His Move & Purchases Existing Fibrenew Franchise

 

When Elliot Berk took over the Fibrenew Northeast San Antonio franchise, he was prepared to jump in full steam ahead. “It was nice to have built-in business already, but …” he pauses and laughs, “you have to be prepared to play catch up. My advice for people taking over an existing franchise: the first few months you’re going to spend a lot of hours catching up. But the more prepared you are at the start the better off you’ll be in the long run.”

It was inevitable that Berk would become an business owner. He worked years for an oil company, loading and discharging barges. The six-days-a-week, 12-hours-a-day shifts were pretty tough on the Berk family. He also has a diverse background in the hospitality industry, so was looking for a career shift that would allow him more freedom for family time as well as more customer service and one-on-one interaction.

So an online search led Berk to the Fibrenew website, where he was intrigued with the possibility of owning his own leather, plastic and vinyl restoration company. Shortly after filling out some forms, Berk found himself on a ride-along with now fellow franchisee, Craig Burton of Fibrenew Metro Austin. “We were discussing the possibilities to be had with Fibrenew, the demographics, incomes, stuff like that. That was a big seller.” As it turns out, Fibrenew Northeast San Antonio was for sale at the time, so Berk made his move.

The transition also means moving cities: Berk’s wife is still living in Corpus Christi, where he commutes to each weekend, but they will soon be completing the move to Schertz. “San Antonio is the fifth largest city in the U.S. It’s growing leaps and bounds,” Berk remarks of the potential his franchise has. With a large residential market, he’s also breaking into the restaurant and RV industries. “Now that I’ve been doing this for a while, I am actually getting a taste of where I can go with it.”

It’s been a lot of change for the Berks, but it’s all positive. “Everyone I talk to at Fibrenew is just as excited about this as I am,” Berk says. “Every time I call with a question, I get an answer — someone’s always there.” In fact, when reflecting on his training at Fibrenew’s head office in Calgary, Berk says he was impressed with the overall attitude of the entire Fibrenew team. “The enthusiasm everyone has… the belief everyone has for what we are doing, it’s unbelievable. I try to expend that enthusiasm at my level also.” 

Source: Texan Makes His Move & Purchases Existing Fibrenew Franchise

What Does a Parmesan Chicken Sandwich and a Leather Sofa Have in Common?

 What does a preparing a parmesan chicken sandwich and repairing a worn out leather sofa have in common? More than you think. Ask Michael Carrigan, franchisee of Fibrenew North Naples. As a former executive chef, Carrigan likens the two art forms as such: “I still work with my hands, making sure the product is nice and perfect and the best it can be so the customer is happy with it. There’s a parallel there, with one difference: I can qualify the customer. In the kitchen you’re removed, but now I can discuss and explain with my customers.”

Making the leap from the kitchen to owning his own mobile leather, plastic and vinyl restoration business with Fibrenew isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds. Carrigan says as a chef, he put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into his work, but what he really wanted was do invest that into something for himself. He had been looking into a several different franchise opportunities when a broker approached him offering assistance. Fibrenew was one of the options presented, and the more Carrigan thought about it the more he was attracted to the low buy-in, low overhead and mobile vs. brick-and-mortar concept.

Carrigan met and spoke to a few other franchisee owners in the south Florida area before attending the Fibrenew Training Program. “The support for franchisees is huge!” he comments. “I noticed that right away. Plus, as a chef I like things neat and organized and clean and tidy — and I could tell by the training facility everything was buttoned up.”

Fibrenew North Naples has a fairly diversified market. Carrigan has dabbled in the marine industry, built quite a following with the classic car crowd, and earned a large portion of the residential market. “It’s a older community, but well balanced. I’ve done golf carts to golf canopies to steering wheels to pontoons boats to couches,” he says. Carrigan suggests to other new franchisees that earning contracts with warranty companies — as he did — is a great way to spread awareness about the Fibrenew brand and fill time slots with revenue-earning appointments.

Carrigan is the first to acknowledge he’s a firm believer in karma, and perhaps this is why his Fibrenew business has taken off the way it has. “I’m not going to lie: I’ve turned down jobs where I could easily just take someone’s money, knowing they could fix it for less themselves. But I don’t want my name to have a blemish. Just be honest, have integrity, show up, return phone calls. Throw it out to the universe and it’ll come back to you.”

Today, as owner of his very own business, Carrigan enjoys the work/life balance he’s settled in to. He hangs out with his son, stays active with jogging and soccer, and tends to his home’s yard more now that he has flexibility in his schedule. Sounds like the delicious balance!

Source: What Does a Parmesan Chicken Sandwich and a Leather Sofa Have in Common?

From School Teacher and Engineer to Franchise Business Owner

 

At Fibrenew we are big on supporting one another. In doing that, we would like to share spotlight interviews with our existing Franchises. Today we are looking at Mark Canon and his Fibrenew Franchise in South Orlando, Florida.

Mark joined the Fibrenew family in May of 2012. Coming to Fibrenew from a varied background; he was a Math and Science school teacher in his early to mid 20’s before returning to school and pursuing an engineering degree. Mark worked as a power systems engineer for 12 years before finding the Fibrenew opportunity.

One of the reasons Mark was drawn to Fibrenew was the freedom to control his own destiny and the ability work his own hours. Setting his own hours was important for two reasons. One, the heat and humidity of Florida has Mark out the door so he can complete projects early in the mornings and spend the hot afternoons making follow up calls and knocking on doors to build new connections. The second reason was his children, Mark likes that he is able to be available for school activities, sports, doctors appointments and other things related to his two children. He also appreciates that he does not spend a lot of time behind a desk.

Right now it is just Mark running his Franchise and for now he enjoys it that way, he likes the physical hands-on work that Fibrenew requires. He is not ruling out the potential for a technician down the road, but right now he enjoys working the Franchise alone. “It is good exercise” Mark jokes. He hopes to continue to see his franchise grow, particularly within the small specialty car industry, doing warranty work for local Orlando furniture shops and he would love to add some aviation plastic work to his consistent business... continue reading!

Operating from Vans and Trucks to a Bike and Trailer, Fibrenew Franchisees Make it Work!

UPPER EAST SIDE — 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 leather repair franchising company that specializes in repairing leather and vinyl upholstery. . .read more!

Reblog: 20 Years in Business and Still Growing

 At Fibrenew, we are big on supporting one another. In doing that, we would like to share spotlight interviews with our franchisees. Today we are looking at Dan Hoffman and his Fibrenew Portland franchise in Portland, Oregon.

Dan has been a part of the Fibrenew family since 1995. Born into a family of mechanics, the automotive industry seemed a likely fit for Dan. But after spending some time as a paramedic/firefighter, he opted to start his own Fibrenew Franchise. Today, Fibrenew Portland is a multi-unit business with a hired technician, Dan’s son, and Dan himself. In the next 5-7 years, once his son is done school, his plan is to add more technicians and expand his business. Even after 20 years of operation in the Portland market, Dan recognizes that there is still plenty of room to grow.

Dan says one of the reasons he selected Fibrenew was the quality of leather, plastic and vinyl restoration products and the proven franchise business model. That and the flexibility of being an owner / operator and what that meant for his family’s lifestyle. . . continue reading!

A Successful Fibrenew Franchise Owner Balances Work and Home Life

At Fibrenew, we are big on supporting one another. In doing that, we would like to share spotlight interviews with our franchisees. Today we are looking at Ann Benes and her Fibrenew Franchise in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Ann and her family were looking for a small business franchise opportunity that would help supplement their farming income. Ann’s husband Pat was initially going to be the one running the business. The plan was to use the flexibility of owning and operating a Fibrenew franchise while he continued to operate the family farm. However, over 13 years later, Fibrenew Lincoln is now operated by Ann while Pat works the farm full time. The flexibility factor is still a huge perk for their family as Ann is able to work around the kids’ school and extra curricular schedules and still have plenty of extra family time.

A typical day has Ann seeing her children off to school in the morning before taking her Fibrenew vehicle out to complete various types of Fibrenew leather, plastic and vinyl repairs for her customers in and around Lincoln. Ann structures her schedule so she’s able to be home shortly after her children arrive home from school. This is when she tackles the day’s paperwork and answers emails and return phone calls. For now, it is a successful framework. When asked what the future holds for the Franchise, Ann says she just takes it year by year. As with any small business owner, their goal each year is to see growth. Down the road, one of their children may want to take part in operation or they will look at the possibility of selling the business.

Ann shared with us a story about her favorite Fibrenew project; It was the restoration of two aniline leather chairs in a psychologist’s office. The chairs were originally a brilliant royal purple color but after years of sitting in a north facing window, they had faded to a pale lavender color. The owner had attempted to re dye them himself but was left with more a blue color than the purple he was looking for. Ann says those chairs were among her favorite pieces to restore as they were so unique.

Ann’s advice to possible new and existing franchisees is to never stop learning. She regularly makes time to keep up on all the new techniques and information. She credits that as well as the Fibrenew training and support with helping make her business successful. Her advice to people looking at a Fibrenew Franchise business opportunity is that they persevere through the initial few months to build a successful business, she says it is not an overnight success, but that it is worth it.

Source: Fibrenew Blog

Saul Shapiro: Fibrenew Manhattan Central

Saul Shapiro was a materials engineer and a broadcast technologist before he opened his own leather, plastic and vinyl restoration franchise business with Fibrenew. Shapiro’s story is unique because while most of his fellow franchisees operate their businesses from vans and trucks, Saul’s mode of transportation for his on-site service business is a bicycle and trailer. In this 3:40 video, we follow Saul on his bike to a leather repair job in a customer’s home on Manhattan’s upper west side.

Are you looking for a new career where you can be your own boss and take charge of your financial future? Come and join us at https://www.fibrenew-franchising.com/.

Residential: leather furniture repair, sofas, couches, chairs, loveseats and footrests

Damaged leather couches, chairs and sofas, whether torn, worn, ripped, faded, is chewed by a dog, or scratched by a cat, can be restored by Fibrenew. Blemishes on leather furniture such as burns, stains, holes and cuts can also be renewed. If you’re looking to change the color of your leather furniture, turn to our expert color matching and re-dye services. We offer mobile leather furniture repair service to your home or business. Ask us for a quote!

Fibrenew Latest Franchisees!

Congratulations to our latest Franchisees! Back home today from training in Calgary. Wishing you all the best with your new business. We're here to support you all the way! For more information on how you can join our Fibrenew Franchise visit us at http://www.fibrenew-franchising.com/about-fibrenew/

Pictured left to right from top row:
Jim Eng - Fibrenew Firelands (Ohio)
Brian Kagebein - Fibrenew Woodstock-Kenosha (Illinois)
Sy Santos - Fibrenew Layton (Utah)
Evan Friemel - Fibrenew Amarillo (Texas)
Steve Bugg - Fibrenew Clear Lake (Texas)
Patricia Kagebein - Fibrenew Woodstock-Kenosha (Illinois)
Anne Friemel - Fibrenew Amarillo (Texas)
Dean Carroll - Fibrenew Australia
Randy Fuller - Fibrenew Central San Diego (California)
Luis Moraga - Fibrenew Australia

Fibrenew Edmonton: A Customer Service Company That Happens to Restore Leather, Plastic & Vinyl

 

 To operate a successful business takes a lot of elbow grease, products and services that solve people’s problems, and — perhaps most importantly — an understanding of customer service. Don Barnhouse gets it. Spending more than 35 years in a family-run grocery industry, working several different positions and managing a variety of groups means he has a lengthy, proven track record of treating people with respect.

“I’d say customer service is why we’ve done as well as we have,” he comments. “Be honest, upfront. If you say you’re going to do something, do it.”

Fibrenew Edmonton has been a thriving franchise for over 20 years, and with Barnhouse’s leadership since 2010, has secured a leading spot in the area’s leather, plastic and vinyl restoration and repair market. Serving a region of well over a million people leaves no room for slacking.  

“We’ve got high end stuff and low end — it’s a mix. Some days you see bonded leather and some days you see genuine leather. Sometimes people want to spend a lot of money to get the job done quick, and other days you meet people who are trying to save a dollar but still want quality.”

 With such a diverse demographic — from downtown apartment dwellers to acreage owners an hour past city limits — Barnhouse appreciates each atypical day and does the quoting and scheduling himself, allowing his two technicians the best opportunity to service the franchise’s territory most efficiently. To assist with Fibrenew Edmonton’s service calls, Barnhouse also has a reliable upholstery tech who pitches in when needed, and a skilled contractor who provides his expertise for siding service calls. Throwing another dynamic into the mix: Barnhouse’s wife Karin is a costume designer for a local theatre company, so really knows her way around a sewing machine... read more!

Fibrenew - Leather, Plastic & Vinyl Repair Franchise

Market Leader in Restoration of Leather, Plastic & Vinyl:
We are a mobile service which caters to the aviation, automobile, marine, medical, commercial and residential markets. With all these potential revenue streams 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.

Experience, Stability and Growth:
Fibrenew has nearly 30 years experience in the development of our superior products and techniques. That, along with our proven support, operation and marketing systems have all contributed to our expansion into 5 countries with over 230 franchises.

Single Operator or Fleet:
A Fibrenew franchise can operate as a single operator or as a fleet. Our flat-fee franchise model and low overhead make it a great fit for budding entrepreneurs.

First-Rate Training and Support:
As a Fibrenew franchisee, you will become part of a global company that offers a premier training program and an unrivaled support network. You will learn the skills necessary to repair and refurbish damaged leather and cracked vinyl and plastic in cars, boats, airplanes, at home and in commercial settings.

An Eco-Friendly Business:
Fibrenew offers a business solution to a serious environmental problem. Our products and services help preserve mother nature by saving damaged goods from ending up in landfills.

If you are prepared to do what it takes to run a successful Fibrenew business, visit fibrenew-franchising.com and download a franchise information kit today.

Specialties
leather repair, plastic repair, franchise opportunities, mobile businesses, on-site repair service, vinyl repair

Website
http://www.fibrenew-franchising.com

Industry
Consumer Services

Type
Privately Held

Headquarters
Unit 102, 450 1st Ave NE Black Diamond, Alberta T0L 0H0 Canada

Company Size
201-500 employees

Founded
1985

Fibrenew Training Program

All Fibrenew franchisees are thoroughly trained at our Calgary training center. The 2 week training session is conducted by seasoned technicians who have all owned and operated their own Fibrenew Franchise. All told, our instructors have 50+ years of combined knowledge.

Prior to coming to the 2 week training session, franchisees conduct a 4 week pre-training program from home. This program involves getting the business set up and ready for successful operation off the hop.

Following the 2 week training session and after returning home, franchisees enter into a 12 week start-up training program. This involves coaching on introducing the business to local customers, getting web presence and marketing underway, a grand opening plan and much more... read more!

Oconomowoc’s Fibrenew Handles Leather, Plastic and Vinyl Restoration and Repair

 

OCONOMOWOC — Entrepreneur Keith Stewart and his wife, Laurie, are fading and ripped upholsteries’ worst enemies.

The Stewarts recently became the new owners of Oconomowoc’s Fibrenew, an upholstery repair and restoration service. Fibrenew repairs, re-dyes, restores and cleans leather, plastic, vinyl and fabric. Basically, if there’s faded or ripped fabric, Keith Stewart will do everything he can to bring it back to life.

Stewart works with furniture, cars, boats and even planes. There was even a time he had to reupholster 61 chairs for a Cousins Subs that was reopening. He had a little bit of help from Laurie Stewart and his father-inlaw on that one.

Keith Stewart became an entrepreneur after spending his entire post-college life in the metal industry, where he commercially heat-treated metal.

 A leather chair that was ruined by a dog

 The same chair after restoration

He enjoyed his time doing it, but after several years of doing it he realized there isn’t a lot of change or innovation in the field.

“We used to joke that heat treating is the second oldest profession,” Stewart said. “It goes back to the Middle Ages if not earlier. There isn’t anything going on and frankly, it was just boring. It was more interesting to try and do something new.”

So he tried something new. With the help of a franchise coach, Stewart spent a year researching businesses he wanted to be a part of. The business coach found Fibrenew and presented it to Stewart.

Along with Laurie, Keith Stewart spent time talking to the local development person in Hartford about the company. He spent a day shadowing a franchisee in Chicago and when he decided the business was right for him, he approached the former owner, who was looking to retire... read more!

Freedom To Be His Own Boss

 When asked; Why Fibrenew? Franchisee Henry Garner responds; Because being a Fibrenew franchisee means you’re your own boss, you’re part of a supportive head office, and no two days are alike.

Since opening Fibrenew Alpharetta in 2012, Henry Garner has become the go-to guy for leather, plastic and vinyl restoration in the area. How does he know he provides solid service using top-of-the-line products? “The only time I ever really hear of my competition is when they’ve screwed up and someone calls Fibrenew to fix it!” he says.

There were a few components of Fibrenew that drew him to the franchise in the first place. First, the freedom to be his own boss was compelling. Garner admits this is something he appreciates every day. “If I had someone telling me what to do or looking over my shoulder it would drive me crazy!”

Leather Furniture Redye By Fibrenew Second, he immediately recognized the encouragement for success from head office. When recalling his early exploration into the company, Garner says, “I was really impressed with the support Fibrenew had. I remember before I purchased the business I was talking to the support team about the process and they genuinely cared about me being part of this.” And even after opening the doors to Fibrenew Alpharetta Garner received the same support from the franchise team. “One of the many things I appreciate is how quickly you can get somebody on the phone and how there is always someone there to answer questions.” read more!

From Banker to Business Owner, Fibrenew Franchisee Takes Charge

Josh Colwell admits he felt stuck in his former career. As a banking professional, his days were habitual, standardized routines where he was confined to his office. “I enjoy people, but the banking system isn’t really about that,” he explains. For 10 years he plugged along, supporting his wife as she started her online retail business. Colwell looked here and there for new opportunities that would allow for more interaction with people, and after reconnecting with an old friend he finally found what he was looking for.

Daniel Sheetz owned a thriving Fibrenew franchise and invited Colwell to join the business as his technician. Wanting to return to his farming background, Sheetz was looking for someone with passion and drive to take over Fibrenew Central Iowa as leader in leather, plastic and vinyl restoration. Colwell found the hands-on, creative problem solving elements of his technician’s role as a welcome surprise. “It was something that was missing from my day-to-day life. I really enjoyed it.”

Ten months into his technician’s role, Colwell purchased the business. “It was the right time. I knew it was an opportunity that doesn’t come along often, so I figured, ‘Let’s go.’” With the support of his wife, he has earnestly embraced his new role as entrepreneur, setting — and achieving — high standards for his Fibrenew Central Iowa franchise. The quality of the brand is something Colwell takes pride in being part of. “I am a big believer in our products and what we do. The [Fibrenew] trainers and support team help push me to another level of proficiency and raise my standards.” read more!