Content about Franchising

COLUMBIA, Md. — Private equity firm JPB Capital Partners has invested in Value Drycleaners of America LLC, the parent company of ZIPS Franchising LLC (“ZIPS”), one of the largest franchisors of retail dry cleaners in the Mid-Atlantic region. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

ZIPS began in 1996 with a group of eight dry cleaners in the Baltimore-Washington region and has grown to 36 franchise operations in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Washington D.C.

“We believe that ZIPS has created great brand awareness and a unique model within the dry cleaning industry,” says Jim Bolduc, senior managing director of JPB Capital Partners. “With this foundation in place, and the combination of our capital and our team’s knowledge and experience in both retail and franchise operations, we believe that we can move the concept through its next phase of growth including improved execution of the existing system and further geographic expansion of the concept.”

CHICAGO — A late-night fire scorches a two-story home, but firefighters are able to douse the flames before the structure is destroyed. Still, the smoke and water damage is extensive. Now, in his time of greatest need, the homeowner turns to his insurance company to begin the process of getting his family’s lives back to normal.

So, who does the insurance provider turn to at a time like this? It’ll call in contractors to see about repairing and/or rebuilding the structure, but before that can happen, something has to be done about the family’s personal belongings. Can they be saved? Are they worth saving?

That’s when the smart adjuster calls in a dry cleaner that specializes in restoring garments and soft goods. Long an offshoot of dry cleaning, restoration has come into its own as the add-on that can easily eclipse the core business.

GILBERT, Ariz. — The newest Lapels Dry Cleaning plant from Massachusetts-based franchisor Next Step Franchising features granite counters, custom cabinetry, chandeliers, pendant lighting, French doors, etched glass, crown moldings, and a fully separated call area from the on-site plant.

Lapels offers dry cleaning, shirt service, on-site tailoring, leather/suede care, shoe repair, 24-hour drop-off, heirlooming, and same-day service, pickup and delivery.

The air-conditioned production area in the 2,200-square-foot facility includes a Firbimatic hydrocarbon dry cleaning machine, Wascomat wet cleaning equipment, and Forenta and Unipress finishing and tensioning equipment. Boiler room equipment is by Fulton and Ingersoll Rand. The plant utilizes DCCS and SPOT Business Systems point-of-sale software.

This Lapels location employs 12 full-time-equivalent workers.

Next Step Franchising designed the plant layout, and Mike Marden, Marden Design, was architect.

IRVINE, Calif. — Several drycleaning and laundry services franchises were recently recognized by Entrepreneur Magazineas being among the top 500 franchise systems for 2012.

Making this year’s list were:

• Martinizing Dry Cleaning, No. 278
• ZIPS Dry Cleaners, No. 325
• FRSTeam, No. 333
• Comet Cleaners, No. 346
• Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network, No. 388
• 1-800-DryClean, No. 427
• DryClean USA, No. 461
• Pressed4Time Inc., No. 481

To be eligible for the annual Franchise 500® ranking, a franchisor must have a minimum of 10 units, with at least one in the United States, and must be seeking new franchisees, the magazine says. All companies are judged on financial strength and stability, growth rate, size of the system, and other factors.

To learn more about the Franchise 500®, visit the Entrepreneur website.

HAYWARD, Calif. — Entrepreneur magazine has recognized FRSTeam in its 2010 Franchise 500 feature again, ranking the restoration company No. 307 on its list of top North American franchisers. FRSTeam came in at No. 499 in 2009.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Tide Dry Cleaners, operated by Procter & Gamble subsidiary Agile Pursuits Franchising, is expanding to Atlanta. The company plans to open multiple franchised drycleaning locations and is currently seeking qualified entrepreneurs to operate the facilities.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — MyDoor Dry Cleaning and 24/7 Dry Cleaners announced that they will begin offering trade-name license agreements to qualified buyers throughout North America.

"This is a great opportunity for entrepreneurial-minded people to fulfill their dream of owning and operating their own business, without the red tape of bureaucracy often associated with franchising," Dame says. "We offer complete turn-key operations with top brands in both delivery and retail drycleaning."

LOVELAND, Ohio — Entrepreneur magazine has ranked Martinizing Dry Cleaning at No. 319 in its Franchise 500 and No. 1 in the field of franchised drycleaning and laundry services, according to the Jan. 2010 issue. This is the fifth consecutive year that Martinizing has made the list.

MIAMI — Entrepreneur magazine ranked OXXO Care Cleaners among the top 500 franchises for the third consecutive year, according to the publication’s January issue. Ranked No. 422 on the list this year, OXXO offers 24/7 pick-up and drop-off service, GreenEarth cleaning, hand ironing and a European boutique-style setting.

GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — A company known as Door-To-Door Dry Cleaning is launching a franchising push that includes a nationwide series of seminars focusing on start-up and conversion opportunities.

Based in Colorado, Door-To-Door Dry Cleaning claims to be one of the fastest-growing companies in the industry and is targeting rapid expansion through franchising. The company says it will begin serving six franchisees in the Denver metro area as soon as it opens a central plant this spring.