360° Painting Enjoys Strong Growth Trajectory with 5 Franchise Deals and a 35.5% Year-Over-Year Sales Increase in First Quarter

While the coronavirus pandemic has forced many businesses to shift their operations, one industry is continuing to thrive: home renovation. A May 2020 RetailWire report noted that retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s saw a boost in first-quarter sales, and executives cited stay-at-home orders as motivating customers to tackle home-improvement projects.

Commercial and residential painting franchise 360° Painting is well-positioned to serve this customer base, especially during COVID-19. Not only has the brand been deemed an essential business during the coronavirus pandemic, but it has also implemented best practices to help franchisees keep business going. Recent numbers indicate continued success: In the first quarter of 2020, 360° Painting had a 35.5% year-over-year sales increase. The brand also recently signed five new franchise deals that will see the brand expand into six new territories.

“Signing new franchisees while simultaneously seeing a boost in year-over-year sales is a huge validator for our brand,” Premium Service Brands Vice President of Franchise Development Luke Schulte said. “Not only will 360° Painting now enter new markets with franchisees who are well-established in their communities, but we are doing so at a time when more and more consumers are eager to make improvements to their spaces.”

360° Painting was first founded in 2005 and began franchising the following year. Today, the brand has more than 120 units across the U.S. and Canada and enjoys the support of parent company Premium Service Brands, which also oversees the home services franchises Handyman Pro, Kitchen Wise, Maid Right, ProLift Garage Doors and Renew Crew. In addition to interior and exterior painting, 360° Painting offers deck painting and staining, fence painting and staining, concrete staining and drywall repair.

360° Painting has received major industry recognition since its inception. In early 2020, the brand made Entrepreneur magazine’s 40th Annual Franchise 500 list for the third year in a row, ranking as No. 265 overall and as No. 1 in the painting category for the third consecutive year. 360° Painting has also placed on Franchise Times’ Top 200 list, which recognizes brands for their growth over the past 18 months.

The brand’s newest franchisees are Greg Begnaud, whose franchise will service the Lafayette, Louisiana area; Dave Echols of Fenton, Mississippi; Eduardo Esquivel and Gabriela Cerrillo of Cincinnati, Ohio; Jeff and Emily May of Sarasota, Florida; and Gabe and Jennifer Colons of York, Pennsylvania.

“When COVID-19 hit, I wanted to find a business that was recession-proof, and everyone needs home services and home care,” Begnaud said. “It was a long-term vision for my daughters’ lives as well. I wanted to run my own business, and I can hire a sales manager who can run the day-to-day for me so I can keep my full-time employment.”

The new signings coincided with the brand taking steps to provide franchisees with the appropriate resources to help them navigate the issues brought on by COVID-19. For one, 360° Painting pivoted to offering free virtual estimates and provided franchisees with the appropriate training. By using video services such as FaceTime and Skype and having customers send photos of the spaces they want to be painted, 360° Painting franchisees have been able to do virtual walkthroughs and provide customers with estimates by email.

Franchisee benefits at this time also include daily one-on-one calls with their business coaches, financial webinars regarding cash flow and marketing packets that include email templates and social media posts.

The brand has also encouraged franchisees to follow the recommended social distancing guidelines in each of their markets. All owners are encouraged to follow guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and have also been encouraged to buy branded personal protective equipment (PPE) for themselves and their crews. Premium Service Brands also provided franchisees with a one-page informational pamphlet on best practices to share with painting crews and customers. Additionally, extra effort has been made to make sure work areas are properly cleaned after jobs are completed, including the cleaning of high-touch areas, such as door handles.

The level of precaution has worked in the franchisees’ favor. For the most part, franchisees have been able to continue with exterior projects, and, in some cases, franchise owners were even able to complete interior jobs because families stayed in a separate part of the house or the commercial property was vacant.

Throughout COVID-19, 360° Painting has continued giving back to the communities it serves through its philanthropic arm, Kids-Lift. In April, Premium Service Brands, which is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia, donated food to more than 300 local children and families who found themselves in need during the pandemic.

With a continued focus on providing excellent customer service, the support of Premium Service Brands and new franchisees who are passionate about the brand’s mission, 360° Painting is prepared to serve customers in any economic climate.

The startup costs for a 360° Painting franchise range from $100,000 to $150,000. The franchise fee is $60,000. To learn more about franchising with 360° Painting, visit https://www.premiumservicebrands.com/360°-painting/

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