1851

Carmelo Marsala&rsquo;s brand, <a href="https://www.spraynetfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=carmelo-marsala-of-spray-net-shares-advice-for-propelling-a-young-brand-forward-7161" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spray-Net</a>, has had quite the year.

Founded in 2010, Spray-Net is a premium painting franchise that uses specialized spray equipment to deliver better results than traditional brush and roller painting, ultimately transforming and upgrading the curb appeals of homes throughout Canada.

But despite Spray-Net&rsquo;s unique model, Marsala found that in the beginning, it was often a struggle to get the brand awareness needed to take the business to the next level. After winning Canada&rsquo;s version of Shark Tank, brand awareness skyrocketed, and Spray-Net nearly instantaneously sold out all territories in Canada. Following that success, Marsala looked at ways to expand this awareness to the U.S and beyond. Just this year, at the International Franchise Association&rsquo;s conference in San Antonio, Texas, Marsala got the exposure he needed after winning the <a href="http://nextgenfranchising.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=carmelo-marsala-of-spray-net-shares-advice-for-propelling-a-young-brand-forward-7161" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">NextGen in Franchising</a> Global Competition as well as the FranShark Competition.

Now, Spray-Net is fueled by the momentum needed to propel them to the next level&mdash;expansion throughout the United States. We spoke with Marsala about some of the challenges he and the brand has faced and what&rsquo;s next for 2016 and beyond.

How was the concept of Spray-Net born?

I got into franchising as a College Pro Student Painting franchisee while in University, and I would continuously get customers who would ask about painting their wood surfaces, like siding and doors. But, I was hesitant as the products weren&rsquo;t made for this and could potentially ruin these surfaces. When you buy a door or window the manufacturer finishes it on-site. So, I looked into how they did this in the factory, but the formula and process was too complicated. I knew if there were a water-based technology we would have something where we could bring factory-quality work to these homeowners and the ability to paint these surfaces effectively. From there, Spray-Net was born.

What were the challenges in starting your franchise?

Before starting the franchise, the main challenge was that most people didn&rsquo;t think this idea was possible, and education and awareness was definitely our biggest challenge. Getting the first few franchisees working really helped with our validation, both from the development and consumer sales sides. From there, we experienced a snowball effect. We are fortunate in that we never had a big issue with development and growth, but the challenge was keeping up with that growth and providing the support system that you need to have a successful franchise system. Spray-Net started franchising two years ago, and we have sold out all of Canada since that time. However, I didn&rsquo;t have the staff and expertise around me to keep up with that growth. But now, we&rsquo;ve built a great team and are ready to take on our next stage of growth in the U.S.

How did IFA&rsquo;s NextGen competition propel your business forward, and what does the future look like? 

NextGen definitely gave us the awareness in the U.S. we needed. The whole IFA team and so many other people showed Spray-Net their support, and we&rsquo;ve made those valuable connections needed to be successful in the U.S. and beyond. I&rsquo;ve learned so much and have been able to ask about what mistakes other big companies have made. As a result, we bypassed those headaches, allowing us to focus on doing things a better way from the beginning.

What development is in the works for 2016 and what are your goals for 2017? 

As I mentioned, we are sold out in Canada, however, we do have a few tiny holes to fill. So we are looking to fill those gaps while putting our main focus on U.S. growth. We really would like to start development on the East Coast, including Florida. We&rsquo;re already in the process of opening corporate territories in Miami in early 2017. In addition, we&rsquo;re focused on Minneapolis and New England.

What&rsquo;s next for Spray-Net, and what advice do you have for those looking to get their business concept off the ground and running? 

The advice I would give is that you often will stumble upon something that hasn&rsquo;t been done before, and you will hear it hasn&rsquo;t been done before for a reason. But, if you believe in it, you should go for it. Everyone has an opinion. Take some with a grain of salt and stick with the positive influences around you.

Carmelo Marsala of Spray-Net Shares Advice For Propelling a Young Brand Forward

1851 Franchise

After winning Canada’s version of Shark Tank, brand awareness skyrocketed, and Spray-Net nearly instantaneously sold out all territories in Canada. Now, the brand is looking to conquer the U.S.


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

carmelo-marsala-of-spray-net-shares-advice-for-propelling-a-young-brand-forward

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Photo of HomeTeam Inspection Service representative giving presentation

Strategic Partnerships Fuel Franchise Growth at HomeTeam Inspection Service

hometeam-inspection-service-franchise-growth-partnerships

Express Employment Professionals

What’s in the 2025 FDD? A Closer Look for Express Employment Professionals Franchise Buyers

whats-in-the-2025-fdd-a-closer-look-for-express-employment-professionals-franchise-buyers

petbar

How-petbar-Makes-Pets-and-Their-Owners-Happy-as-Part-of-the-Family-in-a-Clean-and-Fun-Environment

How petbar Makes Pets and Their Owners Happy as Part of the Family in a Clean and Fun Environment

petbar-franchise-opportunity-boutique-pet-grooming

petbar Franchisees Win the $6.89B Global Market With Complete Transparency, Self-Service and Membership Models, Creating the Happiest Place for Dogs

petbar-franchise-opportunity

Why petbar Wants to Be the “Disney World for Dogs” — and a Dream Business for Franchisees

petbar-franchise-dan-ashley-o-loughlin-qa

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-costs-fees-2025

911 Restoration Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

911-restoration-franchise-deep-dive

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

Carmelo Marsala of Spray-Net Shares Advice For Propelling a Young Brand Forward

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS