Mister Sparky Electric

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-gordon-3909b746/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-expansion-2730463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ben</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/trisha-gordon-05314083?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-expansion-2730463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Trisha Gordon</a> opened&nbsp;<a href="https://mistersparkyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-expansion-2730463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mister Sparky</a> of Dayton, Ohio, in August 2023 after realizing the stability and growth potential the electrical services market offers. Before launching their franchise, Ben brought over a decade of experience in sales within the manufacturing industry, while Trisha had spent more than a decade in health care.Trisha, who grew up in a construction family with her father building houses, had been around the trades her entire life. That background gave her confidence in the stability of the electrical industry.&nbsp;"My dad builds houses, so I've been around it my whole life,” Trisha said. “It's definitely recession-proof. Everybody has electrical issues that happen in their home.”While exploring different franchise opportunities, she and Ben visited several locations, including one in West Virginia, where they were struck by the culture and atmosphere the brand was creating. Inspired by what they saw, the Gordons took the leap into business ownership with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mister-sparky-electric/info">Mister Sparky</a>.<h2>Building Trust From the Ground Up</h2>Launching with only two electricians meant long hours and tough calls about how to cover 24/7 service. Trisha often answered phones herself before bringing in an after-hours call center to ensure every customer was heard. That commitment to responsiveness quickly set the Gordons apart.“People are often surprised when I pick up the phone myself,” Trisha said. “I tell them, ‘Yes, we answer the phone, and we can be there tonight or first thing tomorrow.’ Coming from a contractor’s background, I know how hard it can be to reach someone when you really need help, so being responsive has always been a priority for us.”At first, the biggest hurdle was credibility. With few reviews and a small team, potential customers wondered if the company was new or untested. Trisha leaned on the Mister Sparky brand’s national reputation to build trust with Dayton homeowners.&nbsp;“We may be a newer location, but Mister Sparky has been trusted across the U.S. for years,” Trisha said. “Homeowners in Dayton can count on that same level of experience and reliability here.”<h2>Community Involvement as a Growth Strategy</h2>Wasting no time, the Gordons immediately embedded themselves in Dayton’s business community. Early sponsorships and regular participation in chamber of commerce events gave Mister Sparky visibility and helped build lasting relationships.“Being integrated into our local chamber of commerce has been essential to our growth. Our chamber of commerce puts on a wide range of events — from drive-through trick-or-treating and Christmas celebrations to weekly coffee connections for business owners,” Trisha said. “It gives us visibility in the community, helps us build relationships and has even led to new business.”<h2>Growth Fueled by Franchisee Support</h2>One of the most rewarding surprises of franchising has been the peer support network. Trisha says that other Mister Sparky owners were only a call away when questions came up. "I attribute all of our success right now to our fellow franchises who helped with not only all the questions that we've had, but the encouragement to do better," she said.&nbsp;Now, just over two years into their journey, the Gordons find themselves on the other side of the conversation, mentoring newer owners who are where they once were.With demand in Dayton keeping their team booked out in advance, the Gordons are preparing to expand. They’ve hired additional electricians and are now working to open a new location in Toledo. “When marketing reached out about launching in Toledo, it gave us the motivation and support we needed,” Trisha said. “That extra push has been a real benefit.”The Gordons have gone from answering every phone call themselves to getting ready for expansion into new cities, showing how far they’ve come in just two years.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://mistersparkyfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchise-expansion-2730463" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://mistersparkyfranchise.com/</a>.

Mister Sparky Franchise - Dayton Success & Toledo Expansion

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Since launching their Mister Sparky franchise in late 2023, Ben and Trisha Gordon have powered up Dayton's electrical services market.

How This Husband and Wife Built Mister Sparky in Dayton Ohio

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Before transitioning to&nbsp;<a href="https://mistersparkyfranchise.com/">Mister Sparky Electric</a>, the consumer electrical services franchise, Dennis Conrade was a second-generation electrician working primarily in commercial construction in Arkansas. However, after decades of running a successful operation, Dennis and his wife,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisa-conrade-82790270/">Elisa</a>, hit a ceiling. No amount of hard work could overcome the limits of Dennis’ availability. In addition to an opportunity to scale, the Conrades were also looking for a way to turn a profitable trade into a true asset and something that could eventually become transferable.“Without Dennis, that business didn’t work,” Elisa said. “It wasn’t a true business in the sense that this service business is. There was no room for growth other than having a bigger contract any given year.”In 2008, the Conrades received a piece of direct mail inviting them to learn how to make money in the electrical business. Given the economic instability of that year, they were intrigued. After attending an informational session, Dennis was sold. At this time, the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mister-sparky-electric/info">Mister Sparky Electric</a> territory near them wasn’t available, but they were able to tap into the systems and resources offered by the franchisor to begin scaling their business.“He could see that would be the future of our business,” Elisa said.In 2012, the territory issue was resolved, and the pair invested in a Mister Sparky Electric franchise, converting their existing business to align with the Mister Sparky brand identity. While they adopted the brand in 2012, the Conrades made the full transition from commercial construction to a pure service and repair model by 2018.Once the switch was complete, they didn’t look back. The move to the recurring service model helped stabilize revenue, and it opened doors for the entire family to be involved. Daughters&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-campbell-809b19125/">Erica Campbell</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-conrade/">Erin Conrade</a> are both now key members of the family business, which would not have been possible in the heavily commercial space that was largely driven by Dennis.<h2>Balancing Strengths in a Family-Run Franchise</h2>Integrating four family members into a business dynamic took careful consideration and a recognition of one another’s skills for the Conrades, and it remains a balancing act to support both the family business and non-work family time.“That is a very difficult thing to do,” Elisa said. “Anyone who runs a small business will attest that you don’t have the work-life balance that you would have with other employment opportunities. But we do manage to make it work. All four of us have very different strengths and weaknesses, and we’ve tried to play on those as we’ve grown.”Dennis remains the technical anchor, managing the electrical standards and field operations, supporting and complementing Elisa and Erica’s back-office management.“Dennis knows everything that could happen, electrical-wise, in the home,” Elisa said. “He knows when something is awry with our guys in the field, materials are out of whack and that sort of thing.”Supporting all of this, Erin has carved out a unique place for herself in the company, driving culture and people.“Erin is our free spirit and visionary,” Elisa said. “She’s constantly working on all of the rest of us regarding mindset, helping us stay focused and positive about the future. She does all of our training, and she’s our chief people officer.”<h2>The Local Advantage of a Family-Owned Franchise</h2>In Little Rock, Elisa says the family dynamic offers a distinct competitive edge. For homeowners, inviting a service provider to work in or on their home is a big leap, and it requires deep trust. The Conrades have leveraged their reputation as a family-owned business to build additional trust in their market.“There may be some markets where this isn’t the case, but we’re in a small market in the South. I do think that the family business reputation helps,” Elisa said. “A lot of times, that’s what we try to make sure our customers understand. We’re not a big corporate company. We’re a small, family-run company that’s backed by bigger corporate ideas and ways of doing things to provide better service for them. But when it’s all said and done, we’re a small family business.”<h2>Sparking a Legacy</h2>With Mister Sparky Electric, a business hinging on commercial contract work was transformed to a service model that offers the potential for consistent growth. For Elisa and Dennis, the franchise also serves as something tangible that can be passed down through generations.“We are trying to build a legacy here in central Arkansas,” Elisa said. “We have four grandkids, and they’re growing up very fast. What we’re hoping is to build a legacy business that, even if they don’t want to take it over and manage it, it’ll be something that they can be a part of.” To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/mister-sparky-electric">https://1851franchise.com/mister-sparky-electric</a>.&nbsp;

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How This Husband and Wife Built Mister Sparky in Dayton Ohio

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