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Husband-and-wife team Michael and Renee Douglas met several years ago while working in the logistics field at the same company. Now, they’re preparing to enter a whole new industry together with full-service home management and staging franchise <a href="https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=newly-minted-showhomes-franchisees-michael-and-renee-douglas-prepare-for-business-in-michigan-2711646" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Showhomes</a>.&nbsp;“We were at a point where we were looking for <a href="https://1851franchise.com/showhomes/showhomes-home-manager-turned-franchisee-nancy-jones-turned-her-passion-for-design-into-a-booming-business-2710248#brand-latest-stories">a career change</a> and we’d always wanted to own our own business in a field for which we had a passion,” Michael said.&nbsp;The Douglases looked at other concepts when they decided to go into franchising, prioritizing finding the right culture fit. After working with a franchise consultant and exploring a few different sectors, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/showhomes">Showhomes</a> stood out because of how the brand touched upon each of their respective passions.&nbsp;“I have a big interest in real estate and we also own a couple of homes,” Michael said. “Renee really enjoys decorating and the staging piece of it. She really enjoys making our home look nice. She also did some of this work at our other company, decorating the office and remodeling.”&nbsp;Showhomes also gave the Douglases a much-desired familial feel, plus a sense of strong support.&nbsp;“The company we come from has a family atmosphere and that was definitely the sense we got at Showhomes,” Renee said. “The leadership team has been great. They’ve been setting everything up for us to make sure we’re doing the right thing and keeping us on track.”&nbsp;The Douglases recently signed on to kick off the brand’s Michigan presence with the state’s first Showhomes business in the city of Northville, currently slated for a January 1, 2020 opening date. In addition to Northville, Michael and Renee’s Showhomes franchise will serve the nearby cities of Birmingham, Novi, Plymouth and more. The new venture is a joint effort that Renee will enter full time while Michael will split time between Showhomes and his current job.&nbsp;“I’ve always been the one behind the curtain,” Renee said. “I like to organize things; I don’t need to be onstage. I want to see the reaction from the customers we help. I love it. It makes me feel so good knowing I did such a good thing.”&nbsp;Michael and Renee aren’t total strangers to the world of franchising. Renee’s father owned a franchise with the sub sandwich chain Blimpie. She loved how working in the store led her family to form strong connections in their community and is excited to bring that same energy and enthusiasm to Showhomes.&nbsp;“I’m most excited about making a difference and helping people,” she said. “It’s different when the business is your own. Your mentality is different.”The Douglases are joining Showhomes at a prime time. With more than 50 locations nationwide, Showhomes is quickly becoming the premier home staging and management company in the U.S. The brand had <a href="https://1851franchise.com/showhomes/showhomes-celebrates-record-breaking-q2-standout-franchisees-at-annual-conference-2710835#franchisor">several successes in 2019</a>, including an expanded service offering that includes home design and renovation services. Thanks to this, Showhomes experienced a year-over-year sales increase of 30% through October of this year.While their current focus is set on getting their new business up and running successfully, the Douglases are open to <a href="https://1851franchise.com/showhomes/showhomes-aims-to-expand-in-phoenix-2707246#brand-latest-stories">expanding with the brand</a>. When the time for expansion does come, they are hoping to expand into territories that cover the Detroit area.&nbsp;“Expanding is not out of the question, but our territory is pretty large and it has a good amount of homes and opportunities, so if we do expand and open more franchises, it’s going to be a while,” Renee said.&nbsp;They will certainly be busy, and not just with business. <a href="https://1851franchise.com/showhomes/how-one-of-showhomes-most-successful-franchisees-uses-practice-to-give-back-to-her-community-2710478#franchisee">Like many Showhomes franchisees</a>, the Douglases are actively involved in their community. They’ve participated in a variety of philanthropic efforts, including cancer drives and Christmas-related initiatives, and support the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, which is part of the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, as well as at local elementary schools. Renee even ran the culture team and philanthropy efforts at her previous job. She and Michael plan to continue being involved in philanthropic efforts through their Showhomes franchise. Plus, with three sons ages 9, 6 and 4, they are looking forward to having more flexibility with their schedules.“I’m excited about this new venture,” Renee said. “I’ve been in the corporate world for more than 15 years so I’m very excited to have a little bit of freedom with my kids and my job.”To learn more about franchising with Showhomes, visit <a href="https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=newly-minted-showhomes-franchisees-michael-and-renee-douglas-prepare-for-business-in-michigan-2711646" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.showhomesfranchise.com/</a>.

Newly Minted Showhomes Franchisees Michael and Renee Douglas Prepare For Business in Michigan

1851 Franchise

The Douglases found a strong culture fit and a warm, family-like atmosphere with the home staging franchise. 

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