Standing Out by Being a Step Above

It’s a common question: What separates your business from the competition? According to Gerry Henley, president of Kitchen Solvers, there are plenty of stock answers available.

“Everybody can say they have the branding and marketing,” he said. “Everybody can say they have the operational support. Everybody can say they offer training.”

However, not every company can say they have Kitchen Solvers’ blueprint for franchise success.

“With us, the very big difference is there’s a total focus on leads and sales,” Henley said. “We put a lot of our emphasis on financial management training, how you’re going to be successful, starting out with the franchise vision plan, your goals and how these can be supported with a detailed business plan. Really, we want to be able to ask our franchisees: ‘Are you making money?’ and get the right response.”

While a business plan may seem like a no-brainer, many potential franchisees might be surprised to find such a thing isn’t standard practice at all companies. And while the Kitchen Solvers system is developed to help franchisees succeed, Henley made it clear the brand cares more about the financial success of its franchisees than how closely they execute brand operations.

Gerry and his team start with the Franchise Vision Plan – a road map that is designed to help franchisees achieve their personal and business goals.

“We adapt it for every franchisee, creating a unique business plan for them to use,” Henley said.

The brand also differentiates itself based on the services it provides.

“We are focused mostly on cabinets – we’re not turnkey remodelers,” Henley continued. “Some of our franchisees might offer expanded services, but our prime focus is on the minor remodeling market, $25,000 and under. Sales are much higher than that on a regular basis, but our average ticket is $10,000. We aren’t full-service and we don’t want to be.”

Having a specific focus allows Kitchen Solvers franchisees to concentrate on their market, streamlining operations for their specialized services instead of trying to be everything to everybody.

Along with the brand’s state-of-the-art marketing platform, comprehensive sales training, vendor management network and installation support, Kitchen Solvers doesn’t have to come up with clichés to talk about what separates it from the competition. The brand can rely on its satisfied franchisees to do the talking for it.