I bring more than twenty-five years of highly successful
business leadership experience to Destination Athlete® from working
as an executive for a Fortune 50 organization in the areas of Sales
Management, Marketing Management, Franchise Leadership, Business
Development and Commercial Business Model Innovation. My extensive
experience in designing, building and developing innovative
business models led to this vision to create a unique kind of
company in the fast growing sports industry. This combined with my
passion for sports (as a former collegiate athlete) and helping
other athletes was the catalyst for becoming the Founder & Chairman
of Destination Athlete®. I currently serve as President of TCNJ
(The College of New Jersey) Football Club. I also am an active Elks
Member, S.A.R. Member (Sons of the American Revolution) and a
Hunterdon County Committee Member.
Franchise Expo: What is Destination Athlete
franchise opportunity all about?
Douglas
Dickison: Destination Athlete® is an innovative
company that focuses on the Complete Athlete®, offering products
and services from Training to Trophies®. Our goal is to help youth
and high school athletes get to their personal destination by
providing a one-stop resource for all their needs. We are also home
to Complete Athlete ®360, the Nation’s largest athlete performance
platform™. This comprehensive platform is designed to address
current and relevant information in the areas of sports psychology,
sports nutrition, sports medicine, training and reward and
recognition.
FE: Who is your ideal candidate for a Destination
Athlete franchise?
DD: An ideal Destination Athlete®
franchisee is someone who enjoys and is passionate about sports and
who wants to help others achieve their goals. It is also someone
who has relationships with local sports leagues or school
athletics. It is one who would love to sell field and sports
equipment, uniforms and spirit wear to individuals, team moms/dads,
school coaches, league commissioners, etc. Moreover, owning a
Destination Athlete® franchise is a great opportunity
for someone who wants to provide exceptional one-on-one customer
service to his or her clients and would like a flexible, turnkey
operation that enables them to make their own schedule. Destination
Athlete® franchisees embody the passion and commitment to help
youth and high school athletes reach their destination through our
wide array of tools and our proven system.
FE: What type of training and support do you offer
Destination Athlete franchisees?
DD: Continuous training and support is
our culture for all of our franchises. For new franchisees, we
offer a comprehensive six-month initial training including one week
at our corporate office. In addition, we support our franchisees
with year-round training and mentoring, networking opportunities,
annual meetings, content management system/Intranet, company
website, 800 number with trained customer care experts, marketing
tools and more.
FE: What are some of the advantages in being a
Destination Athlete franchisee?
DD: First and foremost, you are helping
youth and high school athletes perform at a higher level by
providing a comprehensive resource for all of their needs. Our
flexible business model allows you to expand your business at a
rate that fits your calendar and lifestyle. You are able to manage
your own online team stores for fundraising as well as sell team
uniforms, sports and field equipment, varsity jackets, spirit wear,
trophies and premium services. Furthermore, by owning a Destination
Athlete®
franchise, you are purchasing the full marketing
rights to a protected county (or counties) in your state. This
means you are the sole representative for Destination Athlete® in
your territory with the ability to expand.
FE: Are you a member of any
Associations?
DD: We are proud to be an IFA member as
well as participants in their VetFran program.
FE: Tell us a little about the youth sports
market.
DD: Our business is the huge youth and high
school sports industry, which continues to grow. More than 60
million boys and girls are registered in sports programs across the
country. Now, more than ever, parents are committed to securing
their children’s futures by supporting youth athletics. For
innovative entrepreneurs, there is incredible potential to expand
revenue stream in an ever-growing market. The possibilities are
endless.
FE: How successful is your company today and
what are your future growth plans?
DD: We are very fortunate to have a team of
great people together with a proven business model, which had
yielded great success. We are continuing to grow our business every
day. As a matter of fact, we recently made the ranks among the top
franchises in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500
list!
FE: What are your franchisees saying about the
business?
DD: They love being able to get involved
in their local community. Our franchisees have children who play
sports and so it’s also a great way to get the whole family
involved in the business. The flexibility of running a home-based
business with low overhead is perfect for those with a busy family
life. Also, many are attracted to Destination Athlete® because of
our unique company concept of addressing the needs of the athlete
with a holistic approach. Along with great integrity and business
practices, you also have access to superior products and
services…and, it’s fun!
FE: What advice do you have for someone looking
to acquire a franchise?
DD: Follow your passion. People who end
up with us are very successful because they are doing what they
love to do: getting involved with sports and community.
FE: In your opinion, why do you think that
Destination Athlete would be a great opportunity for
someone?
DD: It allows you to make the business
truly your own. You can put as much into it as you desire with the
flexibility of running your business from home. In addition,
it requires minimal investment; you have rights to an exclusive
territory or multiple territories… all with the guidance and
support of an established franchise organization that’s behind you
every step of the way.