After spending a few months convincing his wife, Jimmy Zeski and his wife, Brandie, have opened a Fresh Coat Painters franchise to serve Summerville, Charleston and their surrounding South Carolina communities.
Cincinnati, Ohio (PRWEB) April 25, 2012 - After spending a few months convincing his wife, Jimmy Zeski and his wife, Brandie, have opened a Fresh Coat Painters franchise to serve Summerville, Charleston and their surrounding South Carolina communities. “Jimmy has wanted to own his own business for a long time,” Brandie said. “When he pitched it to me, I wasn’t convinced. After all, there’s a million painters, so where’s the opportunity? But he proved it to me. Clients said he often was the only one who showed up to provide a quote. In some cases, he was the only one to answer the phone when they were seeking bids." That first-hand experience proved there was the need for the services and an opportunity for a professional team.
Fresh Coat Painters has added South Carolina’s Low Country to its service areas with the launch of Jimmy and Brandie Zeski’s franchise to serve Summerville, Charleston, North Charleston, Ladson, Goose Creek, Hanahan, Mt. Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island and their surrounding communities.
For Jimmy, starting a painting company was an obvious business opportunity. For Brandie, not so much. She had to be convinced.
“I’ve been in sales for 13 years, most recently as a business manager for a motorcycle dealership, so I understand what it takes to find and keep clients,” he said. “I’d been looking at Fresh Coat for about three years, and I thought the business model made sense. Last year, on a part-time basis, I decided to start my own little painting company to test the market and see if there was a need for the services. Very quickly I could see we had solid potential here.”
Brandie, a nurse in a neonatal unit, recalls that she was extremely skeptical.
“Jimmy has wanted to own his own business for a long time,” she said. “When he pitched it to me, I wasn’t convinced. After all, there’s a million painters, so where’s the opportunity? But he proved it to me.
Clients said he often was the only one who showed up to provide a quote. In some cases, he was the only one to answer the phone when they were seeking bids. Once he convinced me, we decided to visit Fresh Coat for Discovery Day. That’s when I became convinced that we could build a business big enough that he could leave sales behind.”
Bernie Brozek, president of Fresh Coat, said the Zeskis saw first-hand what sets Fresh Coat apart from most of its competitors.
“Jimmy already had the work ethic that says you do what you say you’re going to do, and he clearly understands the fundamentals of marketing in that you can’t get the job if you don’t engage with potential clients,” Brozek said. “We love Brandie’s caution because it shows that she’s a wise woman who values the efforts we’ve taken to build a structure that addresses her business concerns. Their professionalism is exactly in keeping with our goal of changing the image of the industry.”
Although Jimmy certainly was able to start his own painting business, he said he welcomed the advantages offered as part of a national franchise system.
“Fresh Coat already has systems in place that it might take years for me to develop,” he said. “And, because I’m part of a bigger organization, I also receive discounts I likely couldn’t get on my own. Already I noticed the difference in the most basic thing, the price of the paint.
“Equally as important, I have the structures in place such as payroll and insurance to hire the people I have been using as subcontractors. With Fresh Coat, our painters are employees, never subcontractors, so we do background checks and get them bonded and insured. Clients appreciate that additional reassurance. In addition, the painters love it. They’re really happy and excited to learn they can work full-time, and all they have to do is show up, paint and complete the jobs we’ve found for them. It’s rewarding for me to be able to provide employment for them.”
Brozek said the company’s structure does benefit all concerned. “Our ownersfocus on promoting and growing their business while the experienced painters get to use their knowledge to provide quality services. The client gets the best skills of all involved.”
Brandie said Fresh Coat’s professionalism also extends to its marketing systems. She noted that potential clients can research the company easily on the web and can get questions answered by a live person anytime day or night.
Brozek said the company strives to help its franchise owners succeed by complementing their inherent abilities with quality marketing, training and resource materials.
“The 24/7 call center helps ensure clients and potential clients are never left hanging,” he said. “And many of our other programs also help ensure ongoing satisfaction. These include our proprietary EPIC estimating system, Paint Now-Pay Later same-as-cash financing, Automatic Touch-Up for businesses, and fund-raising opportunities for charities.”
Jimmy said the EPIC system has proved to be extremely beneficial for his clients. “Usually after I visit the site and take my measurements, the client’s next question is ‘How long will it take before you can give me an estimate?’ They’re surprised when I say, ‘Let me go out to my truck, and I’ll create it for you.’ They’re impressed that I can give them an accurate printout that lists prices, including paint, along with time frames and scheduling options.”
He also has had positive feedback from homeowners and Realtors with regard to the Paint Now-Pay Later program. “A lot of people are strapped for cash,” he said. “We also accept credit cards, so our programs allow them to do what needs to be done now to give their home an upgrade.”
About Fresh Coat PaintersFounded in 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Fresh Coat Painters provides services for residential, commercial and governmental customers in more than 100 major cities across the United States and Canada. Fresh Coat is part of the International Franchise Association, the Small Business Association’s Franchise Registry, VetFran and Minority Fran.
