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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of DOTI Design Stores vs Christmas Decor including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $290,000 - $398,000 | $19,550 - $62,250 |
Franchise Fee | $37,500 | $11,400 - $31,500 |
Royalty Fee | 6% | 5% |
Advertising Fee | - | 1% |
Year Founded | 1983 | 1986 |
Year Franchised | 1999 | 1996 |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee | - | $2K |
Business Experience Requirements |
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Experience | - | |
Financing Options |
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In-House/3rd Party | In-House/3rd Party | |
Franchise Fees | No/No | Yes/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/No |
Equipment | No/No | No/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | No/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | - | Classroom Training: 36 hours Additional Training: Regional training |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives | Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Field Operations Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National media | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Website development Email marketing |
Operations |
0% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 9 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Franchise can be run from home. Absentee Ownership Allowed Number of Employees Required to Run: 4 |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | Yes |
International Expansion | No | Yes |
When Jim and Michele Evanger purchased Barrington, Illinois-based Designs of the Interior (DOTI) in 1993, they had big plans for expanding their new company. The couple added two locations by 1997 and started franchising in 1998. DOTI has recently shifted its franchise concept from that of a small design studio to a larger design store.
DOTI's stores average 5,000 square feet in size and provide everything from upholstered furniture and rugs to accessories, lighting and window treatments. The company offers both single-store and multistore development programs.
DOTI has reached agreements with various manufacturers to develop its own private-label line of furniture. Franchisees that take advantage of the program can then sell merchandise reflecting the DOTI brand to their customers.
Christmas Decor offers individuals and businesses the ability to generate significant revenues during a time that is traditionally slow for many seasonal businesses. The Christmas Decor franchise opportunity provides seasonal businesses the ability to offset their fixed overhead costs and maintain their key employees all year around. They cross sell Christmas decorating services to their existing customer base, while generating new customers with the convenience of our services.
The majority of our almost 400 franchisees nationally were operating a seasonal business when they came to Christmas Decor. They had no prior decorating experience, but they understood what it means to work hard to grow a successful business. Each one found that Christmas Decor was the perfect seasonal business to expand their revenues.
When it comes to Christmas lighting and decorating, Christmas Decor has established itself as the brand of choice by tens of thousands of customers across the nation. We have successfully differentiated our franchise by not only creating a national brand, but by making that brand represent the highest level of service, dependability, and value. We have taken a seemingly simple concept, and through enhanced service and product deliverables, created a reputation that has fueled the growth of our franchisee system. At the core of Christmas Decor is experienced leadership, staff, and a national network of franchisees that share passion for the business.