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Updated RecentlyStone Mountain-GCO Flooring Outlet vs Made in the Shade Blinds and More Franchise Comparison
Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Stone Mountain-GCO Flooring Outlet vs Made in the Shade Blinds and More including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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| Investment | $289,500 - $409,500 | $55,949 - $64,549 |
| Franchise Fee | $27,500 | $49,000 |
| Royalty Fee | 1.5-2.5% | - |
| Advertising Fee | - | - |
| Year Founded | 1988 | 2004 |
| Year Franchised | 1993 | 2014 |
| Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
| Term Of Agreement | 5 years | - |
| Renewal Fee | $2.5K | - |
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/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| Start-up Costs | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Equipment | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Inventory | No/Yes | No/Yes |
| Receivables | No/No | No/Yes |
| Payroll | No/No | No/Yes |
Training & Support |
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| Training | - | On-The-Job Training: 15 hours Classroom Training: 44 hours |
| Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Purchasing cooperatives | Ongoing Support Purchasing Co-ops Meetings/Conventions Online Support Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform |
| Marketing | Co-op advertising, Ad slicks | Ad Templates Social media SEO Website development Email marketing |
| Operations |
32% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 5 Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (70% of current franchisees are owner/operators) | - |
Expansion Plans |
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| US Expansion | - | Yes |
| Canada Expansion | No | - |
| International Expansion | No | Yes |
Company Overviews
About Stone Mountain-GCO Flooring Outlet
Stone Mountain Carpet Mills is your direct source for quality, affordable floor covering products including carpet, ceramic tile, hardwood flooring, laminate and vinyl flooring. We also have great prices, selection and styles of window treatments. We have over 80 combined years experience in the business and Guaranteed Expert Installation is available.
Your local carpet store on wheels. Shop from the comfort of your own home, office, or commercial job site with the help of a trusted flooring expert.
About Made in the Shade Blinds and More
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Made in the Shade Blinds & More launched its debut in January
2004, by Founder and CEO, Cathy Morse, a 25+ year veteran in the home
interiors industry. Her vision was to build a trusted brand through an
international team of window covering industry professionals who carried
the same passion - a commitment to excellence by adding beauty,
function, style and value to every home and business. Headquartered in
San Antonio, Texas, Made in the Shade has since expanded its locations
throughout the US and Canada, emerging as a leader in the custom window
coverings industry.
Our business model is designed with our complimentary, in-home
consultation in mind. We’ll sit down for a few minutes to talk about
what you’re interested in seeing, and then bring in the samples so that
you can make an informed decision. No matter your product choice, our
first goal is to make certain that you are completely comfortable - and
educated - with your window covering choices. What sets us apart is that
every one of our highly trained, local franchisees are committed to
offering you the perfect solution for your windows.
We are proud to stand by our five-point value system, part of our
commitment to offer genuine value with every single product we sell:
- Quality: Every single product we sell is made of top-quality materials by the best and most experienced window covering companies in the world. We sell the best because they make the best.
- Customization: Just because every window needs to be covered doesn’t mean you should do what everyone else does. Make each window yours - dare to be different. We make it easy!
- Service: We back up every sale with service. Our goal is to provide stellar care after the sale because every client is a story, and we want your story to be as amazing as your window coverings.
- Warranty: Everything we sell is covered by our manufacturers’ generous warranties. Most of our products carry a limited lifetime warranty. So, not only will we back up our own sales with service down the road, we also work with our trusted vendor partners who back up everything they manufacture. This is peace of mind like no other.
- Price: We all know that price doesn’t always equal value, but when we back it up with the best products and the best warranties in the business, we’re offering great value at a great price. Guaranteed.
Veteran Incentives $2,000 off franchise fee
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#229 in Franchise 500 for 2020.
#146 in Franchise 500 for 2021.