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Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Norwalk Furniture & Design vs Furniture Medic including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.
Start-Up Costs and Fees |
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Investment | $495,000 | $80,799 - $90,136 |
Franchise Fee | $35,000 | $33,000 |
Royalty Fee | 0 | 7% |
Advertising Fee | - | 2% |
Year Founded | 1902 | 1992 |
Year Franchised | 1987 | 1992 |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | 5 years |
Term Of Agreement | 5 years | 5 years |
Renewal Fee | - | - |
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/No |
Start-up Costs | No/Yes | Yes/No |
Equipment | No/Yes | Yes/No |
Inventory | No/Yes | Yes/No |
Receivables | No/No | No/No |
Payroll | No/No | No/No |
Training & Support |
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Training | Administrative & service management | On-The-Job Training: 97-101 hours Classroom Training: 61 hours Additional Training: Home study/mentor program |
Support | Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations | Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Franchisee Intranet Platform |
Marketing | Ad slicks, Regional advertising | Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media Website development |
Operations |
10% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 14 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Franchise can be run from home. International franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 40% of all franchisees own more than one unit Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 1 Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators) |
Expansion Plans |
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US Expansion | - | Yes |
Canada Expansion | No | No |
International Expansion | Yes | Yes |
For more than 100 years, we've helped furniture shoppers create something unique. Since 1987, we've done the same for our franchisees. Our philosophy is simple: Create stylish, one-of-a-kind upholstered furniture in an intimate, service-oriented retail environment. That means a low-inventory investment for you and an extraordinary selection for your customers. It's this one-of-a-kind furniture store concept that makes our nearly 80 Norwalk Furniture Idea stores a growing success and the right concept, at the right time. Why Norwalk Now? Consumer research shows people spending more time at home these days. They see their home as their refuge, their sanctuary from the pressures of the world. More time at home results in more spending to decorate those homes. And today's sophisticated, upscale consumer does not want to settle for ordinary, off-the-shelf decorating solutions.
Joseph Lunsford wasn't looking to start a business when he moved into a new home and realized that several pieces of his furniture had been damaged in transit, but start one he did. He founded Furniture Medic in 1992 in response to his dissatisfaction with the long turnaround time that was common with most refurnishing shops. In 1996 Furniture Medic was acquired by ServiceMaster and has since grown to more than 600 locations throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.