International Debut of Closets by Design 'Opens Doors' Throughout Canada
Leading Home Organization Franchise Plans to Open 6 Canadian Locations by 2010
BARRIE, Ontario (October 8, 2008) - One of the leading home organization companies in the United States, Closets by Design, announced today it will make its international debut in Ontario, Canada. Executives of the 33-unit franchise have already signed a deal to open its first Canadian location in Barrie, Ontario in November and expect to open at least 5 more locations throughout Canada within the next 2 years.
With more than 25 years in the home organization industry and a proven franchise model, Closets by Design is poised to capture a significant share of Canada's home organization industry, projected to exceed $8.6 billion by 2011 according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Closets by Design has strategically identified six major Canadian markets for franchise expansion, including Toronto, London and Ottawa in Ontario and Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton.
"We've conducted extensive demographic research throughout Canada, specifically Ontario, and we've found an ideal match between the home organization needs of this area's residents and the typical Closets by Design customer," said Jerry Egner, president of Closets by Design. "The growth of our business is fueled by two international trends - more homeowners are outsourcing their home remodeling projects than ever before and more employers are encouraging workers to telecommute, leading to a surge in home office remodels."
According to a WorldatWork survey published in August 2008, 40 percent of Canadian companies encouraged employees to telecommute at least part time this year, up from twenty-five percent in 2007. A 2007 CMHC survey further supports Closets by Design's findings, reporting that 34 percent of Canadians who took on a remodeling project tried the do-it-yourself approach, while 36 percent contracted out the job, and another 24 percent did a combination of the two.
Currently, Closets by Design franchise locations serve 21 states in the U.S. In 2007, Closets by Design re-organized more than 28,000 closets, garages and home offices around the country, pulling in more than $93 million in revenue. Last year's revenues represent more than triple growth of system-wide sales over a five-year period.
Closets by Design currently offers franchise opportunities with territories that encompass 300,000 - 600,000 households. The initial fee for exclusive rights to operate a Closets by Design franchise is $36,900. The total initial investment for a Closets by Design franchise can reach up to $280,000, depending on real estate and territory size.
Closets by Design of Central Ontario will offer homeowners comprehensive solutions to all their organizational needs in a short and simple process by designing, building and installing custom closets, garage cabinets, home offices, wall units, laundries, pantries, wardrobe mirror doors and other home organization systems with a wide selection of finishes, accessories and hardware.
About Closets by Design
Since 1982, Closets by Design has built a reputation as the nation's leader in the closet organizing and storage remodeling industry. The concept began offering franchise opportunities in 1998, was purchased by Home Organizers in 2001 and currently operates 33 locations throughout the US. With revenues reaching $93 million in 2007, Closets by Design was ranked in Entrepreneur magazine's 2007 listing of the nation's top 500 franchises as a leader in the home organization category.
