msgr hopeful: Fresh Coat Painters Expands Operations With Franchise Serving ...

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Fresh Coat Painters Expands Operations With Franchise Serving ...

Cincinnati, Ohio (PRWEB) August 10, 2012-- For more than 35 years, Bob Covino has operated his own businesses ranging from restaurants and nightclubs to real estate and construction. For 22 years, he and wife Sue have developed a significant networking business, and now they are adding a Fresh Coat Painters franchise to their enterprises.

"If you rest, you rust," Covino said. "Last year we were noticing that we had a lot of free time during the day, so we started looking around for a business we could buy that would provide us with additional income and that had some integrity attached to it."

He said the couple was drawn to Fresh Coat because it fit their needs while also being reasonably priced and offering a unique approach to the painting business.

"We were impressed that the focus was on clients," he said. "Too often painters start a job, disappear for a few days, then come back, paint a little longer, then disappear again. The person who suffers in that situation is the client. With Fresh Coat, we start when we say we will and we stay until the job is done. We don't leave until the client has signed off on it. Moreover, we don't use subcontractors, which provides peace of mind because clients know who's in their home."

Bernie Brozek, president of Fresh Coat, said the Covinos' experience tied in well with the principals behind the Fresh Coat business model: Provide professional services and build long-term relationships.

"They, like our other owners, know that painting isn't just about doing quality work," he said. "It's about the client's entire experience. By providing excellent service from the first phone call to the final inspection and beyond, Fresh Coat earns the respect of its clients who not only become repeat clients, but also recommend Fresh Coat to others."

Covino said that he found painters also were receptive to the company's structure. When he advertised for workers for his territory of Monmouth County, N.J., he received eight responses in two days.

"We specified that we would do background checks, so I knew that we were getting good candidates," he said. "All had at least 10 years' experience and were looking for something with stability and a reliable income. When we told them we covered the costs of insurance and bonding, and we offered paid vacations, they were thrilled. Most said they hated the uncertainty of other painting companies. With us, they know they'll get paid every week."

Brozek said Fresh Coat has found this to be a common refrain among experienced painters.

"We are striving to alter the image of the industry, which has been tarnished because of too many fly-by-night operators," he said. "That's hurt the reputations of painters and lowered the trust levels of potential clients. With our structure, clients get the best skills of all involved. Our owners promote and grow the business while managers and painters provide quality workmanship on time and on budget."

Covino said his family was so impressed with the structure that one son-in-law, Bobby Napoliello, already has joined the team as the client services manager.

"We've got three great daughters, three great sons-in-law, and four great grandkids," he said. "We see the potential to turn this into a family affair because we see that it's a service that's needed by everyone and Fresh Coat has created a structure that helps ensure our long-term success."

Helping owners succeed is of paramount importance to the company, Brozek said. "Obviously Bob and Sue have extensive business experience, so we enhance their knowledge and support them with top-notch marketing, training and resource materials."

Covino appreciates that support. "I could have started a painting business on my own, but I would have been just another painter on the block. With Fresh Coat, I get the branding, the expertise, and the reputation. When someone asks 'Who is Fresh Coat?' I can say 'We're the largest residential painting company in America.' That gives me credibility."

Clients benefit, too, from corporate programs such as a 24/7 call center, proprietary EPIC estimating system, Paint Now-Pay Later same-as-cash financing, Automatic Touch-Up for businesses, and fund-raising opportunities for charities.

"The EPIC system is impressive," Covino said. "We arrive with a photo ID, laser measurement tool, HP Tablet and wireless printer. We provide the client with a printed statement detailing the job, the costs and the timetable for the work. Others' estimates are all over the board, but our numbers are accurate."

To learn more or to schedule an on-site quote for residential or commercial projects in Monmouth County, N.J., call 732-722-5033 or visit http://www.freshcoatmonmouthcounty.com.

Founded 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. For more information, call 866-708-9355 or visit http://www.freshcoatpainters.com.

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