Find the Right Suppliers to Help Expand Your Brand

Excerpt from the October Issue of Franchising World:

A successful business depends in part on selecting the best cast of cohorts for your brand.

It takes a village to run a franchise brand, yet many emerging franchisors run a lean operation. A Place at Home is one of those franchisors. Every department and division relies on numerous suppliers. Doing everything internally is nearly impossible, which is why it’s important to rely on these third-party partners. Currently, we work with more than 40 suppliers who support our business through payroll services, scheduling, training, digital marketing and advertising, legal, accounting, CRM, and the list continues to grow.

There are so many options for suppliers and it can be a very time-consuming process to narrow them down. It’s certainly been a learning process since co-founder Dustin Distefano and I established A place at Home six years ago, but today we’re incredibly confident in the dozens of strong supplier partnerships we’ve established. Here we’ve identified some best practices emerging franchisors can use to help in their search for top-flight suppliers.

Explore Options

The biggest supplier isn’t always the best one. Always look at more than one option to ensure the product or service you are considering is competitive and fully meets your needs. Ask to speak with one or more of the company’s current customers. If this is not an option, ask for data on a client whose business is similar to yours.

Find Great Partners

Simply being able to execute what you hire them for shouldn’t be your only criteria. Vet companies that have franchise knowledge, an ability to scale as you grow, outstanding customer support, the ability to talk with a live person to get questions answered, competitive pricing, and specific experience in your industry. Also, suppliers who offer discounted pricing to franchisees increases its value to a franchisor.

For us, it was important to find suppliers that had a history working with franchise companies, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. Every supplier starts somewhere. Suppliers that have a proven track record working with multiple locations, even if not franchises, are essential.

Seek Recommendations

Other franchisors or IFA recommended many of the suppliers we use. Lean on your network to help identify and evaluate potential suppliers. Our experience with the NextGen in Franchising Global Competition also proved beneficial. During a round table discussion with one of the NextGen advisers, we received some great counsel. But the advice that really stuck took place during a special session with the former CEO of Great Clips, who said his longest-lasting relationship and most valuable supplier resulted from a handshake and never anything more than that.

Consider Goals & Evaluate

One thing that was non-negotiable as we were vetting suppliers was their ability to help A Place at Home grow nationwide. Coast-to-coast growth is crucial to complete our mission. As of July 2018, we had four franchisees operating in Colorado, California, Michigan and Oregon, and our supplier partners have been instrumental in helping us scale.

Even after you have selected your suppliers, your work is not complete. It is important to collaborate with these partners and your franchisees to ensure that the product or service they are providing is consistent and in line with the expectations that were set forth. If a supplier is falling short of these expectations, within reason, give them a chance to make it right. If their performance proves to be inadequate, part ways. There are many other suppliers that want your business and far bigger concerns than under-performing partners.

Going Back to Mission, Values

Whether deciding on awarding a franchise, hiring an employee or even selecting your supplier partners, it’s important that the supplier shares your brand’s core values. Partner with individuals and companies that align with these values, and you will grow and succeed the right way.

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

A Place at Home: Our Story

Excerpt from the October Issue of Franchise Dictionary Magazine:

SOMETIMES BRILLIANT IDEAS COME OUT OF AN EVERYDAY CONVERSATION. 

That’s exactly what happened when Jerod Evanich and his childhood friend, Dustin Distefano, discussed life one day over lunch. “We found ourselves talking about the troubles our families were having with our grandparents and great grandparents,” Evanich says.

Before long, the friends were looking for solutions for families and talked about launching a business. “We wanted to create a company that could provide services that we would be proud to offer our family and community. In-home care became a clear choice,” he says.

In August 2012, the pair launched A Place at Home. “Our mission is to be passionate professionals, who provide compassionate care solutions where and when you need it. We continued to focus on creating services that were centered around seniors and helped them transition through the aging process,” Evanich says.

A senior-focused care company, A Place at Home has a model that is centered on using RNs to coordinate clients’ plan of care and certified professionals to administer the care. In-home care services, including companion, personal, and medication services are available.

“We also offer care coordination services that help seniors navigate the medical industry; from accompanying doctors visits, to creating healthcare portfolios, or even coordinating their other healthcare providers and ancillary services. Our Senior Living Alternatives service helps those who can no longer stay at home find the best senior living option,” Evanich says. “We spent more than two years perfecting our model and learning the franchising industry before jumping in.”

“Franchisees should get out in their local community to bring awareness to their services. That is the key to success. Hiring and retaining compassionate and reliable employees is crucial. That is the core of the business,” Evanich says. “Franchise partners have the ability to make of it what they put into it. The can create something bigger than themselves and something that will make a positive impact on their community.”

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

South Portland Gains New Senior Care Option

Local Entrepreneurs Launch a New A Place at Home

SOUTH PORTLAND, OR, AUGUST 7, 2018 – Local entrepreneurs Jerome and Kyara Philips have been awarded the right to open an A Place at Home franchise in the South Portland area. The new location is scheduled to launch this fall.

A Place at Home offers a model of senior care distinct from other options. Their senior care model includes in-home care, care coordination, community placement and staffing services. The company launched in 2012 in Omaha, NE, where it grew to serve over 800 clients and employed hundreds of caregivers, CNA’s, CMA’s, nurses, and other professional staff members. In 2017, founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano launched the NorEast Franchise Group in the hopes of serving seniors from coast-to-coast.

As a former social worker navigating the child welfare system, Jerome Philips has six years of experience working directly with families in need of services. Prior to that, he had four years of experience training and developing workers in the tech industry. He has a BS in Human Development and an Associate’s degree in Organizational Design, an educational background which offers extensive training in healthy aging, family dynamics, and care planning. He will serve as Operations Manager for the new franchise.

In addition to being Jerome’s wife and business partner, Kyara Philips will serve as the Lead RN for the new franchise. She has over eighteen years of nursing experience including being the RN Team Lead for nearly eight years at Kaiser Permanente.

The Philips’ decided to launch the business after personally experiencing the challenges of caring for Jerome’s father during an unexpected and persistent illness. “It helped us become aware of both the needs of seniors and the challenges they face in navigating their way to appropriate care. As a result, we’re passionate about maintaining the quality of life for seniors no matter what their circumstances are. We’re also committed to providing an understanding and supportive work environment for caregivers.”

The couple felt A Place at Home stood out as an innovative company offering superior senior care while maintaining a passion for the success of both employees and franchisees.

“We felt a real alignment with A Place at Home’s Core Values,” Jerome adds. “We’re focused on listening to each individual’s needs, on doing what we say we’re going to do, on listening before speaking and on living life with integrity.”

A Place at Home’s core values are summed up in its We are CARE model: compassionate, accountable, respectful, and ethical. Founder Jerod Evanich notes, “If a franchisee has a personal foundation built on these values, we can parlay their professional background and acumen into helping them become successful business owners.”

Evanich and Distefano will not award a franchise unless they feel the candidates are shining examples of the We are CARE philosophy.

Evanich and Distefano felt the best way to forward A Place at Home’s mission of providing top-notch senior care across the country was to expand services to local communities through franchising. “We wanted to share the continuum of care model across the nation to assist seniors with the complexities of the aging process by providing them with one compassionate, professional care company they can depend on.”

Considering a Senior Care Franchise?

When you join our group of dynamic business owners, as franchisees of A Place at Home, you’ll have strong support, thorough training and valuable business resources to help you succeed. Contact us to learn more.

CONTACT:

Dustin Distefano, CFE
Co-Founder and Head of Franchise Development

O: 888-502-6310
F: 402-281-0736
E: dustin.distefano@aplaceathome.com
W: aplaceathomefranchise.com

 

ABOUT A PLACE AT HOME

A Place at Home (a NorEast Franchise Group) offers a range of customized in-home care services, care coordination and assistance in identifying and transitioning to senior living alternatives. The company is dedicated to preserving the quality of life for seniors by giving them the support they need to stay as independent as possible for as long as possible. Those who would like to explore franchising should contact the owners to start a conversation. Visit aplaceathomefranchise.com or a aplaceathome.com for more information.

Metro Detroit Gains New A Place at Home Franchise

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 26, 2018

Earlier this month, local entrepreneurs Melissa Shevela and Michael Shevela were awarded the first A Place at Home Franchise in Michigan. The Shevelas have obtained exclusive rights to offer the unique APAH model to seniors in the southeast Michigan, metro Detroit region. Their office will be headquartered in Warren and will also serve the greater Macomb County.

Melissa Shevela will serve as the new franchise’s President. She spent 13 years as the owner-operator of a business in the automotive industry. She guided that business through an exponential growth period, increasing sales eightfold during her time there. She has been in the community for 47 years, and has held many volunteer leadership positions as well. She served as the Coordinator for a Salvation Army Soup Kitchen, for example, and remains active at St. Louis Church. She has a B.A. in Marketing, Advertising, and Public Relations from Central Michigan University.

Michael Shevela will serve as the new franchise’s Operations Manager. He has 30 years of experience leading professionals in the automotive industry. He spent 13 years working side-by-side with Melissa on their automotive business. He is known for being a consummate problem-solver who relentlessly follows industry standards. He is a lifelong resident of the southeastern Michigan community.

“After caring for my mother during her battle with cancer, and after caring for my father-in-law during his end-of-life stages,” says Ms. Shevela, “I came to understand the struggles inherent to finding good in-home care. I wished it could have been better for our loved ones. But now, we have an opportunity to make things better for other people’s loved ones. Seniors deserve respect, compassion, and high-quality care during their golden years. A Place at Home puts emphasis on high-quality care-giving and on ensuring seniors can thrive in a safe, happy environment.”

Mr. Shevela agrees, and notes, “A Place at Home stood out as being well-prepared to handle different levels of senior-care needs. We were impressed both by the quality of care they offer and by the company’s commitment to employee development. We align strongly with A Place at Home’s core values.”

A Place at Home follows four core values. Its founders, franchisees and employees all pledge to be “compassionate, accountable, respectful and ethical.” They call it the CARE model.

Mr. Shevela adds, “We promise to uphold the CARE core values for both our clients and employees, no exceptions.”
Company co-founders Jerod Evanich and Dustin Distefano hope to see the APAH “We are CARE” model offered coast-to-coast.

“We truly believe the best way to ensure seniors throughout the nation receive the best care is through franchising,” says Evanich. “Partnering with passionate-minded business professionals who align with our values and who are committed to sharing the Senior-Focused Care model will help complete our Mission ‘to be Passionate Professionals Providing the Compassionate Care Solutions You Need, Where and When You Need Us’.”

Evanich and Distefano launched APAH in 2012. They began franchising in 2017 after experiencing exponential growth.
Evanich and Distefano make it clear anyone hoping to start an APAH franchise should first examine themselves to ensure they can say they are already shining examples of the CARE philosophy.

“If we can see those qualities in a person we will gladly help them parlay their professional background and acumen into running a successful APAH business,” adds Distefano.

Fortunately for seniors in the Detroit metro area, the Shevelas have successfully risen to the challenge.

Franchises Available in Kansas City – A Place at Home

Franchises Available in Kansas City - A Place at Home

When reviewing Franchises available in Kansas City senior care and home health care is an area that has room for growth. Local demographics in nearby communities show exactly the type of population trend that could need the services that A Place at Home provides. Johnson County in Kansas is one such example.

Johnson County And Surrounding Cities

Johnson County Kansas is a part of the greater 15 county Kansas City metro area. This location covers a large area along the Missouri Kansas border. With Kansas City serving as the ‘anchor’, several sizable cities have grown around the wider metro area. Within Johnson County, pay attention to its largest cities Olathe and Overland Park. These locations are ideal for A Place at Home franchises due to their demographics.

  • Johnson County:

    Overall Johnston county has an estimated population of 572, 428. Of this, an estimated 12.7% (or 72,698) are 65 or older. The home healthcare industry is also strong in the county. Johnson County has 1,601 employees working for 53 different healthcare businesses.

  • Overland Park:

    Has an estimated population of 183,775 of this 14.2% (or 26,096) are 65 or older. The city also accounts for 20 of the county’s healthcare establishments and 887 of its employees.

  • Olathe:

    Has an estimated population of 132,787. Of this 9.2% (or 12,216) is 65 or older. Olathe also accounts for 5 of the county’s healthcare establishments and 45 of its employees.

Among franchises available in Kansas City healthcare is a viable one due to the population and established healthcare industry. Of note, Overland Park has a well-established home health industry. The city of Olathe while smaller has the figures that indicate future industry growth and need.

About A Place At Home   

As the above figures indicate Johnson county is a strong market for A Place at Home. It is an area that needs the services that A Place at Home provides senior citizens. When establishing your franchise you have options on territory size ranging from 30k, 60k, 90k, and 120k in population. 120K is the largest territory offered in the entire industry. When you review franchises available in Kansas City A Place at Home offers opportunity and the chance to truly help senior citizens.