PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla.TBC Corp.'s Midas International Corp. franchise business has added 19 stores in the past year in the U.S. and Canada and continues to grow by recruiting new franchisees and helping existing franchisees add locations.
Midas said the franchise network has recorded 18 straight months of increasing sales since the launch of the Golden Hand television ad campaign in October 2013. TBC did not disclose the network's sales revenue.
Midas International recently earned top billing among tire retail and automotive service franchises on Entrepreneur magazine's 36th annual Franchise 500 ranking, published in the magazine's January issue.
Midas was rated 35th overall. Entrepreneur said it judges franchise systems on objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation, such as financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the system.
Among new converts to the Midas system are:
c Roger Wallin, who retired early from his longtime management position at Toyota Motor Co. to open a Midas store in Georgetown, Ky.;
c Alex Aminzadeh, a former telecommunications company vice president who also owns restaurants, salons and apartment buildings; and
c Mitch Jaber, a former drummer and founding member of the Sonics, a loud-and-proud 1960s garage band, who recently converted his family's eight-bay Tacoma, Wash., auto service store to the Midas system.
We felt we had to make a change in order to build market share, and Midas offered us everything we neededa very attractive brand name that brings in customers and incredible support, Mr. Jaber said, adding that he converted his Midas store with just a new coat of paint, a large digital sign, new branding and new awnings and counters.
Mr. Jaber lauded Midas' training, adding: We really believe in the 'Midas Way' of doing thingswe've put in the effort and we've seen that it works.
TBC cited the Midas branding, TV advertising, training and support, and a successful retail system as reasons why independents convert their businesses to Midas franchises while continuing to be the boss of their operations.
Mr. Aminzadeh, who converted a former gas station in Allen, Texasa prosperous Dallas suburbinto an eight-bay outlet, said the partnership with Midas gives him the opportunity to excel in an industry that he feels needs to step up its game.
Every time I brought my car to a car-repair shop, it seems they took a really long time and didn't seem to care, he said.
I decided that it was time for a better way of doing things, and Midas was the right fit for helping me to achieve that goal.
Midas said that Mr. Aminzadeh's dedication to his customers is matched by the franchisor's commitment to him.
The support I receive is the main reason I chose Midas, he said in a TBC press release.
The Midas team was with me throughout the entire building process.
We pride ourselves on our close relationships with the folks that own and operate our stores, said Midas Chief Operating Officer Mike Gould.
As a franchisee-focused organization, we have a lot to offer both to entrepreneurs and independent shop owners looking to build their business by teaming up with usa thriving brand, an attractive package of financial incentives and a very exciting business opportunity.