TROY, Mich. (Aug. 12, 2016) — Automotive appearance and protection services provider Ziebart International Corp. is celebrating 57 years in business and 54 years in the franchising industry.
As a member of the International Franchise Association (IFA), Ziebart claims it is in an elite crowd — the “top 5 percent of brands that have sustained and prospered utilizing the franchise business model for over 50 years.”
The company noted that 68 percent of all its franchisees who own a Ziebart franchise “work alongside family members: husbands partnering with wives, fathers and mothers with their children, and even brothers with brothers.”
More than 20 percent of Ziebart franchisees gross over $1 million annually, according to the Troy-based company, adding that “Ziebart has become a gateway into creating and maintaining a family legacy.”
Quoted in a Ziebart press release, Matt Bell, owner of a Ziebart shop in Bloomington, Ill., said his dad, Steve Bell, “was already retired, and when I found the Ziebart opportunity, we just jumped in together. It's nice to work side-by-side with my dad and be able to see him every day. Life is short, and growing this business with my dad is immeasurable.”
Tim Shinkle, owner of a Ziebart in Warsaw, Ind., said “the original plan was to buy a franchise that I knew would be successful and would allow my family to eventually work with me. This gave my kids more than I could have anticipated.
“My son started working as a tech in the shop and is now the assistant manager. My daughter began as an administrative assistant and is now the office manager.”
Tony Mattiacio, who owns five Ziebart stores in the greater Rochester, N.Y., area, said, “I never forced anyone in my family to work for me, but growing up a close Italian family, my kids were always involved in our conversations. They witnessed the hard work and the opportunity Ziebart could afford them. With four children involved — each of them mastering their own area in the business — my children have been a blessing in disguise.”
Ziebart said it provides “a brand that has a proven sales, operations and marketing system,” and has “successfully continued its efforts to adapt its business model to the ever-changing needs of vehicle owners.”
The 57-year-old brand has identified markets for continued development and strong opportunities for growth, including Chicago, Seattle, St. Louis, New Orleans, Atlanta, Raleigh, N.C., Des Moines, Iowa, and Grand Rapids, Mich.
Founded in 1959 on a business model offering vehicle rust protection, Ziebart operates approximately 400 licensed locations with 800 processing centers in 33 countries. The company said it offers a full line of appearance and protection services for both the interior and exterior of vehicles, including professional detailing, window tint, Z-Shield paint protection film, vehicle wraps and graphics, Genuine Ziebart Rust Protection, Undercoating Rhino-Linings sprayed-on bed liners, along with other services.
More information is available on its website.