What’s Exciting in Franchising? Ask Steve Bursten at Exciting Windows!
People are staying at home these days, and deciding that the $3000 vacation that’s over in a week is perhaps better spent giving their home a whole new “Michael Payne HGTV look” with high-quality custom window coverings and creative stylings combined with exceptional at-home service that Steve Bursten, President of Exciting Windows prides himself in providing.
The theme of The Franchise Show is to hear it from the top — from the founders, CEOs, and executives of many of the most viable franchise concepts in the marketplace today. Although there are great resources out there to explore the literally thousands of available franchises, hearing from the person at the top gives a unique insight into a company’s vision, culture, and mission that web sites and sales presentations can’t provide.
After all, a franchise is like a marriage — the joining of one franchisor with one franchisee in what each hopes will be a lifelong relationship — so getting to know your spouse before you enter the franchise agreement is vital, and a webinar just isn’t going to do it.
Steve Bursten is a great example of getting to know your future spouse. Here’s a franchise leader that knows his market segment, having founded two national home fashions service businesses, Interiors by Decorating Den and Exciting Windows, as well as being a contributing columnist to Draperies & Window Coverings magazine.
And there’s another part of Steve that’s important: He understands small business ownership. That’s a big deal. Some franchisors, I’m afraid, primarily understand the sales part of franchising. They’re like serial daters, constantly recruiting new “let’s meet for coffee” encounters with the goal of a short-term relationship that ends with “I do” — and you handing over a check. The great franchise leaders like Steve, however, provide committed win-win franchisor-franchisee marriages that have every prospect of reaching that golden anniversary date.
Great franchise leaders also create great franchise organizations. Steve is in this category, along with other great franchise leaders like Dina Dwyer-Owens, Deb Evans, and new leaders like Allison O’Kelly. They’ve all been on The Franchise Show, and I encourage you to listen to them so that you will understand what dynamic organizations sound like — right from the top.
Buying a franchise is a big decision. I want you to get it right — right from the beginning — and I welcome your thoughts, and look forward to seeing many of you at the West Coast Franchise Exposition in Los Angeles, October 2-4.
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Jeff comes from 25 years of hands-on experience in the franchise industry with such high-growth companies as McDonald's, Blockbuster (where he was also a franchisee), and Quiznos. He also holds business degrees from two major Southern California universities. Hear Jeff live on The Franchise Show every Friday at , , and at the upcoming Franchise Expo in Los Angeles, October 2-4!
