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wow 1day painting franchise - degrading the industry?

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#23 ·
This company is pretty big here (Vancouver BC). I see there trucks & vans all over. I have lost a couple jobs to them, as they are not terribly expensive, and owners love the promise of finishing in a day.

Part of wow1 day's promise of 1 day does NOT include prep. If they even do it (heard they don't sand), it is not included. Pressure washing is schedule on a separate day also. I saw them parked at a small house for 3 days. I job I bid on and estimated 4.5 days for (for 3 guys). They had about 10 guys on there for more than a day for sure.

A friend of mine also works for wow1day, and he said it is pretty crazy. They work sometimes 6am to 6pm with a crew of 12 to get a full interior done, or an exterior. However, it means they can't use slow drying alkyd primers, and often go for 1 coat coverage!

Anyway, you get what you pay for and some clients realize that, some don't!
 
#28 ·
From the homeowners perspective, the less time a contractor spends in their house the better. That's the angle. They will bring painters in from other cities to get it done. You only need 2 painters to start a franchise, oh and 90K, plus operating money! Also read that their max job size is 7K, and max crew 16 on a site. With 11% of sales going back to head office you can bet the owners making way more than he ever did with his old paint business!

I booked a job that was 7 days for 3 painters because the competing quote had said 3 weeks! Crazy! Let's face it though, if all the prep was done ahead of time, most of us could paint a lot in 1 day.

I'd rather have his paycheck though... Sobering thought.
 
#30 ·
My two cents: an acquaintance of my brother-in-law started the franchise here in Toronto. There's actually three of them; he has two partners. They are basically three young "rich kids" with no previous painting/construction/decorating experience. I would very much doubt that any of them really possess any kind of genuine interest in the history and craftmanship of our trade. I think this is probably evident in the general concept. I was asked if I wanted to consider being their General Manager, but I said no thanks (I'm already running someone's business--my own). I can see the angle, but in general think it's an absolutely ridiculous idea and is yet another factor that diminishes the trade. Funny story: my wife and the aforementioned co-owner both play tennis at the same club, and he was basically using the parking lot there for advertising, parking the 1Day van out front day and night. It bugged her, so she called the club, told them she thought it was tacky, and I haven't seen it there since (thatta girl). Interestingly enough, I now see it parked at a certain Glidden store everytime I drive by. I've heard they're having some early trouble in marketing to and retaining painters, but it looks like they're getting jobs. I've seen one or two of them in my own neighbourhood/market, where an entry-level home will set you back about 1.2 million. They've been around since last March (here).
 
#31 ·
College Pro is also a painting franchise. People will buy anything.. When we go and fix up those jobs, the reasoning the people gave me that they hired them in the first place is usually because they were trying to help them out and get them started in their careers. They only ever hire them once. There is no repeat business with these gimmicky companies, and a lot of times the franchisees go bankrupt.

There are certain things National Brand Recognition can help with, but I dont think a paint contractor is the one who can benefit from this recognition. Painting is such a hit or miss trade, where we are handling delicate materials, and a good looking job is a matter of opinion.

I would never ever buy into one of these types of business' but I guess enough people are to make the CEO's money, or we wouldn't be speaking of this.
 
#32 ·
It's kind of funny when those college guys you are helping out all pull up, and the either speak a different language or look like they were picked up off the day labor sites.
If you want a painter- hire...
wait for it...

A painter!
 
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Rbriggs82
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