百大连锁店 Rank no.148 – 新移民致富之路

百大连锁店 Rank no.148 – 新移民致富之路


Top 250 Franchise by Entrepreneur-Rank no.148 – Wireless Zone – US

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Products & Services: Wireless-communications store

Number of Locations: 407

Total Investment: $99.25K – 378.5K

Founded: 1988

Began Franchising: 1989

About Wireless Zone

Wireless Zone’s history goes back to 1988, when Russ Weldon started The Car Phone Store in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Franchising began just a year later. By 1999, the stores’ offerings had expanded beyond cell phones to include GPS navigation, wireless accessories, wireless data devices and pre-paid cellular services, and the company’s name was changed to Wireless Zone.

Franchise Units

Year U.S. Canadian International Company Owned
2013 379 0 0 28
2012 394 0 0 20
2011 418 0 0 21
2010 399 0 0 4
2009 332 0 0 2
Where Seeking Franchisees: Franchisor is seeking new franchise units in the following states:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Midwest, Nebraska, Northeast, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South, Southeast, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin.

Startup Costs, Ongoing Fees and Financing

Total Investment: $99,250 – $378,500
Franchise Fee: $1,000 – $30,000
Ongoing Royalty Fee: Varies
Term of Franchise Agreement: 7 years, renewable

How This Franchise Supports Franchisees

Training: Available at headquarters: 2 weeks. At franchisee’s location: up to 5 days. At field training store : 1 week.
Ongoing Support: Newsletter, Meetings, Grand opening, Internet, Field operations/evaluations
Marketing Support: Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, Regional advertising,
Other marketing support: PR

Franchise Ranking History

Franchise 500®: #148 (2013), #95 (2012), #79 (2011), #144 (2010), #185 (2009),
Fastest-Growing: #101 (2012), #35 (2011), #53 (2010), #82 (2009),

HISTORY

At the dawn of the cell phone age, Wireless Zone® founder Russ Weldon started an instantly successful business called “The Car Phone Store” in Wethersfield, CT, in 1988.

From the moment it opened, it was a model that begged to be replicated. But Weldon knew it would be a challenge to find high quality managers for multiple locations, and he was certain that engaging customer service was as integral a part of the winning formula as carrying an in-demand product.

Developing a franchising model made it possible to find owner-operators with a vested interest in the success of their locations – the kinds of individuals who would get involved in the community and develop marketing programs that would drive customers into the store for their all-important first visit. From there, they could be won over to be repeat customers for life. Our original stores report still serving some of the same people who bought their first phones back in the late 1980s, and they continue to be loyal customers.

At that time, few people knew what cellular was all about and a stand-alone wireless store was truly a unique idea. People were used to finding out about cellular services at huge, impersonal big box electronics stores that also sold stereos, air conditioners and microwaves, a model that didn’t lend itself to answering questions about the technology and its features.

We changed our name to Wireless Zone in 1999 in order to convey more clearly the products that we sold then and still offer. Today we sell all the latest cellular/wireless phones, GPS navigation, wireless accessories, Verizon FIOS High Speed Fiber Optic Network, Wireless Data Devices and pre-paid cellular services.

AR-302149988.jpg&MaxW=400&MaxH=400Wireless Zone® created the Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving® Inc. in 2003 after years of supporting research into Neurofibromatosis (NF), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), as well as United Hospice of Rockland County and other local and national charities.

The Foundation provides a structure for this collaborative giving program and offers grants to charitable organizations from donations by Wireless Zone® franchisees, employees and friends. The grants are given to support programs and organizations dedicated to improving the communities in which we operate and live.

Wireless Zone Foundation for Giving, Inc. is a charitable organization exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Media Contacts

Journalists who would like to arrange an interview or who need additional information, please contact:

Nick Powills
No Limit Media Consulting
888 847-6562
nick@nolimitmediaconsulting.com

Kevin Downs
Wireless Zone
Director of Marketing
(860) 632-9494
KevinD@WirelessZone.com

PLEASE NOTE: Both of the above will answer news media inquiries.
Customers should contact our customer service department at 1-866-WZHELPS

Source: Wireless Zone official website