NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bucking current business expansion obstacles around the world, Chem-Dry, the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service, has expanded into its 50th country, the South American nation of Trinidad and Tobago, which came shortly after successfully entering Bahrain in the Middle East.
With 3,500 locations worldwide serving more than 10,000 homes and businesses every day, Chem-Dry attributes its international success in part to its business model, which includes understanding and accommodating cultural differences.
By using a Master Franchise model in which the Master Franchisee owns the rights to the brand within a territory and is responsible for developing the brand by selling the business to sub-franchisees, Chem-Dry has been able to consistently bring the world’s best and largest floor cleaning franchise into new global markets. Currently, the brand is seeking Master Franchise partners in Turkey, Germany, Poland, Taiwan, Brazil, Argentina and Chile, among other available countries.
“While many prestigious U.S.-based brands are experiencing international growth challenges due to wavering demand and the strong U.S. dollar, Chem-Dry will continue to grow with confidence throughout Central and South America for the remainder of 2015 and into 2016,” said Joe Manuszak, director of International Development with Chem-Dry. “In addition to expanding into Bahrain, followed by Trinidad and Tobago, we also have Chem-Dry franchises in MENA (Middle East North Africa), Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe and the entire Pacific Rim.”
High demand for Chem-Dry’s proprietary products and cleaning methods, including its Hot Carbonating Extraction (HCE) process, in international markets has driven its success, along with strong training and support and exceptional customer service. With a multi-lingual team at its U.S. corporate headquarters, the franchisor is able to communicate effectively with existing and potential international franchisees around the globe. Manuszak and his team are highly adaptable and accommodating, conducting business and supporting Master Franchises in 29 different time zones.
“You have to be flexible and you have to know your audience outside the United States,” he said.
For example, while 80 percent of Chem-Dry’s domestic business is residential and 20 percent commercial, the opposite is true in most countries outside the U.S. Manuszak attributes this primarily to the high priority many countries place on healthy work environments. With the brand’s healthier process and its core green-certified solution, The Natural, Chem-Dry is able to market its business model and services to savvy entrepreneurs and partner with them to meet this strong and growing demand.
Needs for services also vary based on climate in the respective country. For example, according to Master Franchisee Kenneth M. DeSanti, who operates Chem-Dry of Costa Rica, “Since we are located in a country with very hot, humid weather, carpeting is limited in homes, although some have area rugs. Our market consists mainly of commercial clients, such as hotels, casinos, office buildings, free zones, and large scale companies.”
A global concern for the environment also drives demand for Chem-Dry’s services around the world. In addition to using green-certified cleaning solutions that are safe and non-toxic, the company’s HCE process uses about 80 percent less water than typical steam cleaning, which means that carpets, rugs and upholstery are deep cleaned and dry in just a couple of hours rather than a couple of days. Based on a study conducted by an independent laboratory, Chem-Dry’s HCE process has also been proven to improve the safety and healthfulness of indoor environments, removing 98 percent of common indoor allergens from carpets and upholstery and, when a sanitizer was added, 89 percent of airborne bacteria. The study was conducted by a leading independent air quality laboratory in a cross-section of consumer homes in the U.S. and internationally. The specific common household allergens tested were cat and dog dander and dust mite allergens.
Since the environment and health are a concern for people in every country, Chem-Dry’s more eco-friendly process and impressive indoor health study results have resonated around the world. “No matter where our franchisees are in the world, we actively support them in their business,” Manuszak said. “We provide technology, marketing support, apps for digital platforms, and ongoing training with Chem-Dry’s superior, healthier products and processes. We’re fortunate and proud to have such committed, high-caliber franchisees. They have fully embraced the Chem-Dry methods and are impressing customers and creating healthier homes and workplaces all over the world.”
About Chem-Dry
Founded in 1977, Chem-Dry is the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service with a network of more than 3,500 units in 50 countries serving over 10,000 homes a day worldwide. Its green-certified solution and proprietary Hot Carbonating Extraction cleaning process provide a deeper clean, allow surfaces to dry faster, and leave homes and workplaces healthier. Chem-Dry has been ranked the number one carpet cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 27 consecutive years and has also been featured in the magazine’s Top Home-Based Franchises list among the top 10 concepts for 19 consecutive years. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.chemdryfranchise.com, or to request a quote or schedule a cleaning, visit www.chemdry.com. Chem-Dry is owned by Harris Research, Inc., which is also the founder and owner of the fast-growing N-Hance Wood Renewal franchise.
