In this exclusive Q&A, we get to learn more about N-Hance Wood Refinishing from Dan Tarantin, president and CEO of HRI Holdings.

Franchise Chatter (FC): What is N-Hance Wood Refinishing?

Dan Tarantin (DT): N-Hance Wood Refinishing is the industry-leading wood refinishing company throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand that provides innovative, affordable cabinet and floor refinishing services. N-Hance can restore the natural beauty of hardwood floors, cabinets, doors and trims or can change the color of wood surfaces to provide a whole new look with a factory-quality finish.

N-Hance uses a proprietary chemical abrasion and refinishing technique that requires no sanding to restore the natural beauty of hardwood flooring, trims and cabinets at one-third to one-fifth the cost of traditional re-facing or replacing of cabinets. This creates a convenient, no-hassle, dust-free and affordable way to beautify wood floors and cabinets.

N-Hance is a trusted partner of the Home Depot, with a presence in more than 1,300 locations and has more than 500 franchises.

FC: What is your role with the brand?

DT: Since 2011, I’ve been the president and CEO of Harris Research, Inc., (HRI), the parent company of N-Hance Wood Refinishing as well as Chem-Dry Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning. My current role with N-Hance is to grow the brand’s national and international presence while providing an unparalleled franchisee and customer service experience.

My past experiences as a CEO led to the growth and success of several organizations. When I was 31-years-old, I became the CEO of Jackson Hewitt Tax, and since then, I have been the CEO of four separate successful businesses.

Since taking the position of president and CEO of HRI, N-Hance has seen consistent, outsized growth in franchise units and system-wide sales. The brand has averaged close to 90 new units a year over the past five years and has more than doubled its system size during that time period.

FC: The brand just awarded its 500th franchise. What does this mean for N-Hance? To what do you attribute N-Hance’s current success?

DT: Reaching the 500-unit mark is a notable milestone for us and in the franchise industry. One key factor that has driven the expansion has been our efforts to find qualified franchisees in specific target markets, both nationally and internationally. We have grown strategically and honed in on strong franchise owners who successfully stand behind and deliver our brand promise.

We also credit our continued product and service innovation for our success. N-Hance has evolved from solely providing services to refinish floors – which now generate under 30 percent of the business – to cabinet refinishing which has grown to be the most popular service.

Additionally, we know our franchisees are the heart of our system. We strive for a healthy franchise system that leads to profitable franchisees. In order to achieve this, we put a huge focus on franchisee training, and promote transparency and communication. We offer a 24/7 online training program and are constantly working to improve on the educational opportunities we provide franchisees.

FC: What are N-Hance’s goals over the next year or so?

DT: Continued growth nationally and internationally will always remain a goal. We plan to award over 90 more franchises by the end of this year. Some of our top development markets for 2018 include Chicago, Houston, Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and New Orleans, but we are open to many more.

In addition to reaching the 500-unit network size, the brand has seen continued increases in top-line sales. Since 2014, the top quartile of franchisees has seen over 40 percent growth in revenues.

The franchise network’s continued growth and success has also pushed up N-Hance Wood Refinishing in the 2018 Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 ranking, putting it at No. 159, a jump of nearly 100 spots from its ranking of No. 258 last year.

It will always be our mission to continue to support our franchisees and strengthen and grow the brand to expand our leadership position in the refinishing market. We have a unique, industry-leading service and our franchisees deliver a phenomenal customer experience.

We expect to see continued growth by finding franchisees who are just as passionate, and through our national advertising efforts, which we ramped up last year. This has generated incredible awareness and boosted local franchisees’ businesses as well.

FC: What strategies are in place to help you get there?

DT: It was really vital for us to build a strong leadership team that embodied a positive work culture. Company culture holds such a high importance because it sets the tone for the entire franchise system. This is the differentiator that sets your company apart from the competition and can attract the right franchisees to your system.

The N-Hance leadership team is filled with incredible talent. Every person is different which creates a better environment for learning and pushes each team member to think outside-the-box when trying to accomplish our common goals.

Company culture can affect everyone in the system. Your franchisees will be happier with their choice of opportunity, employees will more likely enjoy their time working, and the positivity will trickle down to a positive experience your customers are receiving.

FC: What advice can you share with other brands looking to advance to 500 units and beyond?

DT: When you’re looking to grow your business, it’s essential to ensure a franchise system is on target for healthy, sustainable growth. Franchisees and franchisors should always be listening to each other and working together to really drive success.

As your franchise system grows, remember to keep up with consumer demands, technology, and the marketplace since these are ever-changing. Adapting to the economy and the market and making the necessary changes are the best ways to ensure you’re setting up your business for success.

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