FRANCHISE NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2024
In This Issue:
P1.Cover Page
P2.Nashville Information
P2. Welcome to the Family
P3/4. Featured Franchise
P5. St. Louis Opening
P5. Beryl Aftermath
P5. Training in Philly
P5. Library Reminder
Nashville 25’ Here we come!
Anticipation is already climbing for the 2025 Generac Conference, even though registration won't open for a few more months. With many of you eager to start planning your trips, here are some early details to help manage travel arrangements.
Generac Conference 2025 will be in Nashville, Tennessee! So, get ready for some delicious southern food and good old country music.
The week’s adgenda will begin with Generator Supercenter's Annual Gala and awards ceremony on Monday, January 20th, from 6PMto11PM. This event will set the tone for the week, offering attendees a chance to celebrate achievements and network with peers.
FollowingtheGala,themainconferenceactivitieswill run from Tuesday, January 21st, to Thursday, January 23rd, at the Gaylord Convention Center.
We are committed to keeping you all informed as details are finalized. More information, including registration instructions, will be announced in the coming months. Stay tuned for updates and get ready for an unforgettable event in the heart of Music City.
Welcome GSC of South Atlanta
Last week, we were pleased to welcome our newest franchisees, Jody and Fred McClellan, to the Generator Supercenter family. They will be opening their franchise in the Southern Atlanta market.
Fred and Jody have been married sincethefallof1989,andareproud parents to three grown children and grandparents to one grandson. Since 2006, the McClellan family has called the Atlanta, GA area home. Both Fred and Jody bring extensive experience in business development, sales, management, marketing, and outreach to their endeavors.Theirexpertise,coupled with their deep roots in the community, position them well for success.
They were drawn to the GSC business model through our declared mission statement which algins with their spiritual and family beliefs. They are both enthusiastic about working with partners who have similar values and priorities.
Franchise of the month – Denton Texas
We are pleased to highlight Generator Supercenter of Denton as our Featured Franchise for August. GSC of Denton is one of our Original 10 franchises and is owned by Travis Burns. Travis grew up in Pasadena, TX, just south of Houston, where he gained early experience in the electrical business by working at his father’s company on Saturdays and over the summers.
Travis holds a degree in Computer Science from Baylor University. After graduation, he chose a software job in the Dallas area over other opportunities in Houston. Shortly thereafter, he married his wife, Marci, and they recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. They have 13year-old twins, Asher and Zoee.
When not running Generator Supercenter of Denton, Travis enjoys music, yard games (especially cornhole), spending time with his family, serving at church, and engaging in outdoor activities. This month, Travis shared insights about his business, offering valuable tips and tricks for running a successful Generator Supercenter.
Q. How did you first hear about Generator Supercenter?
I had tried multiple business ventures and hadn’t found “the one” I was back working in the software industry but had my eye out for other business opportunities. GSC was running radio ads looking for Franchisees in Dallas, and the business sounded interesting, so I inquired.
Q. When did you know you wanted to be part of the Generator Supercenter family?
After some phone conversations with Doug Dixon, I decided to come down to Tomball and dive in further. As soon as I saw the shop and the gens getting loaded I was even more interested. After sitting down with Matt, Wes, Steve, and Doug, I knew I wanted to be a part of what they were building.
Q. What skills from your past professional careers have been helpful in operating a successful GSC?
Having run a couple of prior businesses helped when we started. My expectations were aligned correctly, and I knew the amount of work ahead. As things have gone on some of the experience I have had leading teams, and being mentored on leadership in Corporate America, has helped us develop. I also grew up working for my father,
who is a Master Electrician in Houston, and that knowledge has been paramount.
Q. What does GSC of Denton do differently that may be helpful for other franchises to incorporate into their operations?
It all begins at the start-up We give the customer a packet with all of their documents, a thumb drive with their manuals in digital format, a GSC koozie, sticker, and business cards. The customers seem to enjoy it and many times those cards have gotten us referral business. We did not like the optionsavailable in the market to move air cooled units through people’s yards, so we came up with our own design that includes pneumatic tires and a dump feature. One person can roll the carts through uneven terrain and offload them with ease.
Q. People are our greatest resource, and we wouldn’t be anywhere if it wasn’t for the hard work and dedication of our teams. Please tell us about your team in Denton. We have a wonderful team at GSC Denton where our average tenure is over 2 years! We have a real family atmosphere, and everyone is all in for what we do. It is great to watch the people on my team develop. We have two electricians who recently passed their wireman’s test! Almost all of their hours were gained working at GSC. We also have three technicians who started with no outside experience that are now all liquid cooled certified (Continued…)
Q. What is the biggest obstacle you faced getting GSC of Denton up and running? And, how did you overcome it?
From the beginning, finding good people was the toughest part. You need people, but finding the right ones and developing them takes time. I found you just have to give people a chance and if they are not right, part ways with them early. If they aren’t completely the right fit, but they show potential, take the time to work and develop them and they just may turn into some of the best resources for the company.
Q. Do you have any “getting started” advice or lessons learned you wish to share to newer franchisees?
Leads always ebb and flow and it’s not always tied to how much marketing you are doing. We have seen that when you first start out, a lot of unexpected leads come your way. After 3-6 months they may fall off and you are left wondering what you did wrong or why. From what I have seen through our franchise and others, that is the nature of this business. Plan to have some cash reserves to weather the lite times, it will change for the better.
Q. Our mission statement is the foundation of our organization. How does Generator Supercenter of Denton integrate it into your community?
We are fully invested in the GSC mission statement and spend time fulfilling the mission year-round.
This year, we did a toy drive at Christmas and donated to a local charity that supports shelters/homes in Denton County.
After the recent tornados that impacted our area we donated time to help some of those affected. We were able to gather much needed supplies from bulk retailers and donate them to relief organizations that were assisting at ground zero. Keeping in the GSC spirit, we also contribute a full day of community outreach. Our whole company is scheduled to do a service day at a charity that packs meals for those in need in this country and around the globe. (Feed My Starving Children).
Celebrating Success: Generator supercenter opens first
location in Missouri!
On July 18th, David Lockwood and Brad Blankenship proudly celebrated the official Grand Opening of their Generator Supercenter located just outside of St. Louis in Chesterfield, Missouri! They were surrounded by friends, family, and enthusiastic community members, and the event was a huge success.
Our GSC Corporate Training team proudly stood by them for support and guidance. The beautiful storefront was the perfect backdrop and spirits were high as the ribbon was cut.
We are excited about the bright future of GSC of St. Louis, empowering their customers and paving the way for more stores across the Mid-USA!
The Aftermath of beryl:
On July 8th 2024, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Matagorda Bay, just south of Houston, TX, impacting the area with strong winds and tornadoes despite being classified as a Category 1 storm. The aftermath left 2.6 million Houstonians without power. During the peak of the storm, Generator Supercenter had 14,688 generators running, providing crucial support to many residents.
However, those without a backup power solution faced up to 10 days without electricity in the sweltering Houston summer. Amid this adversity, the communities that were effected showcased remarkable resilience and compassion. Neighbors opened their homes to strangers, offering a place to cool down and were seen running extension cords to power fridges next door. This spirit of unity in times of need was heartening, and Generac generators played a pivotal role in this compassionate response.
Coming Soon to Philadelphia
The GSC corporate training team spent a week in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania to prepare one of our new franchises for its upcoming launch. Generator Supercenter of The Mainline is scheduled for a grand opening in September. Owner, Isaac Esseku and GM, Kahiga Tiagha were full of positive energy as they gained valuable insights and best practices for managing their daily operations.
