Happinest Brands Powers Growth With Franchisee Support and Recurring Revenue Model
Sparkle Squad’s services and support team impressed Desiree Land so much that she barely gave the franchise’s emerging status a second thought. As Land evaluated franchises, “I kept circling back to windows. They’re everywhere, they get dirty all the time, and that means steady, recurring revenue. Plus, in sunny Florida, you’re in prime window-cleaning territory all year round!” Although Sparkle Squad is only about 2 years old, it benefits from being a sister franchise to 13-year-old Elite Window Cleaning of Canada. Christopher Stoness is founder and CEO of both brands, which are members of the Happinest home service franchise family.
“A franchise consultant introduced me to Sparkle Squad,” says Land, who opened Sparkle Squad of North Boca Raton-Delray Beach in April 2024. “What truly captivated me was the vision of Chris Stoness. He sees it as a craft, transforming a routine task into an opportunity for excellence.” She also praises Happinest’s “solid foundation and clear growth strategy for the Sparkle Squad franchise. Their extensive experience reassured me that this was a thoughtfully developed opportunity built by professionals who truly understand both the cleaning industry and the art of franchising. It was the perfect blend of enthusiasm and expertise that made the Sparkle Squad franchise opportunity impossible to ignore.”
Land came to franchising after more than 30 years in other professions. After working behind the scenes on ABC television shows, she earned a degree in computer engineering. Land then worked in technology and sales for companies such as IBM, AT&T and Accenture. “When Accenture laid me off in December 2023, it was a wake-up call. If I wanted to control my destiny, I needed to start my own business. I had always worked as part of a team in both TV and technology, so I knew I needed a team to help me. Franchising seemed to be the right fit for me, and the chance to build something on my own terms was too exciting to pass up.”
At first, Land struggled a bit with her new multifaceted role. “I had to get our brand off the ground from scratch in our market. Handling day-to-day operations, marketing and payroll while making sure our customer service was spot-on was a big change from the tech field.” Every workday morning, she greets her technicians and reviews the job schedule. Other regular tasks include networking with local groups and fellow franchisees as well as checking in with property managers, restaurant owners and cleaning companies who may need Sparkle Squad’s services. “It hasn’t always been a walk in the park, and my team and I have learned a lot on the fly.” Besides technicians, her Florida team consists of an accountant, a SCORE mentor and a virtual assistant.
Customer Focused
All of Land’s resources — corporate and local — feed into her insistence on providing top-notch customer service. “It all starts with our friendly call center team who are seasoned pros with years of experience from Elite Window Cleaning. They ensure that every call feels welcoming and efficient. Our customers often tell us how much they appreciate the warm, hassle-free support they receive. Our technicians genuinely love what they do, delivering a brighter, clearer view — and a smile — to every customer we serve. It’s an uplifting experience for customers.”
Land concedes that “being one of the first franchisees in a new brand is a bit like diving into the deep end,” but the 50-plus years of leadership experience at Happinest eased her worries. “That made me feel a lot more comfortable about taking the plunge. And Chris [Stoness] is like a seasoned coach in my corner.” She credits Happinest for well-established operational processes and excellent marketing, both of which helped her 11-month-old business thrive. In coming months, Land plans to add two territories adjacent to her current one. Sparkle Squad, which also offers gutter cleaning and holiday lighting services, now has more than 52 franchises; territories are available in every state except Hawaii.
For more information about Sparkle Squad, visit the brand’s website.
