Franchisees Justin Forrest and Derek Allison Prioritize Care and Support in Tennessee Location
Running a successful home restoration and remediation business requires a deep sense of empathy, says Justin Forrest, who owns a Rainbow Restoration franchise with Derek Allison (above with team) in the Lebanon-Hendersonville area of Tennessee.
“To operate successfully in this business requires a servant’s heart,” Forrest says. “We are faced with customers who are dealing with some of the worst days of their lives, from fire damage to water damage, storm damage, etc.” The emphasis that Forrest and Allison put on helping others is mirrored in the people-focused culture of Rainbow Restoration and its parent company Neighborly.
“Rainbow Restoration owners truly want to support others within our brand whenever and however possible,” Forrest says. “We can pick up the phone and call our Rainbow neighbors for advice, knowledge and support at any time. I’ve been on both ends, recipient and grantor, and both feel equally encouraging.”
Rainbow Restoration and Neighborly leaders take pride in their close-knit community and in the four-part code of values that helps set the tone for the business: Respect, Integrity, Customer Focus, and Having Fun in the Process.
“We love Rainbow Restoration’s code of values and often draw on several of them day to day,” Forrest says. “One of our favorite values is Having Fun in the Process. We truly believe you can have a lot of fun in this business and can create a culture that people will want to be in and where they will be able to thrive in their professional careers.”
Getting Started
Forrest and Allison, who both have strong backgrounds in restoration and construction, opened their franchise in September 2022. They were impressed by Rainbow Restoration’s thorough onboarding process. The brand, which was established in 1981 and has more than 300 locations in North America, provides ongoing opportunities for additional training. A designated consultant helps franchise owners launch the business in the first year, and a business coach offers mentoring after that. Corporate assistance with marketing includes help with online advertising and managing social media accounts.
Equally important, though, is the supportive culture of the company, which Forrest describes as “an exceptionally engaged, close-knit group where everyone is pulling the rope in the same direction, from the franchise owners to the corporate office.”
Rewarding Work
Rainbow Restoration works with commercial and residential clients and offers mold removal, biohazard cleanup, specialty cleaning, and restoration services for water and fire damage. Forrest acknowledges the sensitive nature of working with families who have been stricken by disaster. “For some families, we have the opportunity to turn a tragedy into something positive by not only restoring their property but by bringing fresh new updates to their home and a renewed sense of well-being,” he says. “It is truly rewarding when we get to see that transformation for our clients.”
Forrest says that he and Allison hope to grow their franchise into one of the largest in the Rainbow Restoration network. Part of the challenge is “finding the balance between growth and sustainability,” he says, along with having the patience to avoid pushing for growth too quickly. Their strategy is to build a sales-oriented, data-driven company, never losing sight of the importance of providing outstanding service. “Customer service must be the primary focus and largest driver of our location,” says Forrest. “We know that if we take care of our customers, then everything else will fall into its proper place.”
For more information, visit https://franchise.neighborly.com/rainbow-international-restoration.
