Clients Turn to the Home Design Franchise for Kitchens, Bathrooms and Closets
Home is where Jessi Chichelli’s heart is. In March, she launched her second franchised business in Upstate New York, The Designery. Chichelli has a passion for home design that she had previously indulged for 26 years as a buyer for home goods and décor with a food market retailer. But the desire to run her own business led Chichelli to invest in home services franchises.
The Designery, part of the HomeFront Brands portfolio, complements Chichelli’s 9-year-old Budget Blinds franchise. “I enjoy many parts of being a home services franchisee. I find that the franchise system helps to push me to maintain a competitive edge and stay on top of changing trends and technology,” she says.
Founded in 2007, The Designery designs, builds, and installs kitchens, bathrooms and closets. Clients are homeowners, home builders and contractors, and Chichelli says her Designery shop benefits from its location in the bustling Rochester suburb of Irondequoit. “Our area is very supportive of small business owners, with a growing local economy and great chamber and networking groups. We had over 150 community members at our grand opening!”
Although Chichelli initially was disappointed when she couldn’t expand her blinds business by adding a territory, The Designery presented a silver lining. It turned out to be an excellent — and probably superior — alternative, she says. “In the long run, I think we’ve gained more opportunities for our team and improved our business stability by having multiple brands. I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason.”
A Growing Business
Chichelli plans to expand her staff of three employees, who juggle many hats while serving the two businesses. “As we opened The Designery, everyone has grown, shifted their responsibilities, and stepped up to the challenge. Expanding has pushed me to give up day-to-day operational tasks and trust our team to take the reins of our existing franchise.”
Relinquishing responsibilities was difficult for Chichelli at first. “I think the biggest challenge as a woman in business is the pressure that you have to work harder to prove yourself as a business owner, mom and wife. That feeling that you must do it all permeates everything we do, and it’s important to stave that off. Asking for help is not natural for me, but I’ve learned to do it. It is critical as a small business owner to learn your weaknesses, acknowledge their impact on how you run your business, and find others who can help you fill those voids.”
She also leans on help from HomeFront Brands’ support team. “The best part of HomeFront Brands is the passion that drives the leadership for franchisee success. Beyond the standard operations training provided by most franchisors, [HomeFront CEO] Jeff Dudan himself holds monthly virtual events for owners to engage with some of the top strategic business coaches in their industries. “His commitment to developing us as franchise owners is exceptional.”
Chichelli admits that even with fantastic corporate support, business responsibilities have put a thumb on her work-life scale. She expects things to let up later this year, however. “In the meantime, getting help with things at home, like hiring a house cleaner, helps me ensure I still have time for family and friends.” Chichelli and her husband, Steve, have two grown children and “enjoy entertaining, watching baseball, cheering for the Buffalo Bills and traveling to visit our kids when we can.”
About The Designery Franchise
• Franchisees provide turnkey services that range from design and product sourcing to building and installation.
• While collaborating closely with clients, The Designery deploys state-of-the-art imaging technology to devise custom kitchens, bathrooms and closets.
• Inside footprint-optimized showrooms, franchisees work with B2C and B2B clients: homeowners, home builders, remodelers and contractors in single- and multi-family residential markets.
• The Designery’s Vendor Advantage Program gives franchisees national buying power and a streamlined supply chain.
• Clients appreciate the brand for making professional design services more accessible and affordable.
Learn more about The Designery franchise opportunity.
