Wireless Zone Celebrates New Era of Growth, Top-Performing Franchisees at Annual Convention
MIDDLETOWN, Conn. (PRWEB) April 18, 2017 -- Wireless Zone, the nation’s largest wireless retail franchise offering exclusive Verizon products and services, celebrated the opening of a new era of growth following its landmark merger with The Cellular Connection (TCC) at its annual franchise convention, held this year in Orlando, Florida from March 12-14. Franchisees, vendors, employees and the brand’s corporate team not only met to celebrate 2016’s successes, but also awarded a number of hard-working franchisees that helped to make the new growth possible.
“A franchise brand is only as good as the franchisees that make up its system,” said Dave Staszewski, Wireless Zone Executive Vice President. “We’re extremely proud to have so many dedicated franchise owners, and thrilled to get the chance to recognize how vital they are to our brand’s success. Wireless Zone wouldn’t be where it is today without its franchisees, and together, we stand poised to enter an incredibly exciting new chapter in our brand’s growth.”
TCC’s recent acquisition of Wireless Zone was an energizing theme running through the entire convention. TCC’s more than 700 locations across 38 states now combined with nearly 400 franchised Wireless Zone locations have created a partnership unmatched anywhere else in the wireless industry. The merge, paired with the rapid growth that Wireless Zone multi-unit franchisees saw in 2016, created fresh momentum as the brand planned for 2017 and celebrated its franchisees.
Each year, the convention includes an annual awards ceremony recognizing Wireless Zone’s top-performing franchisees as well as franchisees with extraordinary service to the brand. This year, three franchise owners set the bar for rookie year performance. Steve Nowak, a franchisee based in Connecticut, had nine top 10 performances across the Wireless Zone system in total new activations. The other winners, James Altiery and Robby Page of Texas, achieved close to $1 million in gross profit in their first full year.
“These two pairs of franchisees come from two different parts of the country and two paths to store ownership, but both celebrated nearly identical top-of-the-charts performance,” said Staszewski. “They are a perfect example of how many ways there are to be successful under the business model we’ve developed.”
Todd Bender, a franchisee based in New York, took home the esteemed Spirit of Wireless Zone Award. A 10-store owner, Bender has made a significant impact on his market over the past few years. In addition to his top-performing stores, Bender also showcased a community-first mentality by collaborating with and giving back to local organizations.
“The Spirit of Wireless Zone Award is given to an owner who has a proven track record of outstanding sales performance,” Staszewski said. “Each year, our winner is an avid supporter of the Wireless Zone system, taking every opportunity to provide input and sales ideas for the benefit of all. They must exhibit a commitment of giving back to the community and serve as an example for the rest of the organization. We couldn’t think of a more deserving person than Todd to receive this award. He exemplifies the definition of a locally-focused small business owner. And, he understands the value of giving back and being connected to his community.”
The brand’s highest award, Franchisee of the Year, was awarded to Deborah Peterson, franchise owner of seven stores across Michigan, all of which are consistently ranked at the top in nearly every Wireless Zone and Verizon Wireless metric. Peterson is also committed to giving back to the communities surrounding her stores and to providing a dedicated staff of wireless experts. Peterson offers each of her employees a comprehensive benefits package including 401k and paid time off.
Finally, the brand honored Scott Gladstone of Connecticut with the 25 Year Tenure Award for his outstanding service and commitment to the Wireless Zone brand dating back nearly to its founding.
With more than 370 locations across the country and additional owners expected to sign on to develop more stores in new key development markets by the end of the year, Wireless Zone continues to rely on the strength of its system to propel the brand forward to even bigger heights. Franchisees like those celebrated during the annual convention are poised to make 2017 the best year yet for the brand.
“The franchisees we highlighted this year are perfect examples of why the Wireless Zone system works so well,” said Staszewski. “Demand for mobile phones has never been higher, and consumers are always going to be on the lookout for the next upgrade. That’s why we’re looking forward to welcoming even more operators into our system in the years to come. There’s a real need for the expertise Wireless Zone provides in the wireless industry, and we want to continue to solidify our firm position as the brand leading the way into the future.”
ABOUT WIRELESS ZONE®
Founded in 1988 as "The Car Phone Store," the Wireless Zone® system has become the nation's largest wireless retail franchisor and was ranked the No. 1 franchise in its category by Entrepreneur magazine. Most stores are independently owned and operated, exclusively offering Verizon Wireless products and services. In 2012, the company grew to more than 450 locations thanks to its recession-friendly and finance-friendly model. The Wireless Zone® system is franchised and operated by Automotive Technologies, Inc. For more information, visit http://www.wirelesszone.com.
###
Troy Kehoe, No Limit Agency, http://www.nolimitagency.com, +1 (312) 526-3996, [email protected]
Share this article