Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care rates high among new franchises

Entrepreneur magazine has named Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care the nation's eighth top new franchise opportunity.

Hoffman Estates, Ill., -- Sears, Roebuck and Co.’s first national franchising endeavor currently has more than 110 franchises in its network – servicing 60% of the nation’s single-family homes. Entrepreneur magazine has recognized this achievement by naming Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care the nation's eighth top new franchise opportunity. Sears is slated to secure franchise partners in California, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia by the end of 2001. According to Sears, this would enable them to provide their Ultra Care System to more than 70% of the United States.

Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care has established itself within the industry in less that two years through its Ultra Care System cleaning process and customer service. Sears’ multi-step Ultra Care cleaning process is a dual-step carpet and upholstery care system.

Sears’ Ultra Care cleaning process is being offered through franchise agreements with select local service providers. Sears’ franchisees agree to work exclusively as Sears service providers, adhering to strict Sears service guidelines under 10-year commitments in order to ensure consistent, quality service, Sears says.

Franchise 500 by Entrepreneur magazine is an annual ranking of the top 500 franchises based on various factors such as financial strength, size of the system, and growth rate. Different rankings are recognized from within this list, including the top 50 new companies which began franchising within the past five years. The Top 10 New Franchises for 2001 as it appears on Entrepreneur Magazine’s website:

• ACE America’s Cash Express

• Wetzel’s Pretzels

• Friendly’s Restaurants Franchise Inc.

• Express One

• Quik Internet

• New York Burrito – Gourmet Wraps

• Window Gang

• Sears Carpet & Upholstery Care Inc.

• Christmas Décor Inc.

• Worldsites