We Do Lines was recently featured in the New Haven Register!

Big ideas come in all sizes. Rarely, though, do those ideas come to fruition. That is unless you are Chris Couri, Tom Darrow, Craig Lenahan and Dan Rella – who collectively teamed up to put the word “sexy” into the parking lot striping industry with the launch of their franchise-brainchild We Do Lines.

Expansion plans: We Do Lines eye more franchise outlets

Published: Tuesday, December 29, 2009 By Angela Carter, New Haven Register Staff

The idea of a business springing from an unmet need is more than anecdotal for Christopher Couri and his business partner, Dan Rella.

Two years ago, the pair started a parking lot striping company after having a difficult time searching for a contractor to do that type of work for them. Most companies did not even return telephone calls.

Thus, We Do Lines was born, and the Ridgefield company is on the verge of launching the niche industry’s first national franchise. (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Ridgefield Press

Tuesday, 13 October 2009 05:59

We Do Lines expands and becomes a national franchiser

Written by The Ridgefield Press

Chris Couri, Tom Darrow and Dan Rella have joined to form We Do Lines LLC and We Do Lines USA, Inc, and hope to become the nation’s leading parking lot striping company.

We Do Lines LLC, the operating company, and We Do Lines USA, the franchise company offering franchise sales in 35 states, are headquartered in Ridgefield.

We Do Lines began operations earlier this year. President Chris Couri said, “The parking lot industry is $29 billion annually with more than 50 million parking spaces across the county, yet there is no national line striping company to service that industry.

Our goal is to be the nation’s leading brand for parking lot striping solutions. We plan to spread We Do Lines across the nation by selling and supporting franchise units in every state.”

Services provided include: parking lot striping; wheel stops; curb painting; traffic sign installation; raised pavement markers; warehouse floor striping and staging; pavement legends; re-stripe and new layout; and parking lot sweeping.

Since we began operations we have worked across Connecticut, up to Maine and as far away as Florida,” Mr. Couri said. “The reception to our business and ability to deliver has been extremely positive in each of these areas. This further substantiates our belief that our concept can be franchised nationally.”

Mr. Couri said a critical part of the We Do Lines corporate philosophy includes donating to local charitable organizations.

“It is these organizations and their associates that make a tremendous difference in the lives of many,” he said. “We Do Lines believes every company should make an effort to support non-profit organizations and get involved. Five percent of all profits will be donated to charitable 501c-3 non-profit organizations.”

He added, “As We Do Lines grows we want to give back to the community we work in. It is the right thing to do. We’ve done it in Ridgefield and we will do it across the country too.”

We Do Lines has an apparel division to promote the We Do Lines brand across the country through the sale of T-shirts, hats, and other branded merchandise. For further information visit WeDoLines.com.

Bringing Sexy Back: We Do Lines Revolutionizes Parking Lot Striping Industry

After Successfully Proving its Methodology with Service from Maine to Florida, Connecticut Company Launches Franchise

RIDGEFIELD, CT – Big ideas come in all sizes. Rarely, though, do those ideas come to fruition. That is unless you are Chris Couri, Tom Darrow and Dan Rella – who collectively teamed up to put the word “sexy” into the parking lot striping industry with the launch of their franchise-brainchild We Do Lines.

“There’s not one national parking lot striping company out there. The market is completely untapped,” said Couri, President of the Ridgefield, CT-based franchise concept, noting that there are an estimated 50 million parking spaces with roughly a $1 billion parking line striping segment in the $29 billion parking lot US market. “For a service with such high demand, we have created a concept that is efficient, reliable, eco-friendly (its Proprietary Stripe Green Initiative), and socially responsible (through its “Lines for Charity program”).”

In February 2008, Couri, Darrow, and Rella, noticed that while their collective 80 years of business experience came in different industries, their match culturally paved their idea to redefine a broken and rough industry with top-tier customer service and a meticulous attention to detail. With efficient systems in place, and a very strong first location, We Do Lines plans to expand nationally with a goal of reaching the 100-unit mark within the next three years.

In a continued effort to build a solid foundation, the We Do Lines team hired franchise veteran Skip Barrett. Prior to We Do Lines, Barrett earned his stripes when he co-founded GarageTek in 2000, the world’s first garage remodeling franchise. Barrett was instrumental in all aspects of the start-up including: business model conception, creating sales training procedures, marketing strategies, franchisee recruitment, and awarding of franchises.

“I have seen a lot of franchise concepts, but none with the potential of this one, especially given the landscape of this industry,” he said. “Entrepreneurs have a real opportunity to become serious business owners within our system. Immediately upon launching the franchise opportunity last month, inquires began pouring in. As early as next year, We Do Lines plans to open 25 franchises throughout the United States.”

The untapped marketplace is the driving factor behind We Do Lines strategic growth plan. Using Connecticut (naturally, as the four partners have lived in Ridgefield their entire lives) as their initial basis for determination, the partners quickly noticed that, in general the local industry was very fragmented and underdeveloped.

“We built this business from scratch and have gotten to know each and every element involved in the successful execution of jobs from initial call to follow up survey, said Rella, We Do Lines’ CFO. “It is critical that We Do Lines remains consistent at every stage of the game.”

From Maine to Florida, We Do Lines’ flagship operation has earned a reputation of providing unsurpassed quality, professionalism and accountability. Largely stemming from its proprietary Centralized Command and Control infrastructure, designed to enhance their client’s experiences, and push toward their “Stripe Green Initiative” – as they use low V.O.C. (volatile organic compound) products when striping. The product development team is also currently testing new machinery that runs on natural resources as opposed to fossil fuels and oils.

In 2009, the flagship operation is on track to reach 150 percent increase in business, thus reaching 100 units over the next five years and securing a share of the $29 billion dollar industry is a reachable goal. With the parking lot striping industry being as fragmented as it is, We Do Lines will also entertain conversions of existing businesses.

“Our flagship operation proved to be the perfect test of our franchise. We streamlined our processes to be as efficient as possible and we’ve put all the systems and infrastructure with a priority placed on helping the franchisees begin operating confidently and quickly,” said Darrow, We Do Lines’ Operational Director.

To open a We Do Lines Franchise, would-be franchisees can expect start-up costs ranging from $77k - $134k, with the leasing of a truck and equipment taking up the bulk of costs. While most franchisors search for someone with experience in the field as the ideal candidate, We Do Lines looks for someone who isn’t only able to operate the machinery, but additionally a businessperson who understands scalability, networking, and growing a business for themselves.

“Parking lot striping is one of a business’s top priorities as many establishments require or are required by contract and/or lease to re-stripe their parking lots every year and yet no business has capitalized on this industry until now,” Couri said. “The parking lot is your corporate welcome mat. Having it properly laid out, clean and striped to code, has a multitude of advantages aside from carrying a very high return on investment on our services. Our goal is to educate our target audience on all of the benefits that We Do Lines can provide to them. We want to set the bar in the industry and communicate that to anyone having anything to do with the management or administration of any parking area.”

ABOUT WE DO LINES
Based in Ridgefield, CT, and founded in 2008 by four friends looking to revolutionize a $1 billion segment of a $29 billion industry, We Do Lines, a full-service parking lot striping franchise that provides quality, low V.O.C. and reliable line striping services in a timely and cost efficient manner. Its services make parking lots everywhere safer, more functional and cleaner, while enhancing the overall aesthetics of the property. We Do Lines accomplishes this mission by utilizing a combination of state-of-the-art technology and trained professionals to ensure a top-quality end result.

Executive Biography: Skip Barrett Director of Franchise Development

Skip has more then 25 years in both business to business and business to consumer sales and franchising.

In 2000 Skip co-founded GarageTek the world’s first garage remodeling franchise where he was instrumental in all aspects of the start-up including: business model conception, raising venture capital, creating sales training procedures, marketing strategies, franchisee recruitment, and awarding of franchises. Skip helped guide GarageTek through several stages of growth and was responsible for awarding hundreds of domestic franchises and negotiated international development licenses in five countries, including Russia and South Africa.

Skip brings a wealth of franchising experience to WDL and a commitment to franchisee satisfaction and financial success. Away from work Skip enjoys flying with his son, sports car racing, reading and spending time with his wife of 25 years Joanne and his daughter Katy, and the family’s four retrievers.

Executive Biography: Daniel Rella CFO

Dan Rella grew up in Queens, NY (which would explain his natural ability to sell lawn and garden equipment). After working at JFK airport managing a duty free store, he decided to move to Connecticut to run, manage and become a partner in Young's of Ridgefield, a lawn and garden retail store established in 1948.

Dan, with his partner Chris, successfully guided Young's to attain a solid growth rate over the years; which has enabled them to branch out from lawn and garden supply store to include a commercial and residential landscaping divisions, rental equipment division, and a power equipment service center. Young's celebrated its 60th year serving Ridgefield and area residents in 2008.

Dan prides himself on his commitment and ability to provide an unsurpassed level customer service. "It is all about knowing the products you sell, the customers you serve and matching them up for the perfect fit." After being at the helm of a customer service focused company since 1981, Dan has seen it all and built up a following of loyal patrons, thus turning Young's into what it is today.

Now Dan has co-founded We Do Lines, and is just as committed to providing We Do Lines customers the level of customer service that he has delivered for 27 years. Dan enjoys cruises, reading, 5 card stud, fishing and spending time with his lovely wife of 33 years and his daughters.

Executive Biography: Christopher J. Couri COO of Operating Company and CEO of Franchise Corporate

A local Ridgefield, CT resident, Chris has lived in town for 32 years. He attended school in Babson Park, MA at Babson College focusing on Entrepreneurial Studies and Business Law. He came back to Ridgefield in 1998 and purchased an interest in an event rental store that specialized in weddings and fundraiser's throughout Connecticut and New York. He ran and grew the business for five years and eventually sold it to another company in the industry. This company focused on delivering the highest level of customer service in the industry and established a reputation as a leader in this area.

After the sale of this business, Chris focused on running Young's of Ridgefield with his business partner, Dan Rella. They successfully guided Young's to solid growth rate year after year which has enabled them to branch out from the lawn and garden supply store to include a commercial & residential landscaping division, rental equipment division, and a power equipment service center. Young's is celebrating its 60th year serving Ridgefield and area residents.

Continuing his entrepreneurial focused career, he teamed up with Tom and Dan to co-found We Do Lines. Some of his interests include fly fishing, golf, snow boarding, snowmobiling and spending time with his wife, two sons and their black lab Bella.

Executive Biography: Thomas E. Darrow CEO of Operating Company

Tom has always excelled in the service industry. Both his commitment to his clients and his attention to detail have been the backbone for his companies since the very beginning.

Born and raised in Ridgefield, CT, Tom quickly entered the business world starting a lawn service. Tom grew the lawn service, which he ultimately sold, to concentrate on the landscaping and irrigation division. The company, Pinnacle Landscaping, Inc., with headquarters in Ridgefield, is a leader in the turf industry and manages large scale landscaping and irrigation projects from Nantucket, MA to Heathrow, FL.

Tom's latest venture, with long time friends and business associates Chris Couri and Dan Rella, reinforces his commitment to the service industry. Residing in Ridgefield with his Girlfriend Jacqueline, Tom fills his down time with golf, drag racing and mountain biking.

Launching A Never-Before Concept in an Untapped Market

We Do Lines was established in February 2008 in Ridgefield, CT by Chris Couri, Dan Rella and Tom Darrow out of the necessity to have a parking lot striping company that would be reliable, efficient and professional. We've modeled We Do Lines to be the premier parking lot striping company. We have applied over 80 collective years of business experience varied in industry, but sharing the trait of being heavily based on customer service and meticulous attention to detail. Taking that knowledge, we decided to fill a gap in the $29 billion parking lot industry and create a market segment in parking lot striping that has never been done before by applying our "Out of the Box" thinking to We Do Lines.

Fortunately, we have had the pleasure of working from Maine to Florida and the ability to establish a reputation for unsurpassed quality, professionalism, and accountability along the way. We aim to continue this trend as well as to apply our philosphy across the United States. We Do Lines will leverage a national presence while providing our franchisees a Centralized Command and Control infrastructure to support their operations.

~The We Do Lines Team (Chris, Dan and Tom)