We Do Lines

We Do Lines featured in Phoenix Business Journal

2012-01-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in Phoenix Business Journal in an article titled, "Close-Up: Entrepreneurs meet online, earn their stripes together." The article discusses the new Arizona We Do Lines location and focuses on We Do Lines franchisee Tom Cox’s professional background,and how he learned about this industry and why he chose this type of business. Click here to view the entire article.

Close-Up: Entrepreneurs meet online, earn their stripes together
By: Mary Shinn

Two unlikely business partners — a former hotel industry professional and a commercial subcontractor — have found a niche for themselves painting stripes in parking lots.

After 26 years in the hotel industry, Tom Cox retired in Aspen, Colo., and was looking to go into business for himself. In January 2011, he read about We Do Lines USA Inc., a national parking lot striping company, in Entrepreneur magazine. He was intrigued.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Tyler Vickery of Nashville, TN

2012-01-20T14:27:00.000-08:00

Name: TylerVickery

Opening Date: Nov. 1

Location: Nashville,TN

Q: What was yourcareer before franchising?

A: I was in sales position with a local healthcarecompany in Nashville. As a youngentrepreneur, I have always wanted to be in business for myself.

Q: How did youlearn about the brand?

A: After seeing astriping company in Nashville performing work at the mixed-use facility I wasworking for, my interest piqued. Thebusiness seemed unnoticed, yet I knew it had to be a large industry. I did some research and confirmed mysuspicion that the industry was big and unnoticed and eventually ran across theWe Do Lines’ franchise model.

Q: Why did youdecide to open your own business?

A: Through my research, I found the parking lot linestriping industry to be quite large. Theinteresting component I found was the fact that there are no real industryleaders, as most people in the business do it on the side. For example, seal coaters may stripe lots asa complement to their business only because it’s required to complete theirjob.

Q: When choosing thefranchise, what were the criteria you used to make your decision?

A: I used several criteriawhen making my decision. I examined thefeasibility of the model and whether or not the added brand exposure was worthpaying royalties. I evaluated the modelas a whole. I also liked the fact that thefranchise was relatively new. I feltthat would give me some flexibility to establish best practices for my companyas well as giving me the opportunity to grow and expand further once the Nashvillebrand is established.

Q: What makes yourbusiness different?

A: There is a needand demand for parking lot striping services, but there is no professionalorganization servicing the need in Nashville. Most of the work done on parking lots is done at night and you only canhope that they show up as planned. Wewill be changing that completely. We’llfocus on customer service and on professionalism, and will look to become thego-to professionals for parking lot striping in Nashville.

Q: How does yourbusiness connect with the community?

A: It will beimportant for us to become involved in our industry and connect with otherorganizations that service the industry. In addition, we’ll support the communities we service by becoming membersin the various chambers and civic organizations.

ABOUT WE DO LINES

Based in Ridgefield, Conn., and founded in 2008 by threefriends looking to revolutionize a $1 billion segment of a $29 billionindustry, We Do Lines, USA, is a full-service parking lot striping franchiseproviding quality, professional, and reliable line striping services in atimely and cost efficient manner. Its services make parking lots everywheresafer, cleaner and more functional, while enhancing the overall aesthetics ofthe property. We Do Lines, USA accomplishes this mission by utilizing acombination of state-of-the-art technology and trained professionals to ensurea top-quality end result.

We Do Lines featured in the Nashville Post

2012-01-10T10:57:00.001-08:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in an article in the Nashville Post about Tyler Vickery, owner of We Do Lines Nashville. Check out the article below!

Local franchises parking lot management concept

Published November 10, 2011 by Geert De Lombaerde

We Do Lines, a Connecticut-based company that specializes in striping and otherwise maintaining parking lots, has tapped Tyler Vickery to lead its charge into Middle Tennessee. The 26-year-old Vickery, who previously worked in health care sales, is the youngest of the dozen We Do Lines franchisees looking to get their slice of a $1 billion industry.

Parking lot striping is one of a business’s top priorities as many establishments are required by contract and/or lease to re-stripe their parking lots every year. For the first time, Nashville businesses can properly lay down a corporate welcome mat, clean and striped to code, which will have a multitude of advantages aside from carrying a high return on investment. (READ MORE)

We Do Lines featured in South Florida Business Journal

2011-07-21T13:01:00.000-07:00

South Florida Business Journal reporter Susan Miller spoke with We Do Lines CEO, Chris Couri, on some innovative ideas on how they are finding franchisees. The virtual roundtables, he says, has helped the franchise generate several leads already. We Do Lines already has several operations in Florida and plans to continue its growth in the area. Click here to view the full article! Also, you can learn more about franchising opportunities by clicking here!

Franchis ors join forces to pitch business concepts
by Susan R. Miller

Some South Florida franchisors have found a new way to reach more potential franchisees: virtual roundtables.

Those who consider becoming a franchisee can find navigating the vast number of potential opportunities overwhelming, as there are literally thousands of options from which to choose.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Landscape and Irrigation Magazine

2011-07-11T12:20:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was featured in an article that printed in Landscape and Irrigation Magazine titled, “Break out of the Box with Bolt-on Business.” The article was built from an interview with Chris Couri, discussing the many opportunities that franchising offers to help landscape and irrigation companies grow in this economy. As Chris, Tom and Dan were very familiar with the landscape and irrigation business before founding We Do Lines, they knew there was a huge market potential for parking lot line striping including a relatively low start-up cost and room to grow. You can view the full article below!

We Do Lines featured in the Cleveland Business Connects

2011-07-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in an article in Cleveland Business Connects magazine called “Cleveland family operates local parking lot striping franchise.” Tim Janasek, franchisee of We Do Lines in Cleveland, and Nancy Janasek, President of We Do Lines in Cleveland, discuss the importance of proper parking lot striping. The article talks about reasons why parking lot striping is crucial to the appearance and safety of local businesses. Click here to read the full article!

Cleveland family operates local parking lot striping franchise

By: Natalie Parham

It has happened to all of us before: We leave the mall or pick up our kids from school and spend 45 minutes just trying to get out of the parking lot. We have pulled into a parking garage and almost gotten hit by someone who did not see us. We have been forced to navigate the rough terrain of a parking lot filled with potholes.

We Do Lines, a national company that focuses on the parking lot striping business, is working hard to erase these scenarios from our daily driving repertoire. Locally, Tim Janasek and his family are waging the battle against confusing and dangerous parking lots through their We Do Lines Cleveland franchise.

The Janaseks heard of We Do Lines through their brother, David, who lives in Connecticut, where We Do Lines is based. David informed Tim that the business was looking at going national, and Tim was immediately intrigued.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in The Connecticut Post and The News-Times

2011-07-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in The News-Times and The Connecticut Post in articles titled “When parking lots need lines, We Do Lines delivers.” In the article, Chris Couri, co-founder and CEO of We Do Lines, explains that the idea for the parking lot striping company formed when he and business partners Dan Rella and Tom Darrow all worked as landscapers. After researching the $29 billion parking lot striping industry, they decided to open a business and two years ago began franchising. Connecticut franchisee, Bob Russo, said the business focuses on customer service, no matter how big or small the client, and that this year’s numbers are shaping up to be even better than those in 2010. Click here to view the article!

When parking lots need lines, We Do Lines delivers
By Stacy Davis

Business has been good for a local company that specializes in painting lines in parking lots.

"I think it's been really great," said Chris Couri, one of the three founders of We Do Lines at 7 Danbury Road in Ridgefield.

Couri, 35, established the company in 2008 with his two partners, Tom Darrow, 45, and Dan Rella, 55.

The three now paint lines on the pavements of businesses with parking lots. It can be any kind of property, even schools.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Lawn & Landscape

2011-06-29T08:39:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in an article in Lawn & Landscape magazine called “Adding outside services.” Chris Couri, CEO of We Do Lines, discusses the demand in the underdeveloped parking lot line striping sector. The article talks about the equipment experience that the initial landscaping business gave Chris and how this transferred well into the parking lot line striping business. The article included some great advice from Chris about how to make sure you are utilizing all of your resources when crossing clients over from one business to the next and how important having the right person for the job is when staffing your businesses. A portion of the article is below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Adding outside services

When you look at a commercial property, what’s the first thing you notice? The beautiful turf? The shrubs near the door? Or the cascading annuals near the entrance?

Have you ever considered the parking lot?

Chris Couri did. He’s president of We Do Lines, based in Richfield, Conn., and he and his partners – Tom Darrow, COO, and Dan Rella, CFO, co-founder and principal – started offering parking lot striping services to their commercial landscaping clients as a way to bolster revenue and do something different.

So far Couri and his team have sold 17 franchises; nine are in full operation, and they work all over the East Coast.

Why did you decide to branch out of the green industry? We had good businesses, but wanted to do something different. We saw really, an opportunity in our market with the line striping, in that it was totally fragmented and underdeveloped and we had a book of business. We wanted another business and to ideally capitalize on what we had been building at our careers as much as possible – that being the reputations and the book of business that we had.

We’re doing the plowing, the mowing, the irrigation. This was just something that wasn’t being done. It’s always nice to do something different. And there was a huge need for it. That’s ultimately what prompted us to franchise the concept.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in The Hartford Business Journal

2011-06-15T11:18:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in The Hartford Business Journal in an article discussing how outdoor-focused businesses beat the summer heat. For We Do Lines, this means not sending out one-man crews on summertime jobs in case of safety issues with the heat. Chris Couri, co-founder, president and chief executive of We Do Lines, stressed that the business relies heavily on safety precautions. Connecticut franchisee, Bob Russo, said his employees are required to use sunblock and avoid wearing dark colors. Click here to view the full article!

Heat challenges outdoor businesses
By Brad Kane

As the temperate days of spring quickly slide into the hot days of summer this year, businesses all over Connecticut are feeling the heat.

While offices see an increase in electricity costs from air conditioning and dress codes often ease, those companies whose primary business is outdoors face a more real threat.

Heat stroke, dehydration, sunburn and exhaustion can imperil a company’s employees and production if they have to spend extended periods outside; and Connecticut business do what they can do avoid the wrong side of the sun.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured on Allbusiness.com

2011-06-09T09:48:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured on Allbusiness.com. The article, titled "Cool Franchise Concepts You've Never Heard Of," focuses on the lower cost of starting a franchise with We Do Lines than bigger companies such as McDonald's. Further, the article gives a brief explanation of the type of business that We Do Lines specializes in. Click here to view the full article.

Cool Franchise Concepts You’ve Never Heard Of

When People think of franchising, why do they always think McDonald's?

Sure, we'd Love to own a McDonald’s. But a new franchise costs $1 million or more, so the only time we’ll get near one is when we're ordering a Quarter Pounder with Cheese. You need liquid assets of at least $250,000 before Mickey D’s corporate will even start the conversation with you.

Thankfully, there are plenty of under-the-radar franchise opportunities out there. This article highlights seven promising new franchise businesses. They may never rival McDonald’s, but they won’t set you back a million bucks either.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction

2011-05-30T12:01:00.000-07:00

Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction editor Allan Heydorn examined the We Do Lines business model in an article titled “Striping Franchise as a Business Solution.” As a novel idea to the industry, Chris Couri, CEO of We Do Lines, discusses why the executive team at We Do Lines decided to franchise the business and become the nation’s first line striping franchise. He also discusses what We Do Lines offers to new franchisees including a national relationship with Sherwin Williams and a start package with the equipment necessary to get a new franchisee up and running. Through franchising, Couri explains, “There’s no way you could open a striping business in 10 states at the same time. It would be too complex and cost too much money. But you can do that in a franchise situation.” View the article below or click here!

We Do Lines featured in Pavement Maintenance & Reconstruction

We Do Lines featured in TheStreet

2011-05-26T11:53:00.000-07:00

TheStreet reporter Laurie Kulikowski spoke with Chris Couri to learn more about the nation’s first line striping franchise and its rapid plans for growth. Stemming from a dilemma the We Do Lines crew had, they unveiled a highly fragmented industry segment worth $600 million and that’s when the light bulb went off. Now the brand expects to open 100 new locations by 2014. To learn more about what makes We Do Lines a franchise to watch, read here!

7 Small Franchises That Are Growing Fast
By Laurie Kulikowski

Couri and his partners saw an immediate opportunity in booking business with landscaping clients.

"We did local due diligence and research and there weren't a lot of providers out there -- 13 in Connecticut. We called everyone that did it. Two called back, which really gave us an indication of how the industry was fragmented," Couri says.

But it was when they launched their Web presence that the founders saw the real potential for the business -- a $600 million market within a $29 billion industry that is relatively untapped, the company says.

(Read More)

We Do Lines innovates with its social media efforts

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

When it comes to interesting ways to connect with fans online, one may not think that a parking lot striping company would excel in doing so, or even give the effort. As it turns out, We Do Lines (WDL) has found just the way to keep fans involved on its Facebook page to stand out as a serious brand with a fun personality.

Many bizarre, head-scratching, and downright hilarious things can happen in parking lots and on roads, which gave the WDL crew an idea for having a little fun on their page. By gathering a collection of wacky transportation-related photos found online into a “FAIL Bracket,” We Do Lines is letting their 850-plus Facebook fan base decide which one should reign supreme as the epitome of “doing it wrong.” As the rounds progress, We Do Lines plans to reward those who vote on their FAILs of choice, from drink koozies to baseball caps.

This is not the first time that We Do Lines has explored ways to involve their fans and reward them with free prizes. Alongside the Masters Golf Tournament, WDL posed golf-related questions, held mini contests with the Facebook community, and rewarded the golf-loving crowd with sleeves of custom branded golf balls. By producing new ways to connect with the community, reward their efforts, and attract new fans, We Do Lines has continued to separate themselves from its competitors.

We Do Lines featured on AOL Small Business

2011-04-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Reporter Geoff Williams for AOL Small Business found out about the strikingly unique franchise We Do Lines and had to wrap his head around the business model and the founding story. In his Q&A published on AOL Small Business today, Williams sits down with Chris Couri, CEO of We Do Lines, to find out more about this outside-the-box company. Click here to view the full Q&A!

We Do Lines: No, It's Not What You Think
By GEOFF WILLIAMS

By their own admission, Chris Couri, Dan Rella and Tom Darrow aren't exactly in the most exciting industry in the world. But a clever name and a unique growth strategy has helped them transform We Do Lines into a successful franchise company with 17 locations up and down the East Coast.

Before you conjure up images of Al Pacino in Scarface, it's not what you think -- We Do Lines literally paints lines in parking lots.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in The Long Islander

2011-04-12T12:49:00.000-07:00

Most of the We Do Lines business flies under the radar for most Americans, when they pull into a parking lot they expect to pull between the lines… but the truth of the matter is that many of these lots need a reliable source for restriping. And that is the business that We Do Lines is cashing in on. They were recently featured in The Long Islander in an article entitled “Painting The Line on Reliability” discussing one of their most recent openings under the leadership of Skip Barrett and Rob Schlosser. Scouting out new business and recognizing that most lots should be painted every 18-36 months, Skip and Rob are happy to now be open for business in Huntington. View the full article below, or click here!

We Do Lines featured on Bnet.com

2011-02-14T15:54:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in an article on Bnet.com entitled "How I Used My First Business to Fund a Second One." In the article, Chris Couri discusses how We Do Lines began, starting with his original lawn care and landscaping company, Young’s, which helped Couri and his colleagues develop their resources and client base. He goes on to discuss the sometimes process of cultivating the We Do Lines brand all the way up to where they are today, with tripled sales numbers, a thriving franchise, and leads pouring in thanks to some awesome national media coverage in Entrepreneur Magazine. Click here to view the full article.

How I Used My First Business to Fund a Second One
By Chris Couri, CEO, We Do Lines, Ridgefield, Conn.

My father purchased Young’s, a lawn care retail and landscaping company in the late 70s. I started sweeping floors in the shop at age eight, and eventually took over as the company’s president. But competition from big-box stores was hurting our retail store, and I knew it was time to downsize the operation and find other revenue sources. And after 15 years of landscaping jobs, I wanted to try something new.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in The Gulf Coast Business Review

2011-02-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines was featured in The Gulf Coast Business Review with an article entitled "Entrepreneur takes on warmer double duty." This article was written by editor Mark Gordon, and built from an interview with Tom Darrow, We Do Lines Co-founder, COO, and Southwest Florida franchisee. In the article, Darrow discusses how We Do Lines began, why he decided to personally bring the franchise to Southwest Florida, how easy it is to become a We Do Lines franchisee, and how many business opportunities there are in the market. Click here to view the full article.

Entrepreneur takes on double duty
By GULF COAST BUSINESS REVIEW, Jan. 25, 2011

Here’s a subtle sign the economy is on the mend: Tom Darrow, a former Gulf Coast resident and entrepreneur who moved to Connecticut, has returned to the region — and business is good.

Darrow, who ran a commercial landscaping firm in Ridgefield, Conn., didn’t only move back to Florida for the weather. He mostly moved so he could help build his business, a franchise-based company that repaves parking lot stripes, into a national success.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Naples Daily News

2011-01-31T14:19:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines was featured in the Naples Daily News recently. The article, entitled "We Do Lines: New Naples business offers a lot to know about parking," discusses pretty much every angle of We Do Lines, from how it began and why Tom Darrow brought it to Florida, to how much interest has already been conveyed throughout the region from both consumer and business angles. It even delves into the safety issues around line-striping and the curb stops and handicapped symbols they paint. Click here to view the entire article.

We Do Lines: New Naples business offers a lot to know about parking
By KELLY MERRIT, Jan. 28, 2011

NAPLES — When it comes to painting parking spaces, the name of the game is to not tie up a parking lot for the businesses it serves.

No one knows that better than Tom Darrow, who operates a relatively new parking lot striping business in Naples. Darrow recently brought his company, “We Do Lines,” to Southwest Florida from Connecticut in an effort to grow the business.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Entrepreneur Magazine

2011-01-26T11:07:00.000-08:00

The nation’s first ever parking lot line striping franchise debuted in Entrepreneur Magazine this month. The article is titled “All Lined Up and In The Paint,” and written by Entrepreneur reporter Jason Daley. Entrepreneur interviewed all three co-founders of We Do Lines Chris Couri, Dan Rella and Tom Darrow to catch up with them about tapping into a $1 billion underserved industry, their current growth and future expansion plans as well as becoming a national franchise with opportunities for development all across the U.S. With 50 million parking spaces out there, someone needs to do the job! Check out the article here!

All Lined Up and In the Paint
Three landscapers go from lawns to lanes, forging new ground in the $1 billion business of parking lot striping.
By Jason Daley

There are roughly 50 million parking spaces in the United States, and by law many of them have to get a fresh coat of reflective paint every year or two. You would think re-striping would be easy, but back in 2008, Chris Couri, Daniel Rella and Tom Darrow, who all owned landscaping businesses around Richfield, Conn., found themselves in a bind.

"Danny called around to 13 guys to stripe our parking lot, and only two called back," says Couri, CEO of We Do Lines. "We realized the parking lot striping industry was underdeveloped, and didn't have any real standards."

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in The Gulf Coast Business Review

2011-01-25T09:41:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines was featured in The Gulf Coast Business Review today in an article entitled "Entrepreneur takes on double duty." In the article, Tom Darrow discusses how We Do Lines began, why he decided to personally bring the franchise to Southwest Florida, how easy it is to become a We Do Lines franchisee, and how many business opportunities there are in the market. Click here to view the full article in its entirety.

TUESDAY’S CUP: Entrepreneur takes on double duty
By Gulf Coast Business Review

Here’s a subtle sign the economy is on the mend: Tom Darrow, a former Gulf Coast resident and entrepreneur who moved to Connecticut, has returned to the region — and business is good.

Darrow, who ran a commercial landscaping firm in Ridgefield, Conn., didn’t only move back to Florida for the weather. He mostly moved so he could help build his business, a franchise-based company that repaves parking lot stripes, into a national success.

“We want to be able to do any job from Maine to Miami,” says Darrow, who previously lived in Venice and now lives in Naples. “But we realize we have to have the hubs to do that.”

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in National Weblog

2011-01-11T12:17:00.000-08:00

The article that published in “The Bradenton Herald" about We Do Lines was picked up by a national weblog called “Business Opportunities” which acts as a source of info and inspiration for potential business owners, many of whom are looking for potential franchises to invest in. Click here to view the weblog.

Firm Creates Niche Painting Stripes
By RICH WHITTLE

They do lines — lots of lines. You’ll find them in parking lots, airports and even at Miami’s Doral Golf Resort.

The company We Do Lines USA is one of the few companies nationwide that specializes in striping — creating those white, iridescent lines to mark off parking spaces.

According to Bradenton.com, the Connecticut-based firm, founded in 2008, has expanded to Florida and is selling franchise territories and drumming up business.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Bradenton Herald

2011-01-03T14:55:00.000-08:00

In the article, Bob Russo discusses how he got started with We Do Lines by easily transitioning from commercial construction, and how other potential business owners can do the same. Tom Darrow discusses how We Do Lines began, how they forayed into franchising, and how much they’ve grown since the company was founded. To view the article in its entirety be sure to click here.

Firm creates a niche painting parking stripes
By JENNIFER RICH

They do lines -- lots of lines.

You’ll find them in parking lots, airports and even at Miami’s Doral Golf Resort.
The company We Do Lines USA is one of the few companies nationwide that specializes in striping -- creating those white, iridescent lines to mark off parking spaces.

The Connecticut-based firm, founded in 2008, has expanded to Florida and is selling franchise territories and drumming up business.

Bob Russo, of Englewood, just started the franchise that includes Bradenton and stretches from Clearwater to Port Charlotte.

(Read More)

We Do Lines featured in Newsday

2010-12-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

Newsday has published an article called “Parking-line painters expand in LI,” which focuses on Long Island’s newest parking lot line stripers, Skip Barrett and Rob Schlosser of We Do Lines, Long Island. Skip describes how he became involved with We Do Lines from a corporate perspective and then turned franchisee all while still managing franchise development for the brand. Check out the article here.

Parking-line painters expand into LI
By JAMES BERNSTEIN

Three entrepreneurs have proved that just about anything can be made into a business, including painting those ubiquitous white lines in parking lots.
We Do Lines, a Ridgefield, Conn.-based franchiser that began only two years ago and boasts customers from Maine to Florida in its first year, is expanding to Long Island.

Skip Barrett and Rob Schlosser, both of Huntington, are the company's franchisees for Long Island and Westchester County. Barrett was We Do Lines' franchise development director before taking up some territory himself. The Island, Barrett said, is perfect for the business.

Sometimes, he said, Long Island seems like one long parking lot. The shopping malls, businesses, schools, and municipal buildings all have lots, and the spaces need to be maintained. There are also guidelines required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Airports too need lines.

(Read More)

We Do Lines listed by Business News Daily as 1 of 8 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities for 2011

2010-12-14T08:26:00.001-08:00

The New Year is the time for a fresh look on life and many people take it as a time to reevaluate their career paths since it’s such a huge component to anyone’s life. BusinessNewsDaily just published an article about 8 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities for 2011 and We Do Lines was featured for their low initial investments and being home-based franchises. Check out a portion of the story below or read the full article here:

8 Low-Cost Franchise Opportunities for 2011

If you’re thinking 2011 is the year you’re going to start your own business, you might consider the thousands of franchise opportunities available. The International Franchise Association (IFA) web site is a good place to start pursuing your franchise ownership dream.

The organization relaunched its web site yesterday, adding functionality that makes it easier to access information about its 1,100 franchise members. (Read More)

Giving Franchisees the Tools to Succeed; We Do Lines Brings on Another Key Partner

2010-12-06T06:00:00.000-08:00

Veribooks Assists We Do Lines Franchisees Secure Jobs

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, USA, which is now in six states . In order to bring in jobs quicker and more efficiently for its franchisees, We Do Lines has partnered with Veribooks, a business that offers complete management of all non-core business services.

“It’s important to us to give our franchisees all the tools they need to be successful,” said Chris Couri, CEO of We Do Lines. Sales and marketing is a must in our business so in addition to our franchisees making local connections, Veribooks is also securing qualified appointments for our franchisees who will then meet with the decision makers to close the deals.”

In just the three months that We Do Lines has been working with Veribooks, they have secured over 200 appointments for existing franchisees, including multiple appointments in new opening markets.

Veribooks also provides We Do Lines franchise owners with weekly sales tactic roundtables. “Most franchisees don’t have a formal sales background, and for those that do, a moderated roundtable on best practices is very beneficial,” said Eric Sweeney, President of Veribooks. “These weekly calls cover sales basics in an environment where franchisees can connect with fellow franchisees on a consistent and structured basis.”

According to Couri, as a growing start-up franchise, We Do Lines is pulling out all the stops for its franchisees to ensure they’ll be successful from day one. Earlier this fall, We Do Lines entered into a strategic partnership with Sherwin-Williams to provide training, supplies and expert knowledge to We Do Lines franchisees.
v
These partnerships will position We Do Lines for further growth and development. While other brands are struggling to find avenues that work, We Do Lines is ahead of the curve by signing 11 new locations this year and partnering with key players to drive the business and brand forward.

“Giving franchisees everything they need to run a successful We Do Lines franchise is how we’ll get from eleven locations to 100,” Couri said. “We continue to be on the forefront of this industry at every level. And these strategic partnerships and national supplier agreements are key components in the We Do Lines value proposition.”

Thoughts On Branding and Compliance

2010-11-23T10:55:00.000-08:00

By Chris Couri, CEO and Co-Founder of We Do Lines

"If this business were split up, I would give you the land and bricks and mortar, and I would take the brands and trademarks, and I would fare better than you." - John Stuart, Chairman of Quaker (ca. 1900)

In the last quarter of the 20th Century there has been a dramatic shift in
ascertaining shareholder value. For most of the century, tangible assets
were regarded as the main source of business value. Brands, technology,
customer relationships, and employees were always at the heart of a
company's success, but rarely explicitly valued.

With the rise of such consumer brands as McDonalds', Coke, Proctor and
Gamble, and a host of other late 20th century brand powerhouses today, it is
possible to argue that the majority of a business' value is based on
intangibles like 'brand equity', Management's attention to these assets has
grown exponentially and efforts to protect these assets have become a top
priority because their perceived values have so vastly increased with the
technology to penetrate the brand into a marketplace, whether it be globally
or locally.

A franchises brand is a very valuable asset. Franchisors know that a
customer will walk into a store or use the services of a franchise based on
the reputation of the brand name.

Remember that although franchise establishments are independently owned and
operated, they still maintain the high standards of the franchisor and the
uniformity that contributes to brand recognition and reliability. That is
why a McDonalds in Portland is a McDonalds in Pasadena.

Brand management is important in other business, but in franchising it is
paramount.

It is therefore important, especially in the early going that we all
understand that if there's one bit of cautionary wisdom to share with you it
is "If the brand fails, we all fail." It is true that being a small
franchisor poses all sorts of challenges in establishing a brand,
particularly when it comes to working within a limited budget. However,
affordability is secondary compared to the primary task of each franchisee
to understand the importance and the value of the brand itself. If we fail
at that level-it doesn't matter how larger your budget or how creative your
marketing campaign-we may as well have thrown the time and money away.

Why? Because no matter how effective our branding effort, it's not worth the
paper it's printed on if the franchise owners aren't fully committed to
living and breathing the brand at the local level.

We Do Lines Featured in Landscape and Irrigation

2010-11-18T07:43:00.000-08:00

Just recently We Do Lines was featured on Landscape and Irrigation in an article entitled, “Adding parking lot line striping as a business opportunity.” The article describes why We Do Lines is the perfect bolt-on opportunity for Landscape and Lawn professionals saying that it is a simple, low cost add on with minimal equipment needs in which franchisees can leverage national relationships that We Do Lines has with Sherwin-Williams and a national lead generation call center. Check out the article here.

Adding parking lot line striping as a business opportunity

In the current economy, contractors from a variety of service fields like landscaping are becoming interested in exploring adding a We Do Lines franchise to their existing business. Many contracting businesses were hard hit, forcing these business owners to look to additional business opportunities which fit well with their pre-existing infrastructure and customer base.

A We Do Lines franchise fits nicely into this niche because it is a simple low cost add on with minimal equipment needs and leverages the relationships the contractor has already formed. Additionally, with its national relationship with Sherwin-Williams and extensive support systems including a franchisor supplied lead generation call center, the franchise owner can expect a rapid transition to profitability. The advantages of being able to offer an expanded ‘one-stop shopping’ service offering are clear. We Do Lines provides another in for the contractor.

Another important advantage for aspiring We Do Lines owners is the brand visibility the franchise brings to an otherwise fractured and professionally underserved segment of the commercial services industry. A We Do Lines franchise offers their franchise owners the opportunity to build strong local brand equity with the advantage of increased exit strategy valuation. The opportunity to be a part of a franchised system with national reach, and the local leverage that brings with it, make an investment in a We Do Lines franchise an attractive option in these challenging times.

(Read More)

We Do Lines Franchise as a Synergistic Business Opportunity

2010-11-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

By Chris Couri, CEO of We Do Lines

In the current economy, contractors from a variety of service fields like landscaping, construction, and maintenance, are becoming interested in exploring adding a We Do Lines franchise to their existing business. Many contracting businesses were hard hit, forcing these business owners to look to additional business opportunities which fit well with their pre existing infrastructure and customer base.

A We Do Lines franchise fits nicely into this niche because it is a simple low cost add on with minimal equipment needs and leverages the relationships the contractor has already formed. Additionally, with its national relationship with Sherwin-Williams and extensive support systems including a franchisor supplied lead generation call center, the franchise owner can expect a rapid transition to profitability. The advantages of being able to offer an expanded ‘one-stop shopping’ service offering are clear. We Do Lines provides another in for the contractor.

Another important advantage for aspiring We Do Lines owners is the brand visibility the franchise brings to an otherwise fractured and professionally undeserved segment of the commercial services industry.

A We Do Lines franchise offers their franchise owners the opportunity to build strong local brand equity with the advantage of increased exit strategy valuation. The opportunity to be a part of a franchised system with national reach, and the local leverage that brings with it, make an investment in a We Do Lines franchise an attractive option in these challenging times.

What Does an Alliance with Sherwin-Williams Mean for We Do Lines Franchisees

2010-10-28T09:03:00.000-07:00

By Skip Barrett, We Do Lines Director of Franchise Development

We Do Lines has just entered into a strategic partnership with Sherwin-Williams to provide training, supplies and expert knowledge to We Do Lines franchisees. The partnership will position We Do Lines for further growth and development. Working with North America’s largest single-source paint and coatings supplier lends tremendous quality recognition and brand power to the company. Here’s how:

• There are over 5,000 Sherwin-Williams commercial sales representatives nationwide who are referring and actually selling for their local We Do Lines franchisee.

• The extensive Sherwin-Williams National Accounts operation will begin referring We Do Lines’ local operators to their accounts of $500K or more.

• The Sherwin-Williams stores will act as warehouses, supply centers, and repair depots for We Do Lines’ operators.

• Offices in Sherwin-Williams stores will be made available to We Do Lines’ franchisees for training, interviewing crews, and client meetings.

• Franchisees can use the Sherwin-Williams logo on We Do Lines’ trucks and marketing.

• There is a seamless internet ordering interface with N/C delivery by Sherwin-Williams to We Do Lines work sites.

• Special pricing on paint and supplies will be given to We Do Lines franchisees.

• Special leasing options on equipment will be given to We Do Lines franchisees.

This arrangement is unique in the striping industry and makes our offering all the more attractive. Through our partnership with Sherwin-Williams, we have taken a large step toward branding We Do Lines nationally and professionalizing the parking lot line striping market segment. In addition, it has dramatically increased the value of our franchisees’ businesses.

We Do Lines featured in Business News Daily

2010-10-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in an article in the national online magazine Business News Daily called “Crazy Companies: Bizarre, But Successful Business Ideas,”. The article talks about the 500 million parking spaces in need of painting, how We Do Lines has stepped in to paint them, the type of paint they use, and how they got started in Ridgefield. It also mentions that We Do Lines became a lucrative franchise in 2009, and now has locations in several states. The article is included below and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.

Crazy Companies: Bizarre, But Successful Business Ideas
By Jeanette Mulvey

Got a crazy business idea but afraid to give it a try? It might not be as crazy as you think. BusinessNewsDaily tracked down a few small business owners who are making a living doing things you’d never expect.

There are more than 500 million parking spaces across America and someone’s got to paint them. But it’s not a guy in painter’s pants with a bucket and a brush.

We Do Lines, based in Ridgefield, Conn., is a franchise started in late 2009.
The businesses’ owners, Chris Couri, Dan Rella and Tom Darrow, got the idea to start the company after realizing how difficult it was to find someone to paint the lines in their business parking lot.

It started as a small business and now has franchises in several states.
The company uses a waterproof latex paint that is specifically manufactured by Sherwin-Williams to be durable, bright and approved by the Department of Transportation. The company does most of its stripe painting at night when parking lots are clear.

(Read More)

Franchisee Profile: Bob Russo, Tim Hastings, & Leon St. Jean - franchisees in Connecticut and Southwest Florida

2010-10-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Franchisees Since: March 2010
Franchise Locations: Connecticut; Southwest Florida

How Tim Bob, Tim, and Leon Got Started With We Do Lines…
Bob, Tim and Leon are all lifelong residents of Ridgefield, CT and had seen several articles in local newspapers about We Do Lines and the franchise opportunity. The three friends came together and realized they had a great opportunity in front of them with We Do Lines and began researching more in depth the business opportunity. After speaking with the We Do Lines team, Bob, Tim and Leon knew this was the business they wanted to become part of. Together they are part of a development deal and have taken over five territories, including the state of Connecticut and Southwest Florida, which includes Port Charlotte, Venice and Greater Orlando.

What Intrigued Bob, Tim and Leon about We Do Lines…
With combined experience in commercial construction, manufacturing and sales, Bob, Tim and Leon had seen the We Do Lines proposition of an untapped market hold true across the state of Connecticut, as well as through Southwest Florida. Bob, Tim and Leon saw the growth potential of We Do Lines throughout the state of Connecticut and Southwest Florida and with the support of the We Do Lines corporate team, together Bob, Tim and Leon are able to exclusively concentrate on interacting with customers and gaining new clients.

Something Interesting About Bob, Tim, and Leon’s Story…
All lifetime Connecticut residents, Bob and Tim have been friends since elementary school, and Leon was Tim’s college roommate. The three business partners have great business experience to help make their new We Do Lines business successful and profitable. Bob has extensive experience in sales and marketing within the commercial construction industry. Tim has a strong background in sales as well and is part owner of a mortgage company in Ridgefield. Leon is an experienced entrepreneur having owned his own mortgage bank in Connecticut, as well as partners in a mortgage bank throughout 18 states. Additionally, he also has experience and knowledge in computer logistics and manufacturing.

Bob is married to his wife Pamela and together they have two children, both who are very excited to be working part time for their dad throughout the summer. Leon is married with three children. His daughter is five years old and his twin boys are three years old. Tim has three children.

Where Specifically Did Bob, Tim and Leon Learn About We Do Lines?
Tim was reading the Danbury News Times article about We Do Lines and presented the idea to his friend Bob. They came together with one of Bob’s college friends, Leon, and realized they had a great opportunity to grow and expand as business owners together.

We’re Here, And We’re Wacky: A Retrospective on the Success of We Do Lines

2010-10-06T10:48:00.000-07:00

I think we can all agree that those who attempted to launch their small business during the recession took an extra risk – some might even say an uncalculated risk. Sure, the concept may be viable, but even the most viable small businesses have had problems surviving over the past two years.

Perhaps the key to success is eccentricity. Perhaps it’s those recession-launched companies that are just a little funkier than the others that did the best job of sticking out, raising eyebrows, and creating a foundation for success, gaining market share once the economy starts picking back up.

At We Do Lines, that’s exactly what we did.

It all started one day in 2008, when three business partners had a rather strange problem. We needed to accomplish a simple task: get lines painted in our business parking lot, yet we could find no one to do it. We called a slew of companies who did parking lot line striping on the side, but most never even called back. That’s when we discovered that there was a very specific void to be filled, and decided to come together and revolutionize an industry.

What we saw was a need for a more professional, reliable and efficient business to paint all those much-needed lines in parking lots across the nation. For two years, the three of us striped parking lot lines from Maine to Florida, putting a face to the parking lot line striping industry. Who couldn’t remember a name like We Do Lines? Then, late last year, we decided to turn our new small business into a national franchise. Within four months of launching, we had already signed 6 territories with a pipeline full of future prospects from all over the country. We Do Lines is the first and only company to tap into this estimated $1 billion industry segment. The reason for our success? A wacky yet simple concept that would capture people’s attention and fill a need in an untapped market.

Now, the risk has more than paid off. When other industries are failing due to the recession, at We Do Lines we’ve doubled our growth and are planning on expanding our business nationwide using a new franchise model that’s currently being implemented quite successfully in Cleveland. We Do Lines is now in the process of signing on a whole new slew of franchisees across the country—anyone could be next!

The fact is, parking lots need lines. And that’s what we do.

How franchising has changed in the new economy: Q&A with Chris Couri of We Do Lines

2010-09-27T11:57:00.000-07:00

Q: How have you adjusted your growth strategy in this economy?
We made a decision to seek Area Developers rather than single unit operators. In addition we targeted synergistic industries like painting, parking, paving and property management. Our model is a great “Bolt On” concept for most commercial service companies mainly because of the rapid scalability and low cost of entry. We have formed a National Supply and Support agreement with Sherwin Williams (click for link to press release) and strong relationships with national brands to inject additional value to our model and to support our franchisees. We utilize PR to drive business to our franchisees as well as to further promote the brand on a National level.

Q: Are franchisees more qualified now than ever before? Why or why not?
There is a large pool of potential franchisees available due to the economy, but only a small portion of these will be right for franchising. By focusing on pre-existing business owners we tend to get a more qualified candidate as they are already running small businesses. At WDL we insist that our candidates are well educated about the franchise industry. I feel that “An educated consumer is my best candidate.”

Q: Do you predict that franchising has changed from this point on? If so, how?
I absolutely believe that franchising has changed and will continue to morph due to the lack of financial liquidity in the marketplace. It is now much more difficult to get candidates funded. As a result, qualified franchise candidates with organic funding have the luxury to negotiate much stronger deals and have vast choices. There is more of a focus on promoting your brand and maximizing the leverage of all the avenues, both traditional, non-traditional, and digital.

Q: Anything else you think is interesting or important to know about franchising and/or We Do Lines in particular?
When considering whether to invest in a franchise, a candidate has to answer some common sense questions: Is there a marketplace for the franchised product or service in the area I intend to operate? Is the timing right for the product or service in that marketplace? Is it “on the economy?”

The second thing in the timing fork is the “man in the mirror” calculation. Is this the right time in my life to take on this challenge? Do I have the necessary equities to succeed in the business model? To be successful, each candidate must possess four personal equities:

1. Intellectual. You have to be smart enough to be able to run a small business.

2. Sweat. You have to work harder for yourself that you ever worked for someone else.
3. Intestinal. You have to have the guts to invest in yourself.
4. Actual. You have to be able to afford to capitalize the business.

These equities back up on each other. You need the actual funds to start the business, the guts to invest the funds, the sweat to make sure every dime works for you, and the intellectual smarts to choose wisely where to invest your funds. A responsible franchisor must assist the candidate to discover whether he is the right fit for the model and in possession for the necessary equities. At We Do Lines, we take seriously the notion that the franchise is ‘awarded rather then sold.’ This presumes a large degree of ‘want to’ by the franchisee and willingness to judge the opportunity realistically.

We Do Lines highlighted in the Hartford Business Journal

2010-09-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Hartford Business Journal recently published an article on everything We Do Lines including how the concept was developed, why it was developed, the growth of the franchise, and how to become a franchise owner. The story was built from interviews with the executive team: Chris Couri (CEO), Dan Rella (CFO) and Tom Darrow (COO). Currently, We Do Lines has six franchises in Connecticut, the Cleveland area and west and central Florida. The goal is to open 200 franchises over the next three years. Check out a portion of the article below or click here to read the full article.

Idle Thought Yields Plan For Painting Franchise

Three years ago, Chris Couri, Tom Darrow and Dan Rella were commercial landscapers with too much time on their hands. One workless day in the winter, an idea occurred to the longtime Ridgefield residents. They were staring at the faded lines of a parking lot when they started thinking, who’s out there repainting all these stripes?

That thought led them to start a business they named We Do Lines, which has gone from “zero to six franchises” in the past six months, said Darrow, noting line stripping is a $700 million industry in the U.S.

The We Do Lines franchises are in Connecticut, Ohio and west and central Florida. Over the next three years, the owners plan to have nearly 200 franchises across the country.

“Tom came up with line striping. We knew nothing about it, so we started researching. We called a dozen line strippers in the area and no one really got backTom Darrow, one of the co-founders of We Do Lines, works the line striping equipment to update a parking lot. to me. I got the feeling that it was fragmented, that no one treated it like a business,” said Rella.

With a $20,000 investment, the three partners were able to start a business by reaching out to their landscaping customers, many of whom hired them immediately to paint the lines of their businesses’ parking lots. The team also developed an unusual marketing plan. They began painting customer’s parking lot lines during daytime hours as a way to stir up interest in their business.

“Immediately, we started getting interest from people who have never seen a line stripper. Not too many people know line strippers because they’re done at night. What we started to do is create a buzz with our logo, name on the truck,” said Rella. “As a part-time business, we hit solid numbers, validating why it could be full-time. That’s when we decided to start a franchise model. We started hard selling those in October.” (Read More)

We Do Lines Enters Into Strategic Partnership with Sherwin-Williams

2010-09-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

Parking Lot Striping Start-Up Teams Up with Leading Coatings Manufacturer

RIDGEFIELD, CONN. – We Do Lines USA, Inc., the nation’s first parking lot striping franchise, and Sherwin-Williams, a leading supplier of paints and coatings, have formed a strategic partnership. Through the partnership, Sherwin-Williams will be the primary paint supplier to We Do Lines franchisees, providing training, supplies and expert knowledge of the markets where both companies do business.

According to Chris Couri, President of We Do Lines, the parking lot line striping market is vast and virtually untapped. In fact, in the United States, there are an estimated 50 million parking spaces representing a $1 billion parking lot striping segment of a $29 billion parking lot industry.

“For a service with such high demand, we have created a concept that is efficient, reliable and socially responsible through our Lines for Charity program,” said Couri.

“Sherwin-Williams offers a broad range of pavement marking solutions for any demanding application or ambient condition,” said Richard May, Sherwin-Williams national account manager. “Sherwin-Williams products and We Do Lines’ franchise concept are ideally suited to provide solutions to organizations in need of fast-drying, durable and environmentally responsible parking lot striping services.”

The partnership will position We Do Lines for further growth and development. Working with North America’s largest single-source paint and coatings supplier lends tremendous quality recognition and brand power to the company.

We Do Lines Growth

We Do Lines has sold six territories since its launch as a franchise only nine months ago and they continue to have a pipeline full of qualified prospects.

In February 2008, Couri, Tom Darrow, and Dan Rella, noticed that while their collective 50 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.

We Do Lines Revolutionizes Parking Lot Striping Industry; Selects Cleveland for Newest Opening

2010-08-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

After Successfully Proving its Methodology with Service from Maine to Florida, Connecticut Company Expands to Cleveland

With over 500 million parking spaces across America, it makes one wonder exactly who is responsible for painting all of the lines in parking lots. We Do Lines, USA Inc. is the first national parking lot line striping company and Cleveland entrepreneur Tim Janasek has launched a We Do Lines franchise servicing the Greater Cleveland area.

Northeast Ohio, like all major metropolitan markets, has a significant quantity of parking lots that require annual line striping to maintain safety and functionality. The We Do Lines brand and business model provides Janasek, a 25-year sales and marketing management professional, with the perfect independent business opportunity to provide a valuable service to an industry that requires professionalism, reliability, quality work and a customer first mentality.

“A business owner knows that the parking lot is their welcome mat. It is the first and last impression of their business to visitors, customers and employees,” said Janasek. “Business owners also realize their parking lot is a high insurance liability risk. Worn or faded pavement markings reduce the safety of their lot and increase their liability risk. Line striping on an annual basis is a economical way to maintain a clean, safe and functional parking lot that yields a high return on their investment.”

We Do Lines is known for their professionalism, reliability and quality of parking lot striping and seeks franchisees who are able to operate the machinery, and additionally a businessperson who understands scalability, networking, and growing a business for themselves.

“Tim Janasek exemplifies all of these characteristics,” said Chris Couri, co-founder of We Do Lines. “Janasek is a perfect fit for We Do Lines and we are confident that he will prove to be an asset to We Do Lines. Janasek will become completely ingrained in the community, while playing a significant role in the continuous development and growth of the We Do Lines brand.”

Franchisee Profile: Tim Janasek

2010-08-20T09:47:00.000-07:00

Franchisee Since: March 2010
Franchise Location/s: Cleveland, OH

How Tim Janasek Got Started With We Do Lines…

A 25-year veteran of the sales and marketing industry, Tim found himself without a job because of cutbacks and layoff’s his company was making. Tim’s brother, David, lives in Ridgefield, CT, where We Do Lines is based, and noticed several newspaper articles about the We Do Lines concept in local newspapers. David knew a few of the We Do Lines founders from another business in the area and was really interested in their most recent business concept, We Do Lines. David had mentioned the idea to Tim as an alternative business opportunity as a result of being laid off. Tim’s interest was piqued immediately and he reached out to We Do Lines.

After several months of research on We Do Lines and the demand for parking lot striping services in Cleveland, Tim realized the We Do Lines proposition of an untapped market held true in northeastern Ohio. With the sheer volume of parking lots throughout Cleveland and the surrounding communities, Tim knew that sometime or another, all parking lots need to be striped, and he jumped on the opportunity to bring We Do Lines to the Cleveland market for the very first time.

What Intrigued Tim Janasek about We Do Lines…

Because of the infrastructure put into place for entrepreneurs to buy into the We Do Lines franchise concept, Tim immediately saw the growth potential of We Do Lines throughout Cleveland. We Do Lines has taken the line striping segment of the parking industry to a national level, and with We Do Lines’ national presence, Tim is able to grow as a business owner.

As a franchisee of We Do Lines, Tim has become part of a family where he is able to solely concentrate on running the business and interacting with customers, while the We Do Lines corporate team handles all of the billing from a centralized command center.

Something Interesting About Tim Janasek’s Story…

Tim has three brothers and a sister, all of whom have come together to invest in the We Do Lines franchise. Together they have created an infrastructure within their franchise to help them grow as business owners. Tim will be the Managing Director and run the business from Cleveland. David, in Ridgefield, CT, is the Vice President of Sales; Robert in Brentwood, TN is the Director of Marketing; Mark in Cleveland, OH is the Treasurer and Nancy in Lindhurst, OH is the President. Together, Tim and his siblings have created Janasek Family Partnership.

Tim has three children, Timmy, a 20-year old sophomore at Miami University of Ohio, Joey, an 18-year old freshman at the University of Dayton and Annie Rose, a seventh grader.

Where Specifically Did Tim Janasek Learn About We Do Lines?

Tim learned about We Do Lines through his brother, David, who lives in Ridgefield, CT. David knows a few of the We Do Lines founders and began speaking to them about the franchise concept, before introducing Tim to the idea. Tim had been looking for an alternative business opportunity after being laid off from corporate America and We Do Lines was the perfect solution.

We Do Lines Revolutionizes Parking Lot Striping Industry; Selects Cleveland for Newest Opening

2010-08-06T13:38:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Birmingham Business Journal!

2010-06-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

Companies on the Move
June 30, 2010

We Do Lines, a parking lot striping business, is looking for a franchisee to open a location in Birmingham. Start up costs are estimated to range between $77,000-134,000. The company partnered with Sherwin Williams to provide supplies to their franchises. In the next year, they plan to open 25 franchises throughout the United States, with many locations in the East. (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Montgomery Advertiser!

2010-06-18T10:49:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines seeks franchise owners

A firm that paints lines on parking lots is looking for a business owner to open a franchise in Montgomery.

We Do Lines is expanding and seeks new operators in several locations.

Applications are available at www.wedolines.com.

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Painting & Wallcovering Contractor Magazine!

2010-06-01T12:44:00.001-07:00

Striping-Painter Company Seek Franchisees

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

A painting company that applies striping to parking spaces nationwide is seeking contractor franchisees.

We Do Lines LLC, which bills itself as the first national parking-lot line-striping franchise, has four franchisees covering six territories and is seeking more.

The company, based in Ridgefield, Conn., was founded in February 2008 and added a fourth partner in April 2009. “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,” the company said in a statement.

“There’s not one national parking lot striping company out there. The market is completely untapped,” said company president Chris Couri. “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).” (Read More)

We Do Lines Featured in the Paint Contractor

2010-05-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines was recently featured in an article in the May 2010 issue of The Paint Contractor titled “The Big Picture”.

Below is a thumbnail of the article. Click on the thumbnail to view the article in its entirety

We Do Lines was recently featured in Franchise Update!

2010-05-13T08:10:00.000-07:00

We Do Lines Wants To Stripe Your Lot!

Outside of parking your vehicle, who thinks about the painted lines in parking lots? Chris Couri, Tom Darrow and Dan Rella that's who! Couri, Darrow, and Rella co-founded We Do Lines, a parking lot striping franchise, in February 2008; Lenahan joined in April 2009. After testing the concept up and down the East Coast, they're ready to pursue the approximately $1 billion striping niche of the $29 billion U.S. parking lot market. "There's not one national parking lot striping company out there. The market is completely untapped," says Couri, president of the Ridgefield, Conn.-based concept. The four have teamed with Skip Barrett, who co-founded GarageTek in 2000. "I have seen a lot of franchise concepts, but none with the potential of this one, especially given the landscape of this industry," says Barrett. Start-up costs range from $77,000 to $134,000, with the leasing of a truck and equipment making up the bulk of costs. The company also places a high priority on being eco-friendly and socially responsible. (Read More)

Franchisees Buy Entire State of Connecticut; Turning We Do Lines into the First National Parking Lot Line Striping Franchise

2010-05-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

After Successfully Proving its Methodology with Service from Maine to Florida, Connecticut-based Company Expands Statewide

RIDGEFIELD, CT – (April 22, 2010) – With over 500 million parking spaces across America, it makes one wonder who is responsible for painting all of the lines. The men behind the mask for the State of Connecticut are Bob Russo, Tim Hastings and Leon St. Jean. For the first time, Connecticut businesses will have a go-to for all of their parking striping needs, as local entrepreneurs Russo, Hastings, and St. Jean have launched We Do Lines, the first national parking lot line striping franchise, across the state of Connecticut, turning We Do Lines LLC into a viable franchise.

With over 75-years of combined business and entrepreneurial experience in commercial construction, manufacturing and sales, Russo, Hastings and St. Jean have seen the We Do Lines proposition of an untapped market hold true across the state of Connecticut, as well as through Southwest Florida. Lifelong Connecticut residents, Russo, Hastings and St. Jean have taken over five territories, including the State of Connecticut and Southwest Florida, which includes Port Charlotte, Venice and Greater Orlando.

“There are hundreds of thousands of parking lots that need to be striped. Having your businesses parking lots properly and regularly striped gives customers the best first impression. The end result for a business striping its parking lots on an annual basis reduces its liability risk,” says Russo.

We Do Lines is known for their personalized expert service, and this new expansion is no exception. Russo said that the comprehensive training and support the franchise provides has fully prepared his team for a successful launch.

Parking lot striping is one of a business’s top priorities as many establishments are required by contract and/or lease to re-stripe their parking lots every year. For the first time, Connecticut businesses from Hartford to New Haven to Fairfield can properly lay down a corporate welcome mat, clean and striped to code, which will have a multitude of advantages aside from carrying a high return on investment.

“Bob, Tim and Leon exemplify all of these characteristics,” said Chris Couri, co-founder of We Do Lines. “This team is a perfect fit for We Do Lines and we are confident that they will prove to be an asset to We Do Lines. Together they will become completely ingrained in the community, while playing a significant role in the continuous development and growth of the We Do Lines brand.”

We Do Lines Revolutionizes Parking Lot Striping Industry; Selects Cleveland for Newest Opening

2010-05-12T06:18:00.000-07:00

After Successfully Proving its Methodology with Service from Maine to Florida, Connecticut Company Expands to Cleveland

RIDGEFIELD, CT – (April 19, 2010) – With over 500 million parking spaces across America, it makes one wonder exactly who is responsible for painting all of the lines in parking lots. We Do Lines, USA Inc. is the first national parking lot line striping company and Cleveland entrepreneur, Tim Janasek, has launched a We Do Lines franchise servicing the Greater Cleveland area.

Northeast Ohio, like all major metropolitan markets, has a significant quantity of parking lots that require annual line striping to maintain safety and functionality. The We Do Lines brand and business model provides Janasek, a 25-year sales and marketing management professional, with the perfect independent business opportunity to provide a valuable service to an industry that requires professionalism, reliability, quality work and a customer first mentality.

“A business owner knows that the parking lot is their welcome mat. It is the first and last impression of their business to visitors, customers and employees,” said Janasek. “Business owners also realize their parking lot is a high insurance liability risk. Worn or faded pavement markings reduce the safety of their lot and increase their liability risk. Line striping on an annual basis is a economical way to maintain a clean, safe and functional parking lot that yields a high return on their investment.”

We Do Lines is known for their professionalism, reliability and quality of parking lot striping and seeks franchisees who are able to operate the machinery, and additionally a businessperson who understands scalability, networking, and growing a business for themselves.

“Tim Janasek exemplifies all of these characteristics,” said Chris Couri, co-founder of We Do Lines. “Janasek is a perfect fit for We Do Lines and we are confident that he will prove to be an asset to We Do Lines. Janasek will become completely ingrained in the community, while playing a significant role in the continuous development and growth of the We Do Lines brand.”

We Do Lines was recently featured in The News-Times!

2010-05-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

The News-Times Business Briefs: We Do Lines gets first franchisees

We Do Lines, a Ridgefield-based line-painting franchise founded in 2008, recently opened its first franchise location under the ownership of Bob Russo and Tim Hastings of Ridgefield and Leon St. Jean of Newtown. With more than 75 years of combined business and entrepreneurial experience in commercial construction, manufacturing and sales, Russo, Hastings and St. Jean will perform work in five territories in Connecticut and southwest Florida. We Do Lines recently started a second location in the Cleveland area. (Read More)

Franchisee Spotlight: Bob Russo, Tim Hastings, Leon St. Jean

2010-05-06T07:15:00.000-07:00

Each week we like to highlight our new franchisees to show how vast the We Do Lines team is! This week, Bob Russo, Tim Hastings and Leon St. Jean are our spotlight franchisees.

Franchisee Since: March 2010
Franchisee Territory: State of Connecticut; Southwest Florida

How Bob, Tim, and Leon Got Started With We Do Lines…
Bob, Tim and Leon are all lifelong residents of Connecticut and had seen several articles in local newspapers about We Do Lines and the franchise opportunity which piqued their curiosity. In turn, the three began researching more in depth the business opportunity We Do Lines had to offer. After speaking with the We Do Lines team, Bob, Tim and Leon knew this was the business they wanted to become a part. From their research, they found that the parking lot line striping industry was fragmented and could benefit from a business that solely focused on line striping. Together, they have taken on the task of developing five territories, which include the state of Connecticut and Southwest Florida, from Port Charlotte to Venice and Greater Orlando.

What Intrigued Bob, Tim and Leon about We Do Lines…
With over 75 years of combined experience in commercial construction, manufacturing and sales, Bob, Tim and Leon had seen the We Do Lines proposition of an untapped market and the growth potential hold true across the state of Connecticut and throughout Southwest Florida. With the full support of the We Do Lines corporate team, including training, marketing, billing and a customer call center, together Bob, Tim and Leon are able to exclusively concentrate on interacting with customers and gaining new clients.

Something Interesting About Bob, Tim, and Leon’s Story…
All lifetime Connecticut residents, Bob and Tim have been friends since elementary school, and Leon was Bob’s college roommate. Together the three entrepreneurs have an extensive background and experience in business, which is helping to provide insight towards their new We Do Lines business. Bob is a veteran of the commercial construction industry in sales and marketing, which is proving to be beneficial, especially when it comes to gaining new clients. Tim is part owner of a mortgage company in Ridgefield and with his experience in business ownership, he is able to structure We Do Lines in the best way possible. Leon is an experienced entrepreneur having owned his own mortgage bank in Connecticut, as well as partners in a mortgage bank throughout 18 states. Additionally, he also has experience and knowledge in computer logistics and manufacturing.

Bob is married to his wife Pamela and they have two children, both who are very excited to be working part time for their dad throughout the summer. Leon is married with three children. His daughter is five years old and his twin boys are three years old. Tim has three children.

Bob, Tim and Leon are all very active within their communities, participating in local events and fundraisers. They have also served on various town and charitable boards.

For more information on Bob Russo, Tim Hastings and Leon St. Jean, We Do Lines or the We Do Lines franchise opportunity please visit http://www.wedolines.com/.

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Fort Worth Business Press

2010-04-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Parking lot painting firm earns its stripes with growth

BY LESLIE WIMMER
April 26, 2010

Chris Couri believes a well-maintained parking lot is good for business.

Couri, president of We Do Lines, a Connecticut-based parking lot striping business expanding into Dallas-Fort Worth as well as Houston and other large Texas cities, works to sell businesses on the idea that spending money to maintain their parking lots will benefit their business in various ways.

“Our job is educating our clients on the benefits of having a properly marked parking lot, and the advantages of doing so,” he said.

While Couri said he doesn’t often hear from business owners who are skeptical of spending money on parking lot maintenance, when he does the issues he discusses include compliance with various regulatory guidelines such as Americans with Disabilities Act rules and proper fire lane striping, as well exterior benefits as customers will have a better opinion of a business with a well-maintained parking lot, he said.

“A parking lot can be a liability issue, but it can also be a marketing opportunity,” said Skip Barrett, director of franchise development for We Do Lines. A parking lot “is the welcome mat for a store. If you drive to a store that has a freshly striped and sealed parking lot you’re going to think better about that business than one that has potholes and faded lines and such. Companies recognize the marketing value in having their lots maintained.” (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Long Island Business News

2010-04-12T05:28:00.000-07:00

Parking lot painters get in line

by Ambrose Clancy
Published: April 9, 2010

Thirty years ago, Rich Mailand was farming cabbage and string beans in Suffolk County when a cousin called and asked if he’d help out painting lines.

After a summer night running a painting machine, creating stalls in a parking lot at $3 a pop, Mailand figured the work beat farming. “Then it just snowballed,” Mailand said in the spacious Brookhaven Hamlet headquarters of Parkline Maintenance, which he owns and operates with his brother, Robert.

Since its humble launch, Parkline has grown into a full-service paving and property maintenance business specializing in anything and everything to do with parking lots. Today, the company has government contracts, handles large commercial projects and works as far afield as Florida on shopping centers and other paving business.

With the weather warming, the striping business will be hitting full stride soon, as Parkline and a handful of other big companies paint everything from the corner-deli lot with five stalls to the parking expanses of airports, shopping centers, universities and hospitals, which count thousands of spaces each.

Mailand and the big boys have their share of competition, notably those the trade calls “gypsies” or “pirates,” usually two guys with a hand-operated painting machine who work for far less than the standard $5 to $6 rate for a stall these days.

But you get what you pay for, professional stripers warn, so beware the pirate with a paint sprayer working out of a U-Haul trailer. Few carry insurance and fewer still will take the time to scrupulous clean a lot before striping. Others perform shoddy repair jobs with watered-down sealants.

“You shouldn’t hire some guy who’s moonlighting,” said Bob Lewis of Bay Shore’s DuMor Construction, which not only stripes but, like Parkline, maintains lots in every capacity.

Lewis’ firm maintains a $5 million umbrella insurance policy.

“It can be dangerous out there,” he said.

Although the National Parking Association reports that a majority of its members saw a loss in volume and revenue last year, lots still have to be striped.

The companies get a leg up from new environmental regulations that call for latex-based paints, which usually last but a single season. In years past, oil-based striping lasted three years, Mailand said.

Hoping to get some green from black Long Island lots this year is a new Connecticut-based franchisor, We Do Lines. The cleverly named company has sold six franchises around the country, but is still looking to hit pay dirt on Long Island. (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in Franchise Times

2010-03-23T14:04:00.001-07:00

We Do Lines is gaining national traction as the first national parking lot line striping franchise! The article is entitled "Reading Between the Lines: It's a Franchise for Stripers, not Strippers" Click on the image below to be taken to the article in its entirety.

We Do Lines was recently featured in the Gulf Coast Business Review

2010-02-19T12:54:00.000-08:00

Company tries to stay in the lines

By: Gulf Coast Business Review

February 19, 2010

A startup franchise company with ambitious growth goals — and a catchy tag line — has targeted the Gulf Coast for its nationwide debut.

We Do Lines, a Connecticut-based company that repaints parking lot stripes, says it hopes to bring sexy to the parking lot business.

We Do Lines was founded in 2008 in Ridgefield, Conn., by four business partners in the commercial landscaping industry. The partners looked in vain for years to find a good, reliable company to pave parking lot lines. “We couldn’t find anybody,” says We Do Lines co-founder Tom Darrow. “It was like a vampire industry.”

So Darrow and his partners founded We Do Lines to bring some order to the industry. The company, through Internet search engines and its database of landscaping clients, grew quickly. It took on a job to pave lines for the parking garage of a $60 million condo project in Stamford and last year it was awarded a large job at the Doral Resort in Miami. (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in The Register Citizen

2010-02-08T11:55:00.000-08:00

Line painting company exceeds expectations

Published: Sunday, February 7, 2010

By DAVID HUTTER

David Choplinski hired We Do Lines to paint lines in a parking lot of a medical property in New Milford, and raves about the company’s work.

The president of Hudson Construction Associates, Choplinski touts the company as having far exceeded his expectations.

“Without a doubt, I’ll keep hiring them. They are professional in every way,” Choplinski said. “We Do Lines exceeded my expectations. Usually guys who do lines are not as professional (in general).”

Founded by friends Christopher Couri, Craig Lenahan, Dan Rella, and Tom Darrow in February 2008, We Do Lines is a Ridgefield-based company. Besides painting lines in parking ltos, they also paint curbs, install traffic sign, and stage warehouse floors. (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in The Stamford Advocate

2010-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines looks to franchise

By Michael C. Juliano, STAFF WRITER

Published: 09:04 p.m., Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The owners of a Ridgefield business built on creating boundaries wants to turn it into a venture with limitless possibilities.

Ridgefield residents Tom Darrow, Chris Couri and Dan Rella are offering franchise opportunities for We Do Lines, a line-painting company they founded in 2008 that quickly has grown to stripe about 60 parking lots a month up and down the East Coast.

"As soon as we started developing operations and saw how the company was doing, we saw that this would be a great franchise opportunity," said Darrow, the company's chief executive officer and the owner of Pinnacle Landscaping Inc. "We decided why don't we put this out there to see who else is interested." (Read More)

We Do Lines was recently featured in The Miami Herald

2010-01-26T07:47:00.000-08:00

We Do Lines was interviewed about launching their franchise nationally for the first time! The full article discusses ways that different franchisors are adapting in the down economy and how the industry is continuing to grow.

By appeal grows in down economy
BRIDGET CAREY
bcarey@MiamiHerald.com

After being unemployed for a year, Pauline Hamian ditched the résumé and bought herself a job.

The former Burger King employee had no luck finding a job after being part of a corporate restructuring in 2008. While at an outplacement center, she stumbled on a webinar about franchising.

"I felt I had to do something,'' Hamian said. "It provided an opportunity for me to do something I've never done before and never really envisioned myself doing.''

With the help of a franchise broker, she decided to invest in ShelfGenie -- a company that installs sliding shelves for kitchen and bathroom cabinets. She didn't need to buy a storefront -- it all can be done from home. There were no fixed costs and her two part-time employees work on commission.

Jobs are still scarce, so the unemployed are reinventing themselves and becoming the majority of new franchise owners, industry sources say. The troubles in commercial real estate are making it easier by driving some landlords to negotiate -- sometimes offering several months' free rent or paying for remodeling. (Read More)

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

2009-12-29T14:58:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T07:59:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-16T07:54:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-15T17:03:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-15T16:46:00.000-08:00

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)