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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.