Leading Home Repair and Maintenance Franchise Teams Up with Television's Most Noted Handyman Persona

By: Mr. Handyman Int'l. LLC | 0 Shares 221 Reads

Mr. Handyman Enlists Richard Karn as National Spokesperson

March 13, 2008 // Franchising.com // Ann Arbor, MI – Mr. Handyman, a national home repair and maintenance franchise and the world's No. 1 employer of handymen worldwide, has just announced that television's most famed handyman persona, Richard Karn, the competent and dryly humorous character Al Borland from ABC's former sitcom "Home Improvement," has joined its ranks and will serve as the national spokesperson and face of the brand for the next two years.

"Richard Karn was a clear choice as a national spokesperson for Mr. Handyman," said Mr. Handyman president and CEO Todd Recknagel. "Karn's graciousness, professionalism, and quick wit exemplify what we were looking for in a national spokesperson, and Karn's ability to relate to a typical Mr. Handyman customer, as well as a Mr. Handyman technician, makes him an excellent match to our brand, culture and marketing objectives."

During eight seasons as Tim Allen's sidekick on "Tool Time," the show within a show on "Home Improvement," Karn and cast enjoyed the spotlight as part of America's number one family comedy throughout the 90's. Starting in 2008, Karn will enjoy a new kind of spotlight as Mr. Handyman's spokesperson, providing the face and personality for the brand that was recently ranked as the No. 1 handyman service franchise throughout the country by the January 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

"I am thrilled to be a part of the Mr. Handyman family," Karn said. "In addition to my handyman role on 'Home Improvement,' my father and other relatives were builders and architects, and I am a strong believer in the Mr. Handyman concept and its mission to provide consumers with professional, credible and reliable handymen for a variety of home repair and maintenance requests."

With nearly 300 locations, Mr. Handyman opened a new franchise every week for the past three years, and plans to reach approximately 350 locations by the end of 2008 through franchise expansion. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, six out of 10 homeowners have home improvement "to-do's," and most Americans have an eye on seven or more projects at any given time. Thriving on this demand, Mr. Handyman's system-wide revenues exceeded $63 million in 2007 and are projected to reach $80 million in 2008.

About Mr. Handyman

Mr. Handyman (www.mrhandyman.com) is a network of independently owned and operated franchises with more than 290 locations nationwide that provide commercial and residential property maintenance and repair services. Founded in March 2000, Mr. Handyman is a member of Service Brands International, a group of service companies that provide a variety of timesaving services ideally suited for today's active consumer. In the January 2008 issue of Entrepreneur magazine, Mr. Handyman was recognized as one of America's fastest growing, service-oriented franchise systems and the No. 1 handyman service. In 2008, Mr. Handyman enlisted famed handyman TV persona Richard Karn, the former Al Borland from ABC's sitcom 'Home Improvement,' to serve as the national spokesperson and face of the Mr. Handyman brand for the next two years.

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