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Just Between Friends Franchise System Adds Seven New Franchises

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Experts Predict Franchising will Continue to Grow and Add Jobs

Tulsa, OK (PRWEB) June 29, 2012 - Franchising is growing in popularity and Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc. is following suit. The nation's largest children's and maternity consignment event is expanding, adding seven new franchises so far this year. 

Just Between Friends Franchise Systems, Inc, the nation’s leading children’s and maternity consignment event, is expanding. The company has added seven new franchises this year and currently has 124 franchises in 24 states and projects that gross sales will top $22 million dollars in 2012.

The company’s expansion is part of a national trend of more entrepreneurs seeking out franchise opportunities. The Franchise Business Index predicts the number of franchises will increase 1.6 percent this year and economic output growth will rise 5 percent, and are expected to add 160,000 jobs. In 2011, franchises accounted for $2.1 trillion output in the United States.

Just Between Friends is welcoming new franchises in North Austin, Texas; Olympia, Washington; Salem, Oregon; Des Moines, Iowa; North Little Rock, Arkansas; Lower Buck, Pennsylvania and Bremerton, Washington.

Franchise owners help families in their communities earn money by participating at their events. They sign up as a consignor and sell the new and gently used children and maternity items their families no longer need - earning between 60 and 70% of their sales. At the same time, local families shop at the events and typically save between 50 and 90 percent on items they need for their families.

“We are thrilled to be able to help even more families save money at our fall consignment events. We expect JBFto continue to grow this year, by adding additional franchises throughout the country,” explained CEO Shannon Wilburn.

Wilburn considers herself an ‘accidental entrepreneur,’ because she had no intention of starting a national company when she began JBF in her home in 1997. The stay-at-home mother of two young children was looking for a way to make and save a little money, contributing to her own family's income, when she got the idea to start JBF.

She held a sales event in her living room where other parents could consign their own merchandise and shop for bargains. Wilburn and her former business partner each made $150 profit and got new outfits for their children. Her shoppers asked them to do the sale again – and again. Just Between Friendswas born and grew quickly. In 2003, she formed the franchise system and it has doubled in size since the recession hit in 2008.

“It’s in style now to be frugal. The economy has really helped our business,” Wilburn said. “I get to work from home and I still have a passion for helping women save and make money. I wake up every day and love what I do.”

The franchise fee for Just Between Friends is $12,900 and Wilburn says the typical investment to get started is between $ 27,000 and $33,000 depending on the market. For more information about Just Between Friends or to schedule an interview, contact Diane White at 918-770-3905 or Diane@DianeWhitePR.com

About Just Between Friends

Just Between Friends was created in 1997 in a living room in Tulsa, Oklahoma when Shannon Wilburn, a mother of two young children, and her friend Daven Tackett hosted a sale with 17 friends as consignors and grossed $2000 in sales. The event caught on and quickly grew each season and in 2003 they formed Just Between Friends Franchise Systems,Inc. Wilburn is now sole owner and CEO of the franchise system which currently has 124 franchises in 24 states. Just Between Friends (JBF) has made Inc. Magazine’s list of the 5000 fastest growing companies for the past four years and was named one of Entrepreneur Magazine’s Top 500 Franchises. In 2012, Just Between Friends was one of only 75 companies nationwide to receive the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Blue Ribbon Award. Just Between Friends Franchise Systems Inc. also received a “Franchisee Satisfaction Award” and was listed in the Top 50 Franchises by “Franchise Business Review”. In 2010, Wilburn had the honor of being named the Small Business Administration’s Regional “Women in Business Champion”. JBF has been featured on numerous national television shows including CBS Early Show, ABC News, Good Morning America, Fox News, CNN, Headline News, Inside Edition and CNBC’s The Big Idea. They have also been featured in news stories in many top-tier markets including Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Houston, San Francisco and Philadelphia as well as in The Los Angeles Times, Seattle Times, Wall Street Journal and on popular websites http://www.yahoo.com, http://www.inc.com, http://www.sheknows.com and Disney website http://www.family.com.

Contact:

Diane White
Diane White Public Relations
www.DianeWhitepr.com
918-770-3905

Shannon Wilburn
Just Between Friends
www.jbfsale.com
918-902-5673

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