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Mother of Budget Blinds Franchise Expert Turns Franchising into a Family Business

By: Budget Blinds |  1 Shares     342 Reads

The family of Home Franchise Concepts Chief Development Officer has owned 12 Budget Blinds territories since 2003

November 24, 2020 // Franchising.com // IRVINE, Calif. - Days after Jonathan Thiessen (JT), chief development officer of Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), joined the Irvine, Calif.-based franchisor of home improvement goods and services brands in 2003, he called his mother to suggest she consider investing in a Budget Blinds® franchise.

Elizabeth Hock and her husband responded by buying not one, but five Budget Blinds territories in Ohio and Pennsylvania and then splitting them up between her stepson Randy Hock, grandson Tim Colangelo and daughter-in-law Stefanie Thiessen.

Budget Blinds is the largest window-covering franchise in North America and one of four brands in the HFC family that also includes Tailored Living®, Concrete Craft® and AdvantaClean®.

“My children were talking about owning their own businesses,” said Hock. “After hearing how much JT respected the brand and learning about all the franchisee successes in the 1,500-plus territory footprint, I felt Budget Blinds was the best choice for our first-time entrepreneurs and could grow with my family.”

In the 18 years since, the Thiessen/Hock family has owned and operated no less than 12 different Budget Blinds territories at different times. Randy Hock has grown his investment to include Budget Blinds territories in North Lancaster, East York, Lititz and Hanover, Penn., while Colangelo owns territories in North Canton, West Akron and Green, Ohio. Stefanie Thiessen recently sold her territory to become regional operations manager and business manager for HFC to help other franchisees find success.

According to Hock, sharing the bond of Budget Blinds franchising with so much of her family has made business ownership that much more rewarding. “Now in addition to our family connection, we speak the same business language and compare notes on the latest window covering products, technology and customer service trends which brings us together even more.”

“In the end, it’s made us all better as Budget Blinds business owners since we can benefit from each other’s experiences and key learnings, and collectively celebrate each happy customer, to create our own franchising best practices,” she said.

Thiessen shares a similar philosophy but also acknowledges the importance of keeping business and family separate as the ultimate recipe for success.

“It’s been amazing, and a blessing really,” said Thiessen. “Family comes first, and when my mom came to me and said she wanted to do this, we sat down and solved for challenging scenarios so we could avoid future conflict. That is what has allowed us to continue to remain in the franchise business for so long. Thankfully it’s worked out, or I’d never be invited to holidays!”

SOURCE Budget Blinds

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