Pinch A Penny and its franchisees have long been known as an expert source in pool care. With freezing weather on the horizon, Yahoo News has put together a list of cold weather safety tips, including Pinch A Penny’s advice on non-winterized pools. Be sure to check out Yahoo’s news article and read Pinch A Penny’s article for more pool care tips for freezing temperatures!
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Richmond, Texas Pinch A Penny store owner, Valeska Davila, is no stranger to hard work and determination. From spending her childhood living in multiple countries, adopting her father’s strong work ethic, and becoming a business owner and operator, Valeska has shown that persistence can pay off.
Born in Venezuela, Valeska and her family moved to the United States in the 1990s. Their father wanted them to study English, and they were given the opportunity here in the States. The family moved back to Venezuela in the late 90s, but Valeska and her sister chose to return to the United States in the 2000s.
When they returned to the US, Valeska and her husband, Carlos, lived in Florida and owned a small pool company. When Valeska’s sister, Maivi, and her husband started considering a Pinch A Penny franchise opportunity in the Houston, TX area, they reached out to Valeska and Carlos about moving to Texas to go into a family business together.
“We felt it would be good to move to Houston because the market wasn’t already saturated with pool pros,” Valeska said. “Our previous business was a small business, so we wanted to grow and do something else.”
Valeska and her family opened their store in the summer of 2020 during the height of the pandemic. They initially found it challenging to hire employees for their franchise during the labor shortage, but they have since been able to add team members to help with the business. The pandemic proved the pool industry to be a recession-resistant franchise opportunity, and the stores could stay open with a high demand for service. The Texas freeze in February also helped to get their business off the ground and get them out in the community helping pool owners.
“We’re ‘get out there and figure it out,’ kind of people,” says Valeska. “We get to work, and we spot opportunities. The four of us got that business acumen from our dad – business owner, investor, and hard worker.”
Valeska and her family have adopted Texas as their home now and hope to stay grounded where they have built their business and found happiness. “I like Texas. My kids are happy here,” she says.
Pinch A Penny values its franchisees and their diverse stories. If you and your family would like to know more about becoming a Pinch A Penny owner, our Franchise Development Team is available to answer any questions you may have. We are currently growing in several markets across Texas and the Southeastern United States.
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Having the right team of employees to help you run your store is a crucial piece of the business ownership puzzle. Sometimes franchisees struggle to find the right team members that will create a positive and knowledgeable experience with their customers. Don’t fret; this doesn’t have to be you! By following some simple tips, you can ensure you’ll be a successful franchise owner.
When it comes to recruiting new talent, don’t be afraid to lean on your franchise for support. Pinch A Penny supports our franchisees by helping them post jobs on social media, providing a pre-designed hiring package, and including hiring callouts on our website for every store. Each franchisor is different, so be sure to check with yours to see what they have to offer!
In some circumstances, less is more, but not when it comes to job descriptions! It’s easier to target the right talent when you’ve provided a job description saying exactly what you need from a new employee and what their job duties will entail. You’ll save yourself the time of interviewing applicants who don’t have the skills you are looking for by being upfront about your requirements.
When interviewing several applicants for a position, it can be helpful to have a list of questions you know you want to touch on with each one. Those questions may include:
If the conversation is going well, you will likely find that you are asking additional questions that are not predefined, and that’s ok! But having a set list ensures that you are gathering a minimum amount of information from each applicant you interview.
When it comes down to it, your applicants will want to know exactly what is in it for them. A solid pay structure detailing hourly rates or salary, incentive programs, and scheduled performance and merit reviews can help eliminate awkward conversations in the future.
If you’ve ever been part of a team that doesn’t quite click, you know firsthand how important it is to find the right fit. Being sure that the person you hire fits your team’s vibe will boost morale for everyone. Happy employees work harder and provide a better experience for your customers.
The simplest way to limit your hiring needs is to care for your current employees and provide them with a workplace that encourages them to stay! At the very least, be sure that you are providing your current employees with:
Just as we train our franchisees to prepare them for running their new stores, you should also offer an extensive training program to your staff. Not only will this reduce your employee turnover, but it will also help to drive the sales and reputation of your entire business, resulting in higher revenue for your store. It’s a win-win!
Nobody wants to stay in the same position forever. By providing advancement opportunities within your franchise, you limit the need to hire hard-to-find team members with more experience and knowledge than entry-level employees. When your existing employees are rewarded promotions, it shows your team that you value and respect their contribution to your business.
Hiring the right team can make or break a business’s success. Here at Pinch A Penny, we are proud to celebrate over 45 years of success and growth with our franchisees. If you’d like to know more about being your own boss and how we support our store owners every step of the way, Pinch A Penny’s franchise development team is ready to answer your questions and get you on your way! What are you waiting for? Dive on in!
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Pinch A Penny, a swimming pool retail, service, and repair franchise, announced the opening of its newest store in Cypress, Texas, just outside of Houston.
Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa will open September 16 in the Cyfair Town Center at 1733 Spring Cypress Rd. Suite C, Cypress, TX, 77429. The new store will be open seven days a week with operating hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday.
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Pinch A Penny announced new ownership for its store in Wellington, Florida, just outside of West Palm Beach.
Josie Flete and Genaro Melendez, a married couple from the Wellington area, reopened Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa on August 8 at 11924 Forest Hill Blvd., Wellington, Florida, 33414. The store is open seven days a week with operating hours from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, and 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. The Wellington store is the 13th location in the West Palm Beach area and the 233rd in Florida.
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Pinch A Penny, the nation’s largest swimming pool retail and backyard services franchise, is starting development on a new 3,000 square-foot storefront location in Clear Lake City. The target opening date is set for the beginning of next year.
Pinch A Penny Clear Lake will be located at 2429 Bay Area Boulevard in the University Plaza Shopping Center. The new store is a turnkey franchise that will be prebuilt, stocked, and ready for a new franchisee to open the doors. Pinch A Penny is currently searching for a qualified leader in the area to own and operate the new store.
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Pinch A Penny Pool Patio Spa will open on September 1 at 4727 Frankford Road Suite 317, Dallas, TX, 75287. The business will operate seven days a week with the initial operating hours being Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Pinch A Penny provides customers a one-stop-shop for all their pool and spa supply needs with one of the most complete lines of pool chemicals, equipment, as well as maintenance parts, and accessories available anywhere.
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Pinch A Penny was recently named to Franchise Business Review’s third annual “Culture100” list. The list recognizes the top 100 franchise brands in a 2022 report on the Best Franchise Cultures.
Pinch A Penny is a pool supply franchise, providing customers with comprehensive water testing, as well as a complete line of best-in-class pool chemicals, equipment, repair parts, and accessories. In addition to pool supply retail, Pinch A Penny offers ongoing pool service, maintenance, equipment installation and repair, pool service, pool renovations, pressure washing, landscape lighting, and more.
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With the heat wave, a lot more families are spending time at the pool.
But along with the fun comes the danger, not just with drowning but pool poisoning.
Local pool operators say it has been so hot lately, that it’s actually affecting the chemical balance of pool water.
“The high temperatures evaporate our water at a rapid pace. And during that time, we’re losing not only water, but our chemicals as well. So we’re struggling with mother nature right now,” said Lisa Ifland, owner and founder of Pinch A Penny Plano.
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“Franchise ownership is great for veterans, because there’s comfort in the structure of franchising as it parallels the military by operating on a checklist-type system,” said Sharratt. “Many veterans also need to find a mission once they retire, and franchising can offer that mission. You get to run a business, but also serve others in their areas of need.”
Sharratt, who comes from a family of servicepeople, was born in England and lived in 12 different cities throughout the United States growing up. He now resides in McKinney, Texas with his wife, Sara. During his time with the Marines, he worked on helicopters, performed maintenance on hydraulic systems, and completed body repairs on the framework of airplanes and helicopters.
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