GarageTek of the First Coast was named “Franchise of the Year” last month at the company’s corporate meeting in Las Vegas.The local operation took the highest honors among the 50-unit national GarageTek network.
GarageTek of the First Coast also took the award for highest single-sale unit.
Jacksonville’s GarageTek franchise was opened in February 2002 by local entrepreneurs Mark D. Berman and Stephen Laveck.During its first year of sales, the the local franchise won “Franchise of the Month” in June, July, October, November and December and still holds the corporate monthly sales record from November 2002 of $106,000 with 22 installations.
“We are certainly proud of the award, but not just from the perspective of sales,” stated local partner Mark Berman.“We feel validated that we’ve got the right product in the right market at the right time. From 15 or 20 builders who believe in us to over 200 early-adopter customers that chose us to transform their garages, to our crew who worked so hard, we had a lot of people behind us to make this work. We owe this award to them for seeing a great idea so early in the process.”
GarageTek’s foundation is a patented slot-wall paneling which is professionally mounted to the walls of the garage. From there, the system accessories easily attach by brackets and hooks, not unlike a slot wall in a retail store.
GarageTek’s designers, with the homeowner’s input, custom design their system, choosing from cabinets, racks, shelves, workbenches, hooks, and accessories such as bike racks, surfboard hooks, skate racks or lawn and garden equipment.
GarageTek of the First Coast posted over $650,000 in sales in 2002, about 20 percent more than projected, and more than enough to give it the national annual sales record in just a 10-month year.
The company currently works with North Florida Builders, BestCon Homes, Cordele Homes, Arthur Rutenberg Homes, Arvida, Richard Dostie Homes, Coppenbarger Homes, Whitehurst Homes and the The Vintage Group, as well as the condominiums at Ocean Grande in Ponte Vedra.