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Toms River Resident Trades Corporate World For Window Genie

Richard Carlson Finds Success After Lay-Offs with New Business

            (Toms River, N.J.)---Richard Carlson knows the value of self-determination. When the former corporate healthcare worker was laid off due to restructuring and budget reductions, he decided to take his career back into his own hands. He opened Window Genie serving Ocean County and Southern Monmouth County in New Jersey in July 2013 and took control of his future.

            “I always wanted my own business,” Carlson said, “so I was determined to use the loss of my job as an opportunity instead of a setback.”

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            Carlson spent seven years as the CFO for a hospital services business in a major health care system, and then spent two years managing retail pharmacy businesses for that same system. When his job was eliminated due to budget reductions and reorganization he took time to evaluate all opportunities, from a traditional job search to going into business for himself. He ultimately decided to go into business for himself, and sought out an appealing franchise to work with.

            “I gravitated towards franchising so I didn’t have to start with a blank page,” he explained. “I looked for a business that was service-related and straightforward. After years of dealing with the complicated rules and regulations in healthcare, I wanted simplicity. Window Genie was the answer.”      

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Window Genie is a mobile cleaning services solutions company focused primarily on its “big three” services: window cleaning, window tinting and pressure washing. The company also offers, among many other services, dryer vent cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, chandelier cleaning and gutter cleaning and re-securing. Window Genie services primarily residential customers, as well as small offices and commercial spaces.

While the opening of his business last summer went smoothly, Carlson discovered a few challenges he hadn’t anticipated, but received support and assistance from Window Genie to overcome them. “I needed to learn how to market and advertise,” he said. “Management, hiring, those were things I had experience with, but I had to learn not just how to perform the excellent services we offer, but how to make this business an extension of myself. Window Genie was able to help me with those issues.”

His primary clients are residential, typically dual-income home owners who don’t have the time or desire to maintain the exterior of their homes, or retirees who are unable to maintain their homes by themselves any longer. Carlson’s Window Genie business has been very well-received by his community. His phone is ringing constantly and his services are better known throughout the territory he serves.

“In today’s corporate environment people like me are forced out of their jobs quite frequently,” he said. “I decided to take control of my career, and it was the best decision I’ve made.”

            Window Genie currently has 65 franchise owners operating 140 units in 28 states, and expects to grow to 100 franchisees by the end of 2014 and over 300 within five years. Target markets include California, New York and Florida. For more information, visit www.windowgenie.com.

 

About Window Genie

Founded in 1994 by Richard Nonelle, Cincinnati-based Window Genie is a mobile cleaning services solutions company focused primarily on its “big three” services: window cleaning, window tinting and pressure washing. The company also offers, among many other services, dryer vent cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, chandelier cleaning and gutter cleaning and re-securing. Window Genie services primarily residential customers, as well as small offices and commercial spaces. The company currently has 65 franchise owners operating 140 units in 28 states, and expects to grow to 100 franchisees by the end of 2014 and over 300 within five years. Target markets include California, New York and Florida. For more information, visit www.windowgenie.com

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