Chem-Dry and N-Hance Wood Renewal Open a Combined 205 New Franchise Units in 2014, Positive Outlook Ahead for Both Industry Leaders

Homeowners’ quest to find cost-effective, convenient home improvement services has created tremendous franchise development opportunities for Harris Research, Inc.’s (HRI) two sister companies, Chem-Dry, the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service, and N-Hance Wood Renewal, the national partner of The Home Depot for the refinishing of hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets. Combined, HRI finished a banner year of franchise growth, opening a total of 205 new franchise units in 2014.

Averaging more than 100 openings each year, Chem-Dry added 109 new franchises to its growing system of 3,500-plus units in 47 countries. Also in 2014, the brand introduced an industry first, the 4.8 Flex Direct Drive, a sophisticated state-of-the-art cleaning system. With more than 370 units nationwide, N-Hance Wood Renewal finished out 2014 with the addition of 96 new franchise units across the United States, which increased the company’s network size by more than 25 percent. Over the past year, 20 percent of new units were expansions purchased by existing franchisees, which is a true testament to the strength of the company’s franchise opportunity.

“Our brands’ commitment to innovation allows us to stay ahead of trends in the home improvement industry and remain opportunistic about consumer demands, which has positioned us for significant franchise growth,” said Dan Tarantin, President of HRI. “Franchise investors are taking notice. Consumers have made it clear they are looking for superior products and services. Chem-Dry and N-Hance Wood Renewal directly address these needs and it has shown through the growth of our same-store-sales and franchising efforts.”

This year, both brands are poised for significant growth as the home services industry reaches new heights. Chem-Dry expects to add over 120 new franchise locations throughout the United States and Canada, with targeted growth markets east of the Mississippi River. Nearly forty percent of these new franchise units are coming from existing franchisees expanding their business, which demonstrates the strength of the Chem-Dry business model. Congruently, N-Hance Wood Renewal plans to open 100 additional units, with a focus on expanding into such markets as Philadelphia, Baltimore and Austin.

With high praise from leading industry publications, the companies remain top franchise opportunities in the home services sector. Chem-Dry has been ranked the number one carpet cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 27 consecutive years and has also been featured in the magazine’s Top Home-Based Franchises list among the top 10 concepts for 19 consecutive years. N-Hance Wood Renewal’s continued success recently received recognition from Entrepreneur magazine in its Franchise 500® list. Ranking No. 125, the company has jumped up 25 spots in the list since 2011.

For more information on HRI, including Chem-Dry and N-Hance Wood Renewal, visit www.hrisupport.com.

ABOUT CHEM-DRY

Founded in 1977, Chem-Dry is the world’s leading carpet and upholstery cleaning service with a network of more than 3,500 units in 47 countries serving over 10,000 homes a day worldwide. Its green-certified solution and proprietary hot carbonating extraction cleaning process provide a deeper clean, allow surfaces to dry faster, and leave homes healthier. Chem-Dry has been ranked the number one carpet cleaning franchise by Entrepreneur magazine for 27 consecutive years and has also been featured in the magazine’s Top Home-Based Franchises list among the top 10 concepts for 19 consecutive years. For more information on franchise opportunities, visit www.chemdryfranchise.com, or to request a quote or schedule a cleaning, visit www.chemdry.com. Chem-Dry is owned by Harris Research, Inc., which is also the founder and owner of the fast-growing N-Hance Wood Renewal franchise.

ABOUT N-HANCE WOOD RENEWAL

Based in Logan, UT and founded in 2001, N-Hance Wood Renewal is the trusted partner of Home Depot. N-Hance is backed by Harris Research, Inc., the same company that grew Chem-Dry into the world’s largest carpet cleaning company. A proprietary chemical abrasion and refinishing technique requires no sanding and can cost 1/5 of the cost of re-facing or replacing cabinets. N-Hance has 372 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit http://www.nhance.com/ or visit http://nhancefranchise.com/ to learn about franchise opportunities.

Fishman Public RelationsAlicia Aldrich, 847-945-1300aaldrich@fishmanpr.com