Propelled by strong demographics that point to Americans' growing need for mobility equipment, 101 Mobility is rolling out a new franchise venture aimed at becoming a nationwide, full-service provider

WILMINGTON, N.C. — Propelled by strong demographics that
point to Americans' growing need for mobility equipment, 101
Mobility is rolling out a new franchise venture aimed at becoming a
nationwide, full-service sales, service and installation provider
of mobility products.

The company's ambitious plan calls for it to award a dozen
franchises before the end of 2010 and 150 franchises nationwide
within five years.

The move is a natural outgrowth for the company, which was
started by Luke Sampson and Keith Barnhardt in 2008 selling
mobility equipment and medical equipment supplies to the VA. Dave
Pazgan joined as a partner late that year, and the company was
rebranded as 101 Mobility to begin focusing on retail business
possibilities.

Since then, the trio has built business in the Midwest and the
East Coast by marketing through a network of sales representatives.
Its VA business has grown, and the company also has other
government customers including the Pennsylvania Department of
Developmental Disabilities and workman's comp bureaus in several
states.

"We're working to become a provider to those kinds of entities,"
said 101 Mobility CEO Pazgan. "We even do a little work with the
Department of Defense."

But Pazgan said the company is also looking to build a national
brand among consumers.

"We honestly are a little surprised no company has positioned
itself to benefit from this growing need. Consumers have no trusted
national brands to turn to for selecting, installing and servicing
mobility equipment," he said. "There are several thousand mobility
products dealers across the country, but most deal only in their
local market, or at best, on a regional level, with quality of
service varying from dealer to dealer …

"With a franchise brand there is an expected level of
consistency in terms of service and experience. In the mobility
industry, there is no such brand," Pazgan continued. "We are
building the first. I'm sure many more will follow."

Currently, modular ramps and stair lifts comprise about 50
percent of the company's sales, followed by porch lifts (20
percent), auto lifts (15 percent), patient lifts (10 percent) and
automobile turning seats (5 percent). Major vendors include Bruno
Independent Living Aids, Harmar, EZ-Access, Liko and Savaria
Concord. The company's franchises will also carry equipment such as
walkers and hospital beds.

Franchise costs range from $85,485 to $121,015, and new owners
must open an office/showroom within 90 days of launching their
business. The company will provide a two-week training program at
its Wilmington, N.C., headquarters that includes both management
training and certification in installation and service. In
addition, franchisees will get help with public relations and
marketing campaigns for a protected territory.

"There are a lot of great concepts out there, but what it always
comes down to is good execution," Pazgan said. "We're focusing on
making sure we are executing properly. Especially in franchising,
you have to make sure your franchisees are going to be successful
and are properly supported."

With HME retail sales growing, he added, "it would seem to make
sense we ought to be successful in building a franchise program
since we have a wide array of products to sell."

However, Pazgan cautioned, although demographics point to an
increasing number of seniors, many of whom will need mobility
products, "This is not the kind of business where you open your
doors and wait for customers.

"If you do that, you will fail. Franchisees need to be on the
road daily building relationships."