Real Deals: Growing a Mom-and-Pop Store into a Franchise

Opening a franchise of any kind can be daunting. Whether you’re an experienced business owner who wants to branch out or an up-and-coming entrepreneur seeking to join a larger network, new beginnings are never easy.

The good news is that while you’d still have to put in the work, turning your franchise into a massive success is easier than you think. You don’t have to take our word for it, though. The story of Real Deals on Home Décor speaks for itself.

Here’s how one hard-working family took their business from the bottom floor of a rundown cotton mill all the way to Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500.

Five Sisters Create a Franchise Empire

It all started back in 2003 in Jefferson, Georgia. Jeff and Marisa Humphrey, a young couple with big dreams and a knack for sourcing discount designer furniture and home décor, transformed an old cotton mill into a makeshift showroom.

Fast forward to 2004. Marisa’s sister Carie and her husband Nate – both fresh out of college and with a toddler in tow – followed suit. They rented a hallway and a tiny upstairs room in the Old Creamery in Twin Falls, Idaho, and bought a small cash register that couldn’t even print receipts. The Humphreys sent them $10,000-worth of home décor, and voila! – a new mom-and-pop store was born. Carie and Nate called it Real Deals on Home Décor.

The Twin Falls operation was an instant success. Eventually, Marisa and Carie’s other three sisters – Karmelle, Dori, and Wendy – opened their own stores in Idaho and Oregon. One started out as a van in a parking lot.

As their customer base grew, copycat stores started popping up here and there. That prompted the sisters to set up a franchise to protect their brand. This was how Real Deals on Home Décor, Inc. was born in 2006.

The rest is history.

The company started getting local media coverage and, in 2012, made its debut in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500. It ranked #1 in the home furnishings category and #281 overall.

By its 10th anniversary, Real Deals had grown to a whopping 69 outlets, spanning 19 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces. Their cozy shops sell high-quality furniture, home décor, fashion, accessories, and jewelry at affordable prices.

Take Your Business to the Next Level

Did the amazing story of Real Deals inspire you to open a franchise of your own?

To explore your options, contact Franchise & Business Law Group today and book your free consultation. Together, we’ll write your success story.