At this time of year, Awards Season is in full bloom in virtually every industry imaginable. And the masterclass franchisor, Empower Brands, is no different.
Growing his Outdoor Lighting Perspectives (OLP) system sales for his franchise territory throughout Virginia, Rick Popio has just been honored with the esteemed Franchisee of the Year Award at the Empower Brands annual meeting and convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Since acquiring the territory of Richmond, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Lynchburg, “Rick Popio took over this multi-city location in February of 2018 and never looked back. Since taking over, he has grown the location by 160% in five years. His revenue growth is diverse, touching on all aspects of the OLP business model.,” said Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Brand President, Rich Young, upon presenting Rick with the cherished honor.
Rick Popio, From Outdoor Lighting Client To Outdoor Lighting Franchisee, To Best In Class Franchisee Of The Year
A true American business success story, after spending more than two decades in the telecom technology industry and faced with a transfer to an unwanted location, Rick Popio decided the time had come to change industries and take his career in a different direction.
Rick acted upon the opportunity to retire from his former company and began researching businesses to purchase leveraging his vast experience managing sales, marketing, operations, personnel and merchandising at the district, regional, and corporate level for both start-up and established companies.
A satisfied loyal client of the nation’s first low voltage outdoor lighting franchise, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Rick discovered that he had the opportunity to acquire the business from the previous franchise owner to own the territories of Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia.
Uncovering A Client’s Innermost Wants And Needs Is Key To Our Success
The secret to our success? One of our claims to fame is that we begin every complimentary design consultation by asking the client, “What is your vision for this project?”
What follows Rick said is, “Really just a conversation as I walk the client through the entire outdoor lighting design and effects process.” He retains his emphasis to ensure that the client feels good about the purchase in all phases of the exterior illumination and highlighting installations.
Since acquiring Outdoor Lighting Perspectives of Richmond in early 2018, Rick’s experience as part of this franchise system has been, “Nothing but positive and has been refreshing coming from the corporate world,” noted Rick.
He appreciates the level of dedication and continuing support from the Empower Brands franchisor and from other franchisees across all of their brands.
In fact, in addition to adding Charlottesville, Harrisonburg and Lynchburg to his outdoor lighting services footprint, recently Rick Popio became a dual Empower Brands franchisee acquiring the rights to his area’s Canopy Lawn Care.
About The Franchise Opportunity At Outdoor Lighting Perspectives
Of the 10 brands now comprising the Empower Brands franchise opportunity portfolio, Outdoor Lighting Perspectives continues to shine ever so brightly illuminating homes, businesses, commercial properties and hospitality venues throughout the United States and Canada.
Founded 25 years ago, OLP continues to preserve the title of the original low voltage outdoor lighting and landscape lighting franchise. Giving strength to the franchise brand is the current consciousness of establishing a more eco-friendly green consciousness world.
Exceptional Leadership And Guidance Is At The Core Of Empower Brands
Rick takes great pride in the fact that Outdoor Lighting Perspectives globally now boasts 110 locations with $54,000,000 in system sales.
Under the tutelage of Empower Brands’ Chief Executive Officer, Scott Zide; Rich Young; Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Director of Franchise Development, Tom McCombs; and Director of Operations Michael Glaeser, Rich Popio says that, “The sky’s the limit,” when it comes to his professional growth and personal satisfaction with this innovative multi-brand franchisor.
