Appen newspaper reports that welcomemat services is looking for a franchisee in north fulton

Published by Appen Newspaper - NorthFulton.com

Date: December 7, 2011

A neighborhood sub shop. A local dentist. The corner store that sells specialty dog treats.

These are the clients that Dave and Sheryl Eickman will visit today.

The Eickmans will be selling them on Welcomemat, a service that delivers neighborhood retail information to new families moving in to their Indianapolis zip codes.

Back in 2008, Dave Eickman was in mortgages. His wife, Sheryl, had worked weekends as a real estate agent for 18 years. They were tired of corporate America and constantly wished for more time together.

So when the economy took a hit, they turned a bad situation into the opportunity they'd been waiting for.

Dave read in the Indianapolis Star that a franchise called Welcomemat was looking for local entrepreneurs to award two franchises in the Indianapolis area. Owners could go to work for themselves by using a proven business model already in place.

Better yet, they could sell to local businesses in their own neighborhood. Welcomemat isn't just another pack of coupons. It is a loyalty marketing platform that attaches a barcode to each invitation, allowing businesses to track valuable marketing trends.

The Eickmans say it's a win-win in the down economy.

Businesses need new loyal customers.

People moving in to the community are looking to build new business relationships.

And the Eickmans – well, they've discovered a whole new way to work.

Welcomemat is different from other franchises.

The Eickmans work out of their home, and the administrative support is provided for them.

"We've made it easy because we want to free up our franchisees to go out and do what they do best – sell," said Brian Mattingly, President and Founder of Welcomemat Services.

Dave and Sheryl like that they can choose their territory and invest in their own community.

They also like that Welcomemat offers coaching and helps them grow their business.

"Welcomemat has tried and true systems already in place. So all we have to do is follow their model," Sheryl said.

Sheryl's sales and real estate background coupled with Dave's marketing acumen won them the franchise in a competitive process. Now they say they have an asset they can call their own.

They are building something for retirement while gaining more time to spend together now. With its low cost entry, the Eickmans decided Welcomemat was an accessible way to take control of their lives.

"It was the perfect opportunity for us," Dave said.

Today, Dave will stay home to follow up on calls from last week.

Meanwhile Sheryl heads to the dry cleaners, swinging open a door that bears a large handwritten sign reading, "Shirts $1." She greets the owner by name and offers a friendly wave.

The husband and wife will meet up later for lunch.

But for now, it's selling time.

For more, visit www.welcomematservices.com.