Testimonials
Franchise Owner Success Testimonial
Craters & Freighters South Chicago
Bill and Janet Fastabend wanted to start their own company and be closer to family and friends when they purchased their Craters & Freighters franchise in south Chicago in September 1998. Working in corporate America and education for more than 30 years, the Fastabends encountered many challenges as franchise owners. They not only had to learn a new business, but they also had to build their client base one customer at a time.
With hard work, determination and the support of Craters & Freighters headquarters in Denver, this husband and wife team thrived as independent business owners. Finding their niche in industrial crating and one-time special shipments, the Fastabend's franchise location started to grow and reached its $1 million business goal in the first quarter of 2007.
The hardest challenge was yet to come. In May 2007, Bill passed away and Janet decided to sell the business. During the next very difficult months, the Craters & Freighters family network offered amazing support. The corporate headquarters staff assisted Janet where and when needed, and helped her get through an overwhelming and difficult time. Franchise owners from other states pitched in to help her run the business. As a result of all this support, Janet changed her mind about selling the franchise.
Her Craters & Freighters franchise location continues its growth trend, acquiring new business, and posting its best two months of revenue ever during the summer 2007.
Business Success Testimonial
FAS Technologies
FAS Technologies is the world's premier supplier of digital high purity fluid dispensing systems for high viscosity fluids in the microelectronics industry. In 1988, FAS developed a liquid extrusion coater and since that time, FAS's patented extrusion coating technology has gained global recognition as the leading technology for the next-generation substrates.
At their corporate headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the focus is on research and development, production, manufacturing, sales and marketing for domestic and international business. The company opened its first foreign office in Tokyo, Japan in 1994.
Marvin Vance, Manager of Purchasing and Inventory, first met Craters and Freighters when the local franchise owner stopped by to explain what they did and left his business card. "About three months later, we needed to crate up some equipment. Craters & Freighters came out, took all the measurements and the rest is history. We have been doing business together for the past two years," said Vance.
Semi-conductor panels are not small. "Coating machines can weigh 10,000 to 15,000 pounds and can be eight feet high," Vance explains. "The average machine cost is $400,000 to $600,000. The size and content value makes the crating critical, to ensure there is no damage. In addition, many of our pieces are shipped long distances including China and other international destinations, mainly in Asia."
According to Vance, "Craters & Freighter comes to our site with all the materials necessary for the job, including 2 x 4s. Depending on the weight of the mechanism, they provide a crew of four to six people. Starting with the setup, the crating process averages about six hours."
Sometimes there are special circumstances. Vance describes one unforgettable shipping request that required real teamwork to get the job done. "We had to ship five machines in one day. Between Craters & Freighters and us, there were 18 people involved in the crating. It took from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. All deadlines were met. We got everything crated and safely delivered to the airport on time."
Systems can take four to five months to build. There can often be delays or changes. Vance describes his Craters & Freighters team as always flexible and prepared. "If things change, they accommodate us and never miss a commitment. We depend on them."
Franchise Company Success Testimonial
Craters & Freighters nearly doubles earnings
October 30, 2007 DENVER -- Craters & Freighters, the national leader in specialty freight solutions, announced the company has nearly doubled revenue and added 22 new franchises across the United States in the past five years. Steady growth, ventures into commercial markets, and global logistics makes it a leader in the consumer and commercial shipping markets and one of the fastest-growing franchises in its class.
The Colorado-headquartered Craters & Freighters estimates company revenues at $45 million by the end of 2007, nearly double its reported revenues of $25 million in 2003. The company's franchise growth has steadily increased since it first began selling franchises in 1991. Continue reading this article on our News & Media Page.
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