Pop-a-Lock

Pop-A-Lock is a franchise locksmith company in the United States, based in Lafayette, Louisiana.

History

Pop-A-Lock was founded in Lafayette, Louisiana by former law enforcement officers, Carl Vincent and Steve Gremillion. The company began granting franchises in 1994. Since that time they have grown to over 482 franchise areas within the United States 13 in Canada and 16 international.

Management team

The current CEO of Pop-A-Lock is Donald Marks
Director of Marketing - Melanie Miller-Cobb
Director of Operations - Robert Reynolds CPL,CPS
Director of Franchise Development - Michael Kleimeyer.

Technology

In 2005 Pop-A-Lock adopted the use of the Pulsar Call Management Software platform to assist in performing its dispatch functions. Pulsar is utilized to receive initial information from customers concerning their issues, regulates pricing of service based on standard pricing practices and local franchisee SOP and perform back office functions for payroll and billing.

Pop-A-Lock utilizes T-Mobile as a corporate sustaining partner to provide phone, Blackberry(r) and Internet services in many franchise markets. The franchise does use other phone providers based on specific coverage needs and the desires of the local franchisee.

The T.I.M.E.S (Technical Information Management and Exchange System) was developed specifically for Pop-A-Lock in 2007 in order to provide a computer based reference system for Locksmith information including Key Generation procedures, Installation Instructions and other technical information. The TIMES program utilizes an interactive system which allows users to submit data for consideration immediately in order to maintain the most current collection of data possible.

Pop-A-Lock has deployed GPS tracking in various areas of the country that work in conjunction with Pulsar, their call management system. GPS data is relayed to specific customers who are able to track the progress of technicians and locksmiths assigned to assist them.

The TIMES system was upgraded to the Locksmith Connect platform, that not only provides technical reference but provides users with the ability to interact with each other through questions, chat features and image uploads. Additionally, the Locksmith Connect allows users to interact with the material through both Android and Apple devices rather than just PC platform.[1]

The Wall Street Journal reports[2] that franchisees can be on call 24 hours per day, with the telephone ringing "as often at 3 a.m. as [it would] at three in the afternoon" according to one franchisee, who explains that "People work night shifts, or have to leave their suburbs at 5 a.m. for jobs that start at 7 a.m., and need their cars opened then."

The Wall Street Journal also reports[3] the franchisor and franchisees[4] negotiating a new franchise agreement out of court in 2004, with the company promising to train interns to become master locksmiths, then to turn them over to franchisees, at no cost, to help them expand the services they can offer.

Also in 2004, Garan Wilson, Chief Master Instructor for Pop-A-Lock, had to unlock between 20 and 30 stores in Lafayette, Louisiana at 05:00am, when a vandal had filled them with glue overnight.[5]

Entrepreneur Magazine has consistently ranked the franchise in the "Top 500 Franchises"[6] and chose Pop-a-Lock as a top franchise in 2014.[7]

In 2012, Pop-A-Lock was named by G.I. Jobs Magazine a top military friendly franchise[8] for Pop-A-Lock's recognition of military service. It is part of Pop-A-Lock's franchising policy to give 10% discounts on franchising fees to active and veteran military persons.

References

  1. ↑ Pop-A-Lock national meeting notes
  2. ↑ Bennett, Julie (2002-10-22). "Rude Awakenings May Await New Franchisees". Wall Street Journal.
  3. ↑ Gibson, Richard (2004-01-29). "Franchise Head Prefers Avoiding the Courtroom". Wall Street Journal.
  4. ↑ Sam Landers. "POP-A-LOCK NEWS". American Franchisee Association news. Retrieved October 27, 2005. — news of the negotiated franchise agreement from the president of the Pop-A-Lock Franchise Owners Association
  5. ↑ "Glued Store Locks Investigated". KLFY. 2004-11-26.
  6. ↑ http://www.entrepreneur.com/franchises/popalockfranchisesystem/297692-0.html
  7. ↑ http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/233189
  8. ↑ http://mydigimag.rrd.com/article/2012_Military_Friendly_Franchises/1057599/110869/article.html
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