Franchise Update Magazine Issue IV, 2016 | Page 16
ANATOMY OF A BRAND
BY JONATHAN BARNETT
CLEANING UP FOR
10 YEARS
Oxi Fresh grows up and gives back
I
never want to stand still. I always want
to be working on something and find
ways to improve it, expand upon it, and
to be innovative.
Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning has been my
focus since I founded it in 2006. I started
my company because I knew carpet cleaning
had a low barrier to entry, is excellent for
creating repeat business, offers a service in
high demand, and has the potential to net
millions of dollars. Today, a decade after
launching my dream, I still lead the brand
as its CEO, directing its growth and pushing the boundaries of an old-school industry
with new-school thinking.
It certainly keeps me busy, which is
what I love.
How did I get here?
The story of my company really starts with
my family. My mother, Natalie, always
pushed me to work hard, to never give up,
and to never take the easy path. Combine
that with the inspiration of my grandfather,
an entrepreneur and inventor, and I began
my college career at Oral Roberts University
in 1999 knowing that business was going
to be my forte.
For a lot of students, studying for a BS
in business administration would be enough
to keep them busy. Not me. In 2000, using
money I inherited from my grandfather, I
opened my own summer business, Johnny
B’s Fireworks. Every summer, I expanded
to new locations and then sold the business
when I graduated. These stands helped me
pay my way through school.
The stands were a great introduction to
the business world, but they weren’t enough
to occupy my time. You see, I loved basketball, and so I joined the Oral Roberts D1
team. I even served as the team chaplain
for two years. My experience with the team
and my faith led me to create Crossover International in 2001, a nonprofit basketball
outreach that used the sport as a platform
to make a positive impact on youth.
With all that, I still graduated from Oral
Roberts a full year early. Like I said, I like
to stay busy. However, I wanted more than
just three years of business education, so I
decided that graduate school was the right
path for me.
In 2003, I began courses at Colorado
Christian University (CCU), at the same
time moving Crossover International’s headquarters to Denver and working to launch
their first international tour, which went to
France, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
In early 2005, I also purchased a professional basketball franchise in the International
Basketball League, naming it the Colorado
Crossover. Owning the team for two seasons
increased my interest in franchising, so when
I graduated from CCU in mid-2005, I kept
my eyes open for franchise opportunities.
A breath of fresh air
There was a gap in the carpet cleaning industry, an opportunity for a business willing to
give customers something different. People
wanted cleanings that were convenient, and
they had grown tired of lo ng dry times and
harsh chemicals.
Working with a team of experts, we de-
Jonathan Barnett
14
Franchiseupdate ISS U E IV, 2 0 1 6
fu4_lead_anatomy(14-15).indd 14
11/8/16 2:04 PM