America’s Best Franchises (ABF) Brand Insight —
Most remodeling franchises do one room. The Designery covers kitchens, baths, and closets from a single showroom, taking a project from design through sourcing to installation. Customers split between homeowners and the builders and contractors who send repeat work. The differentiator is the design process — virtual reality consultations let a client walk through the space before anything is ordered. A showroom is required, and most territories run on about two employees.
At a Glance
- Liquid Capital Required: $150,000 (readily available cash or cash-equivalent assets — not from borrowing, selling a primary residence, or relying on future income)
- Ownership Model: Owner-operator, semi-absentee, or empire builder
- Location Type: Retail design showroom
- Time Commitment: Varies by ownership model
- Experience Required: None; design or construction background not needed
About The Designery
Casey Ridley founded The Designery in Chattanooga in 2007 as a kitchen and bath wholesaler. It grew into a full design, build, and installation studio and began franchising in 2021. The brand is part of HomeFront Brands. There are now 46 franchise owners operating 103 territories.
Projects run from design and product selection through sourcing and installation, covering kitchens, bathrooms, and closets. Clients include homeowners, homebuilders, and remodeling contractors. A ready-to-assemble product platform and national vendor buying power keep pricing competitive against custom cabinetry shops. The showroom is both the sales floor and the design center.
Why Franchise With The Designery?
- Three rooms under one brand — kitchens, baths, and closets — instead of the single-category focus most remodeling franchises take.
- Virtual reality and tele-design let clients see the finished space before committing, which shortens the sales cycle.
- Both B2C and B2B revenue: homeowners for individual projects, builders and remodelers for repeat volume.
- Item 19 reports average gross sales of $1,024,011 among open showroom franchisees, with an average gross profit margin of 40.2% and an average proposal conversion rate of 40.23%.
- National vendor buying power and a ready-to-assemble platform deliver a custom look without custom pricing.
- Site selection, lease negotiation, and retail buildout assistance support the showroom launch.
Why This Opportunity, Why Now
ABF Market Analysis —
American housing stock is old. Nearly half of U.S. homes were built before 1980 and 38% before 1970, which means kitchens and baths decades past their design life. Higher mortgage rates have made moving expensive, so homeowners who would have bought something newer are renovating what they own instead. Kitchens, bathrooms, and closets sit at the top of the improvement list, and the remodeling market is measured in the hundreds of billions. Builder relationships add a second demand channel that does not depend on consumer sentiment.
ABF Timing Insight —
The Designery has grown from a single Chattanooga studio to 103 territories in four years of franchising, with HomeFront Brands backing the expansion. The category is in an unusual moment: remodeling demand is high because moving is expensive, and the tech-forward design process is still rare enough to be a real differentiator. Owners entering now get both the demand and the distinction before more of the market catches up.
Training and Support
- Initial training runs about four days near Charlotte, North Carolina, 7 to 30 days before opening, at no cost for up to three representatives.
- Thirty-two classroom hours cover services and products, the CRM, design software, the sales process, staffing and store management, marketing, studio setup, and subcontractor and vendor management.
- On-site follow-up training comes four to six weeks after opening, once the business is running and real questions have surfaced.
- Retail buildout assistance, site selection, and lease negotiation support help owners secure and set up the showroom.
- Ongoing support includes lead generation and marketing, administration and efficiency coaching, and remote on-demand field support, backed by HomeFront Brands.
Who Is The Designery Looking For?
- Natural networkers with strong relationship skills
- Homebuilders, remodelers, contractors, and subcontractors
- Family teams and veterans
- Team builders and people leaders
- Solution-oriented operators with business acumen
Who Is Not A Good Fit
- Candidates who cannot meet the liquid capital requirement without borrowing
- Anyone looking for a home-based business with no showroom
- Owners uncomfortable selling and managing subcontractors
- People unwilling to build referral relationships with builders
- Candidates expecting a fast, low-overhead launch
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need design or construction experience?
A: No. Training covers the design software, product catalog, sales, operations, and project management. Some cabinetry or design knowledge helps but is not required.
Q: What is the virtual reality design process?
A: Clients can walk through their kitchen, bath, or closet design before anything is ordered, which removes uncertainty and helps close the sale.
Q: Who are the customers?
A: Homeowners for individual projects, plus homebuilders and remodeling contractors who send repeat volume.
Q: How many employees will I need?
A: Typically about two, with subcontractors handling installation.
Q: How important is the leadership team when choosing a franchise?
A: Very important. A proven model matters, but the people leading the brand matter too. During due diligence, spend time with leadership and operations—not just franchise development—and ask how they prioritize franchisee profitability, support, and long-term brand health.
Next Steps
If you are drawn to a showroom business covering three of the most in-demand rooms in the house, a design process clients can walk through in virtual reality, revenue from both homeowners and builders, and national buying power behind your pricing, The Designery is worth a direct conversation. Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for The Designery.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.