Featured Franchise: Kitchen Tune-Up Zeeland, MI
Kitchen Tune-Up is celebrating our 30th year in 2018, and Gary Binder has been part of our franchise family for 25 of those years! As one of our long-time Tunies, Gary Binder purchased his franchise in February 1993. He has seen a lot of kitchen trends come and go over the years in his area near Lake Michigan. He really enjoys the family time that being a business owner provides. Thanks, Gary for the interview!
What was your career before becoming a Tunie?
McDonald's store manager
What is your favorite part of owning your own business?
Family time
What comes to mind as your most memorable kitchen update?
I’ve gotten to work in so many great home homes on Lake Michigan over the years. I can’t pick only one favorite. I really enjoy improving my customer’s kitchen - and their lives. It’s very rewarding to make a kitchen go from ‘Brady Bunch’ to the 21st century.
Any advice for someone thinking about making the leap and buying their own franchise?
Make sure your customer base has disposable income.
When you’re not working, what is your favorite hobby or pastime?
Hunting, fishing, and Pokémon go
What’s something unique about your area?
Tulip Time in Holland. Check it out at tuliptime.com
We switch up our National Reunion location each year. What has been your favorite city to visit or most memorable Reunion so far?
Las Vegas
Do you have a favorite cabinet door style?
My customers' favorite! I like a lot of different colors and finishes.
What was the biggest motivator to WHY you bought your own franchise?
I have 4 boys - my oldest got married last year and we got to welcome our first grandchild in the fall of 2017. My twins just finished their 3rd year of college, and my youngest will be a Senior in High School. I love to hunt and fish with my boys as time allows. I like to travel the country and will be going to my 48th and 49th state in 2018 with my lovely wife Elaine. You can’t beat having flexibility with your schedule and the family time that owning your own business allows.
What have you found to be the biggest benefit to franchise ownership?
The relationships with other Kitchen Tune-Up franchises. We get to meet up every year at our National Reunion, and it really is like a family reunion. A time to learn and stay educated on our industry, trends, and products, but also to have fun with our Tunie family.
