Q. When did Crown Trophy establish its first location?

A. The first location was established in Brooklyn, NY in 1978.

Q. When did you begin franchising?

A. We opened our first franchised location in 1987.

Q. Do you need to have experience in the Awards & Recognition Industry to be successful?

A. No prior experience is necessary. All it takes is a friendly community minded individual who has a strong desire to succeed within a proven franchise system. Men & Women from varied backgrounds currently operate their own Crown franchise. We have an eight-day training school and on-site support when you initially open. Continued support is provided from HQ staff.

Q. How do you determine where I should locate my store?

A. Our staff has opened over 140 Crown Trophy locations and they will provide assistance for researching an area, site location and lease negotiation. We will help you layout the design of your store and develop marketing for your grand opening.

Q. Do you grant exclusive territories?

A. Each franchise is granted a protected territory defined by zip codes. We will not establish or operate a company-owned store, nor will we grant a franchise to others to operate within your protected territory.

Q. What do you feel are the most important attributes of your franchise opportunity?

1. Crown Trophy is the most recognized name in the growing Awards Industry. The Crown Trophy trademark name and logo is a nationwide icon for 25 plus years.
2. We are the only franchise in the Awards & Recognition industry. As the largest retailer we have enormous purchasing power lowering the cost on high volume components affording us system wide pricing concessions for all our franchise owners.
3. You will have access to copyrighted proprietary products not available anywhere else in the industry giving you decisive advantages over a local awards store.
4. We are licensed to use such proprietary logos as Little League Baseball, AYSO, PAL, Pop Warner Football, Dixie and Pony Baseball, YABA and YMCA. This allows our owners to have a definitive competitive advantage in their market area.
5. Fun and family oriented business with a high success rate.
6. A support team with over fifty years experience in the Awards & Recognition industry available to answer questions and guide you to the right resources saving you many hours of research time.
7. A franchise system geared towards helping each other with an ownership determined to succeed for you.
8. Our intensive training school will give you the level of knowledge needed to promote your business aggressively from day one.
9. We have a three-day annual meeting each year where owners get to meet one another and share ideas. Headquarters announces new products and marketing concepts as well.

Q. What common attributes do your top stores share?

A. Our top performing stores are self motivated with the desire to be the leading awards supplier in their community. They all share strong marketing skills and enjoy meeting with individuals offering a needed service in their community. They work in all areas in their community, including businesses, schools, clubs, leagues and more. They are organized team players who contribute to our system and believe in Crown's business philosophy.

Q. Is this an Internet-based business?

A. No, Crown stores are retail establishments based on personal relationships formed in the community. You will have access to on-line marketing materials to supplement your sales efforts, but a Crown Trophy store is based on personal contacts.

Q. How much capital do you need to purchase a franchise?

A. The initial investment ranges from $85K - $95K.

Q. What is included for the initial investment of $85K - $95K?

A. Our franchise system provides a "turnkey operation" which includes a start-up package consisting of "state of the art" laser engraving system and software, machinery, equipment, supplies, inventory, showroom display system and samples, license fee and a variety of marketing materials. We guide you through the site selection process including assistance with the negotiation of your lease. We provide an extensive eight-day training school at headquarters followed up by field visits from our experienced staff.

Q. What can I expect to pay as an ongoing service fee (Royalty)?

A. Royalty is calculated as 5% of Gross Sales paid monthly. We earn our income from how well your store does forging a continued and vested interest in your continued growth.

Q. Do you provide financing?

A. We do not provide financing for your franchise investment. However, financing is available for qualified applicants from various sources, including an unaffiliated third party company to whom we can refer you. We receive no compensation in connection with any financing arrangements.