U.S. military veterans have the chance to win their own store.
7‑Eleven Inc. starts enlisting U.S. military veterans on Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11, for Operation: Take Command, the company’s first franchise giveaway contest.
The winner will receive a waiver of the franchise fee, valued at up to $190,000, to franchise any of the company’s 7‑Eleven convenience stores available in the continental U.S. at the contest’s culmination. Interested veterans who are first-time 7‑Eleven franchise applicants, can enter online at www.VeteransFranchiseGiveaway.com through Jan. 25, 2015. The winner will be announced in April 2015.
The Operation: Take Command franchise giveaway is a multi-phased competition that includes meeting 7‑Eleven’s franchising qualifications, interviews, a Facebook video contest by 10 preliminary finalists and an interview with 7‑Eleven President and CEO Joe DePinto for the three finalists. The competition is for first-time prospective franchisees, those veterans who do not already franchise a 7‑Eleven store.
“I can think of no one more deserving of this extraordinary opportunity to win a 7‑Eleven franchise than one of our military veterans who has given so much for our country,” said DePinto, a graduate of the Military Academy at West Point and former U.S. Army officer.
“7‑Eleven is a winner, too, because veterans bring top-notch leadership skills, a can-do attitude and mission-oriented focus to their business. Our experience has shown that U.S. veterans have the desire, ambition and core values needed to be successful 7‑Eleven franchisees.”
The Operation Take Command franchise giveaway competition begins Veteran’s Day and ends April 23, 2015, with the announcement of the winning veteran. The phases and dates of the Operation Take Command contest timetable are:
Nov. 11-Jan. 25, 2015 – U.S. veterans from all branches of the armed services can apply online at www.VeteransFranchiseGiveaway.com
March 2015 – Preliminary finalists notified and asked to produce a two-minute video showing why they should win the free 7‑Eleven franchise.
March 16-29, 2015 – Voting begins on top 10 finalists’ videos posted on 7‑Eleven Facebook page to determine top three finalists. Videos also will be posted on 7‑Eleven YouTube channel and the contest Website
March 30 – Three finalists notified and announced
April 10 – Finalists flown to Dallas, all expenses paid, for final interview with 7‑Eleven CEO Joe DePinto.
April 23 – Operation Take Command winning veteran named
Awards Ceremony and Grand Opening Celebration – To be announced
To qualify for Operation Take Command, an entrant must be age 21 or older, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, an honorably discharged veteran, have excellent credit and at least three years of leadership, retail or restaurant experience.
Contestants will go through the same qualification process as all 7‑Eleven franchise applicants including interviews, credit evaluation, leadership test, business plan, budget and store location preferences.
Operation: Take Command 7‑Eleven is advertising its franchise giveaway contest in military, veterans and business publications, promoting on social media (Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube) and its Websites and at military job fairs around the country.
“All eligible veterans have a winning business proposition with 7‑Eleven’s pro-military franchise program,” said Greg Franks, 7‑Eleven vice president of Franchising Systems. “7‑Eleven already offers qualified veterans a discount of up to a 20 percent on the franchise fee for their first 7‑Eleven store, a value of up to $50,000, along with preferred interest rates and special financing on up to 65 percent of the 7‑Eleven franchise fee.”
For former U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brian Green and his wife, Staff Sgt. Theresa Green, 7‑Eleven offered the right business opportunity at the right time.
“We were coming to the end of our military careers and knew we wanted to own our own business,” Green said. “We were smart enough to know that we didn’t have the experience to go out on our own. Theresa and I did our research on ‘good franchises for veterans,’ and 7‑Eleven kept popping up. We liked their business model, and the support provided by the company has been great.”
The Greens, who received the 20%- military discount on their franchise fee, opened their first 7‑Eleven store this summer in Temple, Texas, near Fort Hood where they had been stationed. The couple is looking to grow with the company. Green’s advice to new veteran franchisees, “Work hard, follow the 7‑Eleven business model, and you’re good to go.”
Multiple veterans’ organizations continue to recognize 7‑Eleven for its military-friendly business opportunities, hiring practices and philanthropic support for military families. Military veterans serve in every level of the company from store sales associates to headquarters personnel. The retailer also has supported military assistance organizations including Hire Heroes USA, the USO, Reserve Aid, Warrior Gateway and Operation Mend.
The company was selected a 2014-2015 “Best for Vets” franchise by Military Times, a Top 100 Military-Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs, one of U.S. Veterans Magazine Top 100 Veteran-Friendly Companies and MVE (Most Valuable Employer) by civilianjobs.com.
Likewise, business publications have named 7‑Eleven’s franchise model a top business opportunity—No. 1 on Entrepreneur magazine’s Top Global Franchises list and No. 2 on Franchise Times Top 200.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, military personnel who served on active duty anytime since September 2001 can face greater employment challenges than civilians and older veterans. Veteran entrepreneurship offers an opportunity to start a successful business in which retired and honorably discharged service personnel can use their skills to control their financial destiny. 7‑Eleven also offers careers in a variety of fields to qualified veterans.
2014 marks 7‑Eleven’s 50th year of franchising. Today, franchisees operate approximately 80% of U.S. stores. Retail locations available for franchising are available in 30 states across the U.S.
