Apple introduced the slogan “There's an app for that” in 2009 and trademarked the phrase. Although the phrase itself quickly became obsolete, its truth still remains. As annoying as it is when trying to use the internet for many, connected devices actually work.
“If someone has a pool at home, that pool has an app. Garage doors have apps, thermostats have apps, all smart appliances have apps, and most people don't use them. is not being used to its full potential,” Hagan Kapler said. “We're so used to how annoying technology can be, but it's all going to be fine.”
Consider Daisy, the company Kappler co-founded last year to simplify smart home and office technology and ensure it performs as advertised. At the launch of its franchise program this week, Daisy announced Matt Wallin as the first franchisee to convert his Brilliant AV business in Costa Mesa, California, to Daisy. The company also acquired an integrated company serving Fairfield County, Connecticut. Kapler expects two more deals to close in the coming days as Daisy moves through a pipeline of approximately 30 independent companies that are considering converting to or joining Daisy through acquisition. He said that. .
Hagan Kapler, co-founder and CEO of Daisy, announced the franchise program on February 19th. Kapler spoke to Franchise Times during the International Franchise Association Convention in Phoenix.
Mr. Kapler, who has held leadership roles with top national brands such as ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Starbucks, Terminix, Trane, and Club Car, was a home service franchise platform company before retiring in early 2023 to found Daisy. He previously served as CEO of Threshold Brands.
Ten years ago, while working in corporate strategy and development at Ingersoll Rand, Kappler was excited about the potential of the connected home market and the need for solutions that addressed common pain points for consumers, technology installers, and integrators. He said he started thinking about it.
“I always thought it should be easier from a consumer perspective,” she said. Through in-depth research and assembling an experienced leadership team, she identified that “there is a $30 billion market in the smart home space, and there is no national brand.”
Denver-based SaaviHome is a smart home technology integration services company founded in 2004 and began franchising last year in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and Utah.
“We were one of the first companies to develop more nationally with national aspirations,” Kapler said, noting that Daisy now operates on both coasts, providing customers, The company said it has a strong support center that covers products, human resources, technicians, and sales support. , further provides business coaching and learning guidance.
Daisy completed a seed funding round last fall. The company is backed by venture capital and has several angel investors from Kapler's network of franchise industry leaders and private equity and investment banking contacts.
“We wanted to make sure we had patient capital so we could take our time and take care of it without feeling the added pressure of a liquidity event,” said Kapler, who is also Daisy's chief executive. .
Her leadership team includes former executives from ServiceMaster, Terminix, and Best Buy, and she brought on Mai Pham, chief growth officer of Crumbl Cookies, as Daisy's chief marketing officer. Kapler said that marketing element is very important because “people don't even know this type of service exists.”
“But consumers actually need more support with technology in their home,” she continued, likening the style of service provided by Daisy to other home services such as lawn care and house cleaning. . “We become curators of technology in their homes.”
Daisy's technology solutions cover home entertainment, security, lighting and blinds, smart Wi-Fi, and whole-home control systems. The company is initially focusing on expanding in high-growth regions and markets where many wealthy people want to connect their homes to the Internet.