Marketing

Buddy’s Home Furnishing refranchising company stores

Photo by istock.com

November 10, 2021

Buddy's Home Furnishing has signed a deal with bebe stores inc., a multi-unit franchise group, to re-franchise eight company-owned stores located between Kentucky and Indiana.

"We're thrilled to build on our partnership with Buddy's by adding eight new stores to our existing portfolio," Martin Fontela, COO of bebe, said in the release. "Our team is also taking the necessary steps to set us up well for future growth with Buddy's as we set our eyes on potential markets in North Carolina, Virginia and Florida."

bebe first partnered with Buddy's in 2020 and has since franchised 47 stores across the country.

Buddy's was founded in 1961 as Buddy's Bi-Rite in Tampa, Florida. Since then, the company rebranded to Buddy's Home Furnishings as it expanded its product line to include furniture, electronics, appliances and home accessories.

"These eight company-owned stores are in great hands with the bebe team," Michael Bennett, CEO of Buddy's, said in the release. "bebe continues to be a wonderful partner of ours, and we look forward to continuing to work together to bring an affordable way for customers to attain home necessities to communities across the country."

Buddy's adopted the franchise model in 2009 and was acquired by Franchise Group Inc. in 2020.