Franchise Owners of the Year Named by Decorating Den

June 27, 2023  by HFBusiness Staff in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry   

They were honored as part of the company’s annual international conference held recently in New Orleans.

“This is amazing,” Linda said. “Hurricane Ian wiped out our entire Sanibel Island studio. We lost every sample. After we took a few days to know if everyone was safe, our amazing team of seven got to work and made a remarkable recovery.”

“The Coins’ recovery was so remarkable that they finished the year with the fourth highest sales of all franchises in North America,” said James S. Bugg, Jr., president and CEO.

“While this award does take sales into account, it is equally about demonstrating exemplary characteristics of leadership, business management, and design excellence.”

The Coins acquired an existing franchise in March of 2015 and grew it to make the top ten in sales that year and have remained among the company leaders since.

The Southern Ohio/Northern Kentucky region of seven franchises was named Region of the Year, the highest honor the company bestows on a region. The award recognizes outstanding achievement of a role model region with exemplary leadership. Field mentor for this region is franchise owner Diana Apgar, of Cincinnati.

In addition to Apgar, the region consists of Kiran Arif, of Cincinnati; Erika Lee, of Loveland, Ohio.; Julie Cochrane, of Centerville, Ohio; Abby Connell, of Lebanon, Ohio; Gretchen Curk, of Wilder, Ky.; and Carmen Mackey, of Lebanon, Ohio

Conference attendees were treated to a special video greeting from retired Vice President and Director of Design Carol Donayre Bugg. She was instrumental in guiding the development of the company from primarily a drapery and wallcovering company to a leading full-service interior design and home furnishings company with some 250 interior design franchises throughout the U.S. and Canada.

During her nearly 40 years of leadership, she authored six interior design books featuring Decorating Den Interiors’ room makeovers.

“Several years ago, Carol introduced a special Making A Difference Award to recognize over-and-above contributions to our company’s success,” James S. Bugg, Jr., president and CEO, told conference attendees.

“While Carol retired in 20__, she has continued to provide inspiration and advice. It was only fitting that we present her the Making A Difference Award.” With that, Mrs. Bugg was shown a live-streaming video of a standing ovation from the gathering of design professionals.