Pinot's Palette Kicks off New Year with Continued Growth; Recognition

HOUSTON, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Pinot's Palette, a national Paint and Sip franchise known for providing guests with an entertaining evening of art and wine, is pleased to announce that it has earned a spot on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2014 Franchise 500 list.

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"We were thrilled to learn that Pinot's Palette is on this year's Franchise 500 list," says Pinot's Palette co-founder and president Charles Willis. "Our company has enjoyed a very successful 2013, and I can't think of a better way to kick off 2014 than with this honor."

To compile the list, Entrepreneur Magazine evaluates and rates franchises based on several criteria, such as financial strength and stability; startup cost; size; and growth rate.

The year 2013 was an exciting one for Pinot's Palette, particularly in terms of growth: The company awarded 30 new studios last year—and many of those new studios represent expansions into entirely new markets.

"Last year, we awarded studios in eleven new states, including Arkansas, Florida, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Nebraska, Nevada, Ohio, Washington, and Pennsylvania," Willis says. "And we expanded our presence in existing markets like California, Illinois, and our home state of Texas. We can't wait to see what 2014 brings in terms of growth."

In addition to opening studios in new and expanding markets, Pinot's Palette celebrated several operational successes last year: The company streamlined its existing reservation management system and released an iPhone app that allows customers to locate studios and book classes. Other new developments in 2013 included the creation of a private Facebook franchisee group and the formation of the Pinot's Palette Franchise Council, which provides new franchisees with an opportunity to ask questions and seek advice from more established franchise owners.

"New developments like the Facebook group and the Franchise Council have provided a good, collaborative setting for franchisees," says Pinot's Palette co-founder and CEO Craig Ceccanti, who adds that the company's focus on innovation and collaboration sets it apart from other franchises.

"In our organization, we encourage company-wide collaboration, rather than having corporate headquarters dictate everything. The result has been that our franchisees are always coming up with great ideas for new technology or service offerings," Ceccanti says. "We are looking forward to even more innovation in 2014."

About Pinot's Palette
Pinot's Palette is an upscale, entertainment-art studio that combines the appreciation of art and wine with step-by-step painting classes by an experienced local artist. The franchise—which began as a single, Houston-area studio in 2009—now offers many studios locations throughout the United States and continues to pioneer the Paint and Sip industry. For more information, visit www.PinotsPalette.com.

SOURCE Pinot's Palette