Save Money, Help the Community
Franchise King and Retail Outlet as a Saving Grace for Cuy County MR/DD

A retail store in Parma offers the chance to save money and help the community. What more could one ask for? Just-a-Buck, a predominantly East Coast chain of discount stores, opened a new location at Parma's Midtown Plaza recently. The store is owned and operated by S.A.W., Inc. -- a not-for-profit corporation providing employment opportunities to persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities.

S.A.W., Inc. employs about 2,400 adults through contracts with local companies for packaging, data entry and similar jobs. About five years ago, S.A.W., Inc. researched opportunities for a retail store that could employ a number of its employees in a variety of capacities.

“We wanted the best bang for our buck so everyone could work,” says Joanie Murman, regional employment manager for Cuyahoga County Board of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (CCBMR/DD).

The organization turned to franchise expert Joel Libava for some ideas on the best retail option to pursue. Libava suggested a dollar store because of the many tasks necessary for operation: stocking, cleaning, taking inventory and working registers. Then he talked about Just-a-Buck, and something clicked with S.A.W., Inc.

“The stores are very clean, neat and organized. To keep them that way takes a lot of labor, and that’s what we were looking for,” says Mike Pelcic, also regional employment manager for The CCBMR/DD.

Phone calls placed to various Just-a-Buck franchisees revealed that the stores were profitable and that the franchise boasted a strong character. Headquartered in New Windsor, NY, Just-a-Buck prides itself on a clean shopping environment and crisp graphics. The solid reputation of the company and the diverse job options for its members convinced S.A.W., Inc. that this was the right retail store to pursue.

Local colleges assisted the board in developing a business plan, according to Pelcic. Unlike typical franchise owners, S.A.W., Inc. is not concerned with making a profit; rather, the organization wants to be able to cover costs needed to train employees and run the store.

“The goal is to employ as many as 14 individuals [at a time,]” Pelcic says.

Because employees have different skill levels, S.A.W., Inc. divides the types of jobs available into three categories:

1.) Enclave—These individuals will work with a supervisor during Monday-Friday day shifts.

2.) Competitively employed—These folks will work in a variety of jobs, mostly on evenings and weekends.

3.) Work adjustment—Employees in these long-term positions will be trained for three-to-six weeks on different jobs.

Employees are being trained on the registers in a mock store setup before the store opens. A manager will oversee day-to-day activities when the store opens for business, according to Murman.

The Just-a-Buck store in Parma is outfitted with special touches, she adds. “There will be wide aisles because we don’t want to crowd the store. And it will be accessible to individuals in wheel chairs.” Even the registers are being set up to accommodate special needs. The store, then, has been designed to be friendly to both customers and employees.

S.A.W., Inc. has a ten-year commitment to this Just-a-Buck store and is open to launching another store in the area at some point. The motto of the franchise is, “Just-a-Buck, the Real Deal.” S.A.W., Inc. is banking on that for the members of its work program.

Learn more here.

From Cool Cleveland contributor Diane DiPiero ohiodianeATnetzero.net
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