Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2012 | Page 30

MEGA
By Tracy Staton

Diversifier Supreme

R

Ray Harrigill keeps growing with new brands

ay Harrigill believes in diversification. His Sunray Companies
has restaurants (Bumpers DriveIn), tanning salons (Palm Beach
Tan), fitness centers (Koko FitClub),
and hotel properties (Hampton Inn),
to name a few. That’s because of lessons
he’s learned along the way.
Harrigill got his start in the restaurant business working in a multi-unit,
multi-concept company. When he set
out on his own, restaurants were his first
choice but he couldn’t open new units
quickly enough to satisfy his goals. He
began opening Blockbuster Video stores

28

Multi-Unit Franchisee Is s ue I, 2012

“Once you build
up a membership
base, it continues
to pay every month.
Most of the time
in business you
don’t get that
opportunity.”

Name: Ray Harrigill
Title: Managing member
Company: Sunray Companies
No. of units: 2 Bumpers DriveIn, 1 Blockbuster Video, 5 Palm
Beach Tan, 2 Massage Envy, 1
Koko FitClub, 3 Hampton Inn
Age: 42
Family: Beautiful wife and

13-year-old twins

Years in franchising: 19
Years in current position: 15