Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue IV, 2013 | Page 48

D OM I N A T O R S

R e c onne c t

By Kerry Pipes

Keeping It Simple—Big Time!
Charles Smithgall sets ambitious goals for his Aaron’s empire

K

eeping the business model
simple has paid off handsomely for Charles Smithgall over
the past 18 years he has been
an Aaron’s franchisee. “This is my fifth
career, but my first in franchising,” says
the 71-year-old. “It’s a fantastic business model because it allows me to
focus on operations and execute. Everything else has already been worked
out.”
And working out it is for Smithgall.
When we last spoke with him (MUF
2008, Q4), his SEI/Aaron’s company
had 61 locations in 7 states. Today,
he has 105 locations in 10 states. And
though he’s preparing to hand over the
reins to his son, Chas, in January 2015,
Smithgall is not slowing down—in fact,
he’s stepping on the accelerator.
“We’re right in the middle of a 10year goal to grow to 200 stores, $250
million [