Marcus Lemonis
I just watched the first episode of the second season of Marcus Lemonis’ The Profit about the Athans Motors dealership located outside Chicago. Judging by the episode and trailer it looks like it’s going to be a strong season.
Someone emailed me yesterday about the progress that Marcus has been making with the business from his very first episode. In it he acquired Car Cash an NYC based company that buys your used car for cash. So what has Marcus done with that single location business since becoming a partner with the two brothers?
The answer is that he’s taken the winning formula and duplicated it a few times.
Go ahead, and take a guess as to how many locations there are as of this writing.
No peeking.
Take a guess before clicking for more.
As of today (Feb 28, 2014) there are about 70 stores across the country and there’s room for thousands more.
Here’s the website for Car Cash.
Here’s a map of the Car Cash current locations. Judging by the unique telephone numbers these are actual stores and not just planned ones.
What Marcus is doing is not only picking good businesses to replicate but he’s using the show to drive customers to them. My hunch is that many fans of the show would drive out to see one of his businesses as long as it’s not to far off their beaten track. Even if they don’t they are likely to tell friends about a business like Car Cash.
I don’t know the car business but it could make sense to match up Car Cash outlets with the new Car Match chain. You put the two side by side. Maybe even throw a Solo Gelato store into the mix?
That’s the tycoon growth strategy. Find a winning formula and replicate, replicate, replicate.
I’ll do a post on Athans Motors shortly.
4 Responses to The Profit: Marcus Lemonis and Car Cash
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WOW, 70 locations…M.L. is a beast. I love his edgy, hard hitting style. He strips the fat from the bone and leaves you with a great cut of meat. :0)
I must say, that episode is my favorite of the 1st season.
There’s a word for what he’s doing. He’s creating synergy among his businesses. The show is a weapons grade brand builder. Everyone who’s seen it will want the good guys to prosper and the bad guys to flounder. When it comes time to sell my car I will take it to a Car Cash.
I was so glad that finally Athans began to see the light of what he had done was very damaging to a successful business, and though what Marcus was doing was painful for him, it was the best for the future and present success of the business.
I am impressed with the Car Cash business and what Lemonis has done with that business since he was allowed to reorganize and focus it. Marcus is like a commando and is rough to many. It may be the only way to salvage and prosper many of these businesses which are on their last foot or toe. I like also that Marcus is not forgetting those who are in greatest need among us.
I know there are many other floundering businesses out there, and Lemonis will have many more he will be able to help turn around and prosper.
Here’s the full schedule for season 2 of The Profit.
CNBC’S “THE PROFIT” RETURNS FOR SEASON TWO ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH AT 10PM ET/PT
Serial Entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis Gives Eight Failing Small Businesses a Chance at Survival
ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. – February 12, 2014 – CNBC today revealed the small businesses that will appear on season two of “The Profit,” premiering eight new one hour episodes beginning Tuesday, February 25th at 10pm ET/PT. “The Profit” features serial entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis who saves struggling businesses while investing his own cash in the process.
On the new season of the original primetime entrepreneurial series, Lemonis, Chairman and CEO of Camping World and Good Sam Enterprises, travels the country bringing his know-how, expertise and his millions to eight small businesses struggling to stay afloat.
The first three episodes of the new season include:
The Profit #201: “Athans Motors” Premieres Tuesday, February 25th at 10pm ET/PT on CNBC
A former real estate investor and car enthusiast, Pete Athans, sunk his entire life savings into building a high-end used car dealership in Morton Grove, IL. Unfortunately, financing a fantasy dealership left him short on cash; now he struggles to fill his lot with cars. To make matters worse, his micromanaging style prevents his employees from doing their jobs. Marcus Lemonis will either be the driving force this owner needs to change his ways or this business will crash and burn.
The Profit #202: “A. Stein Meat Products” Premieres Tuesday, March 4th at 10pm ET/PT on CNBC
This week, serial entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis travels to Brooklyn, New York and visits “A. Stein Meat Products,” a second generation business run by two lifelong friends. Last year, this $50 million dollar a year meat wholesaler somehow managed to lose $400,000. At Stein, Marcus discovers a company that offers a great product but has grown so fast, they’re unable to track the 10s of 1000s of dollars that go in and out every day. Can Marcus Lemonis save this business or will these two butcher boys be forced to close their doors after 40 years?
The Profit #203: “Michael Sena’s Pro-Fit” Premieres Tuesday, March 11th at 10pm ET/PT on CNBC
Michael and Tina Sena are a fitness-obsessed couple with a great little gym right outside of Chicago. And while they help clients shed weight, they can’t seem to figure out how to build a healthy profit. Maybe one of their problems is that this husband and wife still can’t figure out how to work as a team. Marcus Lemonis arrives with a plan but getting them to accept change may turn out to be harder than their workouts.
Additional small businesses featured throughout the season include: Skullduggery, a toy and craft kit manufacturer in Anaheim, CA; Amazing Grapes, a wine store in Santa Margarita, CA; WorldWide Trailer Sales, Inc., which manufactures and sells concession trailers from Tampa, FL; Sweet Pete’s, a gourmet candy manufacturer specializing in vegan and gluten-free sweets in Jacksonville, FL; and Key West Key Lime Pie Company in Key West, FL.
When Marcus Lemonis isn’t running his multi-billion dollar company, Camping World, he goes on the hunt for struggling businesses that are desperate for cash and ripe for a deal. In the past 10 years, he’s successfully turned around over 100 companies. Now he’s bringing those skills to CNBC and doing something no one has ever done on TV before … he’s putting millions of dollars of his own money on the line.
In each episode, Lemonis makes an offer that’s impossible to refuse; his cash for a piece of the business and a percentage of the profits. And once inside these companies, he’ll do almost anything to save the business and make himself a profit; even if it means firing the president, promoting the secretary or doing the work himself.
To learn more about “The Profit,” visit: cnbc.com/the-profit. Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheProfitcnbcprime and follow us on Twitter: @CNBCprimeTV #TheProfit.
“The Profit” is produced for CNBC by Machete Productions with Amber Mazzola serving as executive producer. Jim Ackerman is the executive producer for CNBC.
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