Joe has concentrated on finding ways to tap what he considers the most underutilized assets in most businesses, their customers and marketing potential. One of his passions for over 30 years has been developing systems to maximize the potential of businesses, for example, by building
relationships instead of transactions and using a variety of creative methods of adding value in an existing business by repositioning advertising and marketing dollars and direction.
Mr. Sanfellipo got street smart at an early age, starting his first business at 18 and buying his first nothing down business at 22. That business made him a millionaire when he increased its sales ten-fold in three years.
Mr. Sanfellipo is a franchising expert. As Co-Founder and Executive Vice President of Gibraltar Transmission Corporation, he was directly responsible for building the company from 5 Long Island units into a national firm with over 100 franchises. He developed and wrote the franchise marketing and training materials and created successful television advertisements which took the company to the top position in several markets.
As a Director and consultant to Las Vegas Discount Golf and Tennis, he conceived and established the concept of growth via franchising and public investment capital. He structured the entire franchising program resulting in a professional franchise corporation which grew from a pilot store in Las Vegas into a publicly traded international franchisor with locations in Japan, Europe, and throughout North America, with system-wide sales in excess of $70 million.
Mr. Sanfellipo was Co-Founder, Director and President of The O! Deli Corporation, a publicly traded national franchisor of office building food service, which grew to more than 50 franchises before being sold to Pacific Equities. As President, he was responsible for creating and rollingout the franchise program.
Joe has been a consultant to many well-known companies as a confidential behind-the-scenes expert on direct marketing, acquisitions and creative growth strategies. Clients have included domestic and international public and privately owned manufacturers, distributors, real estate developers, franchisors and a wide range of automotive related businesses.
Mr. Sanfellipo has served on the California Senate Select Committee on Small Business Franchise Development Task Force.
His lectures, seminars and guest appearances have included presentations at business groups, trade associations, colleges, SBA functions, Harvard Business School Entrepreneurs Conferences and a variety of entrepreneur gatherings. Over the years, he and his companies have been featured in hundreds of newspapers, magazines (Inc., Success, Entrepreneur, Nations Business, etc.), plus local and national radio and tv shows, including two appearances on Oprah.
A partial list of his speaking topics:
▪ “How to Franchise Your Business”
▪ “How to Operate a Business as a Franchise”
▪ “What to Look for in a Franchise Investment”
▪ “How to Attract and Keep Customers in a Service Business”
▪ “How to Create a Successful Sales Program”
▪ Major television and radio shows, including two appearances on Oprah Winfrey discussing business success
▪ Featured in hundreds of newspapers and business magazines, including Entrepreneur, INC., Nations Business and Success
▪ Frequent guest author in business publications, including Franchise Update, Guide to Franchise Opportunities, and more.
▪ “How to Buy, Start, Grow and Exit a Business Without Cash Credit Collateral, or Contacts.