KITCHEN TUNE-UP FEATURED ON THE RACHAEL RAY SHOW

(February 11, 2007 / Aberdeen, S.D.) – Pennsylvania couple, Tom and Jessica Shafnisky, recently got the biggest surprise of their life – a knock on their door by Rachael Ray! They were shocked to discover they won the search for America’s worst kitchen. The couple spent a long weekend at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut while Kitchen Tune-Up and a team of contractors worked around the clock for five days to transform their ugly kitchen into a masterpiece. The show aired Friday, February 9th.

“A few days before the transformation, I received a call asking if I could make over their kitchen in just five days. I knew I had a short time frame to pull this off and that the kitchen was going to be in bad shape, but I was very excited that Kitchen Tune-Up was chosen and that we could help make a difference for the Shafniskies,” said Mike Gillenkirk, owner of Kitchen Tune-Up in Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1988, Kitchen Tune-Up is the largest franchised kitchen and bath remodeler. Kitchen Tune-Up offers a myriad of home improvement services and utilizes proprietary products in an exclusive process to restore original beauty to woodwork at a fraction of the cost of replacing or refinishing. Kitchen Tune-Up offers the largest array of services among franchised competitors including cabinet refacing and reconditioning; new custom cabinetry and countertops; no-sand wood floor restoration; tub and shower lining systems; closet organization systems and cabinet accessories.

Before opening Kitchen Tune-Up 2003, Gillenkirk, 48, worked in manufacturing and human resources for 21 years. When a plant closed for the company Gillenkirk was working at, he decided it was a good time to start his own business, something he always hoped to do.

Following extensive research on various business opportunities, Gillenkirk decided to open Kitchen Tune-Up after hearing rave reviews from current owners. He also knew that services provided by home improvement professionals were in high-demand. In fact, according to industry reports, Americans spent an estimated $210 billion on residential remodeling in 2005, passing $200 billion for the first time. This is partially attributed to the fact that more people are remodeling instead of moving.

As the appeal of maintaining existing homes surges, Kitchen Tune-Up is well-positioned to meet homeowners’ needs. Kitchen Tune-Up has 155 franchise owners who operate 310 territories in 39 states. Twenty to 30 additional franchises are expected to be granted in 2007. Projections call for a network of 210 to 220 franchise owners operating approximately 400 territories by the end of 2009.

Jessica Shafnisky thanked the contractors from Kitchen Tune-Up after touring the new space with Rachael Ray. “I can’t even imagine,” Shafnisky said, “because I knew what you guys were working with.”

“The homeowner’s taste and lifestyle were taken into consideration during the planning and designing process. The new kitchen is beautiful and I’m very proud of our work. Furthermore, Best Buy®, Inc. provided the couple with a kitchen full of high-end appliances including an under cabinet mounted flat-panel television. I hope Tom, Jessica, and their two children – the third on the way – enjoy it,” said Gillenkirk.

Ray hosts the Rachael Ray Show, syndicated by CBS. She gained fame as a host on The Food Network and has published several best-selling books.
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