Rating Scale:

***** (5-Star):
"Excellent Opportunity"
**** (4-Star):
"Good Opportunity"
*** (3-Star):
"Average Opportunity"
** (2-Star):
"Below Average Opportunity"
* (1-Star):
"Poor Opportunity"

Company:

Family Tree Digital Video

Centercourt Rating:

***** (5-Star)

Business Type:

Franchise

Description:

Digitally produces family histories on video, CD ROM, and DVD.

Mailing Address:

Family Tree Video
2966 Wildwind Dr.
El Cajon, California 92019

Telephone:

800-8-FAMILY, 800-832-6459, 619-440-2190

Fax:

N/A

E-Mail:

familydvd@home.com

Web Site:

http://www.familytreevideo.com/

Direct Link Topics:

Program Summary
Program History
Program Description
Franchise Components
Rating Summary

Program Summary:

Family Tree Video specializes in Digitally producing the histories of families on video, CD ROM and DVD. We take only the very best of a family's old photographs, slides, old home movies, video tapes and other priceless memorabilia and incorporate special effects, music, titles, client voice-over and live testimony, thus producing a heartwarming music video that lives on in a family forever. We produce several other Professional products as well.

Program History:

The Family Tree Video concept was created and developed in 1985 by a San Diego entrepreneur by the name of Rob Fritzer. Rob was constantly searching for a business that could keep him excited and focused, but most of all he wanted to represent a Mproduct or service that could make a difference and bring joy and happiness into people's lives. Rob realized that family photographs and other priceless memorabilia had been accumulating in people's closets. Although very important and irreplaceable, these memories were simply not accessible or easy to view. Thus, Rob Fritzer became the brain child of custom producing the histories of families on video.

It was obvious early on that this product had huge potential. There were television news specials, documentaries, and news releases in the first two years that the business had been established. Family Tree Video became the only insurance policy on a family's priceless memories and the only way to make family photographs, slides, and old home movies exciting to watch. Most of all, Family Tree Video has allowed a family to preserve their memories in a magical way with feeling and emotion that would live on for future generations to see.

Why did we invent our proprietary piece of equipment? After producing approximately $50,000 in production in the first year, there was no question that Family Tree Video was a "Winner," however, there were still obstacles to overcome. Because the average video production took 2 to 5 days to complete, it was very difficult to sell these productions for less than $1,000 to $3,000 per family (although hundreds have been sold at these prices). Therefore, someone needed devise a system that could greatly decrease the time it took to produce each Family Tree video. Family Tree Videos are prepared, structured, and put in order by the client, but it was taking too much time for us to "creatively" edit from one piece of information to the next with special effects, titles, music voice-over etc. because some were large, some were small, some were in picture frames, some were stuck in photo albums, etc.

In 1989, Rob invented a proprietary piece of equipment that allows only Family Tree Video companies to "custom produce" a family's priceless memorabilia in a very rapid but very creative manner, regardless of whether they were large, small, in picture frames, stuck in photo albums, etc. . We can now produce the entire history of a family in 2 to 5 hours instead of 2 to 5 days. This revolutionized the production side of Family Tree Video.

Why this business opportunity was introduced to the U.S.? It was now time to put Rob's true ability to work. He launched a marketing program that was developed by top marketing experts throughout the country. He spent many hours attending seminars, studying, and teaching the most effective marketing and sales procedures in the world. The one thing that Rob wanted to be sure of through out this entire process is that no one would ever question his integrity or the integrity of Family Tree Video. Fortunately that wasn't real difficult since this product speaks so loudly on its own. After 11 years in business Rob's numbers prove it, 82% of families who had an interest in this product and were able to see it, bought it! At the end of 1990 it finally came to Rob, he had produced hundreds of videos over five years, however he had not even scratched the surface in terms of satisfying the demand for Family Tree Video in the county of San Diego alone. Realizing the number of families who had photos, slides, and old home movies sitting in boxes in the closet, Rob knew that the market for this product was very, very large and it was time for "Family Tree Video" to grow.

In 1991, after registering with the California State Attorney General's office as a Seller Assisted Marketing program, Rob began offering the Family Tree Video business to families across the country. Rob registered Family Tree Video as a Seller Assisted Marketing program instead of a Franchise, because he wanted to deliver all the benefits of a franchise without the negatives such as royalties, audits, strict guidelines, "OVERHEAD," marketing restrictions, etc.

Why is there absolutely "NO COMPETITION" for FTV? We are not a film or photo transfer company, but we are glad they exist. First of all, Families are not interested in a simple photo, slide or 8 mm film transfer onto video tape alone, where hundreds of photos and hours of home movies are displayed in a very long and boring manner. People are only interested in the highlights of their family history coupled together with exciting special effects, music, titles, priceless voice-over and live testimony. We do not do 8 and 16 mm film transfer, we send it out. Our custom productions would cost a family thousands of dollars to have duplicated in a broadcast facility elsewhere. And remember, our CD'S last and last. We not only produce our Family Tree Videos in a rapid manner, but we also have an awesome marketing, selling, and time management program.

Who are we today? Since 1991, there has been and extremely high level of support, training and guidance provided to all FTV companies with regard to the marketing, selling, and production of these wonderful music videos. There is also a full disclosure of proprietary information with regard to the secrets of success, what works and what doesn't. It's a well known fact that one obstacle in any business can stop that business from being succ 'essful. We have removed or overcome all obstacles in our Family Tree Video program with regard to marketing, selling, and producing. This is the exact reason why we have absolutely no competition in or out of the computer or video industry. How many people in this world can honestly say they receive a hug and a check for something they enjoy doing,"for a living"? With approximately 180 Family Tree Video companies sold in the U.S. and a vision to the future, preserving precious memories and transforming them into a heartwarming music video, CD ROM or DVD is now the wave of the future. Bringing joy and happiness into the lives of others, while making a great living allows Family Tree Video companies to stay excited about what they do. This truly is the greatest business in the world!

Product:

What is a Family Tree Music Video Production? A Family Tree Video is a 20-60 minute musical video or CD ROM that describes the entire history of a family, from the great-great grandparents down to the current members of the family. Taking only the very best of a family's old photographs, slides, home movies, video tapes and other priceless memorabilia; a Family Tree Video company incorporates special effects, music, titles, and the client's voice-over or live testimony, and creates a heartwarming music video the whole family can enjoy. This makes it possible for all family members, present and future, to view their entire family history in 30 minutes, at the push of a button. Family Tree Video has another wonderful option to our FTV productions. Consider an original personalized song for someone you care about or about several family members. This song is especially written, composed and recorded about the family. This fully orchestrated, custom-made song will be produced on a gold CD. We add a s õegment to our final production that contains a mix of 35-40 photos of the people the song was written about.

Why Would A Family Have A Family Tree Video Company Produce Their Priceless Memories Into A Heartwarming Music Video?

Tell The History Of Your Family In 20 TO 45 Minutes: FTV removes the element of time that occurs when viewing our memories. Through our creative special effects, editing of 8 and 16mm films, music and your voice over or "on camera" testimony, we now make it exciting to view all the highlights of your family history in less than an hour.

Own The Only Insurance Policy On Your Priceless Memories: FTV is the only real insurance policy for your priceless memories. Now you can safeguard all of your precious memories by editing them together on video and then transferring them to CD ROM. We provide you with as many copies as you need, one for you to keep in a safe place and copies for all family members to treasure, now and in the future.

Safeguard Your Priceless Memories For Future Generations: A Family Tree Music Video makes it possible for your future generations to know the lives of family members that passed before them. By simply pushing a play button on a VCR, they can now go back in time and relive their family's history.

Give "The Ultimate Gift" To Your Loved Ones: Can you think of a better gift to give the ones you love than their family history beautifully produced into a heartwarming Music Video? Family Tree Video truly brings "unity" back into a family and makes us all realize how grateful we should be. Think of the gifts you gave your family members last year, and imagine if instead, you would have pushed a button and allowed them to see all the moments of their life produced into a wonderful music video. FTV truly is... "The Ultimate Gift"!

Bring Your Memories Into The Twenty First Century: Our creative editing, special effects, music, and your voice over, make all that time, energy and money you've spent capturing moments on film, a worth while expense. FTV allows you to view 100 plus years in less than an hour. Remember, no one wants to see our boxes of photographs, but everyone likes to view a well produced Music Video!

Rating Summary:

Family Tree Digital Video's Franchise Program has been rated as a 5-Star (*****) franchise offering by InterAct Concept Development Corp., a franchise and business opportunity management and marketing firm with 13 years of experience in the franchising industry.

The factors that led InterAct to assign its highest franchise program rating include high scores involving the following components:

1. Exceptional hands-on training and ongoing support given to Franchisees, which in turn leads to a high franchisee satisfaction level.

2. Business concept based on high demand, not the latest business trend.

3. Specific added value programs for assisting franchisees in advertising, industry tends, and technical support.

4. Excellent track record since the company first began operations