Press Releases

December 31, 2000

Service Brands International selects Insight Direct’s ServiceCEO for its Mr. Handyman franchise

Ann Arbor, MI and Boston, MA -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- February 24, 2004 --Service Brands International, Inc. and Insight Direct, Inc. announced today the launch of Toolbox Plus!, a branded version of Insight Direct's ServiceCEO® Field Service Management solution. The companies also announced the signing of a comprehensive licensing agreement making Toolbox Plus!available to ninety existing Mr. Handyman franchise locations in North America and all future office openings through 2005.

"We found ServiceCEO to be the best Field Service Management software available to meet the ever-changing demands of our Mr. Handyman franchisees," said Ted Kennedy, Chief Information Officer, Service Brands International. "We were able to re-brand ServiceCEO as our own Toolbox Plus! product offering and work with Insight Direct's product development team in designing new features to meet our unique requirements - something other software vendors were not able to do."

ServiceCEO controls the entire job cycle from estimating, scheduling, dispatching and work orders to back office processing of wireless field response updates, job costing, invoicing and accounts receivable. In addition, ServiceCEO provides robust customer relationship management, service contract/warranty tracking and inventory control along with employee job performance tracking, equipment assignment, commission calculations and payroll.

ServiceCEO also integrates into one easy-to-use system the applications every office manager/dispatcher needs to manage their field service operation: Crystal Reports® for management reporting, QuickBooks® for general ledger accounting, Microsoft® MapPoint® for route optimization and mapping, Microsoft Outlook® for e-mailing of customers and field service personnel, and Microsoft Word® for marketing mail merge activities.

The developers of Mr. Handyman's Toolboxbusiness management system, first introduced in 1995, had twice won top honors and global distinction at Microsoft's Windows World Open. In early 2003, Service Brands began a comprehensive review of Toolboxeventually deciding to partner with an outside software company for its next generation release.

"We are happy to have been chosen by Service Brands as their new software partner," said Robin T. Miller, VP Business Development, Insight Direct. "Service Brands set the bar very high by asking us to introduce a full set of new features to ServiceCEO within a fixed-price budget, train their franchisees during roll out and create a long-term partnership with attractive license pricing to match Mr. Handyman's explosive growth."

Insight Direct works closely with its most forward-thinking customers to co-brand its Field Service Management solution and add new innovations to ServiceCEO through custom development projects. To learn more about custom development of ServiceCEO, visit: www.insightdirect.com/customdevelopment.html

About Service Brands International
Founded in 1984, Service Brands International, Inc. is a group of service companies with over 800 locations in North America that offer a variety of timesaving services for the busy consumer. Service Brands' franchise companies include 1-800-DryClean, Certified Restoration Drycleaning Network, Molly Maid and Mr. Handyman.

About Mr. Handyman
Mr. Handyman franchisees offer repair, maintenance and odd-job services to both residential and commercial customers. Customers benefit from the professional approach, experienced technicians, marked vehicles and prompt service that Mr. Handyman affordably provides. All Mr. Handyman franchises provide insurance and bonding coverage. Based in Ann Arbor, Mich., Mr. Handyman began awarding franchises in 2000. The rapidly expanding company currently has more than 90 franchises in the United States and Canada. Call 800.289.4600 to reach the Mr. Handyman corporate offices or find the company on the Internet at www.mrhandyman.com.

About Insight Direct
Insight Direct develops and markets ServiceCEO, recognized as the leading business management software solution for IT service and other field service businesses. Since the introduction of its first-generation product in 1997, Insight Direct has sold its software in more than 15 countries to over 2,000 customers, including almost 500 IT services businesses. Some of Insight Direct's customers include COIT Services, Critter Control, Maid to Perfection, MilliCare Commercial Carpet Care, Mr. Handyman, Professional Carpet Systems, Scheidt & Bachmann USA, SparkleWashand Unilever. For more information on this Boston-based company, visit www.insightdirect.comor call 800.471.4200.