From Pilot to Partnership: How Five Below Found a National Facilities Partner That Performs
From Pilot to Partnership: How Five Below Found a National Facilities Partner That Performs
When Five Below first partnered with National Facilities Direct, the scope was small—a pilot program focused solely on backflow prevention devices. But as with every new relationship, NFD approached it with the same intensity, precision, and accountability it brings to every national brand it serves.
The results spoke for themselves.
Soon after, the Five Below facilities team began to notice the difference. Work orders were closed faster, documentation was airtight, and site-level communication was proactive and professional. Preventive work became seamless, and recurring issues disappeared.
That early performance helped build trust—and that trust opened the door to something much larger.
What began as a limited-scope pilot has evolved into a nationwide, multi-trade partnership, with NFD now serving as Five Below’s primary vendor for all trades across the country, including exclusive coverage in several service categories.
“At NFD, we believe performance is the best sales strategy,” said Vince Kiel, Founder & CEO of National Facilities Direct. “When we enter a pilot, we’re not trying to prove we can do the work. We’re proving we can change how the work gets done. That’s what builds lasting partnerships.”
For Five Below, the impact has been measurable. Faster cycle times. Reduced downtime. Consistent service standards from coast to coast. The NFD Command Center provides real-time visibility into work order performance, vendor dispatch, and compliance documentation, ensuring every location receives the same level of care and attention.
“Five Below’s team moves fast. They expect partners who can keep up,” added Kiel. “We built our model around that exact kind of environment: agile, transparent, and built to scale without losing control.”
The relationship continues to expand, driven not by sales pushes, but by proof of performance—a hallmark of how NFD earns its growth.
At National Facilities Direct, every partnership starts the same way: deliver beyond expectations, build trust through consistency, and scale on results. The Five Below story is proof that when operational excellence meets client confidence, growth takes care of itself.
Partner With the Team That Delivers Results You Can Measure
National Facilities Direct helps the nation’s leading brands turn facility challenges into performance advantages. Whether you’re managing 50 sites or 5,000, our proprietary technology and national self-performing model bring clarity, control, and confidence to every location.
About National Facilities Direct
National Facilities Direct (NFD) is a leading self-performing facility management and maintenance provider serving some of the nation’s largest retail, restaurant, and commercial brands. Built on a foundation of performance, transparency, and technology, NFD delivers end-to-end facility solutions across all major trades including HVAC, plumbing, electrical, doors, and general maintenance.
Headquartered in New York with coast-to-coast coverage, NFD combines the agility of a self-performing model with the scalability of a national partner. Every program is built around measurable outcomes: faster response times, lower total cost of ownership, and consistent quality at every location.
Driven by innovation and accountability, National Facilities Direct continues to redefine what clients can expect from a facility management partner: proactive service, total visibility, and performance that scales.