Owners say it’s just a sign of the times, a way to fit the needs of a modern world. The Knoxville franchise of Merry Maids is undergoing a rebranding to a more suitable ‘UnMerry Maids’ philosophy. “It’s pretty simple. In today’s economy, those that can afford help, don’t want to talk to the help,” explains the local franchise owner. “By hiring less-experienced, less-friendly…less ‘merry’ folks, it allows clients to feel empowered, like they’re smuggling in third-world workers to clean house. It’s just what people want.”
