Summary: Franchise News for London on whichfranchise.com
Franchise News for London from whichfranchise.com
Reassurance of the Energie Fitness franchise
team
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Franchisee: Paul Lawrence
Franchise: énergie Fitness Clubs
Territory: Northwick Park, London
At the point of taking over the club, it was losing £6,000
per month but, under the umbrella of énergie, I implemented the
core business plan and followed their comprehensive guidance to
gradually turn the ailing fitness club into and profitable asset
it is today. The club is now making between £4-6,000 profit per
month.
In 2009, direct debit was £6,348 and in 2011 it is
averaging just below £13,000. Total sales were £11,000 per month,
which has increased to £27,000pm.
I have relied heavily on the training and support from
énergie head office having never set up a company before. Task
checklists and regular contact with énergie staff ensured
everything has been completed within the correct
timeframes.
From day one I had an open line of support from énergie’s
staff. Nobody has ever been too busy to talk through concerns and
they have always reassured me of my actions. In addition, there
are continual training programmes available to both myself and my
staff.
Date Published:
Freedom for Cafe2U franchise owner
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Darren operates his Cafe2U in Ealing, very close to the centre of
Ealing, and doesn’t visit any business parks, but rather stops at
businesses as they fall. He is generally serving coffee from 8am
until 1.30pm, and regularly attends events at the weekends.
“Working as a journalist in the centre of London for eight years
prior to buying my Cafe2U, I saw the rapid growth in the
popularity of quality coffee. When my old company moved to the
outskirts of town I had to walk half a mile to reach the nearest
coffee shop.”
“The concept of Cafe2U was staring me in the face. I decided to
change careers and start a round in Ealing, which is where I
live. The benefits are obvious - no more trudging to work on the
Tube, no more late nights in the office, no more wishing I was
somewhere else. I now have the sky over my head rather than a
fluorescent tube and I am greeted by grateful customers rather
than miserable managers. I'm my own boss at last and it feels
good to be in control of my destiny, and my own pay scales.”
“I get time to write in my spare time, and because I am my own
boss, I took 4 weeks off this Christmas and went to Brazil for a
well earned holiday – because I could!”
Date Published:
The Original Poster Company franchise welcomes Sam
and Jasha
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Please join me in welcoming Sam and Jashani to the OPC franchise
network. They will be taking over the South West London
franchise from Louise Cheetham.
Taking on the franchise is a completely new venture for both Sam
and Jashani, it is the first time they have run their own
business and felt that the best way would be to buy an OPC
franchise which can offer them the support, training and
direction they need to build the business and maintain
growth enabling them to fulfil their ambitions.
Sam and Jashani have a five month old baby and with Jashani
currently on maternity leave, the couple want to develop the
franchise over the next six months to allow Jashani to be full
time within the franchise helping Sam run it as a family unit.
All of us at OPC wish Sam and Jashani every success with their
career with us and we are looking forward to helping them fulfil
their goals for the future.
Date Published:
The Original Poster Company franchise welcomes Sam
and Jasha
Franchise
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Please join me in welcoming Sam and Jashani to the OPC franchise
network. They will be taking over the South West London
franchise from Louise Cheetham.
Taking on the franchise is a completely new venture for both Sam
and Jashani, it is the first time they have run their own
business and felt that the best way would be to buy an OPC
franchise which can offer them the support, training and
direction they need to build the business and maintain
growth enabling them to fulfil their ambitions.
Sam and Jashani have a five month old baby and with Jashani
currently on maternity leave, the couple want to develop the
franchise over the next six months to allow Jashani to be full
time within the franchise helping Sam run it as a family unit.
All of us at OPC wish Sam and Jashani every success with their
career with us and we are looking forward to helping them fulfil
their goals for the future.
Date Published:
Getting the best out of people with McDonald�s
franchise
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Cos has been a McDonald's franchisee for over 20 years. "I'd
worked in all kinds of areas before - like doing the payroll for
my father's shoe factory. I had other managerial experience in
the retail sector as well but when McDonald's first came to
Britain I saw what a professional outfit they were and how they
were streets ahead of the others. McDonald's had the systems, the
standards... were cleaner, more organised, more people
orientated. I was frankly impressed by their operation."
"McDonald's is all about managing people and getting the best out
of them as well as the business. They have a big heart for the
person that cares and does their best for the system. Whatever
help you need, they give it. I respect that and they have
demonstrated it on many occasions. Everything is upfront and
above board so you know where you stand."
"I'd encourage others to become franchisees for sure - if you've
got the business acumen you'll succeed and, after twenty years, -
I feel I should know. I've even recommended one of my sons to do
the same - that's how confident I feel about the opportunities.
It's certainly the smartest move I ever made".
Date Published:
Former postie follows friends into Drain Doctor
franchise
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Former postal worker Gavin Dimmock (28) – no relation to
celebrity gardener Charlie – has started his own plumbing and
drainage business by taking on the Crawley and Gatwick franchise
of Drain Doctor Plumbing and Drainage (
www.draindoctor.co.uk).
Gavin took on the franchise on the recommendation of his friend
Aaron Clark. Aaron and his sister Natalie O’Brien run the
neighbouring London South West franchise of Drain Doctor.
Gavin decided to explore a career in plumbing and drainage
because working as a postman and manager for the Royal Mail was
not something he wanted to pursue. He said: “I could see the lack
of ambition in the people around me and decided that I didn’t
want to be there doing the same old thing every day when I was
40.
“I had been at the Royal Mail for five years when I decided it
was time for a change.”
Gavin left the Royal Mail and got a job with a loft company. “I
worked for a loft company for a couple of years doing plumbing
installations,” he said.
“Then I joined a large plumbing and drainage company but quickly
realised I wasn’t going to get the kind of independence I was
looking for. I wanted to start my own business. I had been
looking around for a year when my friend Aaron told me about
Drain Doctor. I met franchise sales director Jan Mitman and the
rest is history.”
Gavin was impressed by the company’s honesty and fixed price
menu. He said: “The business is not about sitting in the office
waiting for the phone to ring. It is important to market
properly. By working hard – and by following the Drain Doctor
system that is there to help – success will follow, but it
doesn’t happen overnight.
“Some franchise companies promise the earth and suggest that they
will do everything for a new franchisee and then don’t deliver.
“It was a relief that Drain Doctor didn’t give me a lot of false
promises. From the start they said that a lot of what is required
to succeed is down to me. But they offer great support and I am
not on my own.
“Drain Doctor has a proven system. It offers a recession-proof
opportunity where I can be an independent operator running my own
business but with all the back-up that comes with being part of a
large national organisation. I aim to give businesses and
householders in Crawley and Gatwick the ‘dazzling’ level of
service in plumbing and drainage which Drain Doctor provides
across the rest of the country.
“Our customers get fixed-price, no obligation quotes, a complete
guarantee on all our work, and a full 24 hour per day seven day
per week service with no call out charges – so people pay the
same price for work at any time of day or night. What’s more, we
turn up at the agreed time!”
Gavin, who will be helped initially by his partner and committed
nurse Keeley Head, will start with one van. He recognises that
his franchise area is too big for a one man band though and plans
to expand, adding more vans and technicians to his business as
soon as possible.
Date Published:
Maid2Clean franchise brand gives franchisee
confidence
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Franchisee: Yvette Osikilo
Territory: South London
Franchise: Maid2Clean Franchisee
Purchasing a Maid2Clean franchise has been very fulfilling. As
well as gaining invaluable experience in running a business,
there is an incredible amount of support from both the franchisor
and other franchisees which encourage both business and personal
growth.
As with all business ventures, you will get out what you put into
it, but I would recommend buying into this well respected and
highly successful brand any day.
Date Published:
Home Instead franchise makes real difference in
Finchley
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Franchisees: Dale & Diana Bevington,
Territory: Finchley
Franchise: Home Instead Senior Care
Canadian born Dale and Diana Bevington chose Home Instead Senior
Care so they could make a real difference to their local
community.
As is the case with many Home Instead Senior Care franchise
owners, Dale and Diana have personal experience of the problems
that arise when dealing with ageing family members.
Dale’s father, who lived in Canada, was diagnosed with vascular
dementia and Dale and his family were faced with the problems of
many families in the same situation – finding the right help. The
process the family went through to find support for his father
made Dale appreciate the need that so many people have for care
in their own homes.
This experience coincided with Dale, in his own words, “reaching
an age where I wanted to do something new”. Dale had run a
successful London industrial design consultancy for many years
and took some time off to consider his options. He had always had
an interest in demographics and social change and so looked at
business opportunities in this area.
Dale and Diana knew people who worked in the care sector and the
couple found Home Instead through a web search. “When we found
Home Instead Senior Care they were offering exactly what we would
want to provide for our own parents, so we knew it was something
we could believe in.” The couple researched other care companies
but none offered the ethos of Home Instead.
The couple purchased the Finchley franchise in June 2007 and have
seen it grow from strength to strength. Diana says: “I had
chosen to work part time in the business but we’re now so busy
that I will soon be working full time with Dale.”
Dale continues: “After my father was diagnosed with vascular
dementia I learned a lot about the condition. We now work with
Alzheimer’s and dementia groups in the area and see ourselves as
part of the local support network for sufferers.
“We have met a lot of Home Instead franchise owners and I think
that the common thread that links us is that we are reaching out
to our local community with a business with meaning rather than
‘chasing the money’. I think we all believe that if you are
really interested in what you are doing, and do a good job, then
success will follow as a natural consequence.”
Date Published:
Signs Express announces franchise business for
sale in South
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Franchise business opportunities act as much safer option when
starting in business and this is especially the case when looking
at buying an existing franchise business as a resale option.
Through buying an already established business, the new owner
will gain a distinct advantage as the business is already up and
running with an existing customer base. There are no headaches
over finding a production unit to base the business, plus the
centre is already fitted out with the required equipment and
furniture; so no waiting around for suppliers and no need to
waste time organising the layout, it’s already been done. The
staff are even already in place and fully trained, therefore
cutting out the time recruiting in the area and providing the
business owner with the knowledge of the centre as it currently
stands. This means that as soon as the franchise owner is in, he
can start trading and continue generating profit from day one.
As well as the rewarding Signs Express location available in
South London there are also additional opportunities in the
Greater London area. What with being part of the London Plan and
the forthcoming Olympics, London is currently experiencing
vibrant growth amongst its existing business community which
increases scope for business in the future. The existing business
which has been operational since 1996, has an excellent
reputation amongst its established customer base and receives a
substantial amount of repeat business within the area.
With over 80 centres nationwide and 20 years of experience under
its belt, Signs Express business opportunities are growing as
more franchisees reach retirement. There are many business owners
who joined Signs Express having worked for years in various
industries and who were looking for security as they reach
retirement age. This means that now, some years later, they have
reached their potential and are set to retire and enjoy the money
that they have earned through their own hard work over the years.
The key to starting in business and in particular buying an
existing franchise in is its distribution channel. The franchise
has built up an enviable customer base as a result of time and
experience, meaning the customers would already be there and at
the new business owner’s disposal. The same goes for suppliers.
Signs Express has its own preferred list of suppliers and in a
resale situation these relationships have already been made with
the centre and therefore any problems already ironed out.
As a management franchise, prospective franchisees require no
industry experience as full training is provided. Your skills
will be based on your own management and sales experience and
your ability to lead a team. Ongoing support is available from
sales and marketing, accounts, IT, HR, operations and technical
as well as initial training to learn more about technical aspects
and business techniques.
Date Published:
Old friends embark on new venture with Venture
Portraits
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Paul Broadrick and Spencer Hanley are the most
recent additions to the Venture Photography group after acquiring
their new studio in Palmers Green, North London.
After having met and become friends whilst
traveling in Thailand more than 20 years ago, Paul and Spencer
both led very different career paths before deciding to invest in
a Venture franchise together.
Paul originally began his career in retail but
went back to college 15 years ago to become a professional
photographer.
He said: “Having had a lifelong passion for
photography, I decided to follow an alternative career path which
would allow me to indulge in what had previously only been a keen
hobby.
“I'd always
been aware of the Venture brand, appreciating both their approach
to photography and the huge impact they had on the very staid
portrait photography market when the company launched 10 years
ago.
“I decided to
get in touch to enquire about potential opportunities and was
told about the Palmers Green territory. The Venture franchise
team then spent a lot of time with me talking through investment
options, educating me further about the company and offering
advice and information on becoming a
franchisee.
“I was
working a lot in the London area anyway with my own business so
jumped at the chance to move there permanently as well as the
opportunity to work directly with the public, moving away from
the commercial photography field I had specialised in
before.”
Paul and Spencer had previously discussed the
possibility of running a business together, so when Paul sourced
the Venture Photography franchise opportunity, he picked up the
phone to see if his friend was still interested.
“I was
traveling abroad with my wife when Paul called earlier this year
to let me know about Venture and, the more we discussed it, the
more it felt like it was the right kind of business to suit both
our skill sets” explained Spencer.
“My
background is completely different to Paul's having spent most of
my career in IT and operations management. Working with consumers
appealed to us both a great deal, having previously worked within
a B2B environment, and my IT and management skills compliment
Paul's photographic capabilities and
creativity.
“Even in
these relatively early days, it's clear to us both that the
franchise route has been the best path to take as we've been able
to start our business under a well known, market-leading brand as
well as having the expertise and support of the entire Venture
team close at hand.”
Once decided, Paul and Spencer hit the ground
running enrolling in a six week intensive franchisee training
programme, involving them getting out into Venture's network of
studios to gain an insight in to the business concept and the day
to day management of a studio.
Paul and Spencer then recruited eight studio staff
and began reaching out to a diverse customer base in North
London.
Paul continues: “It's great to work within a team
of very creative people where we are constantly bouncing ideas
off one another, which wasn't possible in my former job.
“I'm learning
a lot and enjoying what has turned out to be a very varied role
allowing me to meet different people every
day.
“It's far
from being a nine to five job and we're both working hard but
it's been really satisfying for Spencer and I to be involved in
such a unique business where you get a real insight into people's
lives.”
Venture Photography is the UK's largest
Photography franchise and is currently undergoing significant
expansion in the UK and abroad.
Mark Witter is Venture Photography's Commercial
Director and says 2010 is set to be an important year for the
business:
“In what is
our tenth anniversary year, it's a particularly exciting time for
Venture as we continue to grow the brand both in the UK and
overseas.
“We have a
small number of vacant territories here in the UK available,
particularly in the south west of England, and are currently
looking for candidates like Spencer and Paul who have the
necessary enthusiasm, passion and determination to run their own
Venture business. We are aiming to open up to five new
territories in 2010 and thereby complete the UK
estate.”
“This year
will also see us further develop our international business with
a focus on continued growth in both the US and Asian
markets.”
The cost of individual studios vary according to
location and studio size, with initial investment levels in the
UK ranging from £20,000 to £50,000.
Date Published:
All systems go at Baguette Express franchise
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Baguette Express, the rapidly-growing franchised sandwich chain
is set to take a huge leap forward, and create hundreds of jobs
in the process, with the acquisition of the Greater London Master
Franchise to businessman and highly-experienced retailer, Amjid
Bashir.
Mr Bashir is a former management and software consultant who gave
up a professional career to start up on his own account in the
retail industry and now has a ten year track record operating a
chain of convenience stores. Before becoming a Master Franchisee,
he operated a Baguette Express franchise and successfully
concluded negotiations earlier this month with the company’s
owners, Robin and Billy Stenhouse, to acquire the potentially
lucrative Greater London franchise for a six figure sum.
Mr Bashir said: “I realised the opportunities opened up by the
business after I started my own Baguette Express franchised
outlet. I was sure the Baguette Express formula of fresh, healthy
fast food at value-for-money prices would appeal to people right
across the UK and I have put my faith in that judgement by
acquiring the biggest master franchise available.
“My aim is to open 50 plus shops in London over the next 3-4
years. I believe that this is the minimum we can achieve; the
rate of new openings depends, however, on the numbers of
prospective franchisees who come along and decide to get their
own operations up and running.”
The first two Baguette Express franchises are due to open shortly
in the London area: one in Camden High Street and the other in
Harlow, Essex, but since the master franchise territory reaches
not only within the M25 but also westwards to include Maidenhead,
Berkshire on the M4 and south west to include Guildford, Surrey
on the M3, there is enormous potential for rapid growth.
Mr Bashir is convinced the Baguette Express formula will appeal
to anyone wanting to take up a tried and tested franchise
opportunity. He said: “I attended the National Franchise
Exhibition at the NECC earlier this month and of the 160
enquiries received from those attending, over 40 per cent were
interested in a London-based franchise.
“I told them that Baguette Express has seen very substantial
growth over the last year while other franchises like O’Brien’s
and Coffee Republic have been going through a difficult time.
There is clearly a recession-proof element to our operation and
this is something to which potential franchisees find very
attractive. Our variety and highly competitive pricing makes our
products easily affordable to our customers placing us in a
unique market position.”
Headquartered in Haddington, East Lothian, the enormously
successful Baguette Express franchise now employs more than more
than 500 people and operates in the same commercial sector as
national chains such as Greggs and Subway.
Robin Stenhouse, joint-founder, said: “This is a major step
forward for the group as it grows into its role as a significant
player in the quality food provision sector. Our outlets provide
career opportunities for people across a number of disciplines,
from management to catering and logistics, and they also tap into
the entrepreneurial spirit by giving people the chance to run
their own businesses.”
Date Published:
Following the Bluebird Care model and have no
regrets
Franchise
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After working in the care at home care sector for 20 years,
Prafula Joshi was keen to become her own boss. With her husband
Munjal by her side, Prafula took the plunge and launched the
first Bluebird Care franchise in March 2007. Since then the
couple has gone on to build a thriving business following the
Bluebird Care model and have no regrets.
“I started out as a carer and over the years worked my way up to
care co-ordinator at a care at home agency,” reveals Prafula. “My
husband Munjal worked in IT. We both reached a point where we had
had enough of working hard for someone else and so discussed the
idea of starting up a business of our own.
“Investing in a franchise was the safest way for us to become
selfemployed as we would have the back up and support of the
franchisor. Care at home franchise Bluebird Care caught our
attention because not only would it utilise my existing skills
and experience, it was also a new franchise and had, we felt, the
most comprehensive franchise package on the market. Having
previously worked at a care agency with Bluebird Care Managing
Director Paul Tarsey and Franchise Director Simon Dalziel, I
trusted them straight away and knew they had the experience and
drive to make the brand a success.”
“We purchased the Harrow territory and then went on a one-week
intensive training course, which taught us everything we needed
to know in order to run the business. Since then, we have had
ongoing support, which has been wonderful.
“It took us around three months to get our professional
accreditation and Bluebird Care was behind us every step of the
way. This included helping us with the documentation and
answering any questions we or the accreditation body had about
the way the business operated. Since then Bluebird Care has been
a source of constant support.
“We love running our own business and like the fact we dictate
the hours we work and are able to take holidays when we want to.
Last year Munjal and I went to India for two weeks and later this
year we plan to take another holiday. At present, we have three
members of staff who help us run the office on a day-to-day basis
and we are a great team!”
Date Published:
Unique proposition with Platinum Property Partners
franchise
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In times of economic recession, maintaining good levels of
cashflow in your business is more important than ever.
Platinum Property Partners (PPP) is a unique franchise
proposition which offers an opportunity that’s cash-positive from
the outset.
The concept that ‘standing on the shoulders of giants’ is the
most efficient route to success has been proven time and again,
so it’s no surprise that franchising, as a sector, has continued
to flourish, even in these difficult times. Platinum
Property Partners – the world's first, and currently only
property investing franchise - is not only a prime example, but a
market leader, having gone from start up to 40 active Franchise
Partners (franchisees) in just two years.
The NatWest/BFA Franchising Survey 2009 reported that most
franchisees can expect to break even by the end of year
two. Unlike almost all other forms of buy to let
investment, the PPP core business model generates such high
levels of rental income that each property acquired by a PPP
Franchise Partner is expected to be cash-positive to the tune of
£1,000+ per month, from the outset. This means their
investments truly are assets from the start – servicing their own
debt and providing profit on top – which will then bring
additional, lump-sum returns and rewards in the medium to long
term.
The Founders of PPP, multi-millionaire property investors and
entrepreneurs, Steve Bolton, Nick Carlile and Richard Davies,
have invested in excess of half a billion pounds in
property over the last 20 years, across 14 different countries,
and have vast cumulative experience in residential, commercial,
self-build, land and property development. Franchise
Partners are given personal, intensive initial one to one
mentoring and then ongoing training and support in order to help
them follow the various systems & strategies Steve, Nick
& Richard have developed and refined in building their own
portfolios, using strengths in different markets to maximise
cashflow and capital growth.
Partly because of the reputations of the three Founding Partners
and partly because of the undeniable quality of its Franchise
proposition, PPP has been able to attract leading figures in
their relative fields to become part of its ‘power team’, which
offers coaching, mentoring and support to those within the
franchise. This group of advisors and experts in the
business, legal, financial and property spheres, includes
individuals and organisations that it would be either impossible
or prohibitively expensive for people outside the franchise to
access.
Unlike most other franchises, the business assets (properties)
are owned by PPP Franchise Partners and, because property is a
constantly shifting market, the 'best’ business strategy – i.e.
the Franchise ‘product’ – has to change along with it. The
huge benefit of working with such experienced Franchisors is that
they are able to predict trends and opportunities, can quickly
adapt and roll out updated best practice, and are able to offer
their Franchise Partners a variety of investment
strategies. The PPP franchise has also been designed to be
flexible and non-exclusive, so Franchise Partners can operate
their business from home, part-time or full-time, and are not
only allowed to have other income streams, but are encouraged to
do so.
Over the past twelve months, despite the ongoing economic
recession and property market downturn, Franchise Partners have
continued to grow and make excellent profits from their UK
portfolios. The business models for maximising return on
capital have proved both resilient and adaptable to the current
global crisis, and many Franchise Partners are also experiencing
elevated profits, thanks to the current low Bank of England base
rate and its effect on repayments on tracker mortgages.
Manali, investing in West Drayton, is making £1,700 a month
pre-tax profit on one house in multiple occupation (HMO) and
£1,800 on another, after the mortgage and all bills associated
with the property have been paid. The rental income for
properties let in this way – typically 6 rooms rented
individually to working adults, rather than letting the whole
property to just one family or to students - is significant, and
provides an average yield of 14%. Kim and Steve,
based in Cardiff, are making just over £2,500 a month from two
HMOs, the relatively high outgoings for one property with a
significant mortgage repayment, balanced by rental income of
nearly £3,400 a month.
While profits have remained high for Franchise Partners, the huge
changes in the mortgage lending market over the past year or so
have meant a massively increased level of capital input is
required to purchase and renovate a typical HMO. The
Founders have put a lot of extra time and resources into training
and workshops, and some new strategies have been adopted to take
advantage of the best opportunities currently available.
Working with passive investors and taking control of a property
by way of a lease, rather than buying it outright, are two
examples of ways in which PPP is encouraging and helping
Franchise Partners to conserve their capital and maximise
returns.
To further help Franchise Partners accelerate the growth of their
business and diversify their portfolios, PPP has also developed
passive investment opportunities, which require capital input,
but no time commitment. With Platinum Portfolio Builder,
PPP turns an investment of around £27,000 (plus a variable amount
of working capital, returned at the end of the project term) into
significant equity by sourcing, acquiring and managing a small
portfolio which is bought at a minimum 25% below current market
value, verified by a RICS surveyor. Many Franchise Partners
are already using PPP's systems for acquiring properties like
this themselves, and achieving even higher discounts and returns
through spending more time sourcing and negotiating deals.
There are other passive investment opportunities, including: a
loan scheme which offers excellent returns and can provide extra
income for high net worth individuals who have significant
amounts of capital in the bank or in under-performing
investments; and overseas investment projects, available when and
where market conditions offer sound and secure returns.
These additional investment options are also available outside
the franchise, to selected parties who are invited to join as
Passive Investment Partners.
All those involved with the Franchise have a genuine desire to
give back - whether that's in terms of money, time or sharing
skills - and tend to approach life with a win-win attitude.
PPP’s holistic approach to business is reflected in the
organisation’s mission to ‘Be more, do more, have more, give
more’. It measures the success of Franchise Partners not
just by financial performance, but also by health, happiness and
contribution to others, and provides personal development
workshops, books and other learning materials to help Franchise
Partners set and achieve their goals.
Alex Ferretti is a Nutritional Therapist, who joined PPP as a
foundation Franchise Partner. “The reason I joined the
franchise was so that I could benefit from not only the great
strategies and support provided on the property investment front,
but also the continuous personal development opportunities
offered to Franchise Partners, and the focus on health, balance
and happiness. This holistic attitude to achieving freedom
and success in life is something I had not come across before in
any other company, and I can honestly say I am proud to be a part
of this group of truly inspirational people.”
Date Published:
Redundancy gave new lease of life with Martin
& Co franchise
Franchise
Opportunities from whichfranchise.com
Martin &Co Wimbledon franchise owner, Ian Waldron, shares his
views on why redundancy can be just the beginning, not the end
“I had always like the idea of owning my own business but the
prospect seemed daunting, however when I was made redundant it
gave me the opportunity to reflect on my situation. Franchising
presented the perfect opportunity to own my own business whilst
minimising the risks of starting independently.”
“I have always had a genuine interest in property and with my
financial background in the city I knew that the trend was moving
away from sales and towards lettings. However I had limited
knowledge of the lettings industry but with the comprehensive
training courses that Martin & Co provides combined with the
continued support on offer I felt confident that lettings was the
right industry for me.”
“The first time I saw a Martin & Co board in my area I was
immediately interested. The distinctive branding that they
provide is unlike anything I would have been able to do on my
own. With Martin & Co our clients benefit from our office’s
local knowledge and expertise backed by the power of a national
brand, without choosing the franchise route it would have taken
years to build up the brand awareness I already have.”
“Due to the success of Martin & Co as a brand and the fact
that their business model has been tried and tested over a number
of years, it meant the process of obtaining funding was fairly
straight forward. Yes banks are going to ask probing questions
but the business plan that Martin & Co provide all new
franchises with settled any doubts the banks I went to originally
had.”
“It is difficult for me to offer advice to anyone who has been
made redundant as each individual case is different, and buying a
franchise does require an investment. However redundancy can
often offer the opportunity for reflection and change in an
individual’s lifestyle which in other circumstances may have
never been possible. As long as the franchisee is willing to put
in the hard work required and is eager to learn lots of new
skills then buying a franchise can be a great option. I love
being my own boss and know that my job and my future is secure.
People tend to mention redundancy in negative terms but it
doesn’t have to be doom and gloom, I have gone from being made
redundant to owning a growing business in an industry that I have
a real passion for.”
Date Published:
Molly Maid Wimbeldon named UK's top franchisee
Franchise
Opportunities from whichfranchise.com
A married mother of one from South West London was
named Gold Winner of the 2009 British Franchise Association’s
(bfa)/HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards at a prestigious
black-tie dinner, held at the International Convention Centre
(ICC) in Birmingham last night (Thursday 1 October).
The Awards, sponsored by HSBC Bank and Express
Newspapers, celebrate the UK’s best performing franchisees in an
industry now worth an annual £11.4 billion to the economy.
Sandra Redmond, who has held the Wimbledon Molly
Maid franchise for over 14 years, impressed the judging panel by
demonstrating how she has achieved ‘Success in Challenging Times’
– the theme of this year’s Awards.
She has driven the business to impressive heights,
continuing to increase sales and profits over the past two years
in spite of the economic downturn.
Combining her own expertise with her franchisor’s
25 years of business experience, she has succeeded in
strengthening her performance with a focussed plan of action and
a new office line up to enhance sales, customer service and
training skills.
At a time when many customers might have been
tempted to switch to cheaper suppliers, Sandra ensured her
cleaning teams offered a heightened level of service to retain
the loyalty of existing customers. Regular quality checks were
implemented to make sure standards were
maintained.
Faster responses and alternative solutions were
offered to wavering customers as people, understandably, tried to
reduce their household expenses.
At the same time Sandra boosted her marketing
activities, promoting the strengths of the company through
leafleting, advertising, the use of branded vehicles and some
high profile promotions.
New markets were also identified and exploited.
These included end of tenancy cleans for local letting agents,
which provided an additional source of revenue and a lead to new
business with rental tenants, and a commercial cleaning
opportunity which resulted in a lucrative annual contract.
In a departure from conventional Molly Maid
systems, Sandra also targeted her competitors by providing short
term cleaning cover during holiday periods when many independent
suppliers are short of staff and by reorganising her own teams to
include more part-time staff.
Cost control and cash collection systems were fine
tuned to ensure a good cash flow was maintained. Monthly
operating statements were completed and reviewed on a regular
basis and a remote credit and debit card processing terminal
introduced so that payment could be taken instantly where credit
was previously offered.
The outcome was that, in spite of experiencing
some of the worst trading conditions of her career, Sandra
Redmond maintained her number one position in the network and
grew her annual sales by nearly 9%.
As the network’s top performing franchisee, she
sets a standard that others can aspire to, sharing best practice
through regular attendance at annual conventions, regional
meetings and President’s Circle meetings.
HSBC’s Head of Franchising, Cathryn Hayes, said:
“HSBC has been supporting the franchise industry for more than 25
years and we are delighted to present Sandra with the 2009 Gold
Award.
“Sandra is an excellent example of how hard work
and commitment is driving this important sector forward. Her
determination to build a successful business should be an
inspiration to anyone thinking about franchising.”
Brian Smart, Director General of the bfa, added:
“Judging these Awards is always a difficult task but we felt
Sandra epitomised the essence of franchising model working at its
best.
“With nearly half of the British public preferring
to use a franchise over a non-franchised business, Sandra stood
out as a pioneer in a sector that is home to some of the
country’s most successful brands.”
Express Newspapers’ Franchise and Business
Opportunities Advertising Sales Manager, Geraldine Haenow,
said: “We hope being named the 2009 Gold Award Winner will add to
Sandra’s future success and we look forward to sharing her story
with our readers.”
Tamsin Brewis, of Water Babies (Banbury), was
named the Silver Award Winner and Mark Fordham, of TaxAssist
Accountants (Herpenden), walked away with the Bronze Award – each
were presented with cheques for £3,000 and £2,000
respectively.
Date Published:
