East England Franchisee Case Studies on whichfranchise.com - Franchise, Franchises, Uk Franchises

Part of the TruGreen franchise family

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Tony Lawrence

TruGreen Franchisee

Hertfordshire

"In finding an advert for lawn-care franchise TruGreen in a national newspaper, I unwittingly found the future business I would run together with my son.

When I saw the TruGreen franchise opportunity it immediately grabbed my attention In fact, I had no intention at the time of looking to invest in a franchise, but the TruGreen concept really interested me.

At the time, I was working in financial services and my son was about to finish his A-levels: My son has always wanted to work outdoors It was something that was very important to him, so I thought that this would be brilliant opportunity for him to start his working life.

After speaking to TruGreen, we found the business concept appealed even further and our Hertfordshire franchise business was launched in 2004.

My son received plentiful and comprehensive training. There was a lot to take in but it covered everything from marketing plans to banking to product knowledge to lawn-care itself. With an effective initial marketing campaign, I was delighted when work started coming in straight away. However, the business started to grow quickly and was going so well that I decided to join my son in running the business

I was planning to wind down my career but the TruGreenfranchise business was going from strength to strength. Taking on a behind the scenes role in their home based business, I left my son to do what he loves - getting outside to do his work while meeting new people everyday. Whilst enjoying our independence and ability to work on our own terms.

I also benefit from Trugreens continual support: They give us good advice and are always there at the end of the phone should we need them. Now advertising in the local press, as well as sponsoring a youth golf tournament, I am positive that the business will continue its success:

The business benefits from a very high level of customer referrals and this is only going to get better. With my younger son planning to work with us in the near future, our TruGreen franchise is turning into a real family business."

Date Published: Feb 24, 2009 - 9:05 pm

Lucky streak with Servicemaster franchise

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Mike Hudson

Contract Services - Servicemaster Clean franchise

Peterborough Franchisee

I have been a Servicemaster licensee for just over two years now. I had previously worked for a large and reputable department store group for some 30 years. During that time I held a number of selling management posts before becoming a facilities manager for one of their stores. In that time I met with cleaning contractors…. And thought to myself if ever I left the company I could do that!!

I had considered a franchise from the outset, as it seemed the safe way to pursue running my own business. With the comfort of a regular income for thirty years in a reputable company I was looking for as much security as I could find in taking the plunge.

Luck brought me to Servicemaster franchise. A local newspaper ad saw the CS license up for sale.

ServiceMaster quickly provided me with all the facts and figures required and put me in touch with a number of nearby franchisees. It was after visiting the second of these neighbors I drove back home, and in that time decided to commit. The process then was simple and straightforward and within weeks I was a director in my own company…. Wow!

The things I love are:

Being in control of my own destiny
The freedom from the old 9 - 5 regime
No commuting
Making more use of my core skill of selling
A greater risk but with greater rewards…. If you do it well!

Servicemaster give excellent support to the newcomer. However the greatest benefit is the network of people running the same type of business around the country. Everybody is so helpful when you call for assistance and support.

The business has co directors, myself and my wife Lindsey. Her skills have always been in business administration and so there is plenty to keep her occupied.

What you must remember though it is a cleaning business. If you have any hang ups about cleaning toilets or dusting etc then think seriously about what you are doing. Both Lindsey and myself are quite naturally clean and tidy and therefore our business standards are a simple extension of those we bring to our own home.

Date Published: Mar 01, 2009 - 9:05 pm

FASTSIGNS franchise helps to soften the blow

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Local business FASTSIGNS® Chelmsford has been working alongside the Chelmsford Borough Council Town Centre Management Team to minimise the negative effect of the Woolworths closure last year. By using the empty shop windows they are working to promote Chelmsford in a more positive way.

‘Shop Local & Shop Chelmsford’ is what residents and visitors are being encouraged to do; the available space is now being used to advertise what other shopping facilities, attractions and amenities are within Chelmsford.

Michael Wray, Town Centre marketing manager said; “We thought this would make the loss of Woolworths a less disheartening prospect; with businesses closing we decided to lift the mood by reminding people that Chelmsford has a great deal to offer”

Jenny Boreham, owner of Fastsigns Chelmsford, specialist in signage and graphics products, said; “Chelmsford has a lot of other facilities and entertainments to offer and we wanted to remind people of this, to raise spirits during this time when so much is negative and seeing empty shops just wasn’t helping.”

Date Published: Mar 30, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Recession proof franchise with The Local Bookkeeper franchise

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Paul Dawson became The Local Bookkeeper Southend-on-Sea when he started in April 2008. Paul possessed a background as an Accounts Manager for a law firm but felt his job was not providing enough of a challenge for himself and he knew he would be capable of much more if he was given the opportunity. Paul saw this opportunity in The Local Bookkeeper and decided to join the revolution because he was so impressed with the franchise’s philosophy and values and, under the proven and tested business model of helping small businesses have a better understanding of their financial position, he was convinced he could create a successful business.

There are unrivalled advantages to becoming a part of The Local Bookkeeper’s successful network. Even though The Local Bookkeeper franchise is essentially recession proof, the sensible business person will be looking past the next few years towards the long term demand for business in addition to the short term issues. The unique selling point of the services that The Local Bookkeeper offers are that, no matter what the economic climate, businesses will always require their bookkeeping to be completed, payroll to be managed and to be have a better understanding of their financial position in order for them to identify ways to better manage their business. As a result of this, our franchisees will never have to worry about declining demand for The Local Bookkeeper, which is invariably a concern when choosing a franchise.

Therefore the proposition of The Local Bookkeeper is experiencing a massive increase in demand and in October this year the network experienced their best months yet. “I am ahead of my targets, which means I have had to already recruit my first member of staff and am already on the hunt for another talented individual to expand my team,” enthuses Paul. He is delighted to be on the way realising his goals of growing an extremely successful business and to help further develop The Local Bookkeeper franchise brand as a professional market leader in financial management.

The Local Bookkeeper has over twelve years of experience behind them that has been used to ensure that their business model is flawless and which has also been verified in practice to be the road to success, by each franchisee that has followed it. The constant support from the franchisor makes sure each franchisee is able to overcome any barriers they may have in order for them to achieve success. These distinctive qualities separate The Local Bookkeeper from their competitors meaning you would be becoming a part of a network which is known for its excellent service and high standards of technical knowledge, which is revolutionising the way the public is viewing the importance of a bookkeeper.

Viva la Revolution!

Date Published: Apr 06, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Made redundant? Consider franchising an option

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Russell Golding, 40, lives in Maulden in Bedfordshire with his wife, Sally, and two children, Charlotte, 10 and George 8. Russell worked for Reuters in the City for 13 years selling financial information, software and hardware to financial institutions, when in August 2003 he was unexpectedly made redundant. Here Russell gives some insight into his experience of redundancy.

How did you feel when you were made redundant? What impact did it have on you at the time?

Russell says: “It was a very black time and a very traumatic few months as my father had also just died. Luckily I had the luxury to be able to take 9 months out to think about what to do with my life. I had a young family and had been leaving home at 6.30am every day, commuting 1.5 hours to work and not returning until 7:00pm on a good day. If I was entertaining clients it would be gone midnight before I got home.”

“Being made redundant gave me the breathing space to look at my lifestyle and make some changes.”

Had you always wanted to run your own business?

“I knew I wanted to set up my own business but I couldn’t come up with a unique business idea that I felt could work for me, so I decided to look at existing businesses and that led me to franchising.”

What led you to franchising and in particular to Recognition Express?

“At that time there were about 700 franchises in the UK so I narrowed it down to those that interested me and that might fit with my new lifestyle choice and I came across Recognition Express, who at the time was franchise of the year. I went to see them all, and some franchisees, for firsthand knowledge. Over two months I whittled it down to one – Recognition Express.”

When and how did you start trading?

“We started trading in March 2004. Initially my wife and I worked together but after nine months we both decided that we didn’t want to work together – it just didn’t work. It works brilliantly now as she has gone back into corporate employment to work. So, for the first 3-4 years it was just me covering the Cambridge area. I was able to work from home and spend some time with my kids. I was only of only a few fathers at the school gates!”

“This year, in January I purchased an existing franchise in Kettering covering an additional 6 territories. I now manage 9 members of staff.”

How is business going?

“Year on year sales are up by 20% and that’s in a recession. There’s no recession in our office! We’re getting a regular stream of enquiries coming through to us each day, both from our existing client base as well as from new prospects. I’m putting this success down to the fact that we are going the extra mile for our clients and offering a great level of customer service.”

Russell adds: “Some of our competitors have disappeared and as a result we’re picking up enquiries and business from them too. I see the next 12 months as a huge opportunity to grow the business further.”

Looking back how do you feel about your decision?

“With hindsight I think it’s the best thing that could have happened. I had a young family but I wasn’t seeing them. The way things worked out meant that I got to see them grow up and spent quality time with them. It was a blessing in disguise.”

What advice would you give to someone who has just been made redundant?

“It is never as black as you think it is – look on the bright side. Get out there and do the research, physically visiting franchisors and franchisees. The franchise exhibitions are great because you can get a lot of research done in one day.”

“You either want to work for yourself or you don’t. Deep down, if someone has the entrepreneurial spirit I would encourage them to look at franchising. Many people are not quite the professional entrepreneur, but they also don’t always want to be an employee either. They are sitting in that middle tier, in roles that don’t make them very happy but afraid to move because of the security.”

“My advice is to be brave, don’t stay in a job that you don’t enjoy. Nothing much will change in your life, unless you make some changes to your life. Get out there and see what’s available in the franchising world, you may just be pleasantly surprised!”

Contact details for Russell Golding: tel: 01536 5227800 Mobile: 07830 294256; Russell.golding @recognitionexpress-hcn.com

The total cost of a Recognition Express franchise is £30,000 + VAT – so personal funding on only £10,000 is required.

Date Published: Apr 06, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Park of the year 2009 with The Camping and Caravanning Club

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The Camping and Caravanning Club

Thetford Forest, Norfolk

“Park of the Year 2009”

The Thetford Forest site of The Camping and Caravanning Club, winner of the prestigious “Park of the Year 2009”* leisure industry award, is owned and run by a family firm. It was chosen by readers of the Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly Magazine, in the face of stiff competition from thousands of campsite owners across the UK.

Franchisees are Dawn and Rob Muggridge, Rob’s sister Julie Purnell and her husband Neil. They are all good friends as well as relatives and have also enjoyed many camping holidays together. As children, Julie and Rob were taken camping every year by parents Ann and Mike, who are keen and long-standing members of the Club.

The Thetford Forest family firm were experienced campers but knew little about franchising until they were about to become part of it. They were totally convinced that buying a Club site was exactly what they wanted to do - unlike most franchisees who conduct extensive research into several options before making any commitment.

Previously working successfully and happily in jobs they enjoyed, none of the four had any thought of starting a new business, individually or together, let alone a franchise in the camping sector. Back then Dawn had a catering company, Rob had his own building business, Julie was a catering manager and Neil was a customer service manager.

Despite not actively looking for a business idea, they were excited when an unexpected opportunity presented itself in the form of an advertisement for new franchisees spotted in the Club’s magazine by Ann and Mike.

The opportunity seemed irresistible as everyone agreed that having a Club franchise was achievable and offered great potential. The venture could be very successful with everyone working together and pooling their experience, skills and talents.

Dawn explained: “We liked the prospect of a more outdoor type of life. With six children between us and a forest on our doorstep, we consider ourselves very lucky. We also liked the idea of having our own business but with support from the Club, with its great experience in the field and methods that have been thoroughly tried and tested over many years. As members, we already knew what we would be buying into and had great confidence in the organisation and our ability to make it work.” Dawn explained.

They approached the Club to find out more about how the franchise operated, followed by a formal application and meetings to ensure that both parties were in harmony. They were accepted and, formalities completed, set out to find a site. They looked at several, mainly in the South East, before considering East Anglia.

Dawn takes up the story: “We had very limited time to see this site but the minute we got to the gate we all knew that this was the one for us. It was so beautiful, very well maintained, with plenty of space and great potential. You could almost say it was love at first sight.”

Since buying the franchise as basic acreage with a run down toilet block in 2006 for the following season, the family has invested much time, effort and money in installing new facilities and improving others to create today’s award-winning holiday site with 150 pitches, an avenue of mature birches, a shop, games field, playground, laundry room and fishing pond.

Dawn admitted that she had never even turned on a computer before joining the Club’s network but she soon mastered computing. There was a great deal to learn about the Club and its systems but the comprehensive training programme covered every aspect of running a successful business. In addition, the franchise team at head office provided on-going support and was always available to offer advice and guidance.

As well as the four franchisees, Rob and Julie’s Mum and Dad live on site and help when needed. They are wonderful with looking after the grandchildren and are willing to do anything from office admin to helping pitching and cleaning. There is no division of chores and everyone is equally involved in the business, trained to do every task so that if someone is ill, for example, another person can step competently into the role.

“We can all multitask and turn our hand to almost everything. There are a few physical limits on some of the heavier jobs that “we girls” don’t do,” Dawn explained.

Everyone in the family was surprised and thrilled when they were told they had won the “Park of the Year” award – especially since they didn’t realise they were in the running. Dawn said: “We are very proud and excited and especially touched that so many of the magazine’s readers chose us from every other campsite in the county. It is such wonderful recognition.

“Our success is the result of team work. We thoroughly enjoy what we do, in beautiful surroundings. We are open throughout the year so we have a constant stream of visitors, who are always very interesting and come for the wildlife walks, peace and tranquility. We want our customers to have a fantastic holiday and we try to ensure they achieve that.

“We all think that it’s what you put in that reaps rewards. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for putting us forward for the ‘Park of the Year’”, Dawn concluded.

Date Published: Jun 30, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Betting your own financial goals with Rosemary Conley franchise

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Judi Brown, the Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs’ franchisee in the North Peterborough area had only been running the franchise for five months when she beat her own financial goals and is now delighted that she made the move.

43-year old Judi grew up in the Peterborough area and had carved out a very successful career in commercial and financial management. Prior to taking up the Rosemary Conley franchise, Judi was employed as a Commercial Manager for a charity, which supports adults with learning difficulties. Judi, who used to weigh 12st 7lb and wear a dress size 14, had previously lost 3st 7lb in weight through healthy eating and exercise. Judi is now a trim size 8-10 and weighs just under 9st.

Her personal slimming success experience gave Judi a real insight into the issues of weight loss. She also wanted the opportunity to work for herself and take ownership of her own destiny.

In October 2005 Judi attended a Rosemary Conley Presentation day and decided that the skills she had acquired in business, and her interests in exercise, made running a Rosemary Conley Franchise, an ideal move for her.

Judi now says that she has found her true vocation: “I don’t feel anything like the pressure that I had when I was a Commercial Manager. In fact, it doesn’t feel like I’m going to work!”

Judi says that she gets an enormous buzz from motivating people and seeing them achieve success.

“Members actually say thank you and are very friendly, which makes this job so rewarding,” adds Judi.

Date Published: Aug 03, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Supported every step of the way with Belvoir franchising

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

“I’ve felt supported every step of the way,”

says Luke Mason of Belvoir Hitchin

Six months ago Luke and Jonathan Mason launched Belvoir Hitchin. Here, Luke looks at his journey from the opening morning to the present day…

“On 1st December 2008 I opened Belvoir Hitchin, with my cousin Jonathan - and I haven’t looked back,” says Luke. “It was quite scary as I’d never done anything similar before but I was eager to get on with it.

“Before this I worked with my dad doing car sales – I enjoyed it but wanted to open my own business. I came across Belvoir on the internet. I made a call and met the sales director, Dorian Gonsalves. The great support structure that Belvoir provide and the friendliness of the company was obvious and the way they did business really appealed to me – I knew that it was the right opportunity.

“I didn’t know anything about the lettings market so the three-week training course that Belvoir provide for all new Franchise Owners at Central Office in Grantham was invaluable. It taught me everything - from how to open a shop and manage a property to the ins and outs of lettings’ law. Without doubt the training was essential and helped Jonathan and I move forward with confidence.

“Belvoir’s support didn’t stop there - there’s been plenty of help and advice since we launched and throughout our first six months. For the first month Central Office gave us a weekly call to check on our progress, plus made it clear we could call them whenever we needed. They’ve also kept us informed as to what’s going on in the lettings industry and provided instant updates of any legislation changes. There’s plenty of organised networking with other offices too, including a three-monthly meeting between offices in each region.

“My life has changed a lot since opening Belvoir Hitchin but I’ve felt completely supported every step of the way. The first six months have been amazing. It’s hard work but it’s really opened my eyes to the potential of the lettings market, plus reinforced my original thoughts about Belvoir being such a strong brand.

“I’m a people’s person and thoroughly enjoying meeting landlords and tenants - I know that property management is definitely for me and the business has gone from strength-to-strength too…

“We’ve taken on, plus let, many properties – in fact, one of them was being marketed by seven agents but we managed to let it first. We’ve taken on a full-time property manager, and hope to employ more staff within the next six months. And, we were ranked within the top one hundred of the Belvoir group within two months of trading.

“I’m really proud of myself for going for it – my only regret is I didn’t do it sooner!”

Date Published: Aug 06, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Find your destiny with Countrywide Signs franchise

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

“Countrywide Signs franchise is “highly recommended”

A decade on from launching their business and franchisees Martin and Angela Attwood are thriving, with their Countrywide Signs franchise generating a six-figure turnover.

The downturn in the housing market has not affected business for Countrywide Signs franchisees Martin and Angela Attwood (pictured right). Since the couple launched their Newmarket-based franchise in July 1998 the business has experienced year-on-year growth and in 2007 the couple enjoyed a turnover of £150,000.

With the estate agents’ demand for the supply, erection and maintenance of ‘For Sale’ signs unfaltering, Martin and Angela are confident they will reach their targets outlined for this year. “We decided to invest in a franchise when we moved from London to the Newmarket area,” reflects

Martin. “Initially I intended to continue running the landscaping business I had established in

London. However, I soon realised that there was not the market for this service in Newmarket and so researched different business ventures.

“The notion of franchising appealed because we believed joining a national brand would enable us to establish and grow a new business quickly. Countrywide Signs caught my eye in The Franchise Magazine because as a van-based ‘For Sale’ sign supply, erection and maintenance company I would have the freedom to continue working outside. The fact the company is a full British Franchise Association member was also attractive.”

After meeting the management team Martin and Angela launched their franchise. As part of the franchise package they were put on a nine-day training course, which covered the theory, practice and marketing aspects of running the business. Since then, the couple has received ongoing training as the business has moved forward in terms of new products, systems and ideas.

Martin and Angela also have access to a support network. “The support is excellent,” enthuses Martin. “The franchise team has three departments: sales, operations/IT and administration who are always on the other end of the phone if you need them. I have found the IT systems beneficial because they allow clients to send work directly to my computer and sort out my job sheets and invoicing automatically. While I am a firm believer that you get out of life what you put in, the Countrywide Signs franchise team are working hard behind the scenes to benefit all 57 franchisees’ businesses within the network.

“Running your own business is satisfying both in terms of income and knowing you are in control of your destiny. I love the fact my wife and I have built up the business to the point where we can support our family comfortably. We have a nice car and are in a position to offer our children a better lifestyle.

I would highly recommend a Countrywide Signs franchise to anyone who enjoys working outdoors and wants to be the master of their own destiny.”

With two vans on the road generating their present income, Martin and Angela plan to become more involved in other aspects of signage over the next 12 months especially within the growing commercial market.

Date Published: Aug 12, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Drain Doctor franchise offers rainwater harvesting

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Peterborough-based Drain Doctor Plumbing – the UK’s largest emergency plumbing and drain repair service – is offering rainwater harvesting systems as part of its portfolio of plumbing and drainage services.

Usually rainwater runs off roofs through the soakaway system and is lost. In properties that have the old combined sewage system, rainwater joins the foul water and flows through the drainage system to the local water treatment plant for cleaning.

Now it is possible for homeowners to collect and use rainwater and re-use ‘grey’ waste water from sinks and baths – helping to save money and the environment in the process. Reduced water consumption can lower bills and help to create a more sustainable built environment.

In addition to its existing plumbing and drainage services, Drain Doctor will now provide a complete rainwater harvesting installation service that includes site surveys, planning consultations and building and inspection work.

Drain Doctor’s operations manager Robin Banks explains: “There are two types of water harvesting system. By installing a collection tank in the garden, rainwater runoff from the roof can be collected and used to fill a water butt or supply a garden tap by use of a pump.

“Rainwater is harvested for non-drinking water applications and can also be pumped back into the house for use in flushing toilets and filling washing machines.

“The second type of water harvesting involves collecting grey water from sinks, washing machines and dishwashers and using it to flush the toilets. With this system household water is used twice which has an immediate payback on the water meter.

“Drain Doctor franchisees offering the service will project manage the whole installation from start to finish. We will liaise with planners and complete the work using selected highly trained subcontractors, tailoring each solution to the customer’s requirements. The customer will have one point of contact from the start to final completion of the project.”

Launched in the United Kingdom in 1993, Drain Doctor Plumbing has quickly grown to become the country’s largest emergency plumbing and drain repair service. It now provides a 24 hour a day, 365 days a year service in every part of the country with each franchise run as an independent business.

The central principle is to deliver dazzling levels of service in a market plagued by cowboy operators who are overcharging customers for shoddy workmanship. Franchisees offer a full 24 hour per day seven day per week service with no call out charges and they give fixed-price, no obligation quotes with a full guarantee on all their work.

Technicians are trained not just with technical skills – including the latest techniques such as closed circuit camera drain surveys and no-dig drain repairs – but in customer care that is reflected in such things as wearing overshoes while in customers’ homes and clearing up carefully after every job.

Date Published: Aug 20, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Seeing the great potential in purchasing a Driver Hire franchise

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

George Griffiths could be described as an all-rounder. A qualified Accountant; he’s also got an Honours Degree in Chemistry. Originally from New Zealand, he settled in the UK and used his accountancy skills working for a number of motor dealerships. “I guess you could say that I had one redundancy too many,” says George. “That was when I decided it was time to work for myself.”

There’s no better advertising than a recommendation. And that’s what introduced George to both the idea of franchising and Driver Hire. One of his good friends was – and still is – Dave Quinn, owner of Driver Hire’s Chelmsford franchise. He suggested George take a look at Driver Hire. He liked what he saw – both at Driver Hire and franchising in general. “I looked at a number of other franchises, but settled on Driver Hire. The final decision, as much as anything else, came down to the fact that it was a people business. I wanted to get out of the accountant’s back office role and into the front line.”

In the end, George purchased a ‘turnaround’ situation. The franchise in Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich had been doing over £1m a year but when I looked at the business it was well down on this. I reckoned that if it had been there before, it was possible to get it back. In other words I saw plenty of potential.”

Working alongside his wife Jacqui and with two other members of staff, he’s certainly turned things around in a big way. During a strong summer 2009 performance, despite an unhelpful economy they achieved a record weekly turnover and the Bury-based business is now well on target to return to its former glories.

So, two years down the line, what does George reckon you need to make a success of a Driver Hire franchise? ”It can certainly be a demanding business - I once spent an awful lot of time finding a driver for a job that would only make about £15 profit. But it was a customer I wanted to do business with long-term, so I reckoned it was time well spent. I think a lot of the success is down to the individual franchisee’s desire and motivation. But I also have a lot of help from Driver Hire’s support staff, particularly in those early days when you really need it. Getting the right staff helps too, as does a good grasp of the numbers, so financially you know how you are doing. And, finally, you need to be a good relationship-builder; not afraid of talking to people, understanding their businesses and influencing their purchasing decisions.”

Date Published: Sep 10, 2009 - 10:05 pm

Finding freedom with a Dream Doors family franchise

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchise Company: Dream Doors Ltd

Franchisees: Chris and Mags Jones

Franchise Territory: Peterborough

“This business is as recession proof as it gets… I genuinely didn’t appreciate how well it would work in this economic climate.” Chris Jones, Dream Doors Peterborough

Chris Jones, and his wife, Mags, bought the Dream Doors franchise covering the Peterborough area in October last year. On 1st August 2009 they opened the doors to their showroom in St Ives, just outside Huntingdon, to a flood of interest from the local community.

Says Chris: “We advertised heavily in the lead up to August, and were being asked for weeks before the showroom opened, ‘when can we come and see you, when will you open?’ People weren’t actually banging down the doors, but it felt a little like that – we took 44 appointments on the first day – and that’s a Dream Doors record.

I’ve been flat out since then, and have been going out on three appointments almost every day. My conversion rate has been as high as 55 percent and I’m thinking about bringing in some help as the business has already become too big for just the two of us. Thankfully we have a great deal of support from head office and, in the day-to-day running of the business, from our Franchise Manager, Deena Garside.

I have to credit Dream Doors for the training and support, which has been excellent. And Managing Director, Troy Tappenden’s enthusiasm is infectious. He’s very focused, and always willing to listen, to offer advice and try new things to help grow the brand. In the last year alone Dream Doors has invested heavily in advertising on television, introduced new finance and sales training courses, plus organised regular ‘best practice’ days where we get to network and learn from our more established peers.

The selling side of this business has actually surprised me. It hasn’t been as difficult as I first thought, especially when you consider that I’ve never worked in sales. I think that this business is as recession proof as it gets. I’m glad I went against the better advice of my friends who were very nervous about the economy. I bought a franchise even though I genuinely didn’t appreciate how well it would work in this economic climate – and it works.

We’re now getting more referrals, and last week when I went to collect a cheque from a customer, he told me to go and talk to his neighbour across the road. He wouldn’t tell me why, and at first I thought it might be a complaint about how the van was parked! She invited me in and, when I asked how I could help, she told me she wanted the same kitchen as her neighbour. I quoted for it there and then, on the night, and sold the job for around £4,500. Now that’s what I call keeping up with the Joneses!

Our sales in the first six months were more than £100,000, and we’re on target to smash through quarter-of-a-million pounds in our first year. I’ve got another couple of orders to finalise this week and we’ll have achieved £100,000 in the first two months since the showroom opened. At this rate, we will recoup our total financial investment next year, which is pretty good for a retail business in any economic circumstances, especially considering the showroom cost us the best part of £20,000.

I wasn’t naive coming into this, and I know running a business isn’t easy, but we definitely made the right decision. I get so much satisfaction from seeing a job through from start to finish. And the reaction from customers at the end is phenomenal.”

Says Mags: “The support and training from Dream Doors has been superb right from the start, and the week’s induction was essential. The sales training we had at Head Office was amazing, and really valuable, because neither of us had any experience in sales. It was a lot to take in at the beginning, and I felt a little out of my depth. But I’ve surprised myself at how much I did take in, and which elements of the training I’m now using every day.

We can phone or email our franchise manager, Deena, at any time, and I’m no longer surprised to get an answer straightaway even when I’ve sent her an email late at night or over the weekend. She’s pitched in to help us out on a number of occasions. Having someone like Deena, who really knows her stuff, is so important to us because we knew absolutely nothing about the kitchen industry before we started this business.

We have a family franchise here – our son James is one of the kitchen fitters – which is exactly what we wanted. It has been hard work, especially because at the same time as running the business I’ve been completing a degree in social work, but I wouldn’t change a thing. And, although I planned to go back into social work part-time next year, I don’t think that will be possible now, not unless we start recruiting staff. This business has grown quicker than we’d anticipated, and I’m not sure I’m ready to pass over the reigns to someone else just yet. The showroom is my baby after all, and I’m just enjoying myself too much.

None of this would be possible without the help of Dream Doors. We knew this business would be great the first moment we walked into the head offices in Gosport and met the team. We had a really good feeling, we get on well with everyone here, and our dream of running our own business has now come true.”

Date Published: Sep 28, 2009 - 10:05 pm

gas-elec franchise weathers the recession

East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The gas-elec group has again bucked the trend and has risen unscathed out of the current economic climate.

“If you don’t adjust to the changes taking place in the world around you then you run the risk of falling behind the game and not keeping abreast of the changing needs of your customers,” says John Davidson, managing director of the gas-elec group.

Nick Morton, gas-elec regional manager for East Anglia, confirms that the business is “recession-resilient” and expects this year’s turnover figure to exceed what he originally targeted. In fact, Nick’s region is delivering business that is increasing exponentially month-on-month and he is continually having to adjust his monthly targets “in a good way”.

Nick manages one of gas-elec’s 18 regional offices situated across the UK. For 14 years this national safety inspection company has provided statutory combined gas and electrical safety inspections to the lettings market, as well as homeowners. This year the company will carry out 120,000 inspections throughout the UK and needs more skilled and semi-skilled people to train as gas-elec safety inspectors.

Business was up 11% across the franchise network in Q1 2009 and during the heart of this recession – October 2008 to May 2009 – gas-elec recorded a massive 9.4% growth, which can be attributed to the increase in the lettings market during this period (a large part of our business is generated here).

“It is actually difficult to set targets at the moment because the market is so good; we just can’t tell what our figures are going to be.”

Nick puts this down to a number of factors. He is getting more quality business out of his existing customer base and he doesn’t see the current boom in lettings stopping any time soon.

“There is some talk within the market that the UK may turn more towards letting than buying, like France and Germany, so we see our business going from strength to strength. In fact, it is predicted that the lettings market will double in the coming ten years. When the homeowner market recovers, gas-elec has products available – such as energy certificates. Really it’s no longer just about gas and electrical services – it’s about supplying an all-round service and the companies that supply the best service get most of the business,” says John.

Gas-elec has a long-established reputation with clients who know that they can depend on the impartiality of the reports. They also know that we offer competitive deals, such as the recently launched gas-elec’s g-warm+ deal.

The gas-elec franchise is a two-tier franchise with regional management franchisees and safety inspection working together in partnership in their various areas. Ongoing business support for all franchisees includes sales and marketing, appointment making, centralised invoicing and credit control, bookkeeping and IT support.

Date Published: Jun 09, 2010 - 10:05 pm