Summary: South East England Franchisee Case Studies on whichfranchise.com
Case studies about people in South East England starting a Franchise
Servicemaster franchise inspires others to
franchise
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Les & Jo Nobes ServiceMaster
Banbury
Josephine and I bought our
ServiceMaster Franchise Location in 1985, as we knew an
existing successful Franchisee. Prior to this, we had
been in the Licensed/Restaurant trade, and prior to this I was
in the Police Service and Josephine was a Secretary.
By purchasing this Franchise we were able to be earning
money from day one, solely because of the reputation of
ServiceMaster nationally. The phone rang at 9.10 a.m. on
our first day of business and it has never stopped
ringing.
The benefits of dealing with a
Franchise Organisation are best summed up with the fact that
you are never alone. If you have a problem there is
always someone in the network who has experienced something
similar. The other major benefit is due to the expertise
of ServiceMaster, not only nationally but also on a global
scale, and most of the time you really feel as if you are part
of a family.
The other major benefit of having
this Franchise was that we were quite happily able to work from
home with a telephone and a typewriter with little or no
disruption to family life. Working for ourselves gave us
freedom to do what we wanted to do, when we wanted to do it
although this generally meant that we would have to work harder
before, and after we had time off, to catch up.
Running our own business for the
last 22 years has given us freedom, which we would not have
had, had we been in paid employment.
We have always had support and
encouragement from ServiceMaster when times have been a little
harder in terms of turnover. Now with the National
Marketing Programme it has meant that we have not had to spend
time selling ourselves to Insurance Companies, Loss Adjusters
etc., as this is part of the current package.
I would thoroughly recommend
someone who is looking to invest in franchises to seriously
consider ServiceMaster.

Date Published: Feb 26, 2009 - 9:05 pm
Card Connection franchise acquires Chertsey
territory
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Leading greeting card publisher and
franchisor, Card Connection, has today announced that its Farnham
franchisee– Latif Twigeri has also acquired Card Connection’s
Chertsey territory. This has resulted in Mr Twigeri taking
over the distribution of Card Connection’s extensive range of
quality greeting cards and gifts to more than 100 more stores
within his new region.
“I anticipate that there is still
significant potential for further development of the Chertsey
area,” confirms Twigeri. “I have already hired an
additional store merchandiser to help with the extra work load
and am looking at taking on further staff in the future however,
it is important to balance expenses and income in the initial
stages of expanding a business.”
Card Connection itself is one of
the UK’s largest card publishers and is the market leader in the
franchised distribution of greeting cards. Using a proven
system, franchisees place greeting card ranges in retail outlets
on a ‘consignment’ basis. The award winning merchandising
service provided to retailers by local franchisees is second to
none and has established the company’s excellent reputation
especially within the convenience sector. Card Connection
franchisees also supply the company’s national account
network which includes the likes of Netto, Budgens, Londis, Spar
and Shell.
“Latif has an intuitive
understanding of how to build a profitable business, explains
Andrew Cutler, franchise and sales director of Card
Connection. “Since joining Card Connection four years ago
he has expanded his Farnham franchise significantly, creating
opportunities to supply numerous new retail outlets.
Therefore, the logical step to continue to increase the size of
his operation was to purchase a neighbouring territory when it
became available. Some of our most successful franchisees
have found running a larger operation in this way has allowed
them to take advantage of economies of scale and as a result
increase their profit margins substantially.”
Card Connection has limited
vacancies for franchisees who are keen to run an expanding
business. Successful candidates would ideally have some
management experience as, once established, they would be
expected to employ a small team, operate a warehouse and have
several liveried vans on the road.
Because the franchise networks in
the UK and Ireland are complete, the available opportunities now
consist of acquiring an already-established territory from an
existing franchisee. These vary in price according to their
level of development, but start at £20,000 (+ stock) with
earnings potential in excess of £50,000 per annum.

Date Published: Feb 26, 2009 - 9:05 pm
Servicemaster franchise owner for over 30
years
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Andrew Simpson
ResCom - Servicemaster
franchise
East Berkshire
I have been a franchisee
since September 1972.
I purchased the franchise to work
and produce an income to reflect the quantity and quality of my
labours – by way of
-
Salary
-
Return on investment
-
Profit
-
Growth in equity of the goodwill
I created – a saleable business.
I was attractedto this particular
franchise for several reasons. Its existing reputation in the UK.
ServiceMaster’s existing established integrity of dealing with
others.
The expectation of a continuing
need in the broad economy for cleaning and restoration service. A
security of source of business – generated locally and as result
of trading as a national name. Other franchisees act as a further
sales force, we have a joint interest in supporting each other
and ensuring each other’s success.
The benefits of trading as a brand,
this is increasingly important within all world economies as
customers to and established and a visible brand gives greater
trust.
Comparatively low capital required
in contrast to the high return it is possible to generate. A
mutual benefit and reliance that is engendered by paying a
percentage royalty – my franchisor has a serious interest in my
success in order to ensure its own continuing and growing income.
Being less reliant on keeping up to date with all legislation.
Support to avoid the usual pitfalls of small business –
employment law, health and safety etc
I enjoy being a franchiseebecause
the structure has enabled me to gain income from locally
generated business and the continuity of business through
fluctuations in the broader economy via nationally generated
work. Indeed during past economic downturns this business
has grown most strongly.
I also enjoy the Camaraderie
amongst my peers.
I enjoy working for myself again
for several reasons.
To run successful small business
you are absolutely required to act as a
jack-of-all-trades. However there is also opportunity to
specialise in particular aspects to the benefit of the individual
by way of personal growth and to the general benefit of the
business. To earn more than would otherwise have been possible in
an employed environment.

Date Published: Mar 01, 2009 - 9:05 pm
Franchise event arrives in Southampton
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
May sees Southampton FC’s St
Mary’s Stadium host the South Coast Franchise Show for the first
time – an event showcasing over 35 franchise & business
opportunities for sale.
Southampton is the latest port of
call of a series of franchise roadshows hosted by organisers Job
Done. This event follows other successful roadshows in Reading,
Leicester, Norwich and Leeds over the last eight months.
In addition to 35 different
business ideas on show, visitors can pick the brains of franchise
consultants, find out funding advice from high street banks and
tap into local enterprise initiatives too.
There are free drop in seminars
and advice clinics. Topics include:
-
“Mums Mean Business” – hosted by
BBC TV’s The Apprentice candidate Jen Celerier (herself a self
employed mum)
-
“White Collar Franchising” –
impartial advice for making the jump from office desk to
MD
-
“Post Credit Crunch” franchise
finance advice – with Natwest Bank’s Franchise team
-
“Motor Franchise Theatre” –
business ideas for mobile franchises
Mark Monument of Job Done explains
more
“Our shows are a “bite
sized” version of larger, national exhibitions and give those
considering franchising a regular chance to visit a one-stop-shop
of franchising info – and, better still, at a local
venue
There’s a slice of every
conceivable franchise industry sector on show with ideas suitable
for all career backgrounds – for “petrol heads”, for skilled
tradesmen, for white collar careers, education, retail,
catering, IT.”
The show takes place on Saturday
9th May 10.00am until 4.00pm at St Mary’s Football
Stadium. There is no admission charge, no tickets required,
there’s plenty of free car parking though it is advisable to
register a place for the seminars and advisory clinics. Details
available on:

Date Published: Mar 22, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Franchise success with The Local Bookkeeper in 1st
year
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Kelly Derham had been running a
bookkeeping business over the past 5 years and decided the time
had come for her to expand her business.
Kelly attended our 1 week training
course which covered all the skills needed to run the Lcoal
Bookkeeping franchise successfully. These areas include
leadership, management, human resources, sales and marketing, our
processes of bookkeeping, management accounts, payroll and other
aspects of our services. After the specialised in-house training
Kelly Derham then passed our 'after training assessment' to begin
trading as The Local Bookkeeper franchise Horsham.
While Kelly was attending the
training course, our marketing department was busy preparing the
launch campaign. Upon returning to the office Kelly was welcomed
as a franchisee with a selection of hot leads from businesses
that required bookkeeping services within her specified franchise
area.
"Within 7 weeks of setting up I had
over £35,000 worth of new business booked in. I still have over 8
leads to follow up. I have already employed my first bookkeeper
to help me with the new business and am searching for another,”
enthuses Kelly.
After successfully following up the
leads, Kelly is operating way above our targets and is set to
make her first year a very successful one.

Date Published: Apr 06, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Being a team player at McDonald's
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
A
part-time job at McDonald's turned into a career for Grant
Copper, who dreamed of being master of his own destiny. "I could
see the opportunities within the Company when I was doing my
A-levels and decided to stay on," said Grant, who is a franchisee
of restaurants in the south.
Before he moved into self-employment, Grant
held several positions with McDonald's, including running
Company-owned restaurants and a two-year stint in Slovenia as a
project manager, growing the number of restaurants there from two
to nine.
In
June 2002 Grant became a McDonald's franchisee. "It felt very
different operating my own restaurant - it was stuff like writing
your own cheques and making decisions that directly impact your
business," said Grant.

Date Published: Apr 06, 2009 - 10:05 pm
My franchise has given me control of my life
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Before I became a Snack-in-the-box
(SITB) franchisee I worked 70 hours a week as a food store
manager. I had operated a franchise before and was keen to
re-invest in an established business model and regain control
over my lifestyle in the hope that I would be able to spend more
quality time with my family.
I was attracted to SITB because it
has a professional brand image, is associated with well-known
confectionary brand Cadbury and has been in operation for over 17
years. Unlike the other sales and distribution franchises on the
market, SITB is not gimmicky - I could see that the concept of
providing branded snacks to the workplace has great potential.
The fact I would be able to operate the franchise from the
comfort of my own home was also appealing, as my overheads would
be minimal.
I was provided with a five day
training course which taught me everything I was required to know
in order to run the business effectively, from dealing with
customers to ordering and packing boxes and sorting out the
company finances. On the fifth day I was sent to Birmingham to
shadow an existing franchisee and get a feel for what it was like
operating a SITB franchise, which was very beneficial.
I launched my East Kent franchise
in June last year and have not looked back. At the moment I have
140 sites in my territory, which combined generate £2,000 per
week. My longterm aim is to build up the business to 160 sites
and a weekly turnover of £2,800.
I love the fact I only work a 40
hour week and have regained control of my life. Now I am able to
take my sons to school in the morning and am home in time to
enjoy an evening meal with my family.

Date Published: Apr 08, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Ollie and his dad fix hoodies for school leavers
at Recognition Express
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Enterprising Ollie Slack is not
head boy of Greenacre School for nothing. He picked up a leaflet
offering hoodies for school leavers, and asked his businessman
dad if he could come up with a better deal.
The result: 48 students leaving
this summer have just taken delivery of a bespoke hoodie, badged
with the name of all their mates, and printed by Recognition
Express.
Recognition Express Kent is run by
Paul Slack and Steve Randerson at the Medway Enterprise Centre in
Rochester. They badge anything from t-shirts to mugs with logos
and designs.
At Ollie and his mates’ request,
Paul and the team designed the hoodies with the word ‘09’ printed
on them, putting all of the 48 names inside the numbers with the
pupils individual nick name above.
Paul said: “Some wanted nicknames
instead – like Fred, Borgy, Emo#1, Hobzy14, Lacy.fam and Yeti. So
every hoodie was different.”
“We did a prototype. Ollie put it
on and said ‘brilliant’.”
“What the teenagers got was a
unique piece of clothing in any colour, with any names they
liked. It’s a good souvenir of their school days.”
Ollie breathed a sigh of relief
when it all worked out. “I’m going to be helping my dad out at
Recognition Express during my summer break. They are good at
their job.”

Date Published: Apr 23, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Buying a Maid2Clean franchise was the best thing
we ever did
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
We had decided after very careful
thought to go into business for ourselves, Dave had previously
had his own business but always said if he went into business
again it would be a franchise.
So we began the long task of looking at what was available.
Having sought advice and read a lot that domestic cleaning was
the thing to get into. Then it was a matter of deciding on which
one…!
We looked at Molly Maids, My Home, Merry Maids…etc etc..! and
stumbled upon Maid2Clean at a franchise exhibition. We drove home
from that exhibition thinking how easy and relaxed Maid2clean
seemed to be and thought maybe it was too good to be true, as we
had rejected the others for being too rigid and formal.
After a couple of weeks careful thought we decided to look more
closely at Maid2Clean and rang Mike to make an
appointment.
We arrived at the arranged meeting full of doubt and apprehension
about what we may be getting into as £10,000 is a lot of money
for us. We were made to feel very welcome at Mike and Elaine’s
home and felt very comfortable, also we got the impression that
Mike and Elaine had nothing hidden from us and were very open and
honest. (and the bacon sandwiches went down very well).
On the drive on the way home we made the decision to buy into
Maid2Clean. However, we didn’t want to appear too keen so waited
a few days before calling Mike.
We started the business with Carole still working part time for
her employer, and it became apparent quicker than we had
anticipated that Carole needed to be in the ‘’office’’ at home
more and more and now really enjoys working full time (well
almost)…. for triple the income she had previously.
We are now coming up to our second anniversary of trading and all
we can think of saying is why didn’t we do it sooner..!!
Our growth has been very steady, on the up every month without
very much effort due to the Maid2clean system being very
foolproof.
Mike and Elaine are always very helpful and full of enthusiasm
for us to succeed. Also help and advice from fellow franchisees
on the forum is always available and because of this we have not
had any real problems or worries.
As for the question ‘’would we do it again’’….Answer….without any
doubt or hesitation. Best thing we ever did.

Date Published: Apr 28, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Off to a flying start with Cartridge World
franchise
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Mike Cooper
Cartridge World Milton
Keynes
Background
Mike Cooper came into Cartridge
World with 10 years’ experience of running a petrol station
franchise, and was looking for a new challenge.
What introduced him to Cartridge
World
It was through a friend who is a
Cartridge World franchisee that Mike learnt about the company and
its offer. He immediately recognised the potential of selling
high quality products that are constantly in demand, represent
good value for money and are environmentally friendly. Mike
opened his store in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, in May
2008.
Progress to date
Mike’s business got off to a flying
start, with sales jumping by a massive 75 per cent between the
second and eighth months of trading. Even before Mike could
celebrate the store’s first anniversary, business growth was
averaging 12 per cent a month.
The business-to-business market in
particular represents a source of great potential which Mike is
working hard to develop. His aim is to build up the store’s
reputation in the local area so that it becomes the outlet of
choice for printer cartridges, putting up a genuine challenge to
the big chain stores.
As preparation for opening his
store, Mike undertook an intensive training programme at
Cartridge World’s UK headquarters in Harrogate, North Yorkshire,
as well as spending a week training in an established Cartridge
World outlet. With in-store support from a Cartridge World
technician and the Business Development Manager assigned to his
franchise, Mike then got the business up and running.
As well as receiving ongoing advice
and support from Cartridge World head office, Mike also benefits
from resources such as the company’s proven business model,
product research and development and national marketing and
advertising campaigns.
In addition, his Business
Development Manager is on call whenever the need arises, and
makes regular visits to the store.
Mike also finds that regular
contact with fellow franchisees provides an invaluable source of
ideas and advice.
Mike says...“To me, it’s obvious that Cartridge World is
the way forward. I’m not surprised how well the business is
performing in these lean times – the combination of offering a
high quality, essential product which is good value for money is
a winner, especially in a time of recession. Businesses are much
more open to the idea of refilling now, and enquiries are
increasing.
“My customers also appreciate
receiving service that is more personal than that offered by a
large, anonymous chain store.”

Date Published: Jun 14, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Lighterlife franchise helps fight recession
battle
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Gina Bate is bucking the trend when
it comes to financial success. The number of people unemployed in
the UK has reached around 2.22 million, and Deloitte have
recently reported that companies going into administration has
risen by 30%. It’s a bleak picture but not for Gina who set up as
a LighterLife Counsellor five years ago.
Previously a driving instructor,
Gina’s LighterLife franchise has really taken off, so much so
that she is now opening her second location. She has a team of
three ladies working with her in Fareham, and she can now turn
her attention to her other franchise which will be in Chichester.
“I am very much looking forward eventually to being able to grow
that one to a similar level as my existing franchise”.
Despite the financial gloom, Gina
feels incredibly secure in her career, achieving an increase in
turnover of £3000 a month compared to the previous year. Her
success has come from the passion she has, as well as a good
business model that really works. “The support that our central
office gives to us is amazing. Whether it be training,
advertising, business questions, etc. I can also talk from
personal experience of needing support from our central office
and I couldn’t ask for a better team to help me.”
The main thing Gina has found from
her LighterLife franchise is job satisfaction. She says
she is much happier now than when she was running her driving
school, and has flexibility during the day to spend time as she
wishes such as walking her dog. “I really love my work and feel
so privileged to be trusted by so many people in what is such a
personal and individual journey. I actually enjoy going to
work!”

Date Published: Jun 25, 2009 - 10:05 pm
The Rosemary Conley franchise name is synonymous
with quality and success
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Penny Schouten, 49, one of the
Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs franchisees in West
Sussex, took up the opportunity in 1995, after leaving her job as
an International Purchasing Manager for a fashion accessories
company.
“The great thing about being a
Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs franchisee is, there is no
typical day and no two days are alike. The work is extremely
rewarding and there’s also a great ‘social’ side to my job. “I
left behind my well-paid job because I wanted to get more out of
life and I wanted to be independent. I decided I wanted something
that would better suit my newly married life.
My husband, Jorgen, and I were also
starting to think about having a family therefore I needed a
business that would be flexible. “The franchise offered me the
opportunity of combining two of my long standing interests -
health and fitness. After qualifying to become an Exercise to
Music instructor, I began running classes in April 1995.
“I still love every moment of it.
Most importantly, running the business fits in with my lifestyle
and my family. My twin daughters, Eloise and Darcey, were born
nine years ago and yet I still run the business as successfully
as I did when I started. I’ve now expanded my territory and,
together with my four employees, I run 20 classes each
week.

Date Published: Jul 30, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Getting paid to do what I love with Rosemary
Conley franchise
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Sedge Gooding was formerly a
dancer. 12 years ago she became a Rosemary Conley Diet and
Fitness Clubs franchisee in the Reading area.
"When I had to leave an established
career as a dancer it was a huge decision and I thought long and
hard about what I wanted to do."
"I approached Rosemary Conley about
running a franchise at the age of 24, as I knew I wanted to do
something physical. I thought that running diet classes combined
with exercise would help to ensure that members keep coming
regularly, and I was right! In fact, many of my members have been
coming for the last ten years – since the first day I started the
franchise! I now have over 500 members in the classes my
employees and I run each week."
"Now, I couldn’t imagine doing
anything else. I love what I do and every day that I teach, I
have a real laugh with my members. If I wasn’t teaching, I’d be
going to Aerobics classes myself, so I might as well exercise to
the music of my choice and do the exercises I want to do - and
get paid at the same time!"
"I get to see my children, Emile,
Remi and Joel, much more that I ever would if I worked in a 9-5
job!"

Date Published: Aug 03, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Monkey Music franchise is absolutely inspiring to
Val
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
Name: Val Stephenson
Location:
Newbury, Hungerford and
Henley
Family: Husband and three children age 15, 13 and
10.
What is your career
background?
I originally trained as a
physiotherapist after leaving school but all during this time I
was heavily involved in singing through numerous Opera companies,
Theatre groups and all my spare time I was involved in music.
After working for two years at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary I decided
I wanted to further my singing in a more serious way and was
accepted at the Royal College of Music in London where I studied
for three years on an advanced Study Course in singing. During my
time there I was lucky enough to be involved in the Earls
Court production of the Opera Carmen which toured to Japan –
what an experience this was!! After leaving college where I was
awarded an Exhibition Scholarship I worked for almost three years
in France with Opera de Lyon and toured with them to many
exciting locations as well as being involved in numerous
recordings and radio broadcasts with the Ambrosian Opera Chorus.
I also play the piano but my first love has always been singing –
I sang everywhere according to my Mum!!!
How did you first hear about
Monkey Music and the franchise Opportunities?
Monkey really found me! An
acquaintance who taught Monkey Music and knew I was a singer
asked if I would be interested in covering maternity leave for
another teacher. The owner of the Franchise at the time got in
touch and it took off from there. The moment I started getting
involved I knew I had found something really special. By now I
had three children so obviously my singing career had quietened
down as I brought them up and with a husband who is also a singer
and away quite a lot I had been looking for something where I
could use my singing experience, my love of children and that
fitted around a very busy family life. Monkey Music does all
this and more. It is a fantastic job and incredibly rewarding. So
much so that when the Franchise came up for sale I had no
hesitation in purchasing it!
How often do you
work?
At the moment I work three and a
half days a week and the other one and a half is spent in my
office on administration and on preparation time for my classes,
learning any new songs, making props, speaking to my other
teacher, ordering new instruments, merchandise etc… I am
going to be employing an additional teacher in the next few
months to take over some of my teaching. This will free up some
time for me to hopefully open a new venue. There are busy periods
of the year namely at the end of a term and the beginning of the
next when it sometimes feels a bit manic but it all quietens down
once everyone is booked in to their classes. I like to keep very
much on top of the administration side and this can sometimes
mean working in the evening or at weekends when it is busy but
now that my children are a bit older this is never a problem. I
do try to have one day a week when I don’t do any Monkey Music.
(Not always easy).
How does the job fit around your
family life?
I do enjoy the fact that it is term
time only - when my kids are on holiday, I am too, and can give
them my full attention. The best thing is that it is your
franchise and therefore you decide what is right for you. Not a
bad job!! I think another thing is that the class times will not
suit everyone. What is right for one customer will not be right
for another so you have to be strong and make decisions that are
right for you.
Do you get
support/training?
The training days we have are
absolutely invaluable. I pick up so many tips and there are so
many ideas that float around. It is amazing how many
different ways the same song can be presented! When I first took
over the franchise I had a mentor to help me and we spoke many
times in those early days. She came to visit me at my home/office
and was always there if I needed her. I can call HQ at any
time to ask for help (sometimes difficult to find the time when
you are running the business and teaching as well). I had a visit
only recently from Angie which I found extremely useful and she
was very positive which was greatly encouraging.
How do you source Venues to run
your classes in?
Most of the venues were already up
and running when I took over so my main objective was to increase
the numbers and the classes that were there already which I have
done. Now I feel that I am ready to tackle a new venue as I
mentioned before and I will be visiting the village and exploring
the area on a sunny day in the half term with my kids (with an
ice cream to follow!!!!) At present I run classes in church
halls, community centres, village halls and a health
centre.
How many classes do you
run?
I run 31 classes and another 5
split between two nursery schools.
How much do you earn
(roughly)?
My turnover for the last financial
year was just over £54,000
Do you advertise?
I advertise in a number of local
newspapers and magazines and I advertise in the local NCT
publications as well as doing lots of other promotional
activities throughout the year.
What is the best thing about
Monkey Music?
To see my little Monkeys develop
and grow in confidence not only in their musical ability but
socially too is absolutely inspiring. To watch them suddenly be
able to play an instrument for themselves, to see their faces
when Monkey pops out the box week after week, to see a smile when
their favourite prop appears, to witness that first clap. The
list is endless. For me, to feel that Monkey Music may shape
their lives in the future and to know that you have been a part
of that is a privilege. I am also fortunate to have some
fantastic Mums (and Dads) who love it just as much as they
do. It is a happy job and for me personally fulfils me as a
performer.
Would you recommend this
Franchise opportunity to other Mums?
I would have no hesitation – it is
inspiring, rewarding, fun and every day is different!
It is a busy job and sometimes I
feel like it is taking over but remember that it is your business
and you are in charge to make it work for you.

Date Published: Aug 10, 2009 - 10:05 pm
Recognition Express Southern key rings take a slow
boat to St Helena
South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com
The owners of Recognition Express
Southern pride themselves on their reputation, but when they got
an order from the remote island of St Helena, they were
flummoxed.
The French sent Napoleon Bonaparte
to the isle in the Atlantic Ocean because, even now, it takes two
weeks to get there, and there’s no means of a quick
getaway.
But the island’s tourism department
contacted Recognition Express Southern, based in
Horndean, Portsmouth, and asked
them to produce 500 branded pens and 500 keyrings.
Caroline Dinenage, who owns
Recognition Express Southern with her mum Beverley, got to the
bottom of the mystery order.
“It turns out that the Director of
Tourism in St Helena went to the Isle of Wight Walking Festival
four years ago and took home a badge that Recognition Express
Southern produced. So when she wanted promotional products, we
were her first port of call.”
The pens and keyrings carry the
island’s Proud of St Helena (PoSH) logo.
Spokeswoman for St Helena Tourism
Gemma George said: “PoSH is a local awareness campaign to enable
our local residents to pass on a positive message to our visitors
and the pride they feel for their island.
“We could produce promotional
material ourselves but there are no companies here who provide
such a professional range of corporate merchandise.
“Recognition Express were very good
to work with – customer service was good and emails were answered
promptly, and the art work was done effectively.”
Said Caroline: “It goes to show
that you never know where the next order might come from – and
that every order matters.
“The difference with this order is
that it’s going to take two weeks for the merchandise to get
there because there’s no airport in St Helena and the only way to
deliver is by boat. No wonder Napoleon got stuck there.”
FACTS ABOUT ST HELENA
-
The island is one of the remotest
inhabited islands in the world, 1,200 miles from the nearest
land mass (Angola), and 1,800 miles from Brazil.
-
The only way to get there is by
boat, a five-day trip from Capetown, or 14 days from the
UK.
-
It measures 10.5 by 6.5
miles.
-
Jamestown (pop 884) is the only
town.
-
The population is 5,000.
-
English is the island’s
language.
-
The main crop is coffee.
-
Pumpkin pudding is a local
delicacy.
-
Napoleon died there in 1821 after
six years in exile.
-
There are two hotels.

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