East Midlands Franchisee Case Studies on whichfranchise.com

Controlling destiny with Servicemaster franchise

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Controlling destiny with Servicemaster franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

John Flye

ServiceMaster Disaster restoration franchise

Nottingham

I bought my first franchise in 1986, following a career in the Insurance Industry.

The franchise appealed to me because of my desire to be my own Boss, and control my own destiny.

In my dealings with Servicemaster whilst I was considering my options, I was impressed with the general set up and the people I met and decided to buy the franchise.

Twenty-one years later, the business has developed almost beyond recognition, both for me personally, and for the business generally. Both Franchisees and Servicemaster Ltd have faced major challenges in recent years, and have met these challenges admirably. We are moving forward as a team, franchisee and franchisor together, and are set to enjoy continued growth in the coming years.

It is interesting to think that over the last 21 years, Jacqueline and myself have relied solely on our business for income, and have built up a sizable equity within the business. Our youngest son has been involved in the business for some six years, and will at some point take over the running of the operation.

To summarise, although running any business has its challenges, I feel that the Franchise has and continues to fulfil our hopes and ambitions, and we are proud to be associated with Servicemaster.

Franchise event returns to Leicester

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Franchise event returns to Leicester

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

June sees Leicester Racecourse Conference Centre host the East Midlands Franchise Show for the third consecutive year – an event showcasing over 35 franchise & business opportunities for sale.

Leicester is the latest port of call of a series of franchise roadshows hosted by show organisers Job Done. This event follows other successful roadshows in Reading, Norwich, Doncaster, Southampton 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 20^th June from 9.30am until 4.00pm at Leicester Racecourse in Oadby – around 4 miles south of Leicester City Centre. 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:

www.eastmidlandsfranchiseshow.co.uk

Juggling family and Musical Minis franchise

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Juggling family and Musical Minis franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

After the arrival of child number six, Michelle Reeson decided that it was time to find a career that suited her busy family life. A few months later she took the reins of her own business when she became the franchisee for Musical Minis in East Midlands (West).

Before this change of career direction Michelle’s focus was in the financial sector working as a cashier for a high street bank. She also tutored family and friends on the piano in her spare time, something that she continues today.

Whilst on maternity leave Michelle started to assess her work/ home balance and explored the possibility of becoming her own boss. “Financially I needed to return to work after having the baby as my husband and I have a large family to support, but it was equally important to find something which gave me flexibility,” said Michelle. “Being there for my family was a high priority and running my own business seemed like the ideal solution.”

Over the next few months Michelle spent time researching opportunities on the internet. She soon realised that with existing business models and an established brand, franchising ticked all the boxes. “My first port of call on the internet was NetMums who publish lots of information for mums wanting to work from home,” continued Michelle. “I homed in on music and children, then came across Musical Minis, a full bfa member. I requested an information pack but in the interim I also visited the East Midlands franchise show at Leicester racecourse.”

Armed with a selection of franchises to consider, it was Musical Minis that became the frontrunner. Michelle attended a Musical Minis session and was very impressed by what she saw, so she duly completed the application form to become a franchisee. She said: “I like the philosophy behind Musical Minis and Karen Sherr’s (founder) approach to the business. The fact that Karen is a trained child play therapist gave me the confidence to invest. This franchise is all about making sure both the customer and the franchisee are happy.” With training complete and her range of musical equipment received, Michelle organised her first session in September 2008.

“There is some competition in preschool activities within the area but I’m pleased to say that the number of children attending my classes is increasing week on week,” said Michelle. “It’s all about finding out what works.”

With a home and six children to organise, Michelle and her husband Jamie are certainly kept busy. “Jamie is a fantastic support behind the scenes and the whole family get involved with leaflet distribution. I’m enjoying Musical Minis so much that it almost feels like a hobby!,” Michelle enthused.

New research by Kall Kwik franchise

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:05:01 GMT

New research by Kall Kwik franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Despite the rapidly rising popularity of the internet for email and social networking, new research has uncovered that only one in 10 businesses prefer electronic communications to more traditional printed mediums when it comes to corresponding with consumers.

The study, commissioned by Kall Kwik, revealed that 93 per cent of businesses still choose to use printed mailings ahead of electronic communications, and only 14 per cent of companies would consider using text messages – despite there being more than 90 million mobile phones in circulation across the UK.

The ease with which consumers can hit the ‘delete’ button was the key reason for rejecting electronic marketing, with consumers reading only two in every10 corporate text messages and four in 10 marketing emails. By contrast, consumers read six of every 10 pieces of printed marketing collateral they received - a figure which further increases when the mail is personalised.

Laurence Knott, head of marketing at Kall Kwik, comments: “While advances in technology have made it easier for companies to communicate with consumers, the most advanced ways of reaching a target audience are clearly not always the most effective.

“Our research shows that consumers are quick to discard communications they see as intrusive or irrelevant, and with methods such as email and text this process becomes almost instantaneous – with messages often being deleted before the subject has even been digested.

“Companies are right to be wary of investing heavily in this type of marketing – consumers are more likely to read and act upon material they receive in printed form, while finding text communications in particular more irritating than interesting.

“Further advances in ‘spam blocking’ also mean many mass email and text campaigns are never even seen by the intended recipient, instead going straight in the electronic bin. Print allows businesses to communicate with their customers in a way which is simply not possible electronically. Consumers appreciate the physical contact print brings - and it also allows firms a whole host of options to make their material look and feel more appealing. “

Kall Kwik provides high quality print, direct mail and design services to businesses throughout the UK using the latest digital printing equipment, graphics design software and fully trained network of more than 150 franchisees.

Family success for Cartridge World franchisee

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Family success for Cartridge World franchisee

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Stuart Brook – Cartridge World Derby, Doncaster and Grimsby

Background

Before joining Cartridge World in 2002, Stuart Brook had gained management experience in a very different setting, working as a ski resort manager, as well as overseeing sales for the family business.

What introduced him to Cartridge World

When Stuart and his father visited a franchise exhibition, the Cartridge World product offer stood out to them as representing a logical alternative to the highly priced manufacturers’ own products, and the potential profit margins of 60 per cent were attractive. They also found the Cartridge World team to be friendly and approachable.

Progress to date

The father and son team opened their first franchise in Grimsby in 2002. It was soon evident that the store was going to be a success, so they opened a second one in Derby in late 2003, shortly followed by a third in Doncaster in early 2004. Stuart in now mostly based in the Derby store, but makes regular visits to the other two.

With the business going from strength to strength, after three years the combined turnover of the stores has reached £600,000. Stuart believes there is scope to increase this further, and aims to bring each store up to a turnover of at least £25,000 a month, as well as eventually opening two more outlets.

Each existing store employs three staff full-time and one part-time, all of whom Stuart believes have been crucial to the success of the business. With a manager already in place in each franchise, Stuart’s ultimate aim is to step into the role of area manager, freeing up more of his time.

Throughout his time as a Cartridge World franchisee, Stuart has benefited from the support offered by the franchise support team, a service which he feels is going from strength to strength. He has found the regular franchisee meetings helpful, as well as receiving a lot of advice and support from fellow franchisees, especially through visiting some of the UK’s top-performing stores. In addition, Stuart has access to a dedicated Business Development Manager who is always on hand for support.

Stuart says ...

“Cartridge World struck me as providing a common sense alternative to a product that many people feel is overpriced. It offers a great combination of savings and quality. The environmental benefit to what we do is also something of a unique selling point.

"I truly believe that the current economic climate presents an exciting opportunity for Cartridge World, given the substantial product savings available to businesses. With decision-makers now far more open to money-saving ideas, I’m focussing strongly on B2B sales, pushing the dual message of saving money whilst benefiting from a high quality product.

“So long as the two crucial elements are in place – dedicated staff and a high quality product – Cartridge World offers a winning formula.”

Change of lifestyle with The Camping and Caravanning Club

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Change of lifestyle with The Camping and Caravanning Club

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Jayne and Chris Woods,

Teversal, Nottinghamshire

Booking a family camping holiday turned out to be the first step on the path to a very welcome and complete change of lifestyle for Jayne and Chris Woods, franchisees at the Teversal, Nottinghamshire campsite of The Camping and Caravanning Club.

For some time, the couple had wanted to do something different and had been exploring ideas for a new direction. Jayne had many years’ experience working with children, first as an occupational therapist before becoming a foster carer. Chris had been a sales director with an electronics company, working long hours and hardly seeing his family.

They both felt they needed a change, to be more in control of their lives and to reap the rewards of their own efforts. They knew they wanted to run their own business, to work together and, ideally, to work outdoors but they had not been able to identify the right business for them.

However, they discovered exactly what they were looking for when they were choosing a site for a camping holiday with their little boy. Jayne explained: “We were looking at sites on the Club’s website. As we read it, we saw some information about the Club’s franchise opportunity. It looked really interesting and the more we read, the more we could see that this met all our criteria, although we didn’t fully understand the franchising concept at the time,” she continued.

They researched the franchise sector thoroughly and discovered the many benefits and advantages it offered over starting a new business from scratch. “We recognised the value of being part of a national organisation, especially such a well-known one, with its proactive

marketing. We could learn the Club’s tried and tested systems that have been refined over many years, as well as benefit from their training and on-going support,” Jayne added.

Convinced that franchising was the way forward, Jayne and Chris completed the various stages of the application process and began looking for a suitable site. Finally, they chose Teversal, then a privately-owned park which, the previous year, had won the accolade awarded by English Tourist Board of “Caravan Park of the Year”. (2005)

Jayne said: “We moved from Hertfordshire in March 2006, just four weeks after first viewing the site, and had doubled the occupancy by the following summer,” Jayne said. “We were very pleased with our achievements in the first year but felt there was still more we could do. We listened to customers’ comments to help us refine our plans for the future.

“We are a 5-star site and have the AA’s highest rating. We aim to provide the best facilities block in the Club’s network and we have invested heavily to give our customers a luxury experience of outdoor holidays. We have also improved the infrastructure of the site and introduced some great eco-friendly innovations.

“We now have 10 individual bathrooms, a big family bathroom with a range of baby-changing aids, laundry room with ironing station and also improved facilities for disabled people. We are harvesting rain water to use for flushing the loos and have installed energy-saving light tubes in the roof for more efficient use of electricity.”

Jayne, Chris and son Samuel live on the site, which is open all year. “Running our own business is very rewarding and we really enjoy it,” Jayne said. “We work hard, especially during the summer, but we wouldn’t change it and have no regrets at all. In fact, we are keen to have another Club site in the future.

“We could never have done this on our own or achieved so much,” Jayne summed up.

Delighting in the challenge of franchising with Chemex

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Delighting in the challenge of franchising with Chemex

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

After a successful career in farm management, John Bennett has just made a complete, mid-life switch.

John, 41, has invested in a franchise with Chemex International covering South Nottinghamshire, including Nottingham city centre, Southwell, Grantham, Long Eaton, Bingham and Radcliffe-on-Trent.

Chemex is Europe’s leading supplier of cleaning and hygiene products and provides businesses with cleaning products and free advice and training on health & safety and hygiene matters.

“I graduated from Nottingham University with a degree in agriculture and worked for 16 years in agricultural farm management. I ended up managing a large, intensive arable, vegetable and root crop farm in North Nottinghamshire,” said John who lives at Oxton.

“But I needed a new challenge and was delighted when the opportunity to build a business with Chemex came along.”

Franchising appealed to John because he had dealt with franchised businesses in the organic produce industry and knew how it worked.

Now he is franchising for Chemex, not only selling a wide range of cleaning and hygiene products but also offering advice and training for the healthcare, catering and hospitality industries.

John, who is a former captain of Nottingham & Union Rowing Club and Henley Royal Regatta oarsman is now putting his back into building a successful business supplying cleaning and hygiene products.

As a competitive rower, who trained daily, rowing on the River Trent and reached the quarter-finals at Henley, John said: “With my competitive nature and business experience a Chemex franchise provides an opportunity to build a substantial business”.

“We supply a wide range of businesses, including care homes, restaurants, pubs, hotels, offices, schools and colleges - hygiene is major issue in all these businesses.

“Where we differ, though, is we also offer training and advice on use of our cleaning products, as well as safety and hygiene control programmes.”

More friendship than a business arrangement with Countrywide Signs franchise

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:05:01 GMT

More friendship than a business arrangement with Countrywide Signs franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

“It’s more like a friendship than a business arrangement”

Four years into the ownership of Countrywide Signs Leicester, Tyler Smith reflects on the special relationship developed with the Franchisor, and his plans for the expansion of his business.

For me, the Countrywide Signs franchise has provided an opportunity to work in a business where I am out and about working with people, rather than chained to a desk. For my father, the prospect of building a substantial business through marketing and providing a professional service was the key

attraction. We are both achieving our goals with our franchise and we are a perfect team!

We first began looking at franchises four years ago because we wanted to work for ourselves, but

without the risk of starting up on our own. Countrywide Signs offers a very professional service, but also develops personal relationships with franchisees. It is more like developing a friendship than a business arrangement, and we were so impressed that we invested in the Leicester territory in 2003 when it became available for re-sale.

Because it was an already established business we hit the ground running with work to do from

day one of taking over. The business was performing well, but we could see a lot of potential there to improve it. Every aspect of the business had been covered in the training provided by Countrywide Signs, but there is a very fast learning curve so the reassurance of having support and backup from head office when required is invaluable.

The marketing experience that my father has brought to the business has enabled us to build it quite aggressively and the work has snowballed quickly. We took on our first employee after our first year, a second soon after that, and have capitalised upon the word of mouth we’ve generated to reach an annual turnover of £120,000.

You need to appreciate the art of erecting for sale boards, and at Countrywide Signs we compete on quality rather than price. We are able to market ourselves as the best by putting boards up quickly and professionally in the best place to maximise interest in a property. This quality of with Countrywide Signs’ professional website which enables agents to track how many boards they have up and where they are at any time, makes us the first choice for estate and lettings agents.

We have won over the agents and get regular repeat business from them, but there’s a lot of potential in Leicestershire that we haven’t touched yet. We want to expand the business and are aiming to have a fleet of vans out there servicing our accounts.

Be profitable with a Platinum Property Partners franchise

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:05:01 GMT

Be profitable with a Platinum Property Partners franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The property investment sector has had a turbulent couple of years and many landlords and investors have been forced out of the market by a lack of cashflow and capital. Leading the field of those still flourishing is the Platinum Property Partners property investment franchise, founded in mid-2007, which has recruited 45 high net worth Franchise Partners to date, with more waiting to join. By following PPP’s proven business models and with the support of their expert team of over 33 professional advisors, Franchise Partners are expanding their portfolios and increasing profits through the recession.

The beauty of property as a wealth creation vehicle is not only are you investing in tangible assets which will appreciate over time, but you can also refurbish and let the properties out in such a way that the rental income covers the mortgage, utility bills and maintenance costs, and also gives a significant positive cashflow. PPP’s Franchise Partners are seeing average returns of £1,000+ pre-tax profit per month, per property, even allowing for void periods.

This kind of investing starts with the principle that an investment property is simply a money-making box. How much profit you make in the short and long term depends on what you do with the box: what & how you buy, how you divide up the space inside and how you tenant and manage that space. Anyone can buy a property and wait for its value to go up in line with the market; the skill is in 'beating' the market and bettering those returns.

One Leicester-based Franchise Partner bought a property in Spring 2008 for £225,000. He spent £60,000 refurbishing it to the PPP model, and it now delivers over £4,000 a month in rental income, with over £2,500 pre-tax profit. The property has recently been re-valued at £335,000 - that’s an increase in asset value of £110,000 during a national market slump!

Maximising profit and establishing a good stream of passive income from property is a simple concept to understand, but not an easy strategy to implement. However, for smart property investors who surround themselves with the right experts and professionals, 2010 is going to be another superb year!

Maid2Clean franchise offers solution to working 9-5

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:05:01 GMT

Maid2Clean franchise offers solution to working 9-5

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

“My partner and I were fed up with the thought of working 9-5 for the rest of our lives which led us to looking on the internet for a way out. We weren't even sure what we were looking for.

We looked up various franchises, but a lot of them needed a lot of money and time to start. We were both working full-time, had a family and not much spare time or cash. We then came across the Maid2Clean Franchise and decided to find out more.

Maid2clean ticked all the right boxes. We started our Franchise in September 2007 and have never looked back!

We have had some challenges along the way, but with help from Elaine, Mike and the Forum, we have always found a solution.

I have now managed to go part-time in my job and looking forward to being able to run the business full-time in the not so distant future.

The training and support is continually on offer and you never feel you are on your own. Every house needs to be kept clean and the demand is out there. Maid2Clean is without doubt the best decision we have ever made.”

Signs Express franchise recruits in Nottingham

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:05:01 GMT

Signs Express franchise recruits in Nottingham

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Nottingham is abundant with business opportunities, but starting your own venture can be a turbulent and stressful time so before making any decisions it’s important to thoroughly research all business options in the area.

Signs Express, as a franchise, is one such avenue where you can start a brand new business and be your own boss; but all with the safety of an already established brand, proven business model and with support along the way.

Franchising is showing a positive outlook and is proving a more sustainable option than starting in business alone. Despite the economic uncertainty of last year, franchising still managed to contribute £11.8 billion to the country’s GDP which also showed an increase of £400 million from the previous year. The statistics which were reported in the annual NatWest BFA franchise survey, also highlighted potential for future growth with franchisors, on average, planning for an additional 8.8 franchisee outlets and a modest increase in the number of businesses looking themselves to franchise their own businesses.

As the UK and Ireland’s largest signs franchise providing all types of signage working in the B2B sector means that there are no customer constraints; after all every business needs signs and graphics in some shape or form.

The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area in particular is abundant with customer potential and money making opportunities. Centrally-based with easy access to the M1, Nottingham is well known as a hive of activity through leading big industry names as well as Nottingham University. With particular emphasis on economic growth and development in financial and business services, science and technology, public sector and retail and leisure, the key customer base is already on your doorstep making it a flourishing centre of activity for local business opportunities.

Signs Express customers can therefore stretch from the public sector, local councils such as Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council, professional clients such as solicitors and architects as well as a vast range of small mobile businesses through to industrial and commercial enterprises in many sectors and divisions.

Signs Express currently has 80 signage centres nationwide, however, there are still a number of greenfield businesses for sale which are ripe for the picking throughout the UK. The Nottingham sign franchise opportunity is one particular location Signs Express is looking to recruit as there is currently no presence in the Nottinghamshire area; it therefore holds endless opportunities for you to start in franchising.

As part of an already established brand, the process of setting up a sign franchise in Nottingham is made so much easier. As well as including working capital the overall fee to become part of the Signs Express franchise includes help finding premises; unit fit out with everything from printing machinery and computers through to desks and signage materials; help researching the local market along with providing business data; marketing literature and merchandise and help recruiting; as well as training in accounts, marketing and technical processes to get started.

With this there are much faster financial rewards. Through the help available a new Signs Express franchise looks to break even in the first year, receive dividends of £20,000 in year two and £40,000 in year three. In fact, well established franchisees are turning over £1m a year and some longstanding franchisees have recently been celebrating reaching £5m invoiced sales mark.

Signs Express franchise recruits in Leicester

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:05:01 GMT

Signs Express franchise recruits in Leicester

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Leicester is abundant with business opportunities, but starting your own business can be a turbulent and stressful time so before making any decisions it’s important to thoroughly research all business options in the area.

As the UK and Ireland’s largest signs franchise providing all types of signage - including exterior signs ie shop fascias; interior signs; vehicle graphics; window graphics; banners and health and safety signs - working in the B2B sector means that there are no customer constraints; after all every business needs signs and graphics in some shape or form.

The Leicester and Leicestershire area in particular is abundant with customer potential and money making opportunities. Centrally-based with easy access through the M1, Leicester is well known as a hive of activity through Leicester University and the local economy. With particular emphasis on Leicester shops, engineering and the restaurant market, the key customer base is already on your doorstep making it a flourishing centre of activity as a local business.

Signs Express customers can therefore stretch from the public sector, local councils, professional clients such as solicitors and architects as well as a vast range of small mobile businesses through to industrial and commercial enterprises in many sectors and divisions.

Signs Express currently has 80 signage centres nationwide, however, there are still a number of greenfield businesses for sale which are ripe for the picking throughout the UK. The Leicester sign franchise opportunity is one particular location Signs Express is looking to recruit as there is currently no presence in the Leicestershire area; it therefore holds endless opportunities for you to start in franchising and become your own boss.

As part of an already established brand, the process of setting up a sign franchise in Leicester is made so much easier. As well as including working capital the overall fee to become part of the Signs Express franchise includes help finding premises; unit fit out with everything from printing machinery and computers through to desks and signage materials; help researching the local Leicestershire market along with providing business data; marketing literature and merchandise and help recruiting; as well as training in accounts, marketing and technical processes to get started.

As a management signage franchise, prospective franchisees require no industry experience as full training is provided and sign making staff will be appointed to work in this case in the Leicester franchise production unit. 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.

Automotive ambition with Mac Tools franchise

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:05:01 GMT

Automotive ambition with Mac Tools franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Following years of wanting to be his own boss, William Briggs-Price, 29, finally began trading as a Mac Tools franchisee in January 2009. As he explains, he is relishing the chance to realise his dream.

“I’ve always worked in the automotive sector in main dealers as a technician. However, I’ve had the desire to be my own boss for much of my working life. After researching the options available to set up my own business, I decided to open a Mac Tools franchise.

“I chose Mac Tools because I had personal experience of the tools and storage equipment and I knew what great quality they provided. This, coupled with my technical knowledge from my previous work, gave me the confidence that I could make the business a success. However, anyone without this experience should not be deterred from setting up their own franchise, as the excellent training provided by Mac Tools ensures all franchisees have the necessary knowledge to go out and sell the tools.

“I was also very impressed with the support package offered to franchisees and I felt I wouldn’t be on my own when ‘going it alone’ and that’s very reassuring. All franchisees are provided with a brand new van, uniform and marketing literature to help make their business a success. In addition, the back office support and assistance with producing documents such as a business plan has been invaluable.

“I work in the Nottingham area and make sure I visit customers once a week. It is vitally important to build strong relationships with the mechanics and regular visits are essential for this. Mac Tools provides all franchisees with regular exciting marketing support and this really helps boost my sales.

“Becoming a franchisee has meant I get to spend much more time at home and I can be as flexible as I want. It’s great to wake up every day and go to work for yourself. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone considering a career change!”

Life after redundancy with Maid2Clean franchise

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:05:01 GMT

Life after redundancy with Maid2Clean franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisee: Julie Ginnever

Territory: Worksop

Franchise: Maid2Clean Franchisee.

Having been made redundant twice Julie Ginnever decided she would like to take control of her own destiny.

Before finishing her last job, a company which ran workshops on how to set up your own company came to visit and this was where she first heard about franchises.

Julie chose Maid2Clean because, having very little knowledge of running a company herself, she wanted to get it right. The business model suited her perfectly, it didn't cost a fortune to set up or maintain and there was plenty of ongoing support.

Julie says “I have now been running my franchise for nearly 5 years and I'm happy to say I hope to be running it for many more years to come. In just 5 years I have watched the business model grow and develop.

The support and input from all the franchises in the Maid2Clean network is amazing, more like a family. You are only ever a phone call away from the best support you could wish for.

I won't pretend it’s all plain sailing, far from it. It throws up its own challenges as does any business but the rewards are there. I have found that you really do get out of Maid2Clean what you put in.”

Recognising the value of the Autovaletdirect brand

Mon, 13 Dec 2010 04:05:01 GMT

Recognising the value of the Autovaletdirect brand

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Name Richard West

Location Nottingham Central

Franchise Autovaletdirect

Why I chose franchising

The reason I wanted to go into franchising was so that I could launch a well-established business, with a proven track record.

What I did before taking up a franchise

Before launching an Autovaletdirect franchise, I ran my own electrical contracting company.

How I raised the finance

In order to raise the finance for an Autovaletdirect franchise, I used some of my own money and then approached several banks with a business plan.

The training and support I receive from my franchisor

In order to prepare, I have spent a week with another franchisee of the same business. From my franchisor, I received a week full training using my own equipment and vehicle.

The challenges I have faced

So far the biggest challenge I have faced is poor weather conditions.

My advice to someone thinking of buying their first franchise

What I would recommend to prospective franchisees is to choose a business you enjoy doing, or know plenty about. I would say that it is vital to do plenty of research

My plans for the future

My plans for the future are simple: to expand my business and make money.

Complete change of life with the Camping & Caravanning Club

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 04:05:01 GMT

Complete change of life with the Camping & Caravanning Club

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Denise Ingram and Gabriel Hutchings were seeking a new opportunity that would also enable them to have a complete change of lifestyle, following the sale of their thriving organic vegetables business that Gabriel had started from scratch.

Previously, they had both enjoyed varied careers. Denise had worked in fashion production in Hong Kong, while Gabriel had been a photographer and run a franchise within Madame Tussauds before studying horticulture and setting up the organic veg business.

“I’d known about franchising for years and we had discovered some possibilities. Then I was looking on the web for franchise opportunities when the Club’s site came up. Denise and I had done quite a bit of camping, so we were aware of the Club but didn’t really know what it was or what made it different from the competition,” Gabriel explained.

“Franchising appealed to us because it offers a proven formula, which helps to avoid the risk of making the primary mistakes of setting up a new venture. There is an opportunity to see the model working and to understand the business before getting involved,” he continued.

Denise and Gabriel had some specific criteria for the business they were seeking. “We wanted something that would be stable and that could be done from home. This was an important consideration because, at the time, Denise had been ill. We needed a venture that she could work in if she felt well enough or she could stay in the house but with me close by,” Gabriel said.

Denise took up the story: “We believed there was a good future in the British holiday market and we have always enjoyed the outdoor life. We wanted to own a business completely, including its premises. When we sold the organics company, it was stock and goodwill but the premises were leased. However, a campsite can be purchased freehold, representing a much better investment.

“The Club has a good pedigree, proof that there is definitely a market for camping and caravanning. We felt that with the size of investment required for a campsite, we could do it only if we had an established partner able to deliver the numbers of campers that we would need. We knew that the Club’s extensive marketing activities would promote our site to over 450,000 regular Club members plus all the thousands of others who visit the website and read camping magazines,” she continued. Impressed by the Club’s presentation of the franchise, which they described as “convincing and professional” the couple decided they would like to go ahead. They commented: “After we had been accepted, we visited some campsites and met franchisees but it took a long search to find a park for us. We decided to go with this one because we liked the land that came with the park. Also, we’d had an offer on our house so we felt that it really was time to leave Berkshire and move on.”

Initially, they ran the park as it was for the first year and then started on a range of improvements in November 2008 to bring it up to Club standards. Despite a long, cold and wet winter, they worked hard to achieve their 50-pitch site and are proud of their pioneering “greener camping” approach with a new amenity block that uses solar power and toilets that flush with recycled water.

“Not only did we manage to pull it all together but we opened on time, 2nd April 2009. We opened at the right time, as there has been a great increase in numbers of campers compared to 2008. It’s good to be part of a network and have the support and understanding of other campsite owners. The Club’s systems work well and we know it would have been very difficult to get it all up and running if we had been an independent operator,” they commented.

“Of course, having a franchise is no different from running any business of your own. There’s always the challenge of getting all the jobs done while keeping the site going and the campers content,” Gabriel said.

“We built the organic business, which was hard work but rewarding. We had an idea, took a risk that worked and then we sold the business. The great thing about having your own business is getting away from the oppression of unfulfilling employment. Being self-employed also offers some flexibility, with improved opportunities for a happy family life, which should not to be taken for granted,” they agreed.

Enjoying the stability of a Signs Express franchise

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 04:05:01 GMT

Enjoying the stability of a Signs Express franchise

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

This week sees the brand new opening of leading national sign franchise Signs Express in Nottingham. Husband and wife team, Adam and Jane Bailey are both looking forward to working with businesses in the Nottingham area.

Signs Express is the UK and Ireland’s leading sign company serving over 75 areas across the country.

Adam and Jane will be opening their doors to the public the week commencing 26th September. The centre is a 2000 sq. ft custom designed unit, with state of the art equipment and specialised work areas for the highest quality results. Adam brings with him a wide range of sign making skills, having worked as a sign maker himself for the past 25 years, with Jane working as the Marketing Director. Signs Express (Nottingham) also has its own drive-in vehicle livery bay which provides the perfect climate controlled environment for graphics application.

Jane commented on their decision on franchising and joining Signs Express; “We came to the conclusion that we wanted to have a business together and decided that with Adam’s vast experience, staying in the sign industry was the best decision. After much research and visiting other Signs Express centres it really helped us to confirm that we were making the right decision, you can’t fail to be impressed with the business model. The team has been great and we’ve been made to feel so welcome that we already feel we have been part of Signs Express for years.”

In today’s economy, starting a business could be considered as a gamble, however, by careful planning and diligence on behalf of the franchisor, the Signs Express business model in continuing to provide a stable package for new and already established centres.

As part of the UK and Ireland’s leading signs and graphics company, Signs Express (Nottingham) provides a complete design, manufacture and installation service for all forms of signage including interior/exterior signs, vehicle graphics, exhibition and display products, window graphics and health and safety signage for businesses in Nottingham and the surrounding areas.

New Ableworld franchise opens in Newark

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:05:01 GMT

New Ableworld franchise opens in Newark

East Midlands Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Mark Hennis and Naomi Moore (pictured) are the latest additions to the franchise network of fast-growing specialist mobility retailers Ableworld.

Until recently Mark and Naomi ran a successful country pub on the outskirts of Newark and decided that for their next venture they wanted to go into a business that has a social as well as a commercial focus. Mark told us “We wanted to run a business that is ethical and fulfils a need in the community in which we live. We have seen plenty of poor service in the retail sector and we hope to bring our experience in the hospitality trade into a new sector.”

Naomi, who previously worked for the NHS, added “We want to build links and more importantly trust within our local community in our business. We will be providing a one stop shop for our customers where you can purchase something as small as a pill box or as large as a stairlift and everything in between.”

Mark and Naomi have been fortunate in securing the services of local man, Chris James, who has a wealth of experience and local knowledge. Chris who comes from Sutton-on-Trent will mainly focus on the stairlift side of the business and in his own words “I can’t wait to start helping the people of Newark”. Chris will also be looking after the engineering side of the business which includes the maintenance and repair of larger mobility items like scooters and riser-recliner chairs.

A final word from Mark about his and Naomi ‘s hope for the future of their business “We hope to build up a loyal customer base within the local community and surrounding areas built on great service, knowledgeable staff and competitive prices.”