South East England Franchisee Case Studies on whichfranchise.com

Servicemaster franchise inspires others to franchise

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Card Connection franchise acquires Chertsey territory

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Servicemaster franchise owner for over 30 years

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Franchise event arrives in Southampton

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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 9^th 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:

www.southcoastfranchisefranchiseshow.co.uk

Franchise success with The Local Bookkeeper in 1st year

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

To visit Kelly Derhams’s The Local Bookkeeper Horsham website, click on: http://horsham.thelocalbookkeeper.co.uk/

Being a team player at McDonald's

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

My franchise has given me control of my life

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Ollie and his dad fix hoodies for school leavers at Recognition Express

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.”

Buying a Maid2Clean franchise was the best thing we ever did

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Off to a flying start with Cartridge World franchise

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.”

Lighterlife franchise helps fight recession battle

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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!”

The Rosemary Conley franchise name is synonymous with quality and success

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Getting paid to do what I love with Rosemary Conley franchise

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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!"

Monkey Music franchise is absolutely inspiring to Val

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Recognition Express Southern key rings take a slow boat to St Helena

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

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.

Creating a job from a passion with Silverdaze franchise

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Creating a job from a passion with Silverdaze franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Avni first discovered Silverdaze on a routine visit to the local library with her children. Enchanted by the “uniqueness” of the Jewellery Avni soon became a regular and loyal customer of Vicky’s. A year later in August 2007 Avni made the decision to become a franchisee: “I just love the Jewellery and that’s all there is to it!”

“If you believe in any product, you can sell it.” That’s what I truly believe! From a very early age I was always interested in the family business and desperate to get involved. By the age of seven I had talked my way into my father’s shop and soon developed a strong sense of work ethic to the business. I don’t think I could ever sit back and do nothing, my husband would prefer that I concentrated on the children and had plenty of leisure time, but that’s just not me; I enjoy working. So much so, that when my husband bought his own Coffee Republic franchise, I was there helping him to set up the coffee bar. He now runs his own very successful franchise. After 25 years of working for a major high street bank, the latter 10 on a part-time basis, I decided in January 2009 to dedicate myself to my own franchise.

Shopping is my passion and perhaps for this reason being a Silverdazer doesn’t feel like I’m working. I just enjoy my job so much and it doesn’t interfere with my children. I’m able to drop the kids off and then go off and do a company sale or coffee morning. My husband is very supportive, so when I go out to do a party in the evenings he really appreciates being able to spend quality time with the children. On average I usually do about 2 events a week and always take July and August off to make the most of the summer with the kids. When I get very busy, extended members of my family are happy to step in and help. I think I’m a very lucky person!

I’m very outgoing and I like socializing and meeting people. I’m not in the business for the money I’m just passionate about the Jewellery and like to think that I am offering a valuable service to my customers. Let’s face it, how many other companies go out and take their product to the customer? The more I go out and about the more regular events I get and the more I get to know people by name and find out about their lives in general. I feel like I’ve developed a real sense of community and this has led to my customers being very loyal to me. For example, when one of my customers is wearing Jewellery that is not Silverdaze, they almost feel like they have to apologise. ”I bought it on holiday, but the quality is just not the same!”

Anything can happen in my job, you just never know what to expect! Once, not long after I’d started I did a corporate event in a large multinational company. My expectation was that this was going to be one of the best events I had ever done. I got there and the lifts weren’t working. I had to lug all my Jewellery boxes up several flights of stairs. I was exhausted and at the end of the day I had made just £8…I felt like I was going to burst into tears! A few weeks later I did another sale at an office where they stuck me out in a corridor and supplied me with one small table. I only had enough space to display half my stock. As you can imagine I was at the end of my tether and about to give it all up, but guess what? I took £1,700 in just a couple of hours. Talk about going from one extreme to another. But then variety is the spice of life is it not?

Buying into an established business with Silverdaze franchise

Wed, 26 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Buying into an established business with Silverdaze franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Janet joined the company in April 2009, but was no newcomer to Silverdaze. She and her husband Dave first met Diana at a village market in 2004. Whilst Janet was busy browsing through the Jewellery Diana discovered that Dave was a website designer. A year later Diana set up the Silverdaze Franchise, searched out Dave’s business card and commissioned him to design her website. Dave continues to manage and update the website to this day.

I had often thought about becoming a Silverdazer, but the catalyst was when my husband’s job came under threat and I thought “What can I do to help?” I had started out in IT and became an administrator for a web design company, but I wanted a change of direction and didn’t want to feel like I was going backwards. Once I had made the decision I couldn’t wait to get started and felt impatient waiting for Diana to return from a buying trip overseas.

I bought a Franchise resale from the first ever franchisee to join the company, which meant I received a lot of good advice, a customer base and a number of venues before starting out on my own. My first event was an Open Day at my own home and I was feeling quite confident because my guests would all be people that I knew. That morning, when I had all my Jewellery laid out in trays on the floor, I began to panic about what it would look like and would I be able to display it as well as Diana and the team in the office had shown me. My first guest arrived and she just loved the Jewellery, so things got easier and as the day went on I began to realize what a success my business was going to be!

It was also nice to have the company and moral support from my fellow franchisees Vicky and Avni, who commented on how nice my trays looked and offered me practical advice such as pre-preparing the wrapping tissue by cutting it into different sizes and polishing the Jewellery before wrapping it. Avni even tried to buy some of my unique one off pieces, but unfortunately for Avni I sold the pieces that she really liked.

I would say that my own taste in Jewellery is quite conservative but the more I buy and sell the more adventurous I become. I’m getting better at buying for other people’s tastes and knowing what sells well. For example, I tend to take lots of rings and earrings to fetes and fairs, but more expensive pieces to private functions. But having said that, everyone loves our rings! My best event was a party for a friend of a friend who came to my open day. All her guests were just so enthusiastic about the Jewellery and loved the raw silk, satin lined party bags. I did so well that I went straight out and treated myself to a brand new Radley handbag!

I’m a lot busier than I used to be and I don’t waste as much time, somehow the more you have to do the more you get done. I enjoyed having a break from IT and it allowed me to spend time with my dad when he was ill, but this doesn’t feel like work, because I’m doing it for us and my social circle is becoming wider and wider. I’m happy to work up to four events a week and my next treat is to book a holiday to our favourite destination Las Vegas!

One year on with Martin & Co franchise in Folkestone

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:05:00 GMT

One year on with Martin & Co franchise in Folkestone

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Martin & Co Folkestone franchise owner Dennis Roodhardt shares his experiences of his Martin & Co office’s first year in business.

How have you performed in your first year what was your turnover?

We have performed extremely well, meeting and exceeding our targets each month. Our first year turnover was approximately £100k.

What have you learnt over the past year?

Our competitors’ common weakness is poor customer service. We’ve spent the last year focusing on our customers, ensuring that we’re not only efficient, but also personal and approachable. This has become a winning combination for us and several of our multi-landlords have commented that they would much rather work with us than our competitors and prospective tenants are telling us that they’d rather ‘Move In With Martin’.

What have you enjoyed about running your own business?

Being responsible for our own success and creating jobs in a tough market have been major drivers in the last year. Even the long hours have been rewarding – just knowing that every bit of effort we plough in today is an investment in our future.

How has working with your wife been?

The key to our success is communication; we talk through every challenge and ensure that we reach agreement as soon as possible. We also have very complimentary skill sets; my business degree, big ideas, audacity and experience as a landlord compliments Rachel’s attention to detail and experience in sales & marketing; being the adjoining piece in a jigsaw puzzle is what makes a great team.

What does the future holds for your business?

Sky’s the limit. Our goal is to be the No.1 Letting Agent in Folkestone in terms of lets by the end of 2010. We estimate that we’re already 2nd in the local market based on lets agreed. Once we’ve achieved dominance in the Folkestone market we’ll be looking to expand and acquire a second territory.

What would you say to others thinking about going down the franchise route?

Go for it! Martin & Co offers the resources, training and branding to get your business off to a great start.

A proven track record with an Oscars franchise

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:05:00 GMT

A proven track record with an Oscars franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisee: Tim Ives

Territory: Horsham, West Sussex

Date established: July 2004

Coming from a family devoted to animal welfare, I was drawn back to my roots on deciding that the stresses and strains of 20 years in the education sector had taken their toll.

I yearned to build a successful business for myself with a healthier lifestyle and more time to enjoy family, friends and the great outdoors.

I was drawn to Oscar because of its ethos and proven track record. From day one, I was impressed with their honesty and support and, having dismissed several less attractive options, it was such human’ factors that finally convinced me to purchase an Oscar franchise.

Taking charge of your own destiny with Original Poster Company franchise

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Taking charge of your own destiny with Original Poster Company franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisees: Mike and Pat Hocking

Territory: Windsor & Woking

The Original Poster Company welcomes new franchisees to Windsor/Woking area

I am pleased to announce that Mike and Pat Hocking have taken over our Windsor / Woking franchise from September 2nd 2009.

Mike having spent 27 years in the corporate world working hard for the benefit of others, he decided that the time was now right to take charge of his own destiny and enjoy the benefits of his hard work.

Mike joins us with significant sales experience gained from different roles within the corporate world and is looking forward to putting these into practice with the existing customer account base, but also developing the territory with new business.

Mike had looked at several business opportunities of which he felt that The Original Poster Company filled all the relevant boxes with being well established, professional, good back up and would be able to give him the business model for him to achieve his goals.

We welcome them to the company and believe that they will be able to improve on what is an already successful franchise territory.

Developing more with a Cartridge World franchise

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Developing more with a Cartridge World franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Mike Cooper opened the doors to his new Cartridge World franchise store in June 2008. Just one year later he has been joined by his wife, Jacqui and their first employee as they celebrated record sales on their first anniversary.

Mike was no stranger to the concept of running a franchise having run a petrol station franchise previously. In joining Cartridge World, he saw the potential to develop more skills, especially in the areas of marketing and publicity.

The store opened in Bletchley, to the south of Milton Keynes and was the first franchise to open in this area. Sales got off to a flying start, showing around 12% growth month on month and overall grew by 75% between the second and eighth month of trading, notwithstanding one of the toughest ever trading climates.

Mike explains: “Many of our customers do appreciate the green qualities of the refilled and remanufactured ink cartridges and when this is coupled with some of the keenest pricing compared to other retailers, we have a winning combination.”

The franchise sells to individual and business customers. Mike realises the potential of growing sales amongst small and medium-sized businesses in his area and to this end has introduced a collection and delivery service to boost the competitive offering. This combined with credit facilities for local businesses is reaping its own reward with more repeat business and an expanding, loyal business customer base.

Being part of a global organisation with a UK-based Head Office ensures that prompt technical support is always at hand and this has ensured smooth operating of his business from day 1. Mike appreciates the knowledgeable and timely response he receives to any queries that arise day-to-day. He acknowledges the importance of the range of support and training given to new franchisees and thinks that the ongoing marketing and support services provided are second to none.

Mike says: “It’s vital to feel that you have the support you need and the advice and guidance has proved itself to be so relevant. When you are competing in a tough, price driven market, you need to also be able to stand out as an expert on the customer service and technical sides. I feel able to do this thanks to the support provided by Cartridge World.”

Looking to the future, Mike is concentrating on continuing the tremendous growth achievement of his first twelve months in business which saw like-for-like sales for June 2008 and June 2009 increase from £6000 to £20000 – an impressive increase of around 333%.

Mike is confident: “I know that if we are as keen on price as we have been and we maintain our high levels of customer service, we can achieve more growth. We’ve made it our business to keep a close eye on our competition and make sure that we focus on our strengths, particularly in the refilled and remanufactured cartridges. Clearly it’s tough at the moment but we know that if we can build a sound business in this climate, we are ideally positioned for future expansion.”

Mike and his wife Jacqui, who have three children, would like to open another store in the not too distant future within the local area. With the backing of Cartridge World Franchise Support and Mike and Jacqui’s determination, you know it won’t be too long before their next store opens for business.

Platinum Property Partners franchise gives stability to mums

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Platinum Property Partners franchise gives stability to mums

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Judy Mizen, a married mother of three, worked as a physiotherapist, specialising in neurological rehabilitation, until her first child was born eleven years ago. In 2007 she decided to go back to work in order to create a more stable financial future for the family but felt her previous career was no longer a suitable full-time option. Property was something she’d always been interested in, but she hadn’t considered franchising until she came across Platinum Property Partners at a property show.

Immediately impressed by PPP’s founders, Steve Bolton and Nick Carlile, Judy and her husband Chris were intrigued by the concept of a property franchise. The idea of having personal one-to-one mentoring and being able to not only follow proven systems, but also tap into an extensive ‘power team’ of property, legal and financial professionals, gave Judy the confidence and inspiration that this was something she could really excel at. Chris has his own successful business in the film industry, so although he is fully supportive, Judy is running their PPP franchise.

Says Judy, “When I’ve told people what I’m doing, most have been quite surprised and impressed, and some have even said they wished they’d taken a similar plunge. I’ve currently got 3 highly cash-positive buy to let properties in Basingstoke, which provide a pre-tax monthly profit of over £3,000 and I’m also now mentoring new Franchise Partners in planning and refurbishment, which I’ve had a good deal of experience in.

The property market, and in particular the investment market, has gone through such changes in the time that I’ve been a Franchise Partner, that I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to keep growing my business alone, without the support of PPP. I’ve seen and heard of so many people who have been in property for years, but because they’ve been following just one investment method, their business has floundered. The Franchise offers a tried and tested ‘toolbox’ of options for profiting from property, and as the market alters we are trained and supported in new investment methods, which means we don’t have to spend time and effort trying to find out what the ‘next best thing’ is, or worry about being left behind.

Because the Founders are all so well-connected in the sector and the Franchise has group ‘buying power’, I know that what is being fed down to us and the professional expertise we have access to really is the best of what’s out there. We have 2-day workshops at least four times a year, and there are always expert guest speakers on different aspects of both the property market and business in general. One of the things that is really attractive about the PPP Franchise is its holistic approach to business and life. Since becoming a Franchise Partner I know I’ve not only been able to build a solid property business, but have also improved my overall business and personal skills and reassessed my goals and objectives for the future, thanks to the workshops and coaching facilitated by PPP.”

The nature of the business is such that the working hours are largely flexible, which suits Judy very well, and the rapidly growing franchise community of like-minded people adds to the support network, as well as being a sociable group – lots of new friendships have been forged.

For now Judy is keen to concentrate on building up a cash-positive portfolio, which will provide a good regular income, but is looking forward to moving into developing in the UK in the not too distant future, and knows she will have no problem doing that, with the support of the franchise.

'Olderpreneurs' suited to Account Assist franchise

Thu, 21 Oct 2010 04:05:00 GMT

'Olderpreneurs' suited to Account Assist franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Chris Matthews, from Milton Keynes has a successful CV. He was FD of an AIM listed company and following that, for a Towcester company, which sold last year leaving Chris kicking his heels. Some would say it was the perfect time for an early retirement...But not Chris – he decided to start a business instead.

Chris started Accounts Assist (Milton Keynes) Ltd, a bookkeeping and management accountancy business in March 2010 at the age of 56. He has joined an increasing trend of ‘olderpreneurs’.

“The level of self-employment in the 50-plus age group is about one in five — one-and-a-half times the level of entrepreneurialism across all ages,” says Luke Johnson, a serial entrepreneur and chairman of the Royal Society of Arts, champions the cause of the “olderpreneur”.

For Chris, starting his own business was preferable to working for a large organisation again.

“Early retirement was never an option for me because I knew I would get bored within a week. Starting Accounts Assist (Milton Keynes) was a perfect compromise. It meant that I could work from home and work the hours that suited me. There was no more dreaded commute and I could spend more time with my wife.”

Chris feels better equipped starting a business later in life as he has much more to offer:

“My customers are not only getting a trained bookkeeper, but also benefit from my years of management accountancy experience gained from being a Financial Director. There are businesses that are struggling with cash flow, yet have a genuinely strong offering. Management accountancy – using accounts data to inform business decisions – offers a way to turn an ailing business around, making sure that cash flow keeps moving and that funds go where they are needed to ensure the business survives and thrives.”

Chris currently runs Accounts Assist (Milton Keynes) Ltd from his home office. He offers a free initial consultation and can work in-house or offsite, according to the needs of the client. To contact Chris, email chris.matthews@accountsassist.co.uk

Young businessman finds future with Mac Tools franchise

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Young businessman finds future with Mac Tools franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

He may still only be in his mid-twenties, but Phil Edwards has already had a successful career as car mechanic and tyre fitter. Now he has become his own boss at Mac Tools, providing a mobile tools and equipment service to garages and dealerships in the Newbury area.

Cars are in Phil’s blood, and it was at the Autosports Show at Birmingham NEC that he was first introduced to Mac Tools, a long-established national company that specialises in providing tools and equipment to the automotive industry.

Phil, 25, who lives with his parents in Salchester, is only in his first month as a Mac Tools distributor, but results are looking good and he is relishing being his own boss.

He said: “Mac Tools have always had great customer service, and it’s now a pleasure to be able to work for them. The help and support they provide for me now is brilliant.

“I get out what I put in, and I have been working very hard which I don’t mind at all as I am determined to make this business a success.”

Mac Tools territories are sought after because of the wide range and quality of products and the ongoing business support provided by Mac Tools head office to each distributor.

Said Paul Clegg, Mac Tools recruitment manager: “The calibre of applicants wanting to be franchisees is high. Phil impressed us with his experience in and passion for the industry and his determination to do well. We welcome him to Mac Tools and look forward to helping him grow and develop his new business.”

Young businessman finds future with Mac Tools franchise

Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Young businessman finds future with Mac Tools franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Phil, 25, who lives with his parents in Salchester, is only in his first month as a Mac Tools distributor, but results are looking good and he is relishing being his own boss.

He said: “Mac Tools have always had great customer service, and it’s now a pleasure to be able to work for them. The help and support they provide for me now is brilliant.

“I get out what I put in, and I have been working very hard which I don’t mind at all as I am determined to make this business a success.”

Mac Tools territories are sought after because of the wide range and quality of products and the ongoing business support provided by Mac Tools head office to each distributor.

Wadhurst PC PAL franchisee delivers new computer repair service

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Wadhurst PC PAL franchisee delivers new computer repair service

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Wadhurst man and former Postie Bruce Meredeen is set to be your computer’s new best friend as he launches PC PAL, which provides mobile computer repairs to homes and small businesses. Bruce has changed his career to provide this essential ‘emergency computer repair service’ to frustrated PC users in the Tunbridge Wells and Wealden areas.

In his early 50s with 2 school-age children, Bruce originally quit human resource management after some 25 years looking for a complete career change. He has lived in rural East Sussex since 2003 and during that period has got to know his territory, which includes Tunbridge Wells and most of Wealden District by working as a Postie in Tunbridge Wells.

“I’ve been a computer user since the early 1980s and am still amazed at how PCs themselves and supporting their users has changed since then. Learning about hardware and software from the technical angle has been a very different experience,” commented Bruce.

“The PC PAL Franchise attracted me because of the comprehensive franchise package, the combination of formal and on-the-job training and the patient, friendly support provided by the franchisors and existing PC PAL engineers. I’ve seen that PC PAL operates ethically and that the whole business has a human, rather than a corporate feel.

“I’m both excited and daunted by the prospect of launching my own business, but confident that the proven PC PAL computer franchise model will work in this area as it does elsewhere in the country,” said Bruce.

Bruce went through rigorous training before launching the business and is now a qualified Microsoft Certified Professional and also has the CompTIA A+ Certification for hardware.

‘As I also carry a comprehensive range of spare parts and diagnostic tools it means I can fix most problems on the spot in the customer’s home or office which reduces the inconvenience to them of having to remove the PC to another location,’ added Bruce.

Bruce is looking forward to the challenge of building a successful business and providing an excellent and much-in-demand service in the local community.

Using your business experience with McDonald's franchise

Wed, 05 Jan 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Using your business experience with McDonald's franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Paul Crocker had run a number of successful petrol station businesses before taking on a McDonald's franchise in 1995. He now operates five restaurants in Kent with the help of his wife. He has consistently outperformed the national average for sales growth.

"The secret," says Paul, "is a combination of fine tuning operational performance and enticing new customers into the restaurant." He does this by getting out into the community, and seizing every opportunity there is to sponsor events and distribute vouchers so that people have an incentive to visit.

"McDonald's is great if you're competitive," Paul adds. "There are lots of measures to show you how you're performing regionally and nationally - as well as your own figures for last week and last year. I just like to beat targets. It gives me a buzz."

Paul was on the McMarCo committee for several years. It's made up of franchisees and senior people from Head Office who jointly decide the Company's marketing activity and spend for the following year. "It's amazing the influence you, just one individual, can have on the decisions of a big company," says Paul. "You really do have an effect. You're involved all the way, from coming up with ideas, to approving campaigns and budgets."

Cafe2U franchise - fun and flexible

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Cafe2U franchise - fun and flexible

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Tim spent many years as a management consultant before deciding to give up the corporate world to launch Cafe2U Reading West. Tim trades Monday to Friday 8 am – 4pm and has a steady stream of event bookings in the local area. Tim has opened a 2nd van within 6 months of his first Cafe2U opening!

“The initial success of my Cafe2U business has been overwhelming. It is a pleasure to be serving such a great product that my customers love. My corporate life is already a distant memory and the flexibility and fun I have running my Cafe2U business is a refreshing change.”

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Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Cafe2U franchise giving exciting lifestyle

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Cafe2U franchise giving exciting lifestyle

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Doug, Cafe2U Milton Keynes, since January 2009

Doug was a manager in the financial services prior to investing Cafe2U, after he had considered several franchise options. Doug is out serving coffee in Milton Keynes from 8am each day and finishes in time to pick up his son from school.

“Cafe2U has given me the opportunity to completely change my lifestyle.

Long hours were preventing me from spending quality time with my family, and the credit crunch brought added stress and the possibility of me losing my job as a manager in the financial services industry.”

After my formal meeting with Cafe2U, I visited two different franchise partners, and soon realised that even in the current climate Cafe2U have a fantastic product, for which demand isn’t slowing. It is so reassuring when customers build you into their daily work routine, and want to spend their money with you!”

Pirate to PCPal franchisee!

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Pirate to PCPal franchisee!

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Historical pirate re-enactment actor Richard Hunt, is set to be your computer’s new best friend as he launches PC PAL, which provides computer repairs on the spot to homes and small businesses. Richard recently changed his career to provide this essential ‘emergency service’ to frustrated PC users in the Basingstoke area.

Prior to setting up his new business, Richard worked setting up home theatre sound and vision systems. This was badly affected by the credit crunch and so he wanted to get into repairing PCs which was a service still highly in-demand, despite the recession! After initially looking for a job in a large company, a friend suggested he look at franchised businesses which led him to PC PAL.

‘I was attracted to PC PAL as the package provided me with a professional Microsoft qualification for software and a CompTIA A+ one for hardware, which was something I was intending to study for anyway’ Richard explained. ‘However, with PC PAL you have the support and backing of a national company and brand. When we went to visit PC PAL it was obvious they have the people, systems and support structures in place and I was confident they were the right choice for me.’

Richard went through rigorous training before launching the business. ‘It was great to go out on real jobs with the PC Engineers at HQ before launching as it gave me the confidence I needed as well as showed me how the PC PAL system worked’ he commented.

Richard is now a fully qualified Microsoft Certified Professional and also has the CompTIA A+ Certification for hardware. He also carries a comprehensive range of spare parts and diagnostic tools meaning 99% of problems can be fixed on the spot in people’s homes or offices which reduces the inconvenience to the customer of having to take the PC out to another location.

PC PAL are fighting back against rouge computer firms and shops who either are not qualified, insured or who offer a shoddy service. As our customers have previously testified, some unscrupulous firms are recommending work which does not need to be carried out, misdiagnosing altogether or even installing illegal software.

Richard is now looking forward to the challenge of building a successful business and being recognised as providing an excellent and much-in-demand service in the local community.

For PC help, local people can call Richard Hunt of PC PAL on the 7-Day Helpline 01256 52 8000 to arrange a suitable time slot or visit PC PAL Basingstoke

Growing a rewarding business with Metro Rod franchise

Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Growing a rewarding business with Metro Rod franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Name: Will Duncan MBE

Location: Portsmouth

Will spent twenty four years in military service before investing in a Metro Rod franchise. After leaving the army, Will initially embarked on a successful career in residential management. However, eventually the lure of working for himself became too strong. He researched a number of prospective franchise businesses, but was most impressed by Metro Rod’s strong reputation within the industry. With no direct experience in drainage engineering, Will was convinced that the high levels of training and support offered by Metro Rod would allow him to grow a successful and rewarding business.

Running his new franchise was a challenge to begin with. Will found he had to work on drains during the day and on paperwork in the evening for the first two years. However, his military background meant Will wasn’t afraid of hard work, and his efforts have paid off, with three engineers now on the payroll, so Will can take a more strategic management role in his business.

“I don’t feel that I have a job. I have a vocation which fulfils me more than any job I have had since retiring from the military”

Cafe2U franchisees plans further growth after Supreme Bean Award

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Cafe2U franchisees plans further growth after Supreme Bean Award

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Tim & Kathie Shaw, husband and wife owner/operators of Cafe2U Reading West have scooped this year’s Supreme Bean Award at this year’s Cafe2U Annual National Leadership Conference in Leeds. The award was presented by at the Cafe2U awards dinner by Cafe2U Chairman, David Downie.

The Supreme Bean Award was presented this year to the person deemed to have been the year’s best new starter. Tim & Kathie had an exceptional start to the launch of their business, combining excellent preparation, with first class attention to detail during the training week. Tim & Kathie launched with Cafe2U’s Accelerated Launch Package in May 2010 and soon established a strong round of regular customers in Reading.

Tim & Kathie have also maintained very high standards in the presentation of their business. Use of the Cafe2U merchandising and product lines is excellent. Most importantly their customers report great coffee, great customer service, reliability and guaranteed smiles which brighten up their days!

Tim & Kathie explain their delight at winning the award. “The past year has been so rewarding. We decided at the start of last year we needed a change of direction and within six months of starting things were going so well we ordered our second van and begun expanding within our territory. We now have twice as many Cafe2U customers getting their daily caffeine kick from one of our two Cafe2U vans. We are hopeful next month that we will be ordering van number three and expanding into our second territory!”

Cafe2U delivers fresh espresso coffee daily to businesses all over Reading.

No regrets with Granite Transformations franchise

Thu, 31 Mar 2011 04:05:00 GMT

No regrets with Granite Transformations franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

It is when they – reluctantly – attended a Granite Transformations seminar seven years ago that Rob and Georgina Douthwaite realised that “it was an attractive package, with a great set of products, processes and systems.” They then set up their own showroom in Lymington seven ago and within a month they were married – and business partners.

They had no experience in sales and marketing, but the combination of their previous careers – Rob in the army and Georgina as an Executive Assistant – gave them suitable management and operational skills. “Besides, in areas where we need specialist support, Rocksolid Granit offers all the necessary expertise and makes the right management tools available to us”, they explain.

Their interest in kitchen and bathroom decoration was first stimulated by the setting of their own home while extensive product training and assisting countless customers with their interior designs gave the Douthwaites some grounding in the home improvement business. Their operation now covers two franchise territories, in Southampton and Bournemouth and latterly won an award for achieving sales 150% over target.

Rob and Georgina have no regrets to have change careers and go down the route of franchising: "With a franchise, you get to be your own boss, but with the benefit of an organisation that knows exactly how the business works and provides expert support in all the key areas.”

Southampton Drain Doctor franchise continues to dazzle

Wed, 18 May 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Southampton Drain Doctor franchise continues to dazzle

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

It is fun and rewarding to be a Drain Doctor franchisee. The Portsmouth and Southampton-based franchise business of Drain Doctor Plumbing, which covers the cities and surrounding towns and villages, has crowned a successful year by being presented with the Dazzling Service award at the national group’s annual awards ceremony.

The award is given to those franchisees who the chairman feels have contributed to the overall Drain Doctor Plumbing organisation over the past year by being loyal, dedicated and resilient.

Presenting the award, Drain Doctor chairman Freddie Mitman said: “Allan and Jacqui Rook are very much a part of the solid backbone of Drain Doctor Plumbing and the company wouldn’t be the same without them. One of Drain Doctor’s original franchisees, they have been with Drain Doctor for fourteen years and have helped and supported many other franchisees over the years.”

Allan said: “This award is recognition of the hard work put in to provide people in this area with dazzling plumbing and drainage service. Drain Doctor Plumbing rewards dedication, enthusiasm and customer care and I am delighted to have picked up this award.

“Success is the product of a national identity coupled with a proven system and the ongoing training and motivation of our technicians. Despite the current recession my new and returning customer base is increasing and we have expanded accordingly.”

Last year the Southampton franchisee also had the distinction of completing the national company’s one millionth job after being called out to unblock a WC for a customer in Hedge End, Hampshire.

Allan Rook said: “We were called out to fix a blocked WC in the couple’s home. I sent one of our technicians, Paul Kay, who removed the blockage.”

The winning couple were delighted with the work and even more delighted when Allan then informed them that they had won a luxury holiday because they were Drain Doctor’s one millionth customer in the UK.

Allan added: “A million customers is a pretty impressive figure and underlines the fact that Drain Doctor is now the UK’s largest plumbing and drain repair business.

“However, we have reached that position through providing dazzling levels of service from individual franchise businesses like mine for which every customer is important. So, the winners received the same personal courtesy, care and professional attention as every other customer – as did the 1,000,001st and every customer after that.”

From high street fashion to high quality lawn care

Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:05:00 GMT

From high street fashion to high quality lawn care

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Patrick Daniel had worked his way up the corporate ladder in distribution, and at forty four was running the distribution business for a leading high street chain. Whilst his position was secure he found the job unfulfilling and he started to develop itchy feet, longing for the freedom of owning and running his own business.

"I realised that if I was going to start my own business I had to make a move now before it was too late, so I started to look at options for owning a business" says Patrick.

When he started to look at the choices it quickly became clear that the safest option was to go down the franchise route and benefit from someone else's years of experience, right from day one. Whilst doing initial research into the market and the lawn care business caught his attention.

"It may have been the fact that I had spent a great deal of my spare time playing cricket at county level, all that time spent on quality grass must have made an impression upon me. My wife was also involved in horticulture and she was passionate about the industry." says Patrick.

He did most of his initial research on the web and as he learned more about the industry he started to realise the massive potential offered by the lawn care market. Patrick believed that it was essential to choose the right partner and therefore he met with two lawn care franchisors.

"I knew it was a critical decision and one I would have to live with for some time, so it was very important to make sure the chemistry was right as well as the underlying business. Terry, at Lawnscience, seemed to have the same approach to business as I had always had, to offer a great service and to keep your customers coming back" explained Patrick.

Starting a new business was a little daunting at first, but within weeks he was attending the coaching sessions and had started to set up his new business.

"The training is really good, especially the sales and marketing side. If you have a lack of horticultural knowledge it is a steep learning curve, especially learning to use the equipment, but the support is good."

Today Patrick runs Lawnscience (Oxford) and with the help of his wife is growing the business. His advice to would be franchisees, "take your time to have a look at various franchises in the market as there are different options, choose your franchisor wisely, I did."

PC PAL score a hat trick launching 3 franchisees in one go!

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 04:05:00 GMT

PC PAL score a hat trick launching 3 franchisees in one go!

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

You know what they say about buses, well it’s also true about new franchisees, as PC PAL have recently proven! They have recently launched three new PC Repair and Support Franchises in the South of England.

Peter Clarke from Andover was previously a Product Manager for IT and Data Management Systems. However, he wanted a change of life and always wanted to be self-employed but needed support to make it happen. As someone who had always been interested in computers, he felt a PC Repair Franchise would be just the ticket. The professionalism and strong customer support ethics of the PC PAL Franchise attracted him initially. Peter commented, “I am very much looking forward to being my own boss and reaping the rewards obtained from my hard work. I’m also excited about being able to provide the customer service I would want to receive!”

After previously being made redundant twice, Mark Duncan, from Eastbourne, decided against risking a third and looked into franchising instead. Mark previously worked in the Airline Industry in Sales, more recently employed as a Marketing Manager and then Operations Manager. “I went for PC Repair as I have a household with 6 desktops and laptops, 3 smart phones and various online gaming consoles as well as ageing parents/in-laws who seem to need a constant stream of help and advice in basic computing! - what better reason to get myself up to speed in all the current technology?”

Mark had previously had some experience of fixing PCs for friends and family. He also always enjoyed trouble shooting and finding solutions.

“I chose PC PAL because I found a concept that I really liked, a service that I would be happy to use myself, and one that appears to be run by a very genuine, honest and supportive Franchisor. Jat Mann, The Managing Director impressed me enormously with his open and honest approach as well as the friendly and relaxed atmosphere in which PC PAL operate.

Finally Sean Forster from Watford, has finally realised an ambition to get back into the world of IT after several years. After redundancy as a software developer he struggled to find suitable and secure employment in IT and went on to work in other areas, but still kept up with his IT interests by obtaining various IT certifications in his spare time.

“I’ve been thinking of working for myself for a few years, and friends and family have been pushing for me to start my own PC business in order for me to benefit from my IT skills. They don’t want to see me waste these skills,” Sean said.

“However, I’ve lacked the confidence to “go it alone”. I felt that franchising was a better option as it offers expertise that I can tap into immediately and therefore make my learning curve easier. Ultimately, I’m looking for a business that can earn me a good living doing something I enjoy.”

Recognition Express franchise - Backed up by the best

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Recognition Express franchise - Backed up by the best

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Name: Hugh O’Neill

Franchise Territory: Bromley & Dartford

Commenced Trading: May 2010

Previous Job: Regional Business Manager for a
Contract Caterer

Why did you choose to buy into a franchise?

Scary starting a business from scratch, wanted something that was proven and with a support structure.

Why did you choose Recognition Express?

I knew of Recognition Express as they used to supply my last company badges, I did not realise the extent of what they did. When I did my research, I was impressed with the quality of products I could supply, the margin that could be achieved, the low overhead costs and the support that would be offered.

I spoke to an existing Franchise Owner, Stuart Fisher said ‘you get what is on the tin’ and he is right!

How have you found the training and support given by Recognition Express?

Comprehensive and supportive.

How do you see your business progressing over the next three years?

In the first 3 years I see myself developing a solid base on which to grow the business.

What has been the response of customers?

We are competitive on pricing (not the cheapest), but we also provide an excellent personal service

What quality would you say is most important in your role?

Hardworking, a good listener, a passion to make your business a success

Do you have any advice to anybody considering Recognition Express as a franchise?

The franchise has everything you need to make a successful business, it is then up to you! I love it!

Backed with support from Recognition Express franchise

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Backed with support from Recognition Express franchise

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Name: Paul Mitchell
Franchise territory: Thames Valley
Commenced Trading: 1981
Previous Job: Airline Steward

Over a period of 30 years, franchisee Paul Mitchell has been able to develop his business with the knowledge that he will always be backed with high standards of support by Recognition Express.

“I’ve been a Recognition Express franchisee since 1981, which means I’ve seen how the business has developed and improved every year,” says Paul. “The business today is very different from when I launched. There’s a huge emphasis on branding and marketing – a focus on making Recognition Express the first choice for our customers. The market has also changed too due to the growing importance of branding to any business. This means that there’s a lot more potential – any business can be considered a potential client.

“I’d always wanted to work for myself and it turned out that Recognition Express provided a great way for me to achieve this. It was their ability to provide great training and support that first attracted me to the business and this has got better and better. The business is always looking forward and has always been focused on improving its systems. The training is now very sophisticated and with all the added support, the franchise package is second to none.

“One of the benefits of a Recognition Express franchise is that a lot of new business comes straight to us through referrals. It’s up to the individual franchisee to decide how to use the marketing tools provided and market their business in their territory – you can look to develop the business as it suits you.

“The franchise revolves very much around marketing and sales, and as such experience in this would be a great help. However, it’s not strictly necessary at all. As long as you are personable and can relate to others in a professional environment, everything you need to know can be learned.

“I find the work to be very satisfying and still enjoy it after all these years. Recognition Express makes sure you are fully prepared to go into business and, so long as you follow the tried and tested format, everything is in place for success.”

Running a multi-van franchise with Cafe2U

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Running a multi-van franchise with Cafe2U

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Tim Shaw currently manages three vans over two Cafe2U territories in Berkshire and plans for more! Cafe2U is the world’s largest mobile coffee franchise system, delivering fresh espresso coffee and great food to businesses, events and functions. Cafe2U is an associate member of the British Franchise Association and has over 50 franchises in the UK.

Tim explains why he chose franchising and the Cafe2U franchise in particular.

Tim’s background is in customer experience transformation and prior to starting his Cafe2U franchise he had been a customer service consultant for 8 years and a telecoms manager for 7 years.

“I knew about franchising from the obvious franchise brands on the high street such as McDonalds and when I decided to start my own business, I didn’t quite have the confidence to go it alone completely so franchising seemed like the sensible option. It took 9 months from initially deciding on buying a franchise to signing up and launching my Cafe2U franchise.

“Although I had worked in a bar several years ago, I didn't really have any food service or retail experience and had never made a proper coffee in my life. I did have several years worth of experience helping organisations manage customer experience as a consultant, so this was more about putting my money where my mouth was. Catering or retail experience isn’t essential with this franchise, it is much more important to put yourself in the customers’ shoes and understand what they require from you - this is something that is taught throughout your training.

“I had always been interested in opening a coffee shop but I loved the concept of selling quality coffee in various locations. My customer service background really kicked in when I met the Cafe2U team and spent some time with a couple of franchise partners ; I could see how their impeccable service was another winner.

“The initial training was fantastic. I received an initial week’s worth of training as part of the Acceleration package, where I learnt the basic barista skills and how to manage the business, prior to this I had completed an online food and hygiene course organised by Cafe2U. I then worked closely with my Franchise Development Manager over the following three weeks, who pretty much camped on my doorstep and was the driving force in launching my business. I learnt so much over this period and this is what gave me the confidence to go on and manage my business successfully.

“The ongoing support has been very good. Cafe2U have adopted very much a collaborative approach and provide both simple operational tips to more strategic thinking to help develop my business.”

The UK’s coffee market is a strong one and there is plenty of competition on the high street but this is where Cafe2U come into their own. Cafe2U delivers its coffee to non-traditional locations via its eye-catching and ear-catching vans fitted out with the latest barista-quality equipment and musical airhorn.

Tim explains: “The competition from well-known café brands has not been an issue for us. Firstly both the quality of our product, professionalism and service that we provide sets us apart from many established coffee businesses. Secondly, the nature of our business model (delivering coffee directly to the customer) is unique to our area.

“It’s a huge buzz to see customers’ faces when they enjoy a good cup of coffee and I have great job satisfaction but this is also a business that provides an income so that I can spend time with my family and enjoy my hobbies. The mobile system means you can focus on times of peak demand and do not have the expense of operating a shop at less busy times.’

“We are operating ahead of forecast. Since we became operational 17 months ago, we have grown to operating three vans across two territories. On a typical Monday to Friday we have 23 stops per van each day and can sell anything up to 30 cups per stop plus a variety of snacks and sandwiches during lunchtimes.”

Tim is really pleased that he chose Cafe2U and that they chose him. He has some advice for those looking at buying a Cafe2U franchise: “Get experience with existing franchise partners. I visited two Cafe2U franchise partners before I signed up. It taught me a lot, and I was inspired to aim for expansion right away. Think about what your objectives are and capture these in your business plan. Define a way of measuring success so that you know how close you are to meeting your objectives. And, don't worry, you won’t be on your own as Cafe2U will help you with this and much more along the way!”

Tim’s enthusiasm for Cafe2U has really been rubbing off on everyone he meets: “I’m particularly pleased that I have also made an impact on other people looking to start a franchise. Amazingly, I served someone at the Caversham festival this summer who lives in the USA and he is now hoping to be one of the first franchisees to launch Cafe2U in the States!”

If you would like to know more about Cafe2U, why not join one of our Discovery Days? You can register by calling 08456 444708.

Mayoral Opening for First ZipYard franchise in South England

Tue, 06 Dec 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Mayoral Opening for First ZipYard franchise in South England

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The Mayor of Haywards Heath, Councillor John Sabin officially opened the Hayward Heath ZipYard. Located in Chelsea Arcade on the Broadway, it is the first ZipYard to open in the South of England.

Already well established in Ireland and recently launched in Wales and Altrincham, The ZipYard is the most successful and fastest growing garmet alteration franchise in the UK and Ireland. The Zip Yard concept brings on-site repairs and alterations to the high street in purpose-designed premises with state of the art machinery, computer systems and fully trained staff.

In addition to offering a wide range of services, The Haywards Heath ZipYard centre provides an express one hour premium option for easy items such as turning up a hem or shortening sleeves.

Owned by local woman Jane Alleigh the centre opened in the first week of November and is already proving to be very successful.

Said Jane: “From the minute we started the shop fit last month everyone has been very enthusiastic and welcoming. Businesses and individuals alike have been telling me that a centre like ours has been much needed in Haywards Heath. They are pleased that they can now have garments repaired or altered quickly and expertly on their doorstep.”

One of the services the new ZipYard will provide is low cost hem or sleeve alterations for school uniforms. Explained Jane: “As a mother myself I know how quickly children grow and how much hassle it can be to get a school uniform taken up or let down.. Now they can do just that, as ZipYard hem and sleeve alterations are straightforward and quick jobs to do which will save parents both time and money.”

The Creation Station franchise gives the work-life balance you want

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 04:05:00 GMT

The Creation Station franchise gives the work-life balance you want

South East England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Jackie wanted to ensure she had time with her pre-school children but wanted to steadily build a rewarding business that could grow further when they started school.

What the Creation Station offered seemed almost too good to be true! A chance to turn an activity that I loved into my own business that I could fit around my two children, and expand as they grow older. The reality is proving as good as the promise though!

I love every minute of the sessions and parties, especially seeing the children's excitement when they try a new activity or create something amazing. It's great to see parents enjoying themselves so much too, and encouraging their children to experiment and discover things for themselves.

The support from Head Office and the network of franchisees has been great, and the franchisee forum is worth its weight in gold, not only for providing answers to (sometimes random!) questions, but also for the sense of community it encourages between geographically remote colleagues. The training was really valuable, particularly in the areas which were completely new to me such as marketing, and it was great to be able to practise running real sessions and get feedback from the experts!

I'm delighted with how quickly my business has taken off, with full classes and lots of parties in the next few months. I can't wait to develop it more each year as my children grow up and start school, though they love being part of it at the moment. it really is the perfect work-life balance franchise Perhaps my biggest compliment has come from my 4-year old daughter, who watched me setting off for a Creation Station party and called down the road "Mummy, your classes are REALLY GREAT!"