South West England Franchisee Case Studies on whichfranchise.com

A People Business

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 04:05:00 GMT

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Starbrite franchisee Richard Law is laying the foundations for a highly successful chemical distribution business in Cornwall. Since 1st April he has secured 200 customers from diverse businesses, including a 100-room hotel and a country pub.

Richard's experience as Sales Manager for a catering supply company has proven invaluable, and he has been working closely with Starbrite to grow sales to the catering industry. "The most important aspect of this business is having the right products at the right price," he reveals. "Before launching the business I sat down with Starbrite and went through the products so I was ready to go from day one."

Richard secured his customer base through a mixture of cold calling and contacts made in his previous job. He explains: "In the past, Starbrite have predominately sold into the automotive sector. Using my experience of catering and Starbrite's connections, we have been looking at new ways of linking products into the catering industry. New franchisees will now have an even wider range of businesses to sell to."

What initially attracted Richard to the company was its willingness to diversify, its knowledge of chemical sales and the people behind the business. "People buy from people," he clarifies. "I bought into this business because of the people. They've been very supportive in sourcing new products and have delivered everything they said they would. Their Franchisee Recruitment Manager is very realistic and made no false promises."

Richard is now consolidating his customer base before selling to the next 100 - he will then be looking for premises and staff. "You need to be resilient to run this business," he advises. "There's no such thing as a sales person, but you do need to be a good communicator, have the right attitude, be personable and self-disciplined. You must also be prepared to work very hard during the first 12 months laying the foundations."

Franchise event arrives in Southampton

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Franchise event arrives in Southampton

South West 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

Dent Wizard franchise owner delighted with growth despite the recession

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Dent Wizard franchise owner delighted with growth despite the recession

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The new car market has taken a bit of a prang during the recession – but that's not bad news for a firm specialising in dealing with bumps, bangs and bashes.

Dent Wizard specialises in a unique process called paintless dent removal, where small dings, dents and creases are repaired without sanding, filling or spraying car bodywork and it has benefited as the new car sales market has hit the skids and more people are turning to secondhand motors or sprucing up their current drives.

The Brixton-based business was started in August 2007 by Ross Knowles, and covers Plymouth. It's a franchise from Dent Wizard UK, itself part of the world's largest automotive services company, Manheim Group, which in turn is owned by the large multinational Cox Enterprises.

During the past year the business has grown in excess of 50 per cent, down in part to the development of the service by Mr Knowles, but also to increased demand because of the economic crisis.

Mr Knowles said: "Our business customers fall into two groups: dealerships that trade in secondhand vehicles, and private individuals.

"As more and more people choose to buy a secondhand car rather than a new one, dealerships are keener than ever to ensure the cars they sell are in tip-top condition.

"The Dent Wizard service means we're able to repair minor damage without removing panels, which would affect the manufacturers' warranty."

He added: "We're also seeing an increase in business from private individuals, who are taking pride in the vehicle they own rather than seeking to replace it with a new one."

Dent Wizard is a mobile service which goes to the customer, travelling anywhere across Devon and Cornwall.

Mr Knowles said: "We're delighted our growth has been so healthy and steady over the past year, and we believe the current state of the car sales market will mean more growth for us."

Mr Knowles has been supported by Martin Atkins, of Plymouth-based chartered accountants Francis Clark. Mr Atkins said: "Dent Wizard is an excellent example of a local expert, in this case Ross, who is trained as a commercial vehicle mechanic, who has taken a franchise from a worldwide organisation and made it a regional success.

"Franchises are a good way to get into running your own business, and as the economic climate worsens and more people find themselves out of work, we anticipate that the franchise option will grow in popularity."

The appeal of franchising with Maid2Clean franchise

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:05:00 GMT

The appeal of franchising with Maid2Clean franchise

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The ambition to run my own business has been with me since I was about 18 years old; I am now 40 and cannot understand why I have given so much time and energy working for others.

Around 4 or 5 years ago, with our household bills starting to outweigh our income and following the failure to increase our “wages”, my husband, Nigel, and I decided to look into starting our own business. Our criteria being - work from home with no stock holding.

After looking into many business ideas, attending exhibitions and buying endless magazines, we stumbled into the franchise village at an exhibition in Olympia. Now, Maid2Clean was not represented at this particular show, but the idea of a franchise did appeal, due to the proven business concept, support from the franchisor and the banks like them too. So we started researching more seriously.

Eventually, we arranged to meet Elaine, who made us feel very welcome and explained the business in detail. We both came away with the impression that failure was not an option, this is a proven business and will work.

A year and a half later, Nigel is working full time and supporting me, while I run the business from home. Obviously, there have been some pitfalls; the biggest one for us is the rural location of our customers and the lack of large towns in our area. This means, I have to work harder finding reliable cleaners with transport. Reliability will always be a problem when you are dealing with people, that’s the nature of the job, however if you are located in a sparsely populated area think carefully about where your clients and cleaners will come from.

In summary, we are happy with the business, it grows slowly, in our case, but surely. We have no one to blame if goes wrong, but reap the profits when it goes right. We have decided not to make any hasty decisions before our 5th year anniversary, by this time we should be making a very healthy profit.

Card Connection's Kent franchisees see trading up 27%

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Card Connection's Kent franchisees see trading up 27%

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has today announced that its franchisees for the Canterbury/Dover region have seen trading up by 27% compared with sales figures for the same period last year.

“Jason Hook and partner Vanessa Culliford joined Card Connection two years ago,” confirms Andrew Cutler, franchise and sales director for Card Connection. “In the past six months they have been focused on growing their business and have started to work with an additional 53 retail sites. This increases their portfolio of Card Connection retail customers to well over 200 stores and as a result, they have seen a significant uplift in sales figures.”

Ex Kent policeman, Jason, puts the team’s success down to: “Hard work and a focus on expanding the business through new retail customers. Our target is to get at least one new retailer to stock our Card Connection greeting cards each week and by calling on outlets, from farm shops to florists - in addition to larger retail stores, we are easily achieving this.

“Interestingly, we are not seeing the effects of the recession,” he continues. “Our sales figures are well up on last year and we have been able to improve our profit margins by stocking more premium product. The future looks bright and within the next 12 months we are aiming to employ an additional merchandiser and buy a new van to manage the growth of the business.”

Vanessa, an ex-shop keeper who spent the immediate years before purchasing the franchise working as a freelance events and sales manager states: “We always aim to provide excellent personalised customer service throughout our 235 customers. We are always on call and tailor our displays and diary to meet the needs of each shop; the customer always comes first. We have gained a great deal of extra space within existing outlets simply by being reliable and friendly.”

Using a proven system, Card Connection franchisees place greeting card ranges in retail outlets on a ‘consignment’ basis. This means the stock and display equipment is installed on free loan to the retailer. This is one step beyond ‘sale or return’ as Card Connection customers never have to buy the stock in the first place, only paying for what they sell. 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 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.

Age and experience was a clear asset in running a Cartridge World franchise.

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Age and experience was a clear asset in running a Cartridge World franchise.

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Terry Jeffery

Cartridge World Cheltenham and Gloucester

Background

Prior to opening his first to two Cartridge World franchises, Terry had held a variety of different roles in IT management. It was his hobby of video and graphics that introduced him to Cartridge World. By using their refilled Cartridges he quickly learned that it was a professional and impressive set up.

What introduced him to Cartridge World

At the point where Terry’s hobby had introduced him to Cartridge World, he was in turn facing an increasingly turbulent time in his then industry – IT – and following a third redundancy Terry began investigating Cartridge World further. Operating his own business was, to Terry, the obvious choice as he increasingly felt that his age was against him within the IT industry – whereas his experience was a clear asset in running a Cartridge World franchise.

Success to date

Terry now operates two Cartridge World stores, in Cheltenham and Gloucester. The second store came ‘out of the blue’ and within six weeks what had been an idea became reality. The Gloucester store was in profit, the bank was happy with the figures and Terry secured a loan on a second store. He says: “I wanted to be twice as well off! And I also knew how I could benefit further from economies of scale, for instance being able to buy in bulk.”

And the successes keep coming. His figures for 2007/8 show a 48% year-on-year increase in profit. But Terry is in no way complacent. He is determined to continue growing the business – and he might allow himself a holiday!

In the five years since he opened his first store Terry has worked with a number of local charities and organisations – in return for their cartridge collections he has donated more than £16,500 to good causes. He has been able to support more than 20 local charities. They include Great Oaks Dean Forrest Hospice, The Pied Piper Appeal, Andy Cole’s Children’s Foundation and BIBIC (British Institute for Brain Injured Children). He feels this has played a big part in making his two businesses very much part of the local community.

Cartridge World Cheltenham and Gloucester have also been awarded with two Gloucestershire Environmental Business Awards – which Terry considered not only a great honour for the business, but a great achievement and motivation for his staff.

Terry says ...

“I wish Cartridge World had been in the UK ten years earlier because I would now be retiring a very rich man. I knew I had made the right choice when I was making an operational profit within just a few months of opening. And when a new customer told me he’d heard about us ‘down the pub’ the belief that Cartridge World had been a wise choice was reinforced.

“The worse the economic climate, the more new customers we seem to get.

“Cartridge World’s technical support and training is outstanding and makes my job much easier – customers never doubt that we can deliver the quality they require. But from their point of view, we really get most respect for our environmental policies and work with local charities.”

Live the franchise dream with The Camping and Caravanning Club

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Live the franchise dream with The Camping and Caravanning Club

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

THE CAMPING AND CARAVANNING CLUB

Janet and Barry Payne, Dartmoor

It takes great tenacity to have to wait 16 years to realise a dream. But that’s exactly what happened when former design and technology lecturer Barry Payne finally achieved his long-held ambition to have a campsite of his own.

The idea had strong appeal for Barry, especially after enjoying many camping and caravanning holidays with his wife Janet, an administrator, and their two children. However, he and Janet felt that it was unrealistic to make such a large investment while the children were small and at school.

As soon as the children had grown up, they thought about the idea again and this time they decided to make the commitment, up-sticks, move house and enjoy a complete change of lifestyle as campsite owners.

Decision made, they began looking for a suitable site, taking a year to consider places all over the UK. They were close to buying a site in Scotland but the deal fell through. Fortunately, their bank manager was familiar with the franchising concept and suggested that buying a franchise would be a more viable proposition, particularly as they would be able to get some funding. They would also have the benefit of support, advice and experience from The Club, the UK’s oldest camping organisation.

Although the idea was primarily Barry’s, Janet was more than happy to support the venture and move away from the overcrowded South East. She had no qualms about going to a new rural area in Devon, having moved house many times in their marriage.

They soon discovered that franchising offers a safer route than starting a business alone, with all the back-up and on-going support franchisees receive. “When the concept was explained and with the knowledge that a loan was available, the economics made perfect sense,”

Barry said. “As we progressed further, the ‘partnership’ came to be a very important factor,” he continued.

Neither had any previous experience of running a business but the Club’s comprehensive training programme taught them about managing an efficient campsite and having a successful business. In addition to the training, franchisees are supported by a head office advice team and benefit from a range of centralised services which include advertising and publicity.

The Club’s nationwide marketing and sales promotion create awareness and ensure advance bookings on a scale that is unimaginable for a site working on its own. Franchisees are included in the annual nationwide directory of campsites and on the Club’s website. They benefit from the centralised bookings system operated through UK call centres and also on-line, handling enquiries from Club members and also independent holiday makers.

When the couple bought their Devon site, they knew work was needed to improve it before it would meet the Club’s exacting standards. They invested in a range of new works that included electrical installations and new facilities, ready for the campsite to open in March 2009. Now they’re looking forward to the 2009 holiday season with, as Barry put it: “A real sense of ownership within a strong partnership of the Club – and plenty of bookings already made.”

Success for The Camping and Caravanning first franchisees

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Success for The Camping and Caravanning first franchisees

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

The Camping and Caravanning Club

Franchisee case study

Kate and Alan Sefton, Cheddar (Priddy Wells)

Kate and Alan Sefton, the first franchisees of The Club, had always wanted to live in the country, away from their urban roots in the Black Country. Over time, their dream of a rural lifestyle began to grow, prompting them to investigate ways of achieving their ambition and also to identify an opportunity that would enable them to earn a decent living.

At the time, they lived in the West Midlands where Kate was a deputy head teacher and Alan was head of support services for computers in education. Keen campers and caravanners all their 25 years of married life, they decided to buy a campsite – long before they knew anything about franchising.

Their first attempt to become campsite owners was disappointing as the sale fell through on the day of exchange, so Kate and Alan elected to stay put for the time being. Some time later, they decided to have another go and registered with an estate agency which, coincidentally, had been appointed by the Club to help find suitable sites across the UK. The agent suggested that Kate and Alan might like to go to a meeting to find out about the Club’s franchise.

“To be honest, at the time we weren’t interested,” Kate said, “but we went out of politeness and because we thought we might learn something,” she continued.

Going to the seminar proved to be worthwhile as they learned a great deal about the benefits of franchising and they left the meeting with plenty to think about. Still undecided though, they continued their search independently for a site, whilst still considering becoming franchisees.

Kate and Alan found a campsite in an idyllic spot near Priddy, one of the most historic villages in Somerset, which they purchased privately in July 2004. By this time, they were convinced about the benefits of franchising and opted to join the Club’s franchise network.

Kate commented: “We thought it would be good advertising for our site and ensure a steady stream of bookings if we could become part of the Club’s network. We definitely wanted to work for ourselves and franchising seemed to offer a safer route than going it alone.”

Kate and Alan had been impressed by many of the other benefits of being franchisees, particularly the Club’s ability to market their sites and services so widely and effectively. “If you’re a one-man-band, how would you know which websites or magazines were best to use for an advertisement?” Kate commented.

“Now we enjoy a consistent stream of bookings, both from Club members and holidaymakers generally. Club members tend to make their bookings exclusively with Club campsites because they are assured of high standards and members tend to stay longer than the casual camper. The Club reaches a huge audience and has the facility to arrange advance bookings through the call centres or on-line, which is more efficient and offers much more scope than if you tried to do it alone,” Kate continued.

Kate and Alan had management experience and had handled big budgets but neither had any actual business experience before becoming franchisees. “The Club’s expertise has been invaluable in many ways, particularly in staffing matters. When we need extra help, we sub-contract people who have been trained to a high standard by the Club, which also takes over the headaches of PAYE and NI,” Kate explained.

Four years on, Kate and Alan are very settled and enjoy working together in their own business. “We love working for ourselves and we love the place,” Kate said. “We have enjoyed developing the business, for example our shop which is very popular with local people as well as our campers. We have a good reputation as we specialise in all types of local produce and also have our own on-site bakery. As a result, the shop has become a very large part of our business,” she continued.

Kate and Alan say they would recommend becoming franchisees with the Club but they believe it is important for people to be realistic about the commitment they are making. “Some people might think that living and working in the country sounds like paradise but they must remember a franchise would be their business and responsibility,” they cautioned.

“That having been said, neither of us would change what we have and we never want to go back to our old jobs,” Kate said. “And we’d certainly hate working for other people again.”

Taking the plunge and investing in a ServiceMaster franchise

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Taking the plunge and investing in a ServiceMaster franchise

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Alistair Grieves, ServiceMaster Contract Services, Exeter

I originally worked for a Contract Furnishing company in London, neither my wife nor myself wanted to continue working in London so we decided to move to what we considered was the best part of the UK for us, Devon.

As I was experienced in the tendering process, I thought I would use my strengths and look for a franchise, which best suited my abilities. It also enabled me and my family to move to the country and out of London.

What attracted me to contract services, or daily office cleaning was the idea of regular invoicing, whatever I billed I knew I should be billing the same amount the next month, it was a regular income.

As money was tight initially, moving into a new house and buying a new business it was important for us to be able to forecast our income and plan our future.

The best thing about being my own boss is you make decisions and are able to take responsibility for that. I also have the flexibility of working when I wish and taking time off when I wish.

The other nice thing about an established franchise company is there is plenty of advice, new ideas, and other business's to liaise with. It is nice to have other franchisees around you who are doing the same role but not in competition with you.

My wife works in business I find it very important to have a reliable financial colleague, she looks after the accounts side of the business, invoicing, credit control payroll etc.

I would never have had the flexibility or life style that I now enjoy without taking the plunge and investing in my own franchise.

To Buy or Not to Buy - with Platinum Property Partner franchise

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:05:00 GMT

To Buy or Not to Buy - with Platinum Property Partner franchise

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Sarah has worked as an estate agent, a home image consultant and a recruitment consultant, and since 2003 she has also been a television presenter – primarily on BBC1's 'To Buy Or Not To Buy' - and freelance property writer. She currently works freelance part-time within Platinum Property Partners and, as a Franchise Partner, has started to build a portfolio in Poole & Bourne mouth.

It was mid-2004 when Sarah first met Steve Bolton, and she spent some time looking into his methods and business proposition. It didn’t take long for her to realise that there was definitely something different and special about Steve, his business partners and the people they were working with, and she started to work freelance for the company on copy writing, publicity and shows & events. In November 2007, having known Steve for three years and worked within the company on a part-time basis for nearly a year, Sarah joined the Franchise.

"I had a fair amount of experience in the property field, but nothing like the knowledge within PPP, particularly on the investment front – it's a completely different proposition to the residential and holiday home market. And because I like to work on a number of different projects, I simply don't have the time or inclination to worry about having to research every aspect of the property business, so the Franchise is the perfect solution and, for me, a very cost-effective way of ensuring I make the right investments and have access to the best people to advise me on an ongoing basis. Plus, I've made a lot of great new friends and some seriously inspiring mentors and colleagues."

Sarah was sale agreed on her first property the day after her initial mentoring, completed on that purchase in February 2008 and it was ready to rent as a 6-bedroom House in Multiple Occupation six weeks later. Thanks to a tracker mortgage, that property currently cashflows £1,400 a month. In November 2008 Sarah bought her second HMO – another 6-bedroom property – and that cashflows £660 a month. Those two cashflow figures are after the mortgages and all bills have been paid, allowances have been made for maintenance and voids, franchise management service fees have been paid, and include the cost of employing a property manager. The combined pre-tax profit of around £2,000 a month is therefore virtually passive income, as Sarah only has to spend around 2 hours a week on administering the business.

Albert Road, Poole

Purchase price               £230,000

Rental income               £2,686
(5 doubles, 1 single)

Mortgage repayment           £1,139
(85% LTV, 6.89% int. only)
Other expenditure            £881
(utilities, c. tax, insurance, TV, b'band,
cleaner, voids & maintenance allowance,
franchise MS fees, property management)
Total expenditure           £2,020

Total monthly pre-tax profit       £666
Total annual pre-tax profit       £7,992

Sarah is working with her father as a passive investor, and has made the most of the other investment options offered by PPP. She has invested into a development project in Romania, which is anticipated to give around a 100% return within 3 years, and also entered into a passive loan arrangement with one of the PPP founders, which pays market-leading interest rates on a monthly basis.

For the next few months Sarah will be focusing on the purchase of her own home in Bournemouth and obtaining planning permission, with the help of PPP’s contacts, to build in the garden of one of her HMOs. She also hopes to acquire at least one more investment before the end of the year.

Signs Express franchise recruits in Swindon

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Signs Express franchise recruits in Swindon

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

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

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

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

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

The Swindon and Wiltshire areas in particular are abundant with customer potential and money making opportunities. With particular emphasis on economic growth and development in retail, financial and business services, technology, public sector and leisure; the key customer base is already on your doorstep making it a flourishing centre of activity for local business opportunities.

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

Signs Express currently has 80 signage centres nationwide, however, there are still a number of greenfield businesses for sale which are ripe for the picking throughout the UK. The Swindon sign franchise opportunity is one particular location Signs Express is looking to recruit as there is currently little presence in the Swindon area; it therefore holds endless opportunities for you to start in franchising.

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

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

As a management signage franchise, prospective franchisees require no industry experience as full training is provided and sign making staff will be appointed to work in this case in the Swindon franchise production unit. Your skills will be based on your own management and sales experience and your ability to lead a team.

Signs Express franchise recruits in the south west

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Signs Express franchise recruits in the south west

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchise business opportunities act as much safer option when starting in business and this is especially the case when looking at buying an existing franchise business as a resale option.

Through buying an already established business, the new owner will gain a distinct advantage as the business is already up and running with an existing customer base. There are no headaches over finding a production unit to base the business, plus the centre is already fitted out with the required equipment and furniture; so no waiting around for suppliers and no need to waste time organising the layout, it’s already been done. The staff are even already in place and fully trained, therefore cutting out the time recruiting in the area and providing the business owner with the knowledge of the centre as it currently stands. This means that as soon as the franchise owner is in, he can start trading and continue generating profit from day one.

There are huge benefits within the counties in the South West. For example jobs in Gloucestershire are highly sought after. Economically dominated by the service industries, and with a strong financial and business sector, this South West location is currently experiencing vibrant growth amongst its existing business community which increases scope for business in the future. The existing business, has an excellent reputation amongst its established customer base and receives a substantial amount of repeat business within the area.

With business opportunities in Dorset, or if you are looking to buy a business in Gloucestershire and businesses in Somerset all helping to bring the region through the recession.

With over 80 centres nationwide and 20 years of experience under its belt, Signs Express business opportunities are growing as more franchisees reach retirement. There are many business owners who joined Signs Express having worked for years in various industries and who were looking for security as they reach retirement age. This means that now, some years later, they have reached their potential and are set to retire and enjoy the money that they have earned through their own hard work over the years.

The key to starting in business and in particular buying an existing franchise in is its distribution channel. The franchise has built up an enviable customer base as a result of time and experience, meaning the customers would already be there and at the new business owner’s disposal. The same goes for suppliers. Signs Express has its own preferred list of suppliers and in a resale situation these relationships have already been made with the centre and therefore any problems already ironed out.

As a management franchise, prospective franchisees require no industry experience as full training is provided. Your skills will be based on your own management and sales experience and your ability to lead a team. Ongoing support is available from sales and marketing, accounts, IT, HR, operations and technical as well as initial training to learn more about technical aspects and business techniques.

Family-run Bluebird Care franchise office is scooting ahead

Thu, 15 Jul 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Family-run Bluebird Care franchise office is scooting ahead

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Care-at-home provider Bluebird Care in Taplow is helping people get back on the road to full employment by investing in environmentally-friendly scooters.

Ian and Anne Inglis, owners of Bluebird Care South Bucks and Slough, hope to create 40 new jobs in the area by the end of this year – giving a major boost to the local economy.

During recruitment, they became conscious that some first-class job applicants were being ruled out, automatically, because they were without personal transport.

Anne said, “Obviously our priority is to recruit care workers who can offer high standards of care, in a friendly, empathetic and ultimately professional way.

“However, we became increasingly aware that some applicants were unemployed through no fault of their own, and their job prospects were hampered by not having transport. We’ve worked with the local JobCentre, and have now invested in two scooters, so lack of transport is not an automatic ban to being a Bluebird Care worker. The scooters have the further benefit of being environmentally friendly and a cost-effective and quick way to reach our customers!”

One staff member to benefit from the scooters is Diane Weston, who lives in Slough. She joined Bluebird Care in April and is proving very popular with customers, thanks to her outgoing, enthusiastic and hard-working nature.

Diane said, "I am so grateful to Bluebird Care for providing me with a scooter allowing me to get back into work, and do a job that I love. The provision of care to people in their own homes is so rewarding, and having the scooter means that I can be even more certain of being on time for visits as I am less affected by the traffic problems that car drivers face on the roads. What's more, scooters have the added benefit of being environmentally friendly, so I am doing my bit to control carbon emissions in the area too!"

With a population of 182,000, the area covered by the Bluebird Care team includes Slough, Beaconsfield, Burnham, Denham, Dorney, Farnham Royal, Fulmer, Gerrards Cross, Hedgerley, Iver, Langley, Stoke Poges, Taplow and Wexham.

Ian and Anne set up the Bluebird Care office last autumn and have over 45 years’ management experience between them. They have teamed up with sister-in-law Cindy Inglis, who was recruited as Care Manager after 16 years spent in the care industry. With Ian’s mother previously a recipient of care at home, they had first-hand experience of the importance of providing such a service.

Ian added, “We had seen with my Mum how important a service like this is to people and we wanted to be part of that. Our ethos is that we consistently put people first and ensure that we deliver a service that is both flexible and person-centred at all times.

“Our combined experience has resulted in a strong team delivering what customers want.”

The office has quickly established itself as a professional organisation, meeting the strict guidelines laid down by The Care Quality Commission. It is also a member of The United Kingdom Home Care Association and The Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire Care Association.

Better way of life with Maid2Clean

Thu, 28 Oct 2010 04:05:00 GMT

Better way of life with Maid2Clean

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Mike Padley was a self employed Plumber for 4 years, after being in the Army for 23 years but always thought there must be a better way of running your own business, franchising offered him a tried and tested system which was more likely to succeed than struggling on his own.

Mike says that “I decided that Maid2Clean was the right franchise for me due to the low overheads and the fact that it could be run from home. The Maid2Clean franchise had the added advantage that it could also be run on a part time basis to begin with, in order to build it up to a desired level.”

Mike raised the finance partly from his personal savings and partly via a business loan from his bank.

The training and support Mike received from Maid2Clean included initial management and administration training at the franchisor’s location. Followed by IT system training. Ongoing or refresher training is always available on request and any day to day issues can be addressed on the Maid2Clean franchisee forum.

Mike has had challenges to face like balancing his time around his current full time work and his new franchised business and getting enough cleaners in the right areas. But that is the beauty of franchising, his franchisor has been there, lending a supportive hand, throughout.

Mike now plans to grow his business enough in order to run it full time and make a good living from it so that he can then give up his current full time job.

“Maid2Clean has been a great support,” adds Mike “offering good solid back up from someone who is very hands on. If Mike Hanrahan (MD of maid2Clean) cannot sort a problem out himself, he knows someone who can!”

“I would definitely encourage others to do what I did. It can be very satisfying to be in charge of your own working life. This is quite low cost for a start-up, and low risk from then on.”

Retaining independence with Cafe2U franchise

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Retaining independence with Cafe2U franchise

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Having run and sold his own logistics business, Brian wanted to find a business he could operate with his wife, Angela, which would challenge them both yet allow them to retain some independence.

They operate the business every day together, and haven’t looked back.

“We were looking for a business that ticked three very important boxes:

A franchise business with a proven track record which, with hard work, would make a solid profit, after working in the up and down world of transport.
A business with a low investment entry level, ensuring costs are kept low, so we would be working with minimal debt.
A business fairly early in its development, providing us with a challenge, as well as excellent growth potential both in our business and in the wider network.

“With these objectives in mind, it was not long before we realized Cafe2U was a perfect fit. The fact that we are working with great people, selling great coffee, working in the fresh air, and making people happy were all bonuses.”

“We are not trying to say that it is all a bed of roses, nothing is! We have found it to be better than a lot of jobs we could be doing. It is mostly rewarding, and the returns are certainly there if you work hard.”

Comfortable with the Cafe2U set-up

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Comfortable with the Cafe2U set-up

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Gary & Rachel, Cafe2U Bristol North since 2009

Gary runs the business full time, and Rachel assists him on 2-3 days a week. Neither had run their own business before, but felt comfortable taking that step within a franchise set up.

“It’s the best job I have ever had. We would like to say how much we appreciate and value the support that the whole Cafe2U team have given us and their unstinting patience. Many of our fellow franchisees have been generous with their advice and knowledge, and although this is our business to run we really feel like part of the team.”

PC PAL franchise arrives in Exeter and East Devon

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

PC PAL franchise arrives in Exeter and East Devon

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Former MoD employee Phil Skipper 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. Phil has changed his career to provide this essential ‘emergency computer repair service’ to frustrated PC users in the Exeter and East Devon areas.

With more than 10 years’ experience working in the IT arena in the private sector, local Government and for the Ministry of Defence, Phil is well-equipped to make the change.

“I have always had an analytical brain,” Phil commented, “and being able to resolve a problem with a PC is something I enjoy, particularly when it means that someone can continue to use technology in their daily lives.”

He also undertakes volunteer work which involves assisting local people with visual and hearing disabilities to undertake tasks not possible on their own. This can range from taking someone on an adventure course to helping someone gain the confidence to use their PC to keep in touch with friends and family.

As with other PC PAL Engineers, Phil has always been in constant demand to help out family and friends who have trouble with PC issues such as making their machine run faster, dealing with a virus or learning how to use a particular piece of software. Many of them have asked him why he doesn’t set up his own PC repair business and so he decided to do just that!

“Having never run my own business before a franchise seemed like the ideal solution although I wanted to choose one which had a strong brand as well as providing a professional, high quality service to customers. The PC PALComputer Franchise was the obvious choice,” explained Phil.

Phil 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 Phil.

PC PAL is fighting back against rogue operators who may be unqualified, uninsured or offer shoddy service. As our customers have testified, some unscrupulous firms are recommending work which does not need to be carried out, misdiagnosing faults or even installing illegal software.

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

Gaining a better quality of life with Oscar Pet Foods franchise

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Gaining a better quality of life with Oscar Pet Foods franchise

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisee: Pippa Crow

Territory: Bideford, North Devon

Franchise: Oscar Pet Foods

From London to Devon to OSCAR – and to my ideal way of life. I was a legal secretary for over twenty years spending the majority of this time in London. In search of a better quality of life a move to Devon, by the sea, was a dream come true. For a time I pursued the politics of the legal profession and at the first opportunity I found work at the Royal Horticultural Society - only to be made redundant. Redundancy forced me to rethink my future; to have a fulfilling and flexible job that allowed me more time to spend with my husband and two children meant working for myself.

Moving to Devon introduced my three Greyhounds and four cats to OSCAR - changing their food made all the difference both in looks and fitness - I was delighted. And when it came to my notice that an OSCAR resale franchise was available in my area I did not hesitate in making contact. Buying an existing business was a good start because certain elements were already in place but before making a final decision I researched the business opportunity fully, via the internet and locally.

Cafe2U franchisees crowned Partner of the Year

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Cafe2U franchisees crowned Partner of the Year

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Gary and Rachel Wilson, husband and wife owners of Cafe2U Bristol North have scooped the Franchise Partner of the Year Award at this year’s Cafe2U National Leadership Conference, held in Leeds. The award was presented at the prestigious Cafe2U awards dinner by Cafe2U Managing Director, Tom Acland.

The Cafe2U Franchise Partner of the Year represents as complete and well rounded a Cafe2U business operator as possible. The award is scored throughout the year, through a combination of field visits, contributions to the franchise, development of the business, and coffee skills, and the competition this year was closer than ever before.

In announcing the award Tom Acland, Cafe2U MD, said “Gary and Rachel have succeeded in their goals because they worked hard on the Cafe2U formula of great coffee, Brilliant customer service, and great branding. Being part of a franchise provides support and a process to follow, and they have followed this to ensure great local marketing is planned and executed, as well as following nationally coordinated campaigns. Cafe2U brand consistency is valued and evident in everything they do, brilliant customer service encourages customer feedback and constructive customer interaction.”

Tom added, “Cafe2U Bristol North, demonstrates how to combine the Cafe2U global vision with their own local flair, and whilst striving to be Brilliant! in everything it does, it doesn’t lose sight of local community involvement and presence.”

The prize for being crowned 2011 Franchise Partner of the Year is a trip to the USA, and Gary and Rachel are taking their two sons with them on a luxury trip to New York! Gary and Rachel explain their delight at winning the award. “We were overwhelmed and emotional on the night because we understand that any franchisee who shows commitment to building their business can have their efforts acknowledged in this way and it will spur us on to greater things.”

Cafe2U delivers fresh espresso coffee daily to businesses all over the UK, Australia & Ireland.

Martin & Co Worcester and Gloucester win gold award

Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Martin & Co Worcester and Gloucester win gold award

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

“An agency totally focused on exceeding customer service expectations that strives for perfection at all times,” earned husband and wife team Peter & Rani Grieve the Gold Award for Best Small Lettings Agency - Midlands Region.

The awards, sponsored by The Sunday Times and The Times newspapers are the pinnacle of the lettings industry and are hotly contested by all the top letting agents in the UK. They picked up the Gold award from double Gold Olympic champion Dame Kelly Holmes.

Peter and Rani are the business owners of the Worcester and Gloucester lettings franchise Martin & Co. Their Worcester office has been trading since 2008 and the Gloucester office was purchased as a resale 2 years later. They are supported by a team of 9 staff across the two offices.

Their success has not come easily and Peter and Rani along with their well established team have worked hard to enjoy a large market share in the area and respect within their local community.

Peter and Rani have not just adopted the established processes and systems you would expect from a successful franchise brand but ensure these are put into practice day in day out and have added their own local expertise and business experience to enhance the customer experience for both landlords and tenants and run a successful business.

Staff are given clearly defined targets and objectives with regular reviews. Training and development is also high on the franchise owners list. Utilising the highly ranked and well-established Martin & Co website they have an integrated approach to sales and marketing activity and have been earlier adopters of social media and related web and e-strategies. Backed by comprehensive local PR they have generated excellent results with business up by 40% on last year.

Ian Wilson Managing Director of Martin & Co also attended the awards added,”This is just fantastic news for Peter & Rani. They are true ambassadors of the Martin & Co brand. Peter and Rani are no strangers to awards success having won an ESTAS Gold award in 2009 based on great customer service feedback and have continued to drive their business forward and this award is further recognition of this – a great achievement and the first office in the 170 plus national network to pick up a Sunday Times/Times award.”

The Camping & Caravanning Club's future bodes well

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 04:05:00 GMT

The Camping & Caravanning Club's future bodes well

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisees: Joanna and Simon Kewley

Franchise: The Camping and Caravanning Club

Territory: Charnmouth, Dorset

Farmers Joanna and Simon Kewley already had their own caravan park and a separate campsite when they decided to become franchisees with the Club.

“We have been running the caravan park now for 20 years but we could see the many advantages of being part of a larger organisation, especially the benefits of the Club’s marketing expertise and services such as the centralised bookings system. I think that joining the Club is a bit like shopping in Marks and Spencer’s – you are buying a known quality product, with a known value, that is safe and reliable,” Joanna explained.

Joanna and Simon created their own caravan park from a greenfield site and invested in improvements a little at a time. They expanded their business over some years, growing it steadily and so they were already experienced campsite owners when they became franchisees, which is unusual.

As the farming industry becomes ever more restricted and regulated, other farmers may consider becoming involved with the Club as franchisees, helping to bring extra visitors into the countryside and boost the local economy.

Most franchisees want to join the Club to enable them to have a complete change in lifestyle. Typically, they love the countryside and are keen, regular campers and caravanners but they do not usually come from a rural area.

Franchisees come from a wide range of backgrounds, previous careers and from all over the UK. They all share a common goal of realising a dream to own a campsite, which is made possible by following the Club’s tried and tested systems and methods. The comprehensive training programme covers all aspects of setting up and managing a campsite and, once training is complete, the support team at head office is available to offer support and advice.

“By being part of the Club, franchisees are included in the annual directory for members, as well as being listed on the Club’s website, which are excellent sources of bookings. Even campers and caravanners who are not members of the Club seem to prefer to holiday with us, because they are assured of neat, well-run parks, where the toilet blocks are clean and the other clients are similar to themselves in many respects,” Joanne said.

“Camping and caravanning are becoming very popular again and we are enjoying greatly increased bookings, which bodes well for the future. The Club is a good thing and the franchise does enable new people to come into the business who would probably otherwise never be able to,” Joanna added.

Passionate about the Select and Parkhouse franchise brand

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 04:05:00 GMT

Passionate about the Select and Parkhouse franchise brand

South West England Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Becky Harker
Swindon

Becky Harker loved the company she worked for so much, she bought a part of it!

With a progressive career in recruitment and four promotions under her belt at Select Appointments alone, she returned to work full-time in January 2008 as a new mother and a business owner.

After eight years working through the ranks from Consultant to Business Manager of Select’s Swindon office, she was offered the opportunity to acquire the franchise and jumped at the chance.

In her words “I had managed the team in Swindon for many years and knew the industry and market-place well. This has been the best decision I have ever made. The whole ownership, responsibility and knowing I can make it happen is a challenge and one I am enjoying every day.”

Her background spans industrial, commercial and accountancy recruitment and she chose Select over the competitors as they “had a reputation second to none and a brand that was clear and precise”.

Becky is a shining example of a successful woman in business. Her trophy cabinet bulges at the seams. In the company’s 2006 annual conference she took to the stage to collect the Chief Executive’s Special Award for Excellence, as well as the Most Improved Office Award. She has also coached and managed the Top Temporaries Consultant of the year.

While Becky had a progressive career in recruitment she admits that she is still learning about running her own business and this is where she calls on the expertise and infrastructure of Select as an established franchisor. Prompt answers to a range of operational questions, day-to-day training and development support, together with financial and property advice have all been invaluable resources.

Becky is as passionate about her business, her team, her candidates and her clients today as she was when she walked through the door eight years ago and felt she had found her home. Her passion is contagious and her results speak for themselves.

2009 saw Becky expand her business by purchasing the Parkhouse brand, this enabled her to service her clients increased requirements within the Industrial sector.