wales Franchisee Case Studies on whichfranchise.com

Kall Kwik franchise fights the �Crunch�

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 04:05:00 GMT

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Kall Kwik UK is reporting a dramatic increase in orders of printed point-of-sale materials from its network of over 150 franchises.

Orders across the network for POS in January 2009 were up by as much as 100 per cent on orders for the same product in January 2008 as retailers worked harder to boost their sales in the face of recession, poor Christmas trading and low consumer confidence.

POS materials such as shelf edging, display stands, posters and banners, were also ordered from Kall Kwik in record numbers in November 2008 following the Chancellor’s decision to lower VAT to 15 per cent.

Managing director of Kall Kwik UK, Mike Dewsbury comments: “In the last quarter we have seen an increasing number of retailers move away from their planned promotional campaigns and towards a more reactive approach to their marketing strategy; a walk down any British high street will reveal a whole host of shop windows displaying credit crunch and recession beating deals.

“As on-demand printing specialists, Kall Kwik has been ideally place to service the needs of the retail sector as more operators look to target customers more immediately and react quickly to the changing face of the retail landscape.”

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

Welsh franchise owner branches out with Cash Generator

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Welsh franchise owner branches out with Cash Generator

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Dave Elwood is one of many Cash Generator franchisees to operate multiple outlets, although having just opened his sixth store, with a further four planned, he is a source of inspiration to franchisees and is proving to be the pinnacle of success.

Previously a school teacher, Cardiff-born Dave ventured into franchising after three good years in retail, and is top of the class at Cash Generator.

The company immediately stood out to Dave who was excited by Cash Generator’s franchise offering. Dave says: “The franchise offering from Cash Generator struck a cord with me from the word go and after seeking advice from the bfa, I was quick to make contact.

“My first lesson with Cash Generator was a formal meeting at the head office to learn more about the business model, which I thought was a fantastic concept.”

It wasn’t long before Dave opened his first franchise store in Barry, South Wales.

That was in 1998. 11 years on, Dave has six buy, sell and loan stores in operation across South West England and South Wales, including Bristol, Hereford, Barry, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil and Cwmbran.

“I originally wanted to open my first store in my hometown of Cardiff, however there was already a Cash Generator in the city so I sourced alternative sites close by, which proved to be the best decision I ever made,” continued Dave.

Not content as the franchisee with the most stores, Dave is more proud of his record sales in store, with a number of his stores regularly featuring on Cash Generator’s top performing league tables.

Having already opened a new store this year, Dave has set his sights on one more store for 2009. After that, he then plans to open two a year until he reaches his target of 10 within the next 18 months.

“Since investing in my first franchise store, my team has worked very hard to establish a good business. By the time we reached our fifth store I was able to self finance the operation which meant I wasn’t reliant on a bank to raise capital.

“I am my own boss and employ a number of managers to run the stores, which allows me time to focus on the growth of the business. Having a great team behind me, who have developed five well performing stores, has allowed us to open a sixth store in Bristol. We are now in the process of planning our seventh store, which we hope to open later this year.

“After that, work will start on a business plan which will include two stores each year until we reach our total of 10,” added Dave.

A decade with Cash Generator has further fuelled Dave’s drive and ambition. Having achieved goals set out at the start, Dave has refreshed his business hopes for the future and created new aspirations.

From his initial research into Cash Generator, advice from the bfa and his committed approach to the business model, Dave’s homework has clearly paid off as he looks forward to an incredibly prosperous future in franchising.

A new lease of life with a Rosemary Conley franchise

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

A new lease of life with a Rosemary Conley franchise

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Emma was born and bred in Wales growing up in Swansea and taking a degree in accounting at Swansea University. When Emma left university she had no idea what she wanted to do so she decided to use her accountancy skills in an office based role.

Emma worked for 3 years in finance for Career Wales but found office work boring – she was also unhappy with herself as she was overweight, something she had struggled with all her life despite being involved in fitness activities at school.

After 5 years in office work Emma decided it was time to turn her life around and take charge of her weight and fitness and find a new career. She lost weight through following diets and exercising from the Rosemary Conley Diet & Fitness magazine and attending local Rosemary Conley classes.

As she lost weight, Emma’s confidence grew and her husband, Robin, suggested she should look at buying a Rosemary Conley Franchise. They both attended a Rosemary Conley Presentation Day at the Company’s offices in Quorn Leicestershire in May 2005 and at last Emma felt she had found something she really wanted to put her heart and soul into.

Emma found the training of a very high quality and quite daunting but the support from Rosemary Conley’s team was first rate and she really bonded with her fellow trainees.

Emma launched only this January 2006 but was overwhelmed by the number of ladies wanting to join. “I had queues out of the door at several venues but it was a great way to start”.

With help from a supportive mum and sisters who act as cashiers, Emma has already over 360 members attending her 9 classes. Robin, her husband, says “You can’t keep up with her now - her confidence is fantastic and her determination to succeed has made it happen.”

Emma says the best thing is working for herself although she warns you have to be organised and make time for other things. Robin and Emma are converting a barn near Swansea and Emma even has time to get up on the roof and help with the tiling!

The great thing is that you are changing people’s lives as Emma says “A lady who is a type 2 Diabetic has been told by her doctor that she can come off her tablets as a result of the improvement in her health through attending my class. How good is that!”

For Emma the combination of nutrition and Exercise, in the Rosemary Conley philosophy makes it easy to promote to new members.

Quality service from Countrywide Signs franchise

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Quality service from Countrywide Signs franchise

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

For sale’ and ‘sold’ signs are ultra visible throughout the UK, however many people overlook the business opportunity they represent. By providing these signs to estate agents, Countrywide Signs has taken a niche section of the property market.

When Ian Morris took voluntary redundancy from his job of 17 years working at a Vauxhall Motors factory, Countrywide Signs gave him the opportunity he had been looking for. He says: “I felt I needed a change so I looked into franchising and when I contacted Countrywide Signs they said my area was available. Countrywide Signs appealed to me for many reasons. When I spoke to them they went through the set-up and the internet service that they provide and it all seemed very professional. Also they have very good communication between estate agents and franchisees.”

An expert at carrying out the management of property signs, Countrywide Signs makes great use of modern technology in the form of the internet, text messaging and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) to provide the best possible service to its clients.

Prior to launching his franchise Ian received nine days’ training. His business, which covers Merseyside and North Wales was launched in August 2006. “Although running my business has been hard work,” says Ian, “I really enjoy being my own boss.”

From the period of January 2007 to January 2008 Ian is on target to get a £90,000 turnover and he still has plans to build-up his business: “I’m mainly trying to expand the number of agents in vans. I’ve just taken on another driver and I want to take on another full-time driver so that I can focus on doing the sales and marketing side of the business.”

Fulfilling heart's desire with Oscars franchise

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Fulfilling heart's desire with Oscars franchise

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisee: Helen Coney

Franchise Territory: Narberth, Pembrokeshire

I’ve always been an active outdoor person - from country life on a farm to seventeen years of working for the Royal Mail, filling any spare time with a wealth of testing adventures around the world.

My interest in nature and the environment just added to my life-long love of animals. I guess that was my initial attraction to OSCAR.

Having already decided that I wanted to work for myself I searched the web for franchise information. OSCAR had all the potential to support my lifestyle and I felt that my strength and local knowledge stood me in good stead to grow a business that offered me security for my family, while providing flexibility to continue enjoying life.

Fortuitous meeting with Oscars franchise

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:05:00 GMT

Fortuitous meeting with Oscars franchise

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Franchisee: Alan Rees

Territory: Prestatyn, Denbighshire

Date Established: November 1998

Never at home, working as an Account Sales Executive for a large computer company was beginning to take its toll. It was time to rethink my future and it took a year, on and of, to find what I really wanted to do.

Bearing in mind that a nine-to-five job was not a priority, meeting Oscar was certainly fortuitous. Initially knowing that I could work at my own pace. It was even better to learn that a large part of the business was already set up; and to start with 10,000 households was not a huge investment.

Although I do not have my own animals I am used to meeting people and past experience helped in the running of my own company.

I soon discovered that Oscar has a good product and believing in what I sell makes the business simple to run. At the same time I can earn a decent living and have a normal life.

PCPal franchise business set to be your PC's best friend

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 04:05:00 GMT

PCPal franchise business set to be your PC's best friend

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

Newport man Jeff Thomas is all set to be your computer’s new best friend as he launches a unique and specialist computer repair, installation and troubleshooting business, PC PAL, to fix badly behaved computers in the area.

Jeff, who lives in Rogerstone with his wife and two children, was previously an aircraft engineer at RAF St Athans for six years, where he worked after returning to Wales after 12 years in the Middle East working for BA Systems as a Technician Trainer. Unfortunately, Jeff was made redundant from the RAF in March this year, but he says he took this as an opportunity to explore a new direction for his career:

“I’ve always been interested in computers, especially in fixing any problems friends and family had with their home PC’s. I researched the potential for launching a franchise PC troubleshooting business in Wales and when I met with PC PAL’s team at its Midlands’ base, it was clear they had the edge when it came to focus and enthusiasm for rolling out their business across the country and particularly in Wales.”

With a host of professional qualifications and accreditations, including Microsoft Certified Professional, CompTia, Network Plus Certified Engineer and A-Plus Certified Professional IT Technician, Jeff certainly has the technical know-how to give homeowners and small businesses an on-site diagnostic and fix service for their PC’s. He explains:

“Being based in Newport City, I will be able to respond to calls for help with PC problems from homeowners across the city and valley. The PC PAL service is all about convenience, so people can call our 7-day helpline, and I will respond with a two-hour home-call time slot that is suitable for them. Once on-site, I will carry out a diagnosis of the problem with the PC and fix it as quickly as possible.”

PC PAL does not charge a call-out-fee but operates by the hour with an initial minimum one hour charge, costing just £49. Any additional time to fix the problem is then charged in part-hourly chunks with the majority of PC problems cured in one or two hours in total.

“Most PC problems come from something connected with a SPAM email, loss of internet connection, or even the PC running slow,” says Jeff. “I carry a comprehensive range of spare parts and diagnostic tools that will help me sort the PC’s problem quickly.”

PC PAL originally launched in 2004, and is the brainchild of Jat and Julia Mann who formed the business after an encounter with a rogue trader, as Julia, Franchise Director, explains:

“We were overcharged for a routine repair job on our home computer and decided to do something about it. Jat quit his job as an accountant and trained as a qualified computer repair engineer. We created PC PAL to offer a professional, quick and competitively-priced computer repair, installation and troubleshooting service for computer users at home and in small businesses. All our engineers are experienced, qualified and insured. The business has gone from strength to strength and currently has more than 1000 customers in our local area alone.

“The time is right to roll out the PC PAL business model across the country, and it’s great to have someone like Jeff, who has excellent IT skills as well as a real passion for the business and his new career, to launch PC PAL in Wales.”

She adds: “The majority of homes in the UK have at least one PC, with a staggering 24.5 million computers and laptops having broadband connection, but as household bills rise and the credit crunch pinches ever tighter, homeowners are increasingly turning their backs on the throwaway culture if the computer develops a problem. It is likely to be far more cost effective to treat a PC to a makeover to ramp up its speed by upgrading the memory or tweaking the operating system, instead of being seduced by a sleeker new model, which has a big price tag attached. PC PAL specialises in makeovers like these, and ethically this approach is vastly more environmentally, as well as budget, friendly.”

Training is a big part of the PC PAL franchise package for anyone interested in launching their own business like Jeff., as Julia explains: “We provide Microsoft Certified Professional and CompTIA A+ qualifications as part of our franchise package, which engineers must pass before they can become a franchisee, so budding computer repair engineers don’t have to be qualified before they join us.”

PC PAL has also developed its own unique PC Repair System: “This has been developed by engineers after 1000s of hours of on-the-job experience,” says Julia. “It’s much more than just a piece of paper – it’s the real life part of how to fix PC’s in the field and is unique to us. It has our own online resources to back it all up and is a powerful tool for all our franchised engineers in executing their day-to-day job for customers.”

Return Of The Mac Tools to Wales

Mon, 04 Apr 2011 04:05:00 GMT

Return Of The Mac Tools to Wales

wales Franchise Oppotunties at WhichFranchise.com

LOCAL Classic car enthusiast and self confessed ‘tool-head’ Jonathan Whiskerd, 49, is bringing world leading Mac Tools products to garages and businesses in Aberystwyth, Brecon and the Rhondda Valley.

Established in the USA 70 years ago, and in the UK for over20 years, Mac Tools is part of the Stanley Black & Decker Group and includes leading industrial and automotive brands Facom and Britool.

‘Mac Man’ Jonathan said: “It’s about time there was some competition in the area and Mac Tools really do offer a fantastic range of products. I’ve had such a good reception from customers - they say it’s like being a kid in a sweet shop!”

Jonathan has had a varied career, beginning with a fabrication and welding apprenticeship, then as a draughtsman for a refrigeration engineering company, and finally moving onto retail management with Kwiksave and B&Q. In 2006 Jonathan became a sub-post master when he and his wife, Beverley, opened a Premier Store Post Office in Hendy, Pontarddulais. When the recession started affecting the business, Jonathan decided to look for other opportunities while Beverley carried on running the store.

“I’ve always had a passion for cars and tools, so taking on Mac Tools was a natural choice for me.”

Jonathan recently restored a 1962 Mark 10 Jaguar, and previously built a VW Beetle from scratch.

Before opening his Mac Tools business, Jonathan went over to the company’s Tool School in Ohio, USA, for some intensive training.

Jonathan: “It was superb. I was there for 9 days and it was full on. The training was really in-depth and got me into what Mac Tools is all about. When I left I was raring to go!”

After more training in the UK, Jonathan was out on the road supported by one of Mac Tools regional field managers for a couple of weeks.

“It’s going really well. Although we are still feeling the recession garages are busier because people are fixing their old cars rather than buying new ones. I’m really enjoying meeting new customers and talking about tools all day!”