Build on a known brand

Build on a known brand

Daily Mail 10.12.2007

By: Linda Whitney

FED UP with the Christmas rush? Next year you could be behind the counter making money out of it. Many well-known stores are franchises, and though a retail franchise can be expensive, it can beat setting upyour own business.

For instance, says Steve Hyams from hi-fi retail franchise Bang & Olufsen: 'You don't have to spend time building up your own reputation when you have a name like ours over your shop door.' Commercial landlords are usually reluctant to deal with retailers without an existing track record, which franchisors can provide.

'Many commercial landlords prefer to lease to a well-known brand,' says Mr Hyams, who is looking for more franchisees with £250,000 to invest. Hi-fi fanatics need not apply, as you are selling a lifestyle rather than technology, and sales experience is preferred.

With retail it pays to try before you buy. Not everyone is cut out for life on the shopfloor.

'If you don't have experience dealing with the public face to face, get some before buying a retail franchise,' says Cathy Birchall from fireplace sales franchise Blazes.

'You have to deal with all aspects of the public's personality and keep smiling if things go wrong..

Good customer service will set you apart from the competition.' The Blazes franchise costs £80,000.

Check the training franchisors provide in sales, as goods do not sell themselves.

'It is vital that franchisees understand how to make a sale, and our training is designed to help people do that,' says Ian Thornton of Apollo Blinds. Apollo franchisees sell and install window dressings, where experience in sales, retail or team management will help.

Investment is £25,000.

You must be willing to keep up with changes in products.

'Our franchisees sell and arrange installation of music and home cinema systems, so they are trained to pass industry examinations in installation,' says Malcolm

Blockley of Sevenoaks Sound & Vision. 'You must be technically minded, with sales skills, but you don't need knowledge of the industry,' he says.

The full shop franchise, which includes stock and shop-fitting, is £250,000, but the new installationonly franchise is £75,000.

Boots Opticians is now rolling out the franchising of 50 existing branches. You get the use of the brand, marketing and support from an area manager. You should be an optometrist, or willing to employ one, and have management skills.

Investment level varies according to location — some are stand-alone branches, while others are in Boots stores. Once you are successful in one outlet, many franchisors encourage you to open more. 'The majority of our franchisees own more than one store,' says Mark Lemmon of buy-and-sell store Cash Converters.

Retail experience is not required because the £155,000 franchise fee includes training.

Bang & Olufsen 01189 692 288, Blazes 01282 831 176, Apollo Blinds 0845 123 6030, Cash Converters 01920 485 696, Sevenoaks Sound & Vision 01494 431 290, Boots Opticians www.bootsopticiansfranchise.com

ENTHUSIASM IS ESSENTIAL

CHRIS MUCKLE and Stuart McNeill are in the front line of the fight to get this year's must-have Christmas presents.

'We get about 25 calls a day from customers desperately looking for the Nintendo Wii or DS games consoles,' says Chris, far left, 27. He and Stuart are joint franchisees of the Chips computer games store in Ashford, Kent. 'There is always a Christmas rush but this year it has started early because of news that the Wii and DS are in short supply,' he says.

Former accountant Chris says: 'With retail, you either love it or hate it. You must enjoy meeting customers face to face and be keen to learn about the products. Many of our customers are enthusiasts who know huge amounts about the games, so you must keep up with them.' He recommends to others thinking of getting into retail: 'Ensure that you will like the sector in the long term. We spoke to other Chips franchisees about how they felt after a week, six months and a year.' Debbie McCabe of Chips says: 'We can teach retail skills, but you must be enthusiastic, though as our franchisees find, you soon get caught up in your product.' Chips franchises cost from £80,000.

Chips 0870 013 0028