Old cars mean new business (Daily Mail franchise story)

Old cars mean new business

By: Linda Whitney

BAD news for the vehicle manufacturers is good news for vehicle repair and service providers.

Many are franchises, looking for car enthusiasts with practical and people skills to join them.

'As people keep older cars on the road, there are more new tyres for us to fit,' says Tony Bowman of E-tyres, the franchise that fits tyres bought online or on the phone.

Online tyre franchises say they are thriving as customers search the net for cheaper options. They claim prices can be 40 per cent lower than those of traditional tyre depots because of lower overheads.

Franchisees with E-tyres have no depot or storage costs as the order and tyres are sent to the franchisee, who provides the mobile fitting service.

Fitting tyres requires some practical skills, though E-tyres provides equipment and franchisees range in age from people in their 20s to the over-60s. They also include couples and even a working mum. You can start as a fitter and take on staff later, or begin as a manager from day one. The investment is £35,000.

If you are an existing garage owner, Blackcircles.com wants to hear from you. Tyres bought online or over the phone are fitted by local garages.

It's looking to sign up an extra 500 partners, as it has recently signed joint venture agreements with Unipart and the RAC. A partner can join free, provided they meet its requirements.

Chips Away, whose franchisees provide a mobile small area repair and repaint service, sent 9,000 leads to its network of franchisees in March — its highest monthly figure ever.

'People are keeping their cars on the road longer, and we are a less costly option than a body shop,' says Rebecca Dodd of Chips Away.

The firm has agreements with companies such Allianz and UPS, who offer discounts on Chips Away services, and inquiries for domestic customers are rising as a national marketing campaign — which includes television advertising — is rolled out.

It's a mobile franchise you can develop into a management business and costs from £22,500. The cost for its sister franchise Autosheen, which involves running a mobile car valeting service, is £9,995.

At Car Medic, the £15,995 mobile dent, leather and paintwork repair franchise, business is increasing.

'Some of our franchisees have had an increase of 30-35 per cent in business in the past few months as companies repair cars rather than buy new ones,' says Andrew Hack of the Medic group.

Its newly launched sister franchise, Caravan Medic, is looking for more franchisees to cope with growing demand as people increasingly use caravans to holiday in the UK. The cost is £16,995. The Bike, Air and Tyre Medic franchises are also looking for more franchisees.

E-tyres 0800 028 9000;

Blackcircles.com 0845 620 2000;

Medic group 08080 373737;

Chips Away; 0800 731 6914;

Autosheen 0800 131 3301;

Totally Dynamic 0870 446 0775.

FRANCHISEES at Totally Dynamic aim to make

FRANCHISEES at Totally Dynamic aim to make vehicles look stunning. Simon Hartshorne, says: 'I have always loved cars and have a background in graphic design and printing so this is the ideal franchise for me.' Franchisees 'wrap' vehicles for companies and individuals — one job Simon, 36, and his staff tackled was to wrap a 14m-long truck for the Dixon Yamaha World Motocross Championships to take bikes and riders around Europe.

'We wrap vehicles in a selfadhesive vinyl that is either printed with artwork sent by the client or with a design we produce. It must be a flawless finish, but Totally Dynamic provides all the training you need,' says Southamptonbased Simon. 'Recently, Arsenal footballer William Gallas had his Mercedes- Benz wrapped in chrome by Totally Dynamic.' As well as designing wraps, Simon manages the business and does the marketing.

'More companies are realising the benefits of making their vehicles into moving billboards, and the wraps can be removed to change the message,' he adds. 'We'll also be marketing to boat owners soon. It's hard work but great fun.'