Home improvement retailer Peter Morrison, who has showrooms in Trumpington, Cambridge and Brentwood, Essex, has been shortlisted for the finals of the prestigious bfa/HSBC Franchisee of the Year 2010 award.  Peter is a franchisee of the Granite Transformations retail brand, one of around 20 in this country and 160 worldwide, and was encouraged to submit an entry by the European franchisor, Rocksolid Granit. His entry has been assessed by a judging panel headed by Sir Bernard Ingham, former Press Secretary to Margaret Thatcher and today President of the British Franchise Association, and was found to be among the top 16 finalists ‘all encapsulating the best qualities in franchising’.

“What distinguishes Peter’s franchise operation is a clear focus on maximising net profit and managing every aspect of cost,” says Rocksolid Granit’s Chief Operating Officer, Danny Hanlon. “Our Granite Transformations franchise business involves the fabrication of worktops, the fitting of these surfaces and replacement kitchen doors, and marketing the brand within designated postcode territories. He has cut costs and improved efficiency in every one these areas, always looking to refine procedures and reduce waste, and developed some innovative marketing ideas. His turnover now exceeds the £1 million mark and, at the same time, he has managed to reduce his customer call-back ratio, for snagging and minor complaints, to one of the lowest in the network. So he has achieved success in both directions and has a high rate of word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied clients.”

Franchising is an increasingly important sector of the UK economy, contributing in excess of £11 billion annually, and attracts enterprising people who want the independence of running their own businesses, but the reassurance of operating within a proven business model and marketing a tried and tested brand. In America, franchising now accounts for half of all retail sales and, in this country, the franchise sector has grown ten-fold since 1984, covering almost every imaginable business type and many of the best known high street names.

Peter Morrison, his wife Helen and brother Henry first got into franchising as a family business in 2003 and they now run two successful showrooms, the original location in Trumpington and a relatively new site in Brentwood. They retail Granite Transformations worktops, unique surfaces that fit over existing kitchen counters, although replacement doors and drawers have now been added to the product offering. Both showrooms’ catchment areas pretty well match the demographics of their target customers, namely older, more upmarket homeowners.

“I’d been in IT recruitment before, selling mainly business-to-business, but a colleague went into estate agency and I rather fancied the idea of dealing with the public on a daily basis too,” says Peter. “Then a good friend, Gavin Whittaker, the original UK Granite Transformations franchisee, told me about the unique ‘top that fits on top’ concept and I realised the only way we could get into this brand was through the franchising route, because there really wasn’t another product on the market like it.”

Just seven years on, the Morrisons are now amongst the most successful and profitable Granite Transformations UK franchises. They have demonstrated consistent year-on-year growth and recorded a particularly high rate of first-time closures, when their sales people visit customers’ homes.

“We have a clear business focus on maximising profit and managing costs,” he says. “Take our workshops in Sawston, for example, where my brother Henry and his team are always looking to improve productivity, maximise the efficiency of material usage and reduce the level of offcuts and waste. It all adds up. We also have a relatively small, but highly dedicated team of installers and we optimise their duties to extract the most from their combined working days each week.”

Although nowadays the UK franchisor provides award-winning marketing support and sophisticated merchandising material, the pioneering Granite Transformations franchisees in this country tended to develop their own ideas. One marketing tool that Peter originated was the Silent Salesman merchandising stand, which has now been adopted across the network and contributes about 15% of national customer enquiries.

“Our worktop material, which fits over existing surfaces without mess or demolition, is a very ‘touchy, feely’ product, because it really has to be seen to be believed,” explains Peter. “So I had the idea of building a display stand, with a cutaway worktop to show how the system works, together with a leaflet dispenser and colour samples, which I could install at a nearby garden centre and hopefully attract some of their customers. I negotiated with the owner, who agreed to a trial period, and we got a great response over the first weekend alone. We have now installed identical units in seven other garden centres across our catchment areas and, other than word-of-mouth customer referrals, they are by far our most effective marketing tools.”

“The franchisor really liked our idea and asked if it would be OK to produce ready-made units for the whole network,” he adds. “So now there are three or four Silent Salesman units working simultaneously in each franchise territory, usually in areas that are located some distance from the nearest showroom. Actually, we do get some reciprocal benefit, because people often see these displays when visiting garden centres whilst on holiday, then call in on us once they get home.”

Peter applies similar creative thinking to showroom window displays, which feature ‘before and after’ kitchen sets to illustrate the total transformation that replacement worktops and doors can create. That is why he searched long and hard for the second showroom site in Brentwood, which has quite a prominent high street location, alongside a busy set of traffic lights and definitely has a ‘drip drip’ marketing effect on passing motorists. The Trumpington showroom is also on a high density route into Cambridge and, partly as a result, has even attracted commercial contracts from nearby university colleges.

When it comes to fellow Granite Transformations franchisees, Peter and his team are always happy to pass on new ideas and market intelligence, even pioneering an open day for technical staff across the UK franchise network to discuss best practice. This approach also extends to the international network, in the interests of learning from other franchise owners with virtually identical commercial interests.

This collaborative outlook and a healthy team spirit, combined with Peter’s overriding profit principle, have built a highly successful franchise operation, which has now been shortlisted for that coveted industry award.

After years developing and testing the franchise model, Total Paving Solutions launched its franchise into the UK market place this September. Commenting on the launch, David Gill (Managing Director) said: “We are now on a quest to find like-minded individuals to help us drive our business forward because we have shown that our franchise model continues to be very effective, even in the current climate.”

Gill continues, “Total Paving Solutions has been operating for over six years and it is only now after scrupulous research, planning and experience are we ready to let others join in on our success. This business can earn you over £150,000 within the first three years and £100K per annum plus thereafter. Being able to design, install, restore and maintain all domestic and commercial paving work we have created a truly unique place for ourselves in a hugely lucrative market.”

Mobile tool retail franchise opportunity Mac Tools returns to The National Franchise Exhibition on October 1 and 2, at the NEC, Birmingham (Stand H50), after launching its new franchise status there last year.

Over the past 12 months, Mac Tools has moved away from its ‘distributor-based’ model and created a new infrastructure designed to provide more comprehensive support to franchise owners.

There are new and improved systems to help franchise owners plan their businesses more effectively as well as finance facilities, online training via MacAdemy, regular meetings and regional managers providing continuous support.

Mac Tools Recruitment Manager Paul Clegg said: “The feedback we receive from our franchise owners confirms they feel completely supported throughout the whole process. We leave no stone unturned and our training covers everything from the technical product side to administration, and sales and marketing.

“All our franchise owners are given an initial route plan, which they are ‘driven through’ during their first week by a Mac Tools Territory Manager. From there on in, we encourage them to take ownership of their route and change it as they see fit, to improve their efficiency and profitability or to expand into new sectors.

“We are looking for people with a passion to work for themselves.  It isn’t essential to have expert knowledge of tools, as we provide comprehensive training but you need to have the right attitude and the ability to build relationships. Personality is everything in our business.”

One of Mac Tools latest recruits, Spencer Pallett who has just set up Mac Tools Walsall, will be attending The National Franchise Exhibition to offer his insights to prospective franchise owners.

Pallett said: “Before Mac Tools, I had always worked for someone else so I understand what it’s like to move from being employed to being self-employed.  Mac Tools has given me all the training and support I need to confidently run my own business. Some people may worry that you have to be a ‘tool expert’ but I can assure them that it isn’t an issue because the training covers all the specialist product knowledge they need. I’m very excited about the future.”

The Spanish health and nutrition franchise Naturhouse has annouced this month that they plan to expand into China, Asia.

The Chinese company, Naturhouse China Ltd, has been set up with the parent Spanish company Housediet S.L.U. and Mr Yu Zhong Yao Li, Spanish Entrepreneur from China as shareholders. Mr Yu Zhong Yao Li will be responsible for ensuring the Health & Trade compliances are in place, in order to import and develop the products to open Naturhouse in China.

Felix Revuelta, President of the company, stated: “It has been a long process but we are very excited with this company leap towards the Asian market.” He highlighted that NATURHOUSE goals for China are to open 300 shops in the next five years with turnover circa €20 million.

An Ipswich Franchise Discovery Day is due to be held at the Ipswich Corn Exchange on the 10th November 2010.

The event, which will be hosted by Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce, will feature some of the county’s most important franchise brands.

The organisers are hoping that the Ipswich Franchise Discovery Day will encourage job creation, new business start-ups and bring important retail brands into Ipswich Town Centre.  There will also be vehicle-based, management and part-time franchises being launched following this event as franchisors find their new partners.

On the day there will be free seminars to help people from the region to clearly understand the steps that they need to take in order to evaluate a franchise opportunity and then how to check out the franchisor and opportunity being presented.  Plus seminars specifically designed for owners of successful businesses that would like to explore the franchise option.

Cllr Atkins said:  “Franchises can be home-based, part-time, vehicle-based, or require premises; they cover business accountancy to vending, with a wide range of areas and levels of investment.

“We believe that this exhibition will be a great source of information for prospective franchise owners in and around Ipswich and the Anglia region – as well as for owners of successful businesses considering expansion by franchising.  This hopefully will lead to more businesses starting up and flourishing in the town.”

Already in the region there are over 100 franchisors expanding their business and the Anglia Region has just been identified as the second most important territory for future establishment of new franchise start-ups*.

John Dugmore, Chief Executive of Suffolk Chamber, said:  “Franchising provides the opportunity for people to branch out on their own, with the support of a tried and tested business behind them.

“For anyone considering owning a franchise, help and advice will be available on the day and I would encourage them to come along to find out more about what franchise opportunities that are available, as well as arming themselves with the information that they need to know before proceeding to own and operate the franchise of their choice.”

*(Insight, an Industry review of Franchising in the UK – to be published 27 September).

Sparkling green Granite Transformations worktops, made from recycled wine and beer bottles, formed the centrepiece of the latest home makeover project by DIY SOS, BBC’s flagship renovation programme and amongst the most successful factual series on British TV. The eyecatching, diamond-polished worktops, from the eco-friendly Trend G recycled glass collection, were installed by two Granite Transformations experts in a single day’s filming, having been templated and fabricated off-site at its workshops in Tunbridge Wells, Kent.

Presented by Nick Knowles and featuring a regular team of builders and electricians, as well as interior designer Julia Kendell, DIY SOS visits and renovates viewers’ homes and is the longest running show of its genre. For this show, set in the Welsh Valleys, the team took on one of its biggest challenges to date, by totally transforming a terraced house. They had been asked to help bring the Price family of Brynmawr, South Wales, back together again, by completing an unfinished DIY project … and a whole lot more.

After a run of good luck, swiftly followed by redundancy and debilitating illness, the new kitchen extension started by dad Ceri had been left unfinished and the former council house virtually uninhabitable. As a result, the family’s three daughters had spent the previous two years living with their grandparents. But with the help of architectural designer and ‘green’ guru, Charlie Luxton, and aided by an army of local trades, the DIY SOS team transformed the site into a beautiful family home, within just ten days.

The kitchen and its dreamed-of new units were naturally the starting point and designer Julia, who used to be on ITV’s 60 Minute Makeover show, read about Granite Transformations’ eco-chic work surfaces in the home interiors press and got in touch, deciding they would be perfect for the project. The company agreed to contribute materials and services free of charge and no less than the UK Chief Operating Officer, Danny Hanlon, who once qualified as a fitter, and recently-recruited technical training specialist, Steve Cooper, travelled to South Wales to carry out the final installation. Although, as is often the case with TV, footage of their hard day’s work and an interview with Danny were left on the cutting room floor, the finished kitchen itself made a big visual impact on the show, Julia describing the recycled glass surface as ‘a beautiful thing’ and ‘proper shiny’.

Householders Sarah and Ceri were actually reduced to tears on seeing the newly transformed kitchen, with Sarah whispering ‘I can’t speak, it’s wonderful’, before declaring the makeover ‘absolutely gorgeous’. Teenagers Ffion, Page and Lauren exchanged OMG’s on first seeing the kitchen and concluded that the bright green worktops were ‘mega pretty’.

As for Danny, Steve and the company’s other training specialist, Luke Tuttlebee, successive spells of being variously filmed for a new Sarah Beeny makeover project, an earlier DIY SOS programme and a new Granite Transformations TV commercial, as well as posing for a spoof A-Team photo shoot and visiting Channel 4’s Big Brother set to inspect Trend glass mosaic tiles installed there, has left them rather blasé about the showbiz scene – and pretty exhausted. Although the delighted looks on the faces of the Price family and many favourable comments from TV crew, made it all worthwhile.

Councillor Avril Slipper Toasts Franchisees and Welcomes Local Investment in London Borough

As the nation’s largest retail kitchen facelift franchise, Dream Doors now boasts a network of more than 30 showrooms. Spanning the country from Exeter to Lancaster and from Bolton to Bath, Dream Doors has grown from its humble beginnings as a single outfit in Gosport.

Last week, Dream Doors franchisees, Lorna and Roy Easthope opened the company’s latest showroom in the London Borough of Croydon. Joining friends, family and customers of the Easthope’s were Dream Doors Managing Director, Troy Tappenden – who started the franchised business over a decade ago – and the Mayor of Croydon, Councillor Avril Slipper.

“I’m delighted to see such an exciting new business open in Croydon,” said Councillor Slipper. “It really is a super shop, with a strong brand behind it. And replacing kitchen doors is such a simple idea, no wonder Dream Doors is growing in this climate when others have sadly failed.”

After cutting the ribbon, Councillor Slipper joined the guests in raising a glass of champagne to toast the Easthope’s new venture. She went on to say: “It’s so important to have variety in these smaller local shopping parades. In the past few years the only businesses that seem to open are takeaways and charity shops. People want to shop locally, where they can get to know and trust the business owners. This is great news for Croydon, and I know Lorna and Roy will make a success of their franchise.”

Prominently located beside a pedestrian crossing on the busy Shirley Road, the showroom benefits from good passing trade. “Cars are slowing down and stopping outside all day long,” says Roy. “The busiest time is between four and five in the afternoon, where hundreds of cars must see our shop front. Local awareness is steadily building, and we’ve had plenty of people knocking on the showroom door before we even opened. Soon, Dream Doors will be as well known here in Croydon as it is in Gosport, and in all those areas that have had shops for six or seven years. Dream Doors is a big name nationally, and that’s one of the reasons I bought into the brand. I know that Dream Doors Croydon will have more kudos than Roy’s Kitchens ever could!”

He continues: “We’ve been building up to this weekend for months, working long hours project managing the showroom fit-out as well as going out on appointments. It has been hard work, but we’ve had lots of help from friends and family. And we get great support from head office – in particular Bryn Jones, Dream Doors’ Southern Franchise Manager.”

Six months after joining the franchise, Roy is relishing being his own boss and running a family business in a sector that, pre-Dream Doors, he had no direct experience in. “I’ve worked in sales and in retail for all of my career, but never in the kitchen industry,” he says. “I’d got disheartened with corporate life and was fed up of going through the motions in soulless meetings. So when I moved on from a senior position at Woolworths, I knew I couldn’t face that life any more. This is what I left the corporate arena for. I’m more excited about Dream Doors than anything I’ve done before. It is a steep learning curve, but I enjoy the pressure. And what’s more, I get to work alongside my wife, and see much more of my family.”

Cash Converters International Ltd has announced 2010 as its most successful financial year in the company’s 24 year history, largely thanks to the growth of its UK operations, Cash Converters UK Ltd.

The Australian based, second hand goods and financial services provider has reported a record profit result of AUD$21.6 million for the year ended 30 June, up 34.2% on the previous year. Cash Converters UK Ltd has seen store numbers increase by a record 21 to 157 during this period.

The Company owned store strategy has gained momentum with the acquisition this year of 13 franchised stores, four in the UK and nine in Australia. In addition five new Company owned stores were opened in the UK, taking total corporate store numbers to 58. At least 12 new Company owned stores are planned for the UK in 2011.

David Patrick, chief executive of Cash Converters UK, said: “Our continued store growth reflects the popularity of the range of services, from financial services, pawnbroking and laybys, to buybacks, that Cash Converters is able to provide.

“As traditional forms of borrowing are becoming less widely available, people from all walks of life are realising the benefits of the various services offered by Cash Converters to meet short term financial requirements. The extension of our financial service offering, with the launch of cash advance and personal loans products in the UK in October 2009 has been a strong factor in these results, alongside store openings and acquisitions. We are currently implementing a franchisee recruitment drive to ensure continued store growth with plans for 200 stores open by June 2011.”

Cash Converters is the UK’s number one retailer buying and selling pre-owned goods and a financial services provider.

Affordable and flexible franchise packages that give a great work life balance

Snack-in-the-Box (SITB) has developed a creative solution for potential franchisees with insufficient funds. “We have looked at a number of ways to reduce our franchise start-up costs without cutting back on the crucial support that each new franchisee needs” says Sales Director Matt O’Neil.

“Subject to qualification, we are now able to arrange deferred payments for high calibre candidates who need a little extra financial help at the outset. However, the circumstances must be right for both Snack-in-the-Box and the new franchisee. Prospective franchisees must have the right financial profile, a positive attitude, and ability to succeed. If we feel they will make a success of their business, then we will help them. We wouldn’t do that if we didn’t believe in them, or in our business.”

Snack-in-the-Box is now able to create a franchise package that suits the aspirations, earnings potential and pocket of each franchise owner.

The Self Service Box Franchise is typically a full time business opportunity for the majority of our Franchise owners. However SITB has a growing number of “Working Mums” who want to run their own business whilst still maintaining family commitments. This business suits two people who want to work part time. By sharing the operation of the franchise, typically dedicating 2 or 3 days a week each to the business, many have been able to achieve this goal of a work life balance.

The Compact Vending Franchise is now also available as a part-time business opportunity with fewer machines. This is well suited to mature franchise owners who only want to work 2 or 3 days a week and top up their pensions. However the Compact Vending Franchise also suits the serious business minded individual who wants a Full time business as “man & Van” or even a multi-van business.

Click here to read further details about the two options available for Snack-in-the-Box franchise owners.