Jun 11, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Alex Wray
Four new Mac Man have joined Coconut Creatives’ client Mac Tools this month. Alex Wray, James McMurdo, James McCue, and Steve Davis have just finished their initial training and are now off on the road in their respective new territories.
Mac Tools is part of Stanley Black & Decker, a £7+ billion global organisation employing over 30,000 people worldwide and owner of the world famous brands such as DeWALT, Facom and Britool Expert. Over the last three years Mac Tools have achieved 25% year-on-year growth in what is considered to be a flat market.
Training and support are key to the Mac Tools success. Their new development and training programme in Sheffield ensures that not only Mac Tool’s franchisees but also their support staff at the Mac Tools headquarters in Sheffield, receive continuous training that allows them to fully utilise their skills-sets.
“The initial training was very informative and has really increased my confidence in my abilities to run my own business. The ongoing support has also been very good. My business development manager is really helpful, he comes out on the road with me and we get along really well,” says Steve Davis, Mac Tools Worksop.
Mac Tools franchisees are the trusted tool specialists for the professional technician at to car dealerships, automotive repair shops, manufacturing units, and engineering companies. The Mac Tools line consists of over 18,000 professional tools including screwdrivers, ratchets, wrenches, and assorted air tools, as well as its own toolboxes. This really appealed to James McCue and James McMurdo and was key to their decision to join Mac Tools.
“I noticed the Mac Tools van out on the road and so I approached the franchisee, John Booth, who told me about everything that was involved. I am good at sales and passionate about tools, so it is the perfect franchise for me,” explains James McCue, Mac Tools Dundee.
“I was made redundant from my last job and so I applied for a variety of jobs but also looked into running my own business. When I found out about Mac Tools and learned more about the business model, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I know that with the backing of Mac Tools and a lot of hard work I will be successful,” adds James McMurdo, Mac Tools Dumbarton.
The Mac Tools network of over 115 franchisees is united by a common interest in a variety of motorsports. Alex Wray also has a keen interest in anything with an engine and wheels and Mac Tools’ backing of the superbikes MSS Bathams Kawasaki team as well as the BTCC Dynojet Racing team was also something that appealed to him.
“During my last job as a motorcycle sales man I have been involved with events like the MotoGP. So the Mac Tools sponsorship of a British Superbike Championship team was just another box they ticked for me as they were putting something back into the market. The general setup of the franchise model was really appealing for me and when I met Chris, the Mac Tools Franchise Recruitment Manager, and the other guys in the team it just felt like the right decision. I was looking for something where I can bring all of the skills together that I have learnt in 30 years in the Motor Trade and the freedom of being out on the road by myself and to be my own boss also really appealed to me,” explains Alex Wray, Mac Tools Reigate.
This press release was featured on a variety of franchise related websites and also generated social media coverage. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Jun 1, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Michael and Claire Welham
Michael and Claire Welham, franchisees of Coconut Creatives’ client OPC, jumped at the opportunity to expand their Original Poster Company (OPC) business recently. They have been successfully operating the Twickenham/Kingston territory since 2010 and decided to build on the success from their first OPC franchise by buying the neighbouring territory as it became available for resale.
OPC is the world’s leading greeting card distribution franchise, operating in an industry worth over £1.4 billion just in the UK. Established in 1991, OPC’s franchise network has had complete UK coverage for over 20 years and is a full member of the British Franchise Association. In the UK, OPC is a great franchise for those with strong management and customer service skills. Over 90% of OPC’s franchisees surveyed agree that their home-based system gives them the flexibility to enjoy family life.
Prior to buying their first OPC franchise, Michael and Claire had become the proud parents of little Daniel, so they were both looking for an opportunity that would not only capitalise on their skills but also give them a great work-life balance. Claire had previously worked in fashion retail management and Michael had been working in the motor industry for many years as dealer principle, most recently for Land Rover.
“After having our son I mainly worked on a part-time basis and when Michael was made redundant at the start of the recession we were both looking for a new challenge. I was working as a merchandiser for OPC in the Twickenham/Kingston area at the time and I could see the potential in the area I was working in. After having a look into it we both saw it as a great opportunity to utilise my merchandising and his commercial skills. It also appealed to us that we would be in charge of our own destiny and decided this was the right next step for us,” explains Claire.
Some of OPC’s franchisees are currently selling their existing territories as they retire or move on to new business opportunities. So, when Michael and Claire found out that the South West London territory was available for resale they seized the opportunity.
“The South West London territory has a lot of development potential and it has a really big border with our current territory in Kingston. So it made a lot of sense for both of us to buy the territory to further expand our business. We can reach a lot more businesses but we don’t have to drive more, allowing us to also continue to grow the area we already have,” adds Claire.
Michael and Claire receive regular ongoing field support from a dedicated Business Development Manager (BDM) who provides them with all the support they need to grow their sales and keep overheads low, whilst achieving great profit margins in both of their territories.
“OPC helped us with the new stock purchases and the development plan for the new territory, which was really valuable to us. With our new territory it’s now all about building relationships and trust with the national account managers in the area to start stocking our cards in more stores. We now know what we are doing so we don’t need the hands-on support we received when we bought our first franchise but we know that if we need any help our BDM is just a phone call away,” explains Claire.
This press release was featured on a variety of franchise related websites and also generated social media coverage. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
May 15, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
ActionCOACH team
Coconut Creatives’ client ActionCOACH strives on continuous development. Their 6 Steps to a Better Business is now an officially certified tool for Continuing Personal or Professional Development (CPD) in the UK; yet another great addition to the raft of tools available to ActionCOACH franchise partners.
The CPD Certification Service was established as an independent UK organisation operating across all market sectors to support further learning initiatives being undertaken by Government, professional institutions, trade associations, individual organisations, training providers, and suppliers.
“We are very excited to be recognised by the CPD. The 6 Steps to a Better Business provides businesses with a structured approach to long-term profit growth, allowing business owners to take their business from a state of chaos to a state of control … the fact that the Workshop now counts for CPD points means that more professionals like Accountants will want to invest a half day of their time attending and when they see for themselves how powerful this model is they will want to invite their business owner clients along,” says Ian Christelow, ActionCOACH’s UK Co-founder.
Business growth and success are key issues not only for the UK economy but also for business owners. The 2012 Inside Startup census revealed that 1 in 3 UK businesses fail within the first 3 years. This compelling statistic highlights the devastating results of a problem that many business owners face in the UK and worldwide. Most business people are excelling at their trade or profession but that doesn’t mean they’re also great at the ‘business of business’.
As a result many business owners fail due to financial trouble or burnout, their hopes and dreams have been lost even though they were trying their hardest to succeed. That’s where Action Business Coaches come in, helping business owners develop great teams, strong finances, powerful systems, unique marketing and selling to give them the business and life they dream of.
The 6 Steps to a Better Business are just one of over 3,500 strategies and tactics that ActionCOACH has developed over the years to assist business owners worldwide in making their business a success.
ActionCOACH’s tools are used on over 10,000 businesses every month with huge success worldwide and also offer Action Business Coaches the opportunity to create a healthy business model for their own business.
ActionCOACH was joint runner up with McDonald’s for the UK’s Best Large Franchisor 2012 Award and has already built a team of more than 100 business coaches in Great Britain & Ireland. They also regularly provide advice on franchising and have recently been asked to participate in the executive television programme ‘Educating Business: A Franchise Model’, which you can watch on the 28th May at 7pm on SKY digital channel 212 and on BBC/ITV freesat 401.
This press release was featured on a variety of franchise related websites and also generated social media coverage. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
May 5, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Marc and Carol Griffiths
Coconut Creatives’ new client Ringtons starts May with exciting news. Their former employee Marc Griffiths is expanding his Exeter franchise with the opening of a second territory this month. As part of the expansion, Marc is welcoming his wife Carol into the business; a cause for double the celebration as Carol also becomes Ringtons first female franchisee.
Having worked for Ringtons since he was 16 years old, Marc was introduced to the idea of franchising by his assistant manager at the time. He purchased his Exeter franchise in 2010 and hasn’t looked back since.
“When the opportunity arose for me to purchase a franchise I jumped at it. I wouldn’t have chosen anything else; I didn’t even consider any other franchises. Carol has always supported me with the business, it just made great sense for her to come on board as a franchisee as well to enable us to grow the business through a second territory,” explains Marc.
“I’m excited to have officially joined the Ringtons team, I’ve always been involved helping Marc but the opportunity to develop the business by me taking on a second territory was just too good to miss. We already know support from head office is great but even so, Chris and the whole team have pulled out the stops to make sure we have a successful launch. I’m quite surprised that I’m the first female franchisee but I’m sure there’ll be more of us before long!” adds Carol.
And the plans for expansion don’t stop with territory number two; Marc and Carol plan to continue to develop and grow their franchise throughout the South West.
On average, over 165 million cups of tea and 70 million cups of coffee are consumed every day in the UK. This equates to 66% of the population drinking at least one cup of tea per day (UK Tea Council).
“I’ve just spent the week out and about on the van with Carol helping her launch her new rounds and we’ve had some brilliant days already. The canvassing team did a great job prior to the new territory going live and the orders have been pouring in!” says Chris Clarke, National Franchise Manager.
Ringtons, a mobile tea and coffee business, doesn’t just deliver first-class products with exceptional service, it’s now one of the most exciting new business opportunities available! Founded in 1907, the business has a rich heritage of which it is immensely proud and the core business is still family owned to this day. Ringtons is expanding with unique customer-ready franchises in Dorset and Hampshire.
As part of the fully comprehensive training and launch package, new franchisees are guaranteed a minimum of 1,800 new customer orders from day one. The package also includes an exclusive territory, in-depth training programme, £3k of stock, a 3-month deposit on a VW caddy van plus all the equipment needed to successfully launch and run the business.
This press release was featured on a variety of franchise related websites and also generated social media coverage. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
May 2, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Carlos Garcia
Coconut Creatives’ client Total Clean has beaten the competition and won the vote of the Labour Party’s commercial cleaning contract. They are now looking after the Labour Party headquarters in London, using the latest techniques and products, whilst always incorporating a very personal touch.
Total Clean has operated in the commercial cleaning sector for 25 years, with a success that is based on an unrelenting commitment to service excellence and an obsessive attention to detail. It proudly boasts a 95% client retention rate. Among its many longstanding clients, it has the privilege of enjoying one client from the very first week of operation.
When Carlos took on the business from his parents in 1995 they insisted he continued the culture of outstanding client service that won them this first client, Wolf Olins, and their parting words still ring in Carlos’ ears today: “Whatever you do, don’t let Mr. Wally Ollins down!”
Total Clean’s presentation to the Labour Party, was centred on their requirements; the very same aspects of the Total Clean service that have been key to its major growth and consistent client satisfaction ratings over its 25 years in business.
“We had strong competition for the contract and we are tremendously excited to have won the work with The Labour Party. The decision came down to our track record of service of over 25 years and our very high client and staff retention rates. Being The Labour Party, it was naturally very important that we took our environmental responsibilities very seriously and our range of own-brand eco-friendly cleaning products was also a factor in their decision,” comments Carlos Garcia, Managing Director at Total Clean.
Total Clean’s core business has achieved exceptional growth year-on-year operating within a similar size territory to the franchise territories they are now offering. The franchise package is a complete turn-key opportunity providing franchisees with everything they need to operate the business in the first year and it can easily be operated from home to keep overheads low.
“Our structured approach to awarding franchises ensures that you are not only right for Total Clean, but also that you are certain that our opportunity is the best choice for you. You can be assured that we operate the franchise with the same level of integrity as our core business. We seek to partner with similarly ethical individuals in order to grow our UK-wide network,” adds Franchise Development Manager, Fiona Steels.
This press release was featured on a variety of franchise related websites and also generated social media coverage. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Apr 26, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Andy Davies, Neil Dulson and Steve Marchant
Mac Tools, client of Coconut Creatives, welcomes a further three new franchisees to their UK network. Neil Dulson, Andy Davies, and Steve Marchant are the latest additions to join the network of over 115 trusted Mac Tools UK distributors.
Mac Tools are part of Stanley Black & Decker, a £7 billion organisation employing over 30,000 people worldwide. They are also the owner of the world famous Facom, Britool Expert and DeWalt brands. Over the last three years Mac Tools have achieved 25% year-on-year growth in what is considered to be a flat market.
Steve has had a varied career as a qualified, highly-skilled health and safety and ergonomics consultant with experience of working in a wide range of industries and environments before deciding to join Mac Tools. He is also a trained mechanic and was in the merchant navy directly after leaving school. So he is now embarking on another adventure and is taking to the helm of his new Mac Tools business in Northampton.
“After initial approaches and investigations, I thought I could see an opportunity, at 55 years old, to improve my standard of living, improve my job satisfaction, improve my retirement outlook and hopefully build a business that can be kept in the family. After days out with other franchisees I saw what can be achieved after 1 year, 10 years and 12 years. The rewards, job enjoyment and satisfaction were obvious and lead to an easy decision to pursue the chance of becoming a Mac-man.”
The Mac Tools line consists of over 18,000 professional tools including ratchets, wrenches, and assorted air tools, as well as its own toolboxes. This is something that particularly appealed to Neil, who is a great vehicle enthusiast. He is collecting army vehicles and is a member of the Military Vehicle Trust. Neil likes nothing more than looking back at a job well done and is now applying his dedication to his Mac Tools territory in Chester.
“I wanted to start my own business following redundancy and, after examining the competition and other options, I decided my skills and knowledge were best suited to a Mac Tools franchise. It has been hard work so far but it has also been very rewarding and the support of Keith, my franchise development manager, has been great,” adds Neil.
At the heart of Mac Tools’ success is the comprehensive training offered to its franchisees. Andy has now taken to the road in Cheltenham after completing his initial training alongside Neil and Steve. They received in-depth product, sales and business training and ongoing support from a dedicated business development manager. Andy is so convinced of the business model that he has also brought his partner Judi on board, who now looks after his bookkeeping and the administrative side of his franchise.
“The training and support network make such a difference. They want me to succeed and, even though I have a sales background and no motor trade background, I feel very much at home at Mac Tools. My first month has been a learning curve and hard work but I have already sold my first toolbox, which was definitely my favourite moment so far,” explains Andy.
“I have been made redundant 3 times in the last 18 months and decided that I needed to be master of my own destiny now. I looked at various franchises and Mac Tools seemed to fit my sales background more than most. I am used to selling high-quality products and Mac Tools fits right in there. I believe that people buy from people, so customer rapport and service are key to long-term success,” adds Andy.
This press release was featured on a variety of franchise related websites and also generated social media coverage. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
