Aug 17, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
With the growing popularity of coffee and an expanse of loyal customers, Cafe2U are pleased to welcome two new franchise partners to their network. Milo Steeden and Jon Hinde will launch their exclusive territories in mid-July after completing their training.
Jon Hinde, Cafe2U franchise partner
Cafe2U is the largest provider of mobile coffee in the UK. They deliver fresh espresso coffee, hot chocolate and a range of snacks to non-traditional locations in over 50 franchise territories across the UK. These locations are mainly work places, business parks and industrial estates situated away from the high-street.
Milo Steeden, who will be running the Cambridge East & Newmarket territory, has just returned from his honeymoon with new wife, Laura. Milo previously worked as a Lean Specialist in the pharmaceutical industry which meant he was in charge of quality control and helping people get the best results whilst being efficient with resources. Milo says, “In my new role with Cafe2U, I’m particularly looking forward to the lifestyle change – moving from the traditional corporate style of working, to running my own business with more flexibility. Of course, it will be nice to be my own boss as well.”
Cafe2U provides industry-leading training using the unique Cafe2U Accelerated Launch Programme, which guarantees sales of £250 per day during the first two weeks of operation. This support is ongoing and once Milo and Jon are up and running, Cafe2U vans can also be booked to attend events and functions, ensuring that a fully-contained quality refreshment service is available all day. Event attendance is optional, but can provide great additional profit for franchise partners as well as boosting interest within their territory.
Jon Hinde will now be running the Preston North West territory after working as a Postman for the Royal Mail. He decided to join the Cafe2U franchise because it meant he could be his own boss whilst having the support of a strong network and recognisable brand behind him. He adds that, “The opportunity to have more control over my work-life balance was a huge attraction to the Cafe2U franchise.”
The UK coffee market is strengthening day-by-day with approximately 20 million people buying premium coffee on a regular basis. This brings the UK coffee market to an astounding £782 million total worth, so it is clear to see that Cafe2U and their new franchise partners may have many good returns going forward.
To find out how you can join this thriving franchise network, please contact 0845 6444708 or visit www.cafe2u.co.uk to request more information.
Aug 13, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
Carolyn Donaldson, MD at Contempo Lettings, is expanding her lettings franchise throughout UK and explains why this is a great business to invest in.
Carolyn Donaldson, MD at Contempo Lettings
“With Britain’s economy predicted to spend several more years in the doldrums, the rental property market is expected to thrive over the next few years. With falling wages and rising house prices, there are fewer first-time buyers and these people who opt to rent private accommodation are now also carrying-on doing so well after they have had children, meaning that many families are now renting their homes instead of buying.
“Over the last few years, there has been a rise of 86% in families who are now renting their home instead of buying. It has been predicted that, by 2020, the number of home owners in Britain under the age of 30 will drop by 46% and 1.5 million of 18-30 year olds will be renting a home while the number of young people remaining at home with their parents will rise to 3.7 million.
“As a result of the increase in people looking to rent property, the rental market is set to continue to expand extremely quickly with first-time buyers only making up 23% of the people intending to buy a property in the next twelve months. Figures show, in 2011, 58,000 more properties were available for rent than in 2010 and the number of properties available for sale in 2011 dropped by 12,000.
“A Cambridge University study has predicted that only 27% of the population will be in ‘mortgaged home ownership’ by 2025 if the British economy remains in its current state. The number of private rented households is set to increase to 20% in 2020 compared to 14% of households in 2008. If the economy does not improve dramatically it is likely that family housing will remain in the private rental sector.
“The lettings market is already a lucrative business and is set to continue to expand over the next decade. We already have seven excellent Contempo Lettings franchises operating in Scotland and we would like to award 30 franchise territories over the next 3 years across the rest of the UK. ”
Alan Govan, based in Glasgow switched from estate agency to lettings when he started his Contempo Lettings franchise in 2009: “My biggest motivating factor to this move was my belief in the future of the lettings market. I expected that the impact of the credit crunch and the uncertain economic times would mean that more people would be forced to consider renting and that existing tenants would remain in rental properties for longer. The drop in interest rates has also encouraged savers to seek alternative forms of investment and the buy-to-let market offers some excellent opportunities; all making a strong business for me.“
If you would like to know more about Contempo Lettings then you can contact Carolyn Donaldson on 0845 519 1550 or visit www.contempolettings.co.uk
Aug 10, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
It’s hard for Mary Chadwick to believe that she has been running her Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise for 2 years. The time has flown by and 
she has helped so many business owners improve their businesses.
Mary decided to join Rosemary in the summer of 2010 and launched her franchise on 23rd August that same year. “It was a really exciting time,” explains Mary. “I knew I was in safe hands with the Rosemary Directors and I could see the market potential for the business.”
According to the Federation of Small Businesses, almost 4 million businesses need a service like the one that Rosemary Bookkeeping provides. Mary’s client-base is varied and typical of the clientele attracted to Rosemary: all small business owners that want to focus on what they do best and outsource their bookkeeping to experts that can add some real intrinsic value.
Some of Mary’s clients include a catering company, personal injury solicitor, a trophy and engraving company and even a meditation and pampering retreat! All of which need to grow their businesses in various directions with Mary’s assistance: “I help them with a range of bookkeeping tasks, most importantly they gain a great deal of control over their business numbers that they never had before,” adds Mary. Her work also assists them to manage cashflow and understand profit levels.
The Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise is based on a successful bookkeeping business established in 2002. Its unique bookkeeping system called the Rosemary System® charges clients per transaction rather than per hour, so clients can always clearly see what they are being charged for. The company directors have over 60 years’ experience between them in accounting, operations management, sales and marketing. What’s more, Rosemary’s head office totals 7 support staff for the current network of 22 Franchise Partners. This is an incredible level of support, unparalleled by almost every other franchise in the UK.
This is a truly scalable business, allowing franchisees to undertake the work themselves from home or to grow into a management style business with staff or sub-contractors assisting them. The franchise package starts at an affordable £16,970 and includes an extensive 12-week training programme and ongoing support.
There is full-time technical support, Sage support system package, personal website and branded stationary starter pack, ongoing training via webinars, forums and 1-to-1 telephone calls, plus a tailored and proven marketing and business launch programme, underwritten by a Chartered Marketer, including sales techniques.
As Mary celebrates her 2-year anniversary we asked her what advice she had for others considering the Rosemary Bookkeeping franchise: “You need to trust the people behind the business, I did and made the right choice for me. You also need to like working with both figures and people. Be prepared for hard work; this is your business. Your effort will equal your reward and the work is definitely out there!”
If you would like to meet Mary and other Franchise Partners, attend a forthcoming Rosemary Discovery Day, call 0845 8620072 or email franchise@rosemarybooks.co.uk for more details.
Aug 6, 2012 | Clients in the Media, News
Always Best Care Franchisee and Customer
Dementia and Alzheimer’s are conditions that many of us inherently fear but know little about, apart from their ability to cause memory loss. Unfortunately these diseases are not always considered until they become a relevant subject – but could have been identified and diagnosed earlier if only we’d known how.
Always Best Care (ABC) has been the fastest-growing senior care franchise system in the USA over the past two years and is the only franchise that offers non-medical home care, assisted living placement services and skilled domiciliary care. They are trusted because they ensure their clients receive the right level of service at the right time, including specialist knowledge of conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
ABC takes pride in providing the best home care possible and strives to exceed customer expectations for both non-medical and skilled nursing. As well as providing personal assistance for families and individuals, ABC also endeavours to educate the wider community about conditions they may be affected by. As such, ABC has provided a brief insight into dementia and how you can identify the earlier signs.
Although the two terms are often used interchangeably, there is a difference between dementia and Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a generic term that covers all types of cognitive decline, whereas Alzheimer’s disease is a specific type of disorder within this group. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia with up to 64% of all dementias being due to Alzheimer’s, affecting nearly 5.4 million people in the US and 820,000 people in the UK.
Dementia is a progressive disease meaning that symptoms may gradually worsen. In many cases, the onset of dementia can display similar symptoms to that of depression. It is important to remember that some symptoms may be a natural progression of aging, and in no way related to dementia, but ABC recommends visiting your doctor if you have any concerns. Dementia symptoms include:
- Memory loss
- Reduced ability to learn, plan and problem solve
- Problems with communication or reasoning
- Irregular thought patterns and mood swings
- Disorientation about surroundings or the time of day
- Reduced awareness of danger
- Withdrawal from hobbies, social activities, work projects or sporting interests
Once dementia has been diagnosed, you may find it difficult to break the news to a loved-one. Be patient and sensitive and help them to understand why they can no longer remember or do something that was once second nature.
Dementia is often a hard condition to come to terms with so you should not expect to take everything in your stride. ABC is able to provide a range of support and guidance for families and carers, with a team of dedicated caregivers who are trained using tools created by “In-The-Know”, the Alzheimer’s Association and the Department of Health. In the Know is dedicated to developing quality paraprofessional in-service solutions for health care organizations. All In the Know in-services are written by registered nurses who have experience in home care, hospice, long-term care, hospital nursing, health home management and staff development.
ABC has been operating in the USA since 1996 and launched its first franchises in 2008. There are now over 180 franchise territories across the USA and Canada, with a UK launch planned during 2012.
If you would like more information about the services provided by Always Best Care, please visit www.alwaysbestcare.com. If you are interested in working with this successful care-giving franchise, please contact Iain Martin on 01904 561598 or email iain@thefranchisingcentre.com to request more details.
Jun 11, 2012 | Clients in the Media
Cafe2U, Making Money Magazine, March 2012.
Tim Shaw manages three vans over two Cafe2U territories in Berkshire and has plans for further expansion.
Cafe2U is the world’s largest mobile coffee franchise system, delivering fresh espresso coffee and great food to businesses, events and functions. Cafe2U is an associate member of the British Franchise Association and has over 50 franchises in the UK.
Franchisee Tim Shaw’s background is in customer experience transformation and, prior to starting his Cafe2U business, he had been a customer service consultant for eight years and a telecoms manager for seven years.
Sensible Option
He explains: “I knew about franchising from the obvious franchise brands on the high street such as McDonald’s and when I decided to start my own business, I didn’t quite have the confidence to go it alone completely, so franchising seemed like the sensible option. It took 9 months from initially deciding on buying a franchise to signing up and launching my Cafe2U franchise.
“Although I had worked in a bar several years ago, I didn’t really have any food service or retail experience and had never made a proper coffee in my life. I did have several years’ worth of experience helping organisations manage customer experience as a consultant, so this was more about putting my money where my mouth was. Catering or retail experience isn’t essential with this franchise, it is much more important to put yourself in the customers’ shoes and understand what they require from you – this is something that is taught throughout your training.
Tim says he had always been interested in opening a coffee shop, but loved the concept of selling quality coffee in various locations. “My customer service background really kicked in when I met the Cafe2U team and spent some time with a couple of franchise partners”, he says. “I could see how their impeccable service was another winner.
“The initial training was fantastic. I received an initial week’s worth of training as part of the Acceleration package, where I learnt the basic barista skills and how to manage the business, prior to this I had completed an online food and hygiene course organised by Cafe2U. I then worked closely with my Franchise Development Manager over the following three weeks, who pretty much camped on my doorstep and was the driving force in launching my business. I learnt so much over this period and this is what gave me the confidence to go on and manage my business successfully.
Tim adds: “The ongoing support has been very good. Cafe2U have adopted very much a collaborative approach and provide both simple operational tips to more strategic thinking to help develop my business.”
With plenty of competition on the high street, the UK’s coffee market is an established one, but this is where Cafe2U comes into its own. The company delivers its coffee to non-traditional locations via its eye-catching and ear-catching vans, which are fitted out with the latest barista-quality equipment and musical airhorns.
Business Model
“The competition from well-known café brands has not been an issue for us”, says Tim. “Firstly both the quality of our product, professionalism and service that we provide sets us apart from many established coffee businesses. Secondly, the nature of our business model (delivering coffee directly to the customer) is unique to our area.
“It’s a huge buzz to see customers’ faces when they enjoy a good cup of coffee and I have great job satisfaction but this is also a business that provides an income so that I can spend time with my family and enjoy my hobbies. The mobile system means you can focus on times of peak demand and do not have the expense of operating a shop at less busy times.’
“We are operating ahead of forecast. Since we became operational 17 months ago, we have grown to operating three vans across two territories. On a typical Monday to Friday we have 23 stops per van each day and can sell anything up to 30 cups per stop plus a variety of snacks and sandwiches during lunchtimes.”
Tim is pleased that he chose Cafe2U and that the company chose him. His advice for those looking at buying a Cafe2U franchise is: “Get experience with existing franchise partners. I visited two Cafe2U franchise partners before I signed up. It taught me a lot, and I was inspired to aim for expansion right away. Think about what your objectives are and capture these in your business plan. Define a way of measuring success so that you know how close you are to meeting your objectives. And, don’t worry, you won’t be on your own as Cafe2U will help you with this and much more along the way”
Tim’s enthusiasm for Cafe2U has rubbed off on everyone he meets: “I’m particularly pleased that I have also made an impact on other people looking to start a franchise. Amazingly, I served someone at the Caversham festival last summer who lives in the USA and he is now hoping to be one of the first franchisees to launch Cafe2U in the States!”
If you would like to know more about Cafe2U, why not call on 08456 444708 or view the video on their website www.cafe2u.co.uk
Jun 11, 2012 | Clients in the Media
Mac Tools, Making Money Magazine, March 2012
Mac Tools expands its franchise network support team
At a time when many companies are downsizing, Mac Tools, manufacturer of high-quality automotive tools, has taken the bold step to review operations to cater for its growing franchise network.
To cope with the demands of its growing network, Mac Tools re-organised its mobile distribution sales operations in the second half of 2011 and made three new key appointments to support the expansion.
Tony Prueitt, sales director of the UK’s Industrial & Automotive Division, explains: “Our business is expanding so we have recruited an additional national franchise manager, Steve Gotz, and two regional franchise managers, Keith Bush and William Hamilton. With the reinforced team we will ensure we continue to deliver first-class products and service to our customers and we know we are well-placed to leverage our growth into 2012 and beyond.”
Understanding
Steve Gotz brings with him over 20 years of franchise experience. He was one of Ribbon Revival’s very first employees and has helped build its franchise network worldwide. Steve says: “Along with my two new colleagues, I’m able to bring a clear understanding of the franchise world which will help support our franchisees and grow the Mac Tools business in these exciting times.”
Keith Bush looks after the North West and West Midlands. Prior to joining Mac Tools, Keith had worked in hospitality retail management for a number of years before becoming a small business advisor for Business Link. During his ten years in that role, he learnt a lot about franchise models. Armed with this knowledge, he opted for the Mac Tools franchise as, in his opinion, it operates like a true partnership. Keith says: “Mac Tools franchises are built for the long term and the support you receive is excellent.”
Taking care of the East of England region is William Hamilton, a former RAF propulsions engineer. With several years subsequently spent as a franchisee for another automotive tool brand, William brings invaluable hands-on experience with him, meaning he understands the needs of the franchisee better than anyone: “Mac Tools is a brand that’s really going places and offers one of the best franchise opportunities available. I’m very much looking forward to developing strong relationships with the franchisees and sharing my knowledge. My goal is to give them the support they need and to ensure they operate to their full potential.”
Mac Tools is part of Stanley Black & Decker, an $11+ billion global organisation employing over 30,000 people worldwide and owner of the world famous Stanley and DeWalt brands. The Mac Tools line consists of over 8000 professional tools including screwdrivers, ratchets, wrenches, and assorted air tools, as well as its own toolboxes. With 100 Mac Tools’ franchisees operating across the UK as trusted distributors of what are considered to be some of the best quality tools on the market, they are taking on the challenge of becoming market leaders in this market estimated to be worth over £150 million a year.
From Defence to Distributor
Jason Dowle spent 23 years in the Royal Army Medical Corps working his way up the chain of command to Warrant Officer Class One Regimental Sergeant Major. So starting a new career with Mac Tools in July 2011 was quite a change of scenery. His keen interest in motorcycle racing meant that Jason had always been aware of the leading tool manufacturer, so when he learnt that the company also offered franchises it offered an ideal opportunity to put his tool knowledge to good use.
“I had known for a while that I wanted to work for myself or work within sales, but I wasn’t sure about the direction I wanted to take”, explains Jason. “After leaving the Army and spending some time lecturing and designing course programmes with another company, it then took me about 4 months to make the decision to sign-up with Mac Tools.
“Thankfully my family were behind me all the way – this is a factor I would strongly recommend everyone to consider when buying a franchise. I knew there was going to be a lot of work involved on my part, but I also needed to be happy that the effort wouldn’t impact on my family in a negative way, especially after spending so much of my life away from them already.
“I did look at other franchises as well, including some that were in direct competition with Mac Tools. Although their products and services were similar, in the end it came down to personal confidence because, having used the brand myself, I knew the product quality and felt that this would offer excellent knowledge to assist customers with their buying requirements.
“It was also much easier to get bank funding for a franchise than creating a business from scratch – there is often less risk involved which strengthens the business plan you present. Likewise, I had the added security of having a large company brand behind me that was already well-renowned in the industry.
Jason completed an initail four days’ training at Stanley Europe’s headquarters in Sheffield, a parent company of Mac Tools. this was followed by five days’ in-depth tuition at Mac Tools in Columbus, Ohio and another three days in Sheffield. Three days of mentor training in Jason’s home town of Weston-Super-Mare for hands-on, guided experience followed.
New Challenge
“This new career is very different to what I have been used to and a complete new challenge in its own way. However, I am feeling really confident about running my own business because the Army teaches you how to think dynamically and deal quickly and effectively with problems as and when they occur.
“I would recommend that someone with an interest in starting their first franchise should talk to at least two existing franchisees, preferable someone who has just recently started and someone who has been in the business for a long time. Make sure this is what you want to do and that you are prepared for the work that you will have to put in to making it a success.
An average day for Jason starts around 8:30am and the majority of his customers are from the automotive trade. “I prepare the van for the day, which involves having customer orders ready and deciding which products to promote”, he explains. “I arrive at my first call just after 9am and, once I’m parked, grab a few items from the van, as well as any customer orders.
“My first port of call is always to the Garage Manager or the senior Technician to announce my arrival and deal with any issues for the garage. I then work methodically through the garage or dealership until I’ve spoken to all the staff who may be interested in the product I’m talking about.
“I’ve tried working through lunch breaks and tea breaks but these appear to be set in stone in the motor trade! I usually wind up the day about 5pm and I’m home by 6pm. I sit down again at about 7pm to read emails and check in tools, but this usually only takes about 45 minutes. I work for a couple of hours on Saturdays; cleaning the van and restocking tools delivered on a Friday night.
“I’m enjoying the fact that I only really work a five-day week. This means that I am able to spend much more time with my family. Although I often miss the action and adventure I had in the army, the response from the local motor trade has been terrific and I’m kept really busy raising awareness of Mac Tools. It’s definitely an encouraging start.”
For more information please call 08450 6000 60 or email: franchise@mactools.co.uk
Company website: www.mactools.co.uk
