May 8, 2012 | Clients in the Media
The awareness we now have about the importance of looking after ourselves and staying in shape is far more advanced than that of our previous generations. Regular trips to the gym or fitness class, beauticians or hairdressers has become commonplace for many people – as routine as visiting the supermarket.
And yet, the inconvenient truth is that we often miss one essential part of our bodies… our feet.
This does not include the occasional pedicure or cosmetic treatment, but deep-rooted understanding about the foundations on which we stand. Just like a house, if your body’s foundation is out of line, everything else will be too, which can lead to painful problems with feet, knees, hips, the back, and muscular system.
There are now 14 million people in the UK aged over 60 and this is projected to increase by 50% over the next 25 years. Over half the new cases of foot care come from people over 65, with 58% of these choosing to receive this care through a private provider rather than the NHS.
Foot Solutions is one of only a few companies offering dedicated services to fill this growing need. They use the most advanced technology and full understanding of feet and gait biomechanics to fit each customer’s unique feet with the highest quality footwear available. Their methods improve comfort and body alignment, helping customers to achieve better health through their feet. The bespoke solutions are offered in a range of attractive footwear brands, delivered through conveniently-located retail stores.
John Linehan is the Managing Director of Foot Solutions Ireland & UK. He says, “Our customers come back to us time and again because we provide such excellent service and really listen to their needs. Each consultation takes between 30-40 minutes so we can fully assess their requirements. One customer recently commented that they were very impressed with the professional manner in which they were served and that, although they felt under no pressure to make a purchase, they’re glad they did because it has significantly reduced their back problems. Feedback like that makes you proud to work with a world-leading franchise under such a strong ethos – it’s the root of our success.”
Foot Solutions are the world’s largest health and wellness franchise focussing on foot care and have a proven business model operating in over 240 locations worldwide. With a growing UK-based network, this franchise opportunity is proving to be a step in the right direction for many motivated individuals.
“Foot Solutions provide good products in a market with very little competition. They have a number of unique selling points such as a good margin and strong opportunities for growth. I know the health and wellness sector is expanding due to the aging population, which gives me more chance of being resilient in an economic downturn,” says David Dwyer, the Foot Solutions franchisee in Dublin South City.
Andrew Scowcroft, Manager of the Foot Solutions franchise in Plymouth adds, “I recognised the market opportunity that Foot Solutions was offering due to my background and my wife being a podiatrist. I looked into the numbers and realised there was evidence of the strong franchise model being delivered. There was replicated success across the network and solid systems in place to maintain the growth potential.”
If you’re looking for an opportunity to manage a growing brand in an exclusive territory, please visit www.footsolutionsfranchise.co.uk
Dec 20, 2011 | Clients in the Media
Steve Almond, 48, has spent most of his career in the pharmaceutical industry but after taking voluntary redundancy twice he decided to take a step outside of his comfort zone into the world of franchising, and hasn’t looked back since.
“I started in research and development at AstraZeneca and after a few years I moved on to operations and latterly spent 10 years as a project manager. I enjoyed this corporate role, and project management in particular, but during a major oprations re-organisation, AstraZenica offered a voluntary redundancy package to their staff that was simply too good to turn down! “At the time, the idea of franchising hadn’t really popped up and I took another project management position in the same sector. SSL International, well-known its brands Durex and Scholl, was taken over by Reckitt Benckiser just 12 months ago and I was given the option of relocating from Cheshire to either Hull or Slough. My wife’s family all live locally and my eldest son was soon to take his GCSEs, so relocating just wasn’t a sensible option. I guess that’s how I found myself taking voluntary redundancy for the second time! “I met up with an old AstraZeneca colleague and, over a coffee, we chatted about what I could do next. 
She suggested I spoke with Andrew Pendleton at MatchPoint. Having worked with Andrew herself, when she was considering buying a franchise, she thought that the MatchPoint process of matching people to franchises could help me figure out my next step.
“I first met Andrew for an informal chat where he explained the MatchPoint suitability profiling process; he was very patient and took the time to understand what I was looking for. Our second meeting started the profiling activities and our subsequent meetings talked through the franchise opportunities that had been matched to my skills and attributes. The process is well worthwhile as not only do they offer a suitable franchise to someone like me but it means that once you are introduced to the franchisor, they are happy and confident that you are a suitable candidate for them.
“Tutor Doctor was one of the first three options brought to me by Andrew. After some initial screening, I was allowed to talk to existing franchisees and each of them explained without prompting: “we work really hard but we make a difference to people’s education every day” and this simple statement ultimately sold it to me.”
Tutor Doctor provides the highest quality private tutors in the UK. The franchisee manages a network of tutors and visits each new student to assess their needs before allocating the best possible tutor.
“I launched the East Cheshire franchise of Tutor Doctor in May this year and have grown from nothing to a business now requiring 30 tutors to cover the tutoring demand. The business model seems to be stacking-up nicely as, even over the quiet summer holiday, we are on target for around 75 students at the end of year 1.
“Tutor Doctor is set apart from agencies because we know all of out tutors personally and we can find a tutor for almost every need. We have students from 5 to 75 years old and we could have renamed ourselves ‘University Rescue’ for the number of students we’ve helped over the past couple of months with subjects such as economics and aviation to geology and law!
Using the Match Point service was just what the doctor ordered for Steve:
“It does what it says on the logo! It took the pain out of the franchise search. Just like Tutor Doctor, they fully assess the need and provide the most appropriate solution.”
You can find out more about MatchPoint by calling 0843 289 2645 or visit: www.matchpointnetworkuk.co.uk
Dec 20, 2011 | Clients in the Media
This is a really exciting time for the healthcare industry. Established in 1989, Kare Plus is a recruitment agency that works within the healthcare market worth £Billions each year. Kare Plus franchisees manage the recruitment and placement of their workforce with the support of a head office team.
Kare Plus is committed to excellent customer service. Their franchisees employ a diverse team to help to provide the best possible care for people from all walks of life with various needs. “This is, and always will be, our main aim,” explains Steve Welsh, Managing Director at Kare Plus.
“The healthcare industry is estimated to be worth in excess of £27 Billion and is going through a series of ground-breaking changes. Government reforms mean that the market we work within has opened up hugely and the opportunities for our franchisees are brilliant as our business model operates across public, private, institutional and home healthcare services. With shocking new statistics from the Patients Association hailing only 1 in 7 care homes provide enough food and water for their residents, we are finding the demand for our home healthcare services is even stronger than ever.”
Kare Plus enables its franchisees to work across public and private sectors by maintaining the standards required for the major quality assurance associations and committees:
- The Buying Solutions NHS framework enabling them to provide staffing solutions to NHS and private hospitals, Primary Care Trusts and clinics
- The Care Quality Commission who regulate care provided by the NHS, local authorities, private companies and voluntary organisations
- The Recruitment & Employment Confederation are committed to raising standards and highlighting excellence throughout the recruitment industry and all REC Members must abide by the REC Code of Professional Practice
- United Kingdom Homecare Association Ltd (UKHCA) is the professional association of home care providers promoting high standards of care and providing representation with national and regional policy-makers and regulators.
The head office at Kare Plus lives and breaths a determination to provide the best quality care and customer service at every point of contact. This conviction spreads out through their network of franchisees and is why Kare Plus is getting a name for themselves in the market. “Our aim is to be the leading private healthcare provider in the UK,” explains Steve, “Our head office has already secured national contracts and has a proven process for council tendering. We have the know-how, the experience and the opportunities – all we need now is to grow with the right franchisees.”
“We currently have a network of 8 franchisees who all have some things in common, they are strong communicators and organisers who have great people management skills and are motivated to make a success of their businesses. Our training supports our franchisees in every aspect of the business but these core attributes are what we know will be a sound starting point.”
More and more private healthcare providers like Kare Plus are in demand and you could build your future with a Kare Plus franchise, enjoying excellent financial rewards and a high level of personal satisfaction, by providing a valuable service in your area. For more information visit: www.kareplus.com or call 0845 094 9288.
Dec 20, 2011 | Clients in the Media
FASTSIGNS® is the global leader in the sign and graphics industry with over 540 franchises worldwide. For years they have been known for producing eye-catching signage and graphics of the highest quality at sensible prices but the UK and US Franchisors are not prepared to leave it there!
FASTSIGNS Franchise Partners can now benefit from additional revenue streams as they can now offer the full visual communication solution for any business. They have always been able to provide a great range of external signage, vehicle graphics as well as exhibition and point of sales displays but now they can also provide a huge range of promotional gifts and small format printing.
FASTSIGNS have always enjoyed high retention rates on their customer database because they not only provide a quality product range but, more importantly, they provide expert consultation so that clients get a product that actually serves its purpose effectively. These new products and printing formats are an opportunity for up-selling to existing clients and open the door for a new raft of customers.
Franchise Partners also benefit from an unparalleled training and operating system built on 25 years of experience in the signs and graphics sector. Training begins with a trip to the USA where Franchise Partners are first introduced to the FASTSIGNS proven sales model which combines national and local company contracts using a high sales volume and profit maximising planning. Knowing they have a sound financial model to follow and the backing on an internationally recognised brand gives the Franchise Partners the confidence to build their own successful business and the independence to make their mark on a local level.
UK Managing Director Garth Allison explains why FASTSIGNS continues to develop the business product and service portfolio: “We want to continue to be global leaders in this sector and that will never be achieved if we just rest on our laurels. Our research had shown that as customers gain trust in our visual communications solutions, they would prefer to continue this service with some of the smaller promotional products and literature delivered with our same quality at competitive prices.”
“The UK signage and graphics market is now worth in excess of £3billion and it is a great time to expand our UK franchise network to meet demand so we are looking for individuals who want to manage a team of staff, secure new business and have the skills and ambition to build a successful business.”
To find out more about the FASTSIGNS franchise or to book a place on one of our discovery days email garth.allison@fastsigns.com or call 0808 168 0145.
Dec 20, 2011 | Clients in the Media
Faye Cochrane loves coffee and, having held management positions with coffee houses in the past, it didn’t take her long to choose Cafe2U as her new business venture. Just 3 years on, she has celebrated launching her third van onto the roads of Edinburgh!
Cafe2U is the world’s largest mobile coffee franchise system and their franchise partners are reaping the rewards of the fast-growing coffee industry by providing the highest quality espresso coffee, hot chocolate, premium teas and complimentary snacks to people in non-traditional locations including workplaces and events.
Faye, Cafe2U’s Edinburgh Franchise Partner, explains how the Cafe2U franchise has built to a successful multi-van business.
“I started working in the hospitality industry at the age of 13 and have worked in the food and hospitality sector ever since. I have always wanted to start my own business but the recession meant that it wasn’t a good idea to start a business from scratch; I liked the idea of the support from a franchise’s head office.
“I loved the idea of being completely mobile but with the barista quality coffee and all the equipment that it requires all built in to the bright red Cafe2U van. After signing the franchise contract, I spent 2 days training in Leeds at the Cafe2U head office. I took my first van out in June 2008 and since then the Cafe2U head office has provided ongoing support via phone and email and I receive regular quarterly visits from a member of Cafe2U team.”
Faye now owns three Cafe2U vans and celebrated her third year as a franchise partner by enjoying a record day on one of her vans with coffee sales up from the average by a whopping 58% for the day!
“My customers include HSBC, Tesco Management Offices and JP Morgan in my Edinburgh Park territory. Each van has regular stops every day but I also have some regular management and marketing tasks each week. The usual bookkeeping activity won’t come as a surprise to anyone but I also produce a weekly newsletter for my customers and award someone with free coffees for a week each week; my promotions build customer loyalty and bring new customers to the van on a daily basis.
“If anyone was thinking of buying a Cafe2U franchise I would say ‘Go for it!’ but remember that running your own business is much harder work than you think – your success is your responsibility.”
If you would like to know more about Cafe2U, why not join one of our Discovery Days? You can register by calling 08456 444708.
You can also see more from Faye on our events video: http://cafe2u.com/uk/cafe2u-at-events
Dec 20, 2011 | Clients in the Media
The world’s largest mobile coffee franchise Cafe2U has welcomed Will Vernon to the post of Operations Director. Will’s 21-year career with Whitbread including 4 years as Head of Brand Standards & Training at Costa shows Cafe2U’s drive to take its last 5 years of success in the UK and build an even brighter future.
Tom Acland, UK Managing Director at Cafe2U explains: “We picked Will for his operational experience, vision, drive, enthusiasm, and understanding of the branded coffee market place that we aim to continue to dominate, from a mobile perspective, into the future. He will lead the operational support and supply side of the business. This means he will have responsibility for training, launch and support of our franchise partners, as well as the equipment and product supply chain.
Will is really excited about joining Cafe2U: “Although adapting to life away from my previous corporate background won’t be without its challenges, I am looking forward to the involvement and impact I can have on the development of one of the most exciting brands to arrive in the UK for a long time.
“I started with Cafe2U on 7th October and two days later I was in Sydney, their founding franchise country, for a fortnight of intensive training and orientation. Now I’m back in the UK, I am working hard with the head office team to make the next 5 years an even bigger success.”
Proudly born and bred in Australia, Cafe2U is already the world’s largest mobile coffee franchise with over 100 mobile coffee vans in Australia and over 50 in the UK and Ireland. You can find out more by visiting www.cafe2u.co.uk or by registering for one of our discovery days on 0845 6444 708.
