Nov 11, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Kate Kent has recently become the second female Mac Tools franchisee. Kate was working as a teaching assistant in a 
local school when she started helping out her fiancé, Adrian Griggs, who is already a Mac Man, during the school holidays. Kate enjoyed helping Adrian so much that she decided to open her own franchise.
Mac Tools franchisees are the trusted tool specialists for professional technicians in the automotive industry. Mac Tools is part of Stanley Black & Decker, a £7+ billion global organisation and owner of 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.
“I caught the Mac Tools bug whilst I was helping Adrian out on his van. I love being part of Mac Tools, it feels like one big family and everyone’s passion for the business shines through – it’s infectious. Initially, the training was the most petrifying thing I’ve ever done, I was taken way past my comfort zone in every way possible but it helped my confidence grow so much. The support from the team was great, it made a difficult situation so much easier. You leave the training believing in yourself and it really helped my character to develop in a huge way.”
“The ongoing support from Mac Tools has also been fantastic, it doesn’t stop with the initial training. I had support on the road with me for two weeks and the franchise team, customer services and other franchisees are always on the other end of the phone if you ever need any help. Everyone’s got time to help and no-one thinks your question is too silly!”
Being one of only two female franchisees in a male dominated industry could be seen as challenging but Kate has found it quite the opposite.
“I haven’t found the experience uncomfortable at all, even though I thought it would be when I walked in to my first automotive repair shop. Prior to joining Mac Tools I was a teaching assistant in a local primary school specialising in maths intervention and I didn’t even know the difference between a flat head screwdriver and a Philips – it just goes to show you’re never too old to learn. Many new franchisees have to learn about the huge range of over 18,000 tools that we have to sell and I think I get a better reception as being a woman in this business is a novelty to my customers; sometimes they even make me a cup of tea!”
“My fiancé Adrian has also been extremely supportive throughout the whole process. He will always help me if I have a question or if I need advice. He will even quiz me on the products for ‘tote and promote’ in the evenings when he gets in from work!”
“My best achievement to date has been beating Adrian in one week’s sales. I’m very competitive so it was a good moment for me!”
This press release has created wide spread coverage on franchise related websites and social media. It will also be included in upcoming print publications. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Nov 2, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News, Uncategorized
With the worst winter for decades predicted for 2013, you might think that ice cream sales are likely to fall throughout the winter 
months. However, the new range of Hot Treats at Baskin-Robbins, now available all year round, mean that you can continue to enjoy ice cream without feeling too chilly. The Hot Treats range consists of a variety of hot desserts accompanied by your favourite ice cream flavours.
In preparation for this winter, Baskin-Robbins have added two brand new treats to the range. Buttermilk brownies and sticky toffee pudding will be joining the existing range which already includes:
- Brownie
- Waffle
- Chocolate fondant
- Rockslide brownie.
For 65 years Baskin-Robbins has been creating irresistible treats to make you smile and feel good. The Baskin-Robbins franchise opportunity offers rewarding potential. Since their foundation in 1945 they have introduced over 1,000 unique, fun and much-loved ice cream recipes, frozen drinks and ice-cream cakes. To make sure that their customers keep coming back and can discover new flavours to suit their personality on a regular basis they employ a dedicated team of chefs who explore new flavour trends and create new recipes as well as innovative new products for the ice cream market.
“The Baskin-Robbins ice cream parlour concept is fun and unique, I love the fact that there are 31 different flavours of ice cream, including fat free, sugar free and yogurt varieties available, so there is something for everyone – even those on a diet!” explains Franchisee Prem Gotru.
Baskin-Robbins are constantly updating their products to keep them interesting and more appealing than their competitors’ products. In a market with such strong competition as the ice cream market, incremental product innovation is key to establish and maintain a substantial competitive advantage. Additionally, incremental innovation, if executed properly, offers distinct advantages to franchise businesses as changes can be operationalised quickly by franchisees.
Baskin-Robbins employ a dedicated teams of chefs who explore new flavour trends and create new recipes as well as innovative new products for the ice cream market such as fondue and crepes. These new recipes and products are then tested using focus groups in the US whilst also being evaluated by franchisees in the UK.
As a result of their excellent process of incremental product innovation, Baskin-Robbins is at the forefront of offering a variety of products that meet various consumer needs across all seasons.
This press release has created wide spread coverage on franchise related websites and social media. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Oct 30, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Phillip Webb and team
We are extremely proud to welcome not one but four new franchise partners to our growing franchise network. Phillip Webb, Steve Pyle, David Grant and Eric White will be launching their franchises between now and early 2014.
Phillip has just finished his training and is already responding to enquiries in his first week in his Maidenhead territory. With Steve and David are already in the starting blocks and itching to start their training and launch into their respective territories Edinburgh and Warrington. And last but certainly not least, Eric White will start operating in his franchise in Central Manchester in March 2014.
Eric, a Wholesale Bakery Manager, elaborates on his reasons for starting his own Total Clean franchise:
“I decided to leave my current position because I wanted more control of my future. I looked at various other franchises before deciding on Total Clean. I knew I didn’t want to operate a van franchise, so I spoke to a variety of other types of opportunities. Total Clean seemed more attractive than the others to me and although they have only just started to franchise, their business model is proven and their franchise model is very well designed. They came across as very professional and helpful, so it was a clear decision for me,” adds Eric.
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. We proudly boast an enviable 95% client retention rate; in fact, among our many longstanding clients, we have the privilege of still servicing one client from the very first week of operation.
Our management model is a complete turnkey business opportunity. The franchise package provides franchise partners like Phillip, Eric, David and Steve with everything they require to hit the ground running and power their new business.
This press release has created wide spread coverage on franchise related websites and social media. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Oct 23, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Phillip Webb and Total Clean team
Coconut Creatives’ client Total Clean is proud to announce that Phillip Webb has joined the network as its second Franchise Partner. He has just finished his training and is now well prepared to start operating his Total Clean management franchise in Maidenhead.
Phillip has spent his career in the financial products industry working in a wide range of areas including loans, car leasing, insurance products and mortgages; the latter of which occupying the last 13 years. Prior to that, he spent some time in the cleaning industry which has influenced his recent decision to start a new endeavour in franchising.
“For me the appeal of franchising is the ability to tap into the knowledge of those who have been there and done it in a particular industry. It’s good to run your own business but at the same time nice to be a part of something and interact with like-minded people. Also, the knowledge that the franchise company needs me to be successful in order for them to be successful is a good leveller,” says Phillip.
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 an enviable 95% client retention rate; in fact, among its many longstanding clients, it has the privilege of still servicing one client from the very first week of operation.
Total Clean is a company dedicated to building strong long-term relationships with their customers and they have transferred this to their franchise model. Therefore, they not only created a comprehensive training programme, designed to deliver on all core modules of learning required to develop and run the franchise successfully but also provide full ongoing support through a dedicated team of staff.
Phillip adds: “Almost every business is a people business and my reason for choosing Total Clean was based around the people. Fiona Steels, the Franchise Development Manager, clearly has the franchise concept nailed given her background and I don’t think there is much that Carlos, the Managing Director, doesn’t know about the cleaning business. The concept is also easy to understand and the market is not going away anytime soon. I also think that the Total Clean franchise gives incredible value for money compared to other franchises that I’ve seen and that the potential is there to grow a proper leveraged business and not some day to day consultancy that stops earning every time you take a day off or go on holiday.”
The Total Clean Management Model is a complete turnkey business opportunity. The franchise package provides franchise partners like Phillip with everything they require to hit the ground running and power their new business.
Total Clean has already signed two additional Franchise Partners in just the last 2 months. They are already in the starting blocks to start their training and begin operating in their respective territories.
This press release has created wide spread coverage on franchise related websites and social media. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Aug 14, 2013 | Clients in the Media, News
Shweta Jhajharia
The 2013 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards shortlist has been revealed. And, Shweta Jhajharia, franchise partner of Coconut Creatives’ client ActionCOACH, is amongst the finalists for the Female Franchisee of the Year Award.
The 2013 bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards recognise franchisees that have demonstrated exceptional business practice in their franchise over the last year. The Female Franchisee of the Year category, supported by Express Newspapers, particularly recognises the accomplishments of female franchisees whose drive and commitment to achieving fantastic results has furthered best business practice across their network.
“The bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards provide us with an opportunity to hear about franchisees advocating excellence across their industry. We have been impressed by the high calibre of the applicants and the results delivered. It has been truly inspirational to hear from this year’s finalists showcasing their successes, having taken the step into franchising,” explains Sean Hammond, Head of Franchising at Express Newspapers.
Shweta Jhajharia joined ActionCOACH in 2008 and has since risen to be the most successful female ActionCOACH worldwide. Since 2008 Shweta has helped more than 300 business owners in achieving their business goals and dreams. She is also the first female business coach in Europe ever to be awarded the ActionCOACH Emerald Level Certification for consistently achieving a turnover in excess of £40,000 per month. This and her support of the local community and charity work inspire all female and male coaches across the country.
“I am delighted to be the finalist for this award, which provides another platform to recognise the participation, development and achievements of women in the business world. I think it is also important to recognise that in the business of coaching, helping other businesses is at the core of my own business model and therefore my success is inextricably linked to the success of my clients. My greatest happiness from my business success has been to see my clients grow phenomenally,” says Shweta.
Shweta is one of four finalists in the Female Franchisee of the Year Award category. The winner of each category will be announced at the ICC in Birmingham on Thursday 3rd October. The overall HSBC Franchisee of the Year will be chosen from the five category winners.
This press release has created wide spread coverage on franchise related websites and social media. It will also be included in upcoming print publications. To find out how Coconut Creatives can help you generate great PR why not contact us!
Jul 30, 2013 | Coconut in the Media, Coconut News, News
Coconut Media has been shortlisted for an award at the 2013 CIPR Wessex and Channel Islands PRide 
Awards, announced today.
Coconut Media has been recognised for their outstanding work and has been nominated for Outstanding Small Consultancy. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the CIPR PRide awards, which will be held at St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton.
The CIPR PRide Awards recognise the outstanding talents and achievements of public relations practitioners across the UK’s regions and nations. They are the most prestigious and rigorous awards of their kind.
Commenting on this year’s shortlist announcement, CIPR President Sue Wolstenhome FCIPR, said:
“The CIPR PRide Awards celebrate the very best in public relations from across the UK’s regions and nations. This year’s entries were all of an incredibly high standard, highlighting the industry-leading work that is taking place right across the UK. I would like to congratulate all of those who have been shortlisted for an award; their success demonstrates their exemplary achievements in such a thriving profession, and recognises the impact they have made in their region and beyond.”
To find out how Coconut Media can help you generate great PR for your franchise why not contact us!
local school when she started helping out her fiancé, Adrian Griggs, who is already a Mac Man, during the school holidays. Kate enjoyed helping Adrian so much that she decided to open her own franchise.
