Beauty and the best

It's time to ring out the old. Just as there is usually a surge in new users of gyms at this time of year, so too might there be an increase in people paying a visit to their local beauty salon.

But the health and beauty business is a successful sector all year round. For example, in the diet and fitness sector, there is always demand for this type of franchise. "With an increasingly overweight and obese population in the UK, there is no shortage of demand for the services offered by a diet and fitness franchise," says Linda Parker, PR manager for Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs. 

One of the reasons that franchises are so successful in the health and beauty business (as opposed to brand new start up businesses) is that the combination of franchisee autonomy and franchisor experience and advice add up to a productive working relationship. "Franchisees have the freedom to run their own businesses and have the support of a highly professional organisation supporting them," says Ms Parker. "They also benefit from having a reputable name behind them and the knowledge and expertise of the franchisor."

She adds: "A good, successful franchisee needs to have enthusiasm, commitment and a passion for the business. Franchisees should use the expert advice and backing provided and, most of all, follow the formula set out by the franchisor - because it works." 

Hair and beauty franchise Saks has 35 years' business acumen; its systems and policies haven't been arrived at overnight. Stephen Kee, the company's managing director, explains why franchised salons have an advantage over start-ups: "An independent salon can't offer what an established and experienced company like Saks can, both to the client or the employee. Because of the strong brand name, Saks has real clout to find amazing sites in prime locations.

"Leading high street retailers would rather have a Saks salon next door to them rather than a small independent salon. Saks has also secured fantastic deals with suppliers, and there's excellent support every step of the way. If you're an independent, you go it alone!"
He adds that it makes more sense to become part of a big group with many years experience than to become a "guinea pig" with a small group that is still learning how to get franchising right. "Saks now has over 500 enquiries a year. Franchising is a word and concept understood by everyone and is seen as a credible alternative to opening a salon alone. As a Saks franchisee, you're part of a big team. There is an annual calendar of local, regional and national events provides brand motivation and inspiration for all franchisees and their teams, and opportunities to share in company developments."

There are many opportunities made available to franchisees that independent salons would not have: great rates with suppliers, the latest and most cutting-edge treatments and products... the list is endless.

Matthew Kent of Sevenpointfive agrees. "A Sevenpointfive franchise provides unique training and access to proven products. The products are not available anywhere else. Besides that, the business advice and proven model is essential to a sustainable business."

To keep customers returning time and again, he has the following advice: "While some niche popular franchises may be seen as a luxury item in an economic downturn, it is essential that franchises provide their clients with a reason to keep coming back. Giving a measurable, tangible method for clients to monitor their health ensures that they can financially quantify their spend on health products during economically difficult times."

Tanning business Consol Suncenter, with over 26 years' experience, is also providing great opportunities to run a successful business. Poul Nyman of Consol acknowledges that some franchisees may have concerns about the current economic situation, but he insists that business continues to perform strongly. "It is our experience that customers tend to continue spending on tanning sessions as cost is low and feel good factor is high. So Consol is quite unusual in bucking current recessionary trends," he says.

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs

With 37 years experience of helping people to slim and become fitter and healthier, it's little wonder that Rosemary Conley is one of the country's most prominent diet and fitness experts. After running her own classes for more than 20 years, Ms Conley finally launched the franchised Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs in 1993.

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs is the only national slimming organisation in the UK to offer diet and exercise in the same class. What's more, it is also the only national slimming organisation to have an instantly recognisable figurehead at its helm and because of this, franchisees benefit from Ms Conley's reputation and high media profile.

Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs provides franchisees with all of the necessary training in exercise and nutrition to start a business, along with continued support and development to ensure its success. Franchisees receive full OCR (Oxford Cambridge Royal Society of Arts) training as an exercise to music instructor and receive a certificate in Applied Nutrition and Weight Management, a qualification accredited by the University of Chester.

Training is also provided in business management and marketing, while the initial start-up package includes everything needed to start running the franchise, including essential equipment, promotional material, local and national advertising as well as basic business stationery. 

Ongoing training courses held throughout the year help to maintain standards and ensure franchisees stay at the forefront of the industry.

The cost of a Rosemary Conley Diet and Fitness Clubs franchise is £18,500 plus VAT (this is reduced to £16,622 plus VAT for those already qualified as an OCR/NVQ instructor to teach exercise to music).

Franchisees must be passionate about diet and exercise, personally committed to a healthy lifestyle, be reasonably slim and fit, have a positive outlook and have the energy to promote this lifestyle. If they have conquered their own weight problem in the past, this can help them to empathise with members, but this is not absolutely essential.

Whilst franchisees run their businesses from home, where they spend time administering their businesses, classes are run in various locations of their choice within their specific territory. The venues in which classes are held include church and village halls, schools and sports centres. As the purchase or letting of permanent high-street premises is not required, the level of investment is kept to a minimum. 

Saks

Saks is the UK's leading hair & beauty franchise with over 140 salons nationwide. Since its beginnings, the company has grown to a 140-strong national salon group and internationally renowned leader in hair and beauty.

Stephen Kee, managing director of Saks, says: "Saks was the first to move away from traditional shampoo and setting to the new "cut and blow dry" as we now know it. Clients flocked in. With aspirations to become national, franchising was the answer."

The Saks franchise took off in 1981 and the Saks group - which then numbered 12 salons - grew year on year. As the company's UK presence grew, it was discovered that clients also wanted beauty as part of their Saks experience - as a result, the beauty concept was launched in 1995. "Saks is now the UK's leading high street beauty salon group and continues to be a pioneer, regularly introducing the latest, cutting-edge beauty and anti-ageing treatments and products," says Mr Kee.

Saks franchisees benefit from established proven systems, policies and measurable standards for every facet of the business, which come from Saks' 35 years experience. Saks invests a great deal of time and money into researching and introducing exciting new treatments and services into the beauty portfolio which individual salons, or smaller franchisors may not have the resources to do. This enables franchisees to offer clients the Oxygenator Anti-Ageing Facial, Permanent Hair Reduction, and Cosmedix. which were previously only available from dermatologists.

Franchisees receive support and advice in a range of fields including: finance, business reports, established systems, policy manuals and measurable standards, site selection, property and lease, recruitment, personnel, salon launch and marketing. Saks also has excellent relationships with the major banks which makes it possible for franchisees to secure finance at competitive and often discounted rates.

Saks also supplies induction training through the Saks Education Programme for each team member, as well as management training and ongoing training in-salon and at the Saks Academies. Successful applicants should be business-minded and looking for an opportunity with the resources of a large, international company. They should be an experienced hairdresser, beauty therapist or salon manager, or a business person from outside the industry, with a genuine interest in hairdressing, health and beauty, together with a hairdressing or beauty business partner. Strong communication, team skills and marketing ability are an advantage. Commitment and drive are essential.

Sevenpointfive

Sevenpointfive was started by Garth Kent, who after suffering for eight years with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE), found a way to cleanse, nourish and balance his body to overcome this incurable disease.

The disease was misdiagnosed for three years while Mr Kent suffered from debilitating headaches that made him unable to work. When doctors insisted on him taking Prednisone, the standard Lupus treatment, Mr Kent's joints were damaged so badly, he was unable to walk or even wash himself. He had to use an electric wheelchair to get around. The treatment triggered Discoid Lupus, which caused lesions on his body and septic arthritis, even necessitating an operation to relieve abscesses of all their contents. Mr Kent tried every option available at the time, from conventional medicine to alternative therapies to acupuncture, travelling around the world to try and find a cure for his disease.

After learning about the importance of pH and a balanced body, he began using natural products to achieve a balanced pH of 7.5. He has been free of morphine, valium and schedule five painkillers since 1998, and the "incurable" SLE no longer ravages his body. He has since been helping people around the world achieve this balance too. He now trains others to use Live Blood Analysis to help them help others identify imbalances and monitor their progress. This system is unique in that it blends science and nature, using modern technology to pinpoint the body's imbalances, and then using natural supplements to allow the body to eliminate the cause of the problem.

Mr Kent's friends and family were impressed with his dramatic recovery and started to use the same protocol of cleansing, nourishing and balancing their bodies for themselves. Due to the amazing results that touched the lives of many since its inception, Sevenpointfive franchises have spread throughout South Africa and overseas.

A Sevenpointfive franchise is not only a solid business model making it financially viable and stable but it also provides unsurpassed job satisfaction due to the excellent results obtained and the way client's lives are changed.
The complete franchise costs between £30,000 and £50,000, depending on the area purchased. This includes everything needed to get started including office furniture, necessary equipment, computer, screen, accounting software, training and initial stock to last the first three months.

Sevenpointfive is looking for candidates who are keenly interested in being in a business where they are able to make a difference in people's lives while earning a good living. A medical background is not needed at all as all training is provided.

Consol Suncenter

Consol Suncenter is the leading tanning business in Europe. It launched its franchise business in 2005 after over 23 years in Denmark and nine in the UK. Consol Suncenter operates 62 tanning studios in England and Wales.

Consol operates highly sophisticated tanning studios that allow customers to choose and pay for sunbed sessions themselves. This means that overheads are at a minimum and returns on the franchise are high. The way that the business operates is also very flexible and franchisees can retain existing professional interests as well as enjoy the benefits of running a successful tanning business. Consol franchisees have seen a swift return on investment.

The capital investment required is £37,000. This will fund the complete setting up of a studio plus comprehensive business and training support which is ongoing. Consol can help franchisees to access funding.

Franchisees do not need specific skills or experience in the tanning industry - just an enthusiasm to own their own successful business. It is, however, recommend that franchisees live close to their business.