Set up shop

The harsh blows of the recession have been felt on the high street. Yet, with less competition and cheaper retail premises on the market, now is the perfect time to invest in a retail franchise. Vesna Siljanovska reports

The retail sector has always been a competitive one. The fight for retail space and the right location is fierce, and often businesses can fail if they don’t get this right. The past 12 months have seen a number of retailers disappear from the high street – Woolworths and Zavvi are just two of the many retail credit crunch victims.

So what’s left of the debris? Boarded up shops and unhappy landlords, however for the potential retail sector franchisees, this is a great time to find a prime location, negotiate a competitive rate and set up shop. Domino’s Business Development Director Andy Emmerson says: “I’m now seeing a willingness in landlords to offer a longer rent free period as a means to incentivise the tenant to sign up to the lease in the first place. So now you’ve got people offering up to six months free rent, or probably more.”

To add to this, landlords are ensuring that every aspect of the property is ready for its tenant. They “clean the shop, which in the world of retailing is very good,” explains Andy. This means that all a new business needs to do is install the fixtures and fittings, both saving time and reducing cost, which is then passed on to the franchisee.

Clearly, what was once ‘the norm’ 12 months ago is not ‘the norm’ now – commercial property landlords need new businesses and are willing to do more for their tenants, and tenants can simply “drive a harder bargain,” adds Andy. There is a high chance that the perfect location to suit any retail business is out there – so whether you fancy fashion, sleek electrical goods or secondhand bargains, your space is available and your future business could thrive!

Retail allows self-motivated and talented people to strike out on their own and ultimately enjoy greater control of their lives and careers. Bang & Olufsen offers an opportunity for the right people to play a part in its continuing success as one of the world’s leading premium audio-visual companies.

Bang & Olufsen

Bang & Olufsen stands for the ultimate in home entertainment. In a market saturated with anonymous black or silver boxes it delivers high quality and increases the enjoyment of audio-visual entertainment. Customers are, typically, successful, discerning people who are attracted to design, functionality and the best picture and sound achievable.
If you feel you relate well to the core values of Bang & Olufsen, are able to communicate to customers and provide the highest retail and service standards, then joining the Bang & Olufsen family could be the opportunity for you to fulfil your personal and financial ambitions.

Pre-opening support includes territory evaluation, business planning, site selection and site development. Bang & Olufsen also offers a full training package that includes induction to Bang & Olufsen, product knowledge and selling skills. Courses are either classroom-based or distance/e-learning. Additional support in marketing, IT systems, database management and after sales service is also provided.

Investment level:
From £308,000 plus VAT
Website: www.bang-olufsen.com
email: sde@bang-olufsen. dk
Phone: 0118 927 7836

Cartridge world

With newspaper headlines shouting of sure-fire recession, it is easy to assume that now is not the time to launch a new business. But think again! 
Redundancies often give people a lump sum of money, which combined with a determination not to be in a vulnerable position again, inspires many to invest in launching their own business, and Cartridge World, the market leading retailer of refilled and remanufactured printer cartridges, whose many franchisees have developed a business with an annual turnover in excess of £300,000 and gross profit of more than 60 per cent, is worth investigating.

Cartridge World franchisees are determined to build their own business around the very best customer service and product, which is cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Franchisees initially undergo five weeks of intensive training, including a week in a Cartridge World training store. Upon opening, a member of the technical support team will spend the first week in the new store.

Gloucester franchisee Terry Jeffrey says: “I wish Cartridge World had been in the UK ten years earlier because I would now be retiring a very rich man. I knew I had made the right choice when I was making an operational profit within just a few months. When a new customer told me he’d heard about us ‘down the pub’, it reinforced my belief that Cartridge World had been a wise choice.”

Each franchisee receives a detailed operations manual and has ongoing access to the technical support helpline. A dedicated business development manager ensures assistance is always on-hand with other elements of the business, such as purchasing and administration, bookkeeping and sales and marketing. 

Investment level: From £29,950 plus VAT and working capital
Website: www.cartridgeworld.co.uk
Email: christian.white@cartridgeworld.co.uk
Phone: 0800 215 5990 or 01423 878 520

In-toto kitchens

In-toto is one of the UK’s leading fitted kitchen franchises, with a network of 48 highly successful showrooms nationwide. Established in 1980, In-toto is a recognised brand, synonymous with high quality, contemporary style and value for money.

Amersham franchisee Adrian Cheriman says: “I chose In-toto partly because I have a background in the industry, but more importantly because a franchise like In-toto enables me to take responsibility for individual projects from beginning to end. I make sure that the finished kitchen is installed and completed to the customer’s full satisfaction.

“There is absolutely no comparison to the feeling you get when you’ve transformed someone’s home with a stunning new kitchen. Invariably customers are overwhelmed and thrilled – they tell all their friends, write letters to thank you and sometimes come back for another kitchen. A new kitchen is a big investment for people, both financially and emotionally, so the job you do for them means a great deal. Climbing a corporate career ladder might be OK for some people, but personally making a difference to people’s lives is what does it for me!”

John McNeil opened his showroom in Newcastle at the beginning of the year. He comments: “A typical day for me begins at 9am when I carry out site visits and then go into the showroom to follow up emails and phone calls and speak to existing customers during their installations. I then get involved with altering existing plans and liaising with customers and architects regarding future projects. I deal with enquiries, produce presentations of designs and usually carry out home surveys from 5.30pm onwards.”
In-toto is dedicated to supporting each and every one of its franchisees. It provides them with a detailed business plan, full training, plus they benefit from In-toto’s national advertising and public relations.

Also, unlike many other franchises, In-toto does not take a share of the profit or charge an annual fee, there is however a one-off franchise joining fee. The initial franchise agreement lasts five years and there are no further charges on renewal.

Steve Saunders, national franchise manager, adds: “In-toto’s UK-wide database of customer details, gathered during 28 years of franchise activity, enables us to pinpoint locations where a new kitchen studio would stand a real chance of success. In-toto’s experienced property agents can find the best kitchen showroom premises at the most affordable terms.”

Investment level: From £75,000 plus VAT
Website: www.intotofranchise.co.uk
email: steve.saunders@intoto.co.uk
Phone: 01924 487 900