Retail therapy

In 1968, a year after San Francisco's summer of love, Susie and Doug Tomkins began selling garments in the city from the back of a single station wagon. It was a modest entrepreneurial effort that marked the beginnings of today's über-modern Esprit brand, now a global enterprise with 670 company-owned outlets, and 700 franchised stores in more than 40 countries.

With a range of clothes constantly updated to ensure that the racks never become stale, Esprit has managed to pull away from the bog-standard, four-season cycle relied on by many of its competitors, and offers new lines of high-quality, contemporary and affordable fashion each and every month.

Positioned in the high-turnover, mid-priced division of the fashion market, Esprit is now one of the most successful, young lifestyle retail chains in Europe, with a broad sartorial sweep that includes men and women's collections, casual, sports, accessories, shoes and children's wear.

The company is on the lookout for business-minded individuals who have a keen eye for style, and wish to break into this lucrative segment of the fashion industry. Signing up secures full use of the Esprit merchandising and marketing materials, the right to operate under the brand name, plus transportation and furniture assembly for any new franchise outlet. Franchisees also benefit from Esprit's ongoing training, workshops and advertising services. And with integrated stock system analysis technology, franchisees can quickly see which are the best and worst selling lines, enabling them to streamline their business.

Because store planning is crucial to the success of a new Esprit outlet, franchisees are assisted with full assessment on what ranges should be stocked to maximise growth of sales prior to opening.

Importantly, Esprit doesn't compromise on location for any of its franchise partners, pinpointing only triple-A positions that have undergone full analysis for footfall, and met a host of other stringent criteria.

Thorntons Chocolate

From humble beginnings as a single confectionary outlet in the industrial town of Sheffield almost a century ago, Thorntons has steadily grown to a network of 600 stores, more than 200 of which are now franchises. Consistently sourcing the best ingredients from around the world, and with unique recipes devised by its very own master chocolatier, Thorntons has prevailed as a brand name trusted by millions of consumers.

If you're thinking about breaking into the retail market selling chocolate and other gift items, Thorntons offers an enticing product range plus all of the support you would expect from a well-established name.

Naturally, setting up as a retailer for the first time - or even diversifying from an existing retail business into a new one - carries a certain level of risk. But with skills in the sector stretching back to 1911, Thorntons is perfectly placed to help iron out just about any problem a new franchisee might face. With tried-and-tested methods of franchise development that includes a personal, field-based business manager to ensure the smooth running of the new outlet from day one, sweet success is something that any new franchisee should have a taste for by the end of year one.

From site location to store fit-out, and point-of-sale promotions, strong support is on hand for franchisees who are just getting started. And ongoing support in the areas of product management, marketing, merchandising and accounting are only a phone call away.

Before buying into a Thorntons franchise, it is worth considering your personal attributes honestly and carefully. Importantly, you'll need to be a team player adept at dealing with staff and customers, and will also need to be highly motivated with the desire to grow your business quickly and effectively.

Box 2

Set up in Brighton in the early 1980s, Box 2 has developed from a standard clothing outlet selling ladies fashion wear and accessories into a franchise opportunity with a difference.

In 2000, founder Nicky Allen spotted a loose thread in the market when she realised that a lot of potential customers were being turned away because the clothes on the racks weren't big enough for them. The clothing trends of the 1980s had most women hemmed into sub-size-14 measurements, or didn't offer them clothes that were deemed couture. So, rather than leaving larger women out in the cold staring wistfully at garments on stick-thin mannequins, Nicky Allen decided to broaden the remit of her business.

Initially sourcing clothes from suppliers in Holland and Germany, Box 2 set about marketing its new initiative, and now has a huge database of customers who can either order direct from its catalogue, or buy directly from one of its stores.

Box 2's exclusive selections appear in many fashion magazines, and on television, as a result of the company's well-executed marketing and PR campaigns. Its ranges are also showcased in a promotional calendar as well as a catalogue that is distributed eight times a year.

To become a Box 2 franchisee, you should share the company's underlying philosophy, and be enthusiastic about its product range. You'll also need to have excellent interpersonal skills and a strong desire to deliver great customer service. Once on board you'll receive support in every area of the business, from finding a suitable location for your new store, to shop fit-out, stock management, marketing and sales. You'll also benefit from having dedicated suppliers, an exclusive territory with a 10-year franchise agreement, plus full access to a large, targeted customer base. Training in all aspects of running your business is an integral part of the package.

Threshers

With 2,000 outlets in the UK, and 30 million people no more than a 10-minute walk to any one of its stores, Threshers has an enviably entrenched network. But in a bold sideswipe, it has done something unusual in the franchising industry by offering 600 of its existing, company-owned off-licences to the general public. Now individuals with the right level of investment, and the requisite skills are able to buy into this cast iron high street brand for the first time.

One of the key advantages of buying a Threshers franchise is that, unlike the vast majority of retail franchise opportunities, candidates are spared the rigmarole of having to find suitable premises to operate from. Because Threshers is simply shifting company-owned outlets across to the franchising sector, the stores for sale are already operational, profitable and have staff, stock and regular customers. In short, Threshers has taken the turnkey formula and improved on it - the door is already open and business is under way!

Those interested in buying into an off-licence opportunity will need to have about £20,000 ready to invest, plus working capital to purchase an existing store's stock. Thereafter, costs to the franchisee include an ongoing management fee at five per cent of net sales, plus a business occupancy fee dependant on the rental value of the property and store location.

New franchisees get a three-day training course, which covers the business and product sides of running a Threshers outlet, including staff management techniques and strategies. After that, there's module training on Threshers' bespoke retail management system, which has been designed by Fujitsu for Threshers to streamline the administrative and sales aspects of the business. Finally, while advantageous, no direct experience in the off-licence trade, or retail, is needed as full training is given.

Vom Fass

Dubbed as the 'new breed of off-licence', Vom Fass is a concept that, since it started out in Germany a decade ago, has found favour with entrepreneurs and consumers worldwide. Meaning 'from the cask', the company is renowned for its wide range of vinegars, liqueurs, wines and boutique oils, and has concessions in high-end department stores including Selfridges. The Vom Fass franchise looks set to grow in popularity and size.

The company's managing director for the UK, Richard Mosconi, has a deep understanding of what is involved in establishing and running a new retail outlet; and his team has a handle on just about any obstacle a new franchisee might face in getting their store up, running and profitable. Prospective franchisees can therefore take comfort knowing that, from day one, they'll have a solid backbone of support and expertise to fall back on.

One thing Vom Fass has found works particularly well for new franchisees, is starting them off with a department store concession. This approach eliminates the need for payments often associated with moving into a high-street outlet, such as rental deposit, solicitor's fees, general decoration and repair costs, and thus minimises cash flow problems early on.

The company is looking for individuals who are passionate about food and drink, and serious about running a profitable business. Candidates must be prepared to deal with a team of staff, and also be able to engage with customers of a discerning nature. Full training is given to new franchisees, covering topics that include staff management, sales strategies, product knowledge, and Vom Fass standards. Further training includes time spent in an existing Vom Fass outlet for experience.
New recruits will also be imbued with the Vom Fass philosophy, one that has cemented the company's profile as a respected brand name.

Use the details below to contact any of these franchises

Box 2 Minimum total investment: £90,000 Web: www.box2.co.uk Telephone: 01444 882727 Type of business: Women's clothing retail

Esprit Minimum total investment: £120,000 Web: www.esprit.com Telephone: 0207 520 8700 Type of business: Fashion retail

Thorntons Minimum total investment: £40,000 Web: www.thorntons.co.uk Telephone: 07794 030301 Type of business: Chocolate, card and gift retail

Threshers Minimum total investment: £40,000 Web: www.threshergroupfranchise.com Telephone: 08700 841377 Type of business: Drinks retail

Vom Fass Minimum total investment: £80,000 Web: www.vomfassfranchise.com Telephone: 01534 837126 Type of business: Boutique food and wine retail