Being greener with franchising

These days, sustainability is not just a buzzword but a necessity in business, and, consequently, eco-friendly and ethical franchises are on the rise, finds Annie Blinkhorn 

This September, the business media made much of the report that Nespresso CEO Jean-Marc Duvoisin declared: “Sustainability is a business imperative”, announcing a ringfenced £330million to tackle climate change risks across the coffee-growing region that the brand works with and an aim to become “carbon neutral” by 2020. Given that its parent group is Nestlé – a brand familiar with criticism of its operations, ethicswise, this is no meagre announcement.

Businesses of all kinds come under scrutiny from government, media, consumers and even their own employees when it comes to ethical and sustainable behaviour. The generation entering the workforce today places emphasis on wanting to know its employer’s green credentials, and furthermore enjoy an ethical element to their role.

With this background, it’s no surprise that franchise brands are looking to themselves to set a standard when it comes to ethical and eco-friendly operations. Whether it is using materials that are recycled/have low carbon impact (Granite Transformations’ mosaic tile range made using up to 75% recycled glass) or help to bring economic growth to developing communities (Natures Purest’s textiles), franchisors are keen to promote their awareness of ethical issues to appeal to both their consumer market and to potential franchisees who are increasingly looking to find a business with practices that they are comfortable investing in.

As part of the US-based multi-franchise success The Dwyer Group, which operates seven service sector franchises worldwide, Mr. Electric has its feet firmly in the UK with a fast-growing network of franchisees.

Whilst no job is too small for a Mr. Electric franchise – they can change your sockets, rewire your home or office and much more – Mr. Electric is also about saving energy.

Philip Milburn heads up the company in the UK: “It’s our global mission and a hot topic at the moment; people want to save energy, save money and do their bit for the environment, both in a domestic and commercial setting, but they need help to do it. We provide energy-saving surveys, so take a holistic view of our customer’s requirements, from changing lights to LEDs or installing our exclusive products such as the IceCOLD air conditioning system.

“As a business, it’s a win-win situation; franchisees are supported with products and services that people want now and for the future. How much better could it be?” Below, three business owners explain how their franchise operates in an eco-friendly way and the benefits this affords them.

Mr. Electric

Neville Yates is franchisee for Mr. Electric, Padiham, near Burnley, Lancashire. He has a background in logistics in the engineering technology sector.

What did you do prior to franchising?

Previously I worked for Samsung UK & Europe as both an employee and then a sub-contractor. The role was primarily in logistics and involved all aspects of importing, warehousing and distribution.

Why did Mr. Electric appeal to you?

I was looking for a franchise opportunity in a sector that I believe has great growth potential. The future of the environment is becoming more and more important and new and emerging technologies are generating new opportunities by the day. It's an industry with an exciting future.

What is the training and support that you receive from the franchisor?

Clearly, these are two of the most important aspects that initially attract a potential franchisee to a particular franchise. With Mr. Electric the training has been excellent and the bespoke products in particular have been very good. The support is also what you would hope for from an established brand. For example, they have links with national accounts and are able to give you leads, which is very important when just starting out.

How do Mr. Electric operate ethically / sustainably / in an eco-friendly way?

We are electricians first and foremost, but being eco-friendly is at the heart of the brand; as a business we thrive as people and buildings adopt a more green approach. One of the ways in which we generate business is by offering energysaving surveys for clients. As a rough guide we can usually save most clients at least 10 per cent – often much more – on their energy bills following a survey. That gives you some idea of the impact our business is having across the country.

How have you managed business growth?

Initially, you want to grow at a rate where you are in control and able to deliver the quality of service that builds you a good, solid reputation. The beauty of this business, however, is that you are your own boss and can take it to whatever level you wish.

Describe a typical day.

My role is to manage the business so I spend time carrying out sales and marketing tasks, handling the leads and making sure that we deal with each one efficiently. I am responsible for supporting my team, which involves all manner of health and safety tasks and ensuring that all our accreditations are kept up to date.

What are your plans for the future?

The future, as they say, is bright. Our leader, Philip Milburn, who has been with the business for just over a year, has a great deal of experience in the franchising industry and there are lots of new and exciting developments in the pipeline as he seeks to drive the business forward.

What advice would you give to anyone considering franchising?

Think long and hard about the future, what prospects your business will have going forward and how that will benefit you. For me, a business connected with the environment was an obvious choice, it is something I care about and I am pleased to be doing my bit within the sector.

Screen Rescue

Delivering advanced windscreen repairs to all commercial automotive sectors, Screen Rescue have not only smashed their 24-month turnover target of £100,000, but they are also reporting an impressive YE14 gross profit margin of 97.7 per cent. Franchisor Jaime Hilario gives an insight into his business.

How is business so far?

We’ve had a fantastic second year and with a lot of hard work have taken the business to even greater heights. Our year-end figures are solid with a net profit margin of 41.2 per cent and we’ve just been awarded all windscreen repairs to Europcar, National, Alamo and Inter Rent throughout East Anglia including two major airport locations.

Why does Screen Rescue’s franchise offering stand out?

Screen Rescue offer more than one income revenue stream; not only a comprehensive range of windscreen repairs but also glass scratch removal with zero distortion and complete headlight restoration to all commercial automotive sectors, major fleet operators and commercial insurance fleets. We have a solid business foundation that provides sustainable turnover and healthy margins. This business mix has proven to be recession-resistant within our commercial client base and guarantees we generate repeat volume business via a weekly, fortnightly and monthly fleet inspection programme. Our business model is flexible and can be operated either as a man-andavan business or scaled up to meet the requirements of a full management franchise, where the franchise owner focuses on managing multi-van technicians and growing the business.

In what ways are Screen Rescue committed to operating ethically and environmentally?

We are committed to leading the windscreen repairs industry in minimising the environmental impact of glass waste in UK landfills. Our unique technology capabilities enable us to repair the widest range of damages in the market and ensures even the most challenging of damages are repaired safely in all windscreens that would previously have been replaced at great cost to the environment and at needless expense to the client. Our repairs-only policy guarantees we’re reducing our environmental impact of glass waste 100 per cent. In addition, we are continually improving other areas of our environmental performance as an integral and fundamental part of our business strategy and operating methods. We also take great pride in promoting high standards of integrity and professionalism within the windscreen repairs industry, operating to NVQ standards, which ensures best practices are delivered consistently.

Who is best suited to your franchise?

Ideally, we’re looking for the most dynamic of franchise partners. Those with any sales or business development backgrounds will benefit from this exciting investment opportunity.

Natures Purest

Natures Purest is a babywear and gifts retailer. Natures Purest products are made with pure, naturally coloured cotton made to the highest ethical labour standards. Zoe Webb runs her Natures Purest outlet in Trentham Shopping Village, Stoke-on-Trent.

What did you do prior to joining Natures Purest?

I was a property lawyer specialising in insolvency, so just a little bit different!

Why did you decide to invest in a Natures Purest franchise?

I had decided that I wanted to do something different career-wise but was unsure as to what. I then discovered Natures Purest (NP) whilst looking for gifts for my pregnant sister-in-law. She and my brother had decided not to find out what they were having and we were struggling to find baby clothes that were suitable for both boys and girls, but more importantly were good quality! When I started reading about NP and the use of organically grown, naturally coloured cotton, I thought ‘what a fab idea’. Then, my mum noticed that NP were offering 25 franchises and it just seemed to click into place. I loved the ethos behind the company and the products were simply beautiful – I couldn’t find anything else that I wanted to buy for my new nephew! When I met [franchisors] Melissa and Jane at the flagship store in Kibworth, I just knew that I wanted to join the NP family.

What is the training and support like from the franchisor?

Prior to opening my store, I went to Kibworth for two days of product and merchandise training. Melissa also assisted with the shop set-up prior to opening. The continued support and assistance I receive from Melissa and the rest of the team is amazing. Nothing is too much trouble and if Melissa is unavailable there are plenty of other team members offering their help! Having had limited retail experience previously, I was a little concerned about my sales technique so Melissa came to spend a few days with me in the shop and helped me to understand the basics. My confidence has improved massively and this is largely down to Melissa and the training she provided.

How do Nature’s Purest operate ethically / sustainably / in an ecofriendly way?

Firstly, NP produces many products from organically grown, naturally coloured cotton. This means all of our products are produced without the use of harmful pesticides, chemicals or dyes. The way that cotton is farmed nowadays isn’t good for the environment, nor is it good for the farmers’ health. The fact that we don’t use chemicals or pesticides in the farming process plus the fact that our cotton is handpicked means that it is safer for our farmers and it isn’t harming the environment!

As well as naturally coloured cotton we use other ethical fabrics – one of our bestsellers is a blanket made from bamboo. Bamboo thrives naturally without the need for pesticides or fertilizers and it is the fastest-growing plant in the world so it doesn’t need to be treated in order for it to grow. In addition to this, it’s great for babies as it is antibacterial and has its own UV protection!

Finally, our new ‘Natures Knits’ range has been made under the Sri Lankan programme ‘Garments without guilt’, which is an accreditation given to products made by well-paid adult labour in a safe environment.

How has your experience of running the business been so far?

I’ve been really pleased with the progress made in my first year of trading. I feel very lucky to be part of Trentham Shopping Village, which provides tremendous support to all its retailers. The Shopping Village has a lovely atmosphere and there is always something going on which I think contributes to good footfall. Having experienced a whole 12 months now, I feel like I know when the busy and quieter periods will be so I can try to make plans to help during these periods. The fact that I now have two members of staff is great, as it means I don’t have to work seven days a week and can concentrate on the management/admin side of things on my days off!

Describe a typical day.

First things first: I grab a cup of tea and turn on my tablet to see if I’ve had any customer enquiries overnight. I’ll then respond to all emails and do any other admin bits before the shop opens at 10am. I’ll have a tidy round to make sure things look neat and tidy and then it’s time to open! Generally, there are always people about at Trentham and we sometimes have people queuing to get in to make emergency purchases! It’s all about customer service at NP; I want people to leave my store and think that they’ve had a great experience so I’ll always have a chat to people when they come in, even if they’re just browsing.

Weekends are our busier days so we generally have two people in store to make sure that everyone is looked after. The shop closes at 5.30pm every day so we’ll have a sweep up and a quick dust and then it’s time to go home! I love getting to know my pregnant ladies and I feel privileged to be a part of their pregnancy – the best bit is when they bring their little ones back in to see me with them wearing something from NP.

What are your plans for the future of your Natures Purest business?

I love the idea of having a second franchise because I feel so passionate about the brand, but I would only consider this once my store at Trentham is more established. I love being a customer’s main point of contact at Trentham – it makes a their experience more personal so I would have to have a long hard think about whether I could leave my ‘baby’ for another store!

What advice would you give to anyone considering franchising?

My main advice would be: do your research! It felt like an age between me knowing that I wanted to proceed with an NP franchise and actually submitting my business plan but I’m such a perfectionist that I wanted to ensure that I had covered everything and that I knew my figures. Cashflow is such an important part of making your business work so it’s important to plan, calculate and plan some more! Also, don’t be afraid to ask your franchisor questions; if you’re concerned about anything, have it clarified. I’m always happy to speak to potential NP franchisees – it helps to get the perspective of someone who’s been through the same process.

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