32
Franchises under £10,000
the Book People
Investment level:
£2,000 – £5,000
(Including working capital only,
plus a van)
Website:
www.thebookpeople.co.uk
Email:
franchise focus
nicky@thebookpeople.co.uk
Phone:
0845 606 4276
classification:
Bookselling/book distribution
Book business
Julian has always shown his
customers a fantastic level of loyalty
and commitment. One Christmas Julian
Visit offi ces, shops and schools delivering books with
had been ill in hospital and was still
recovering when he received a call from
the Book People his contact at Staffordshire Prison.
The customer insisted that Julian
W
HETHER YOU’RE a total the advantage of a recognisable brand,
“Distributors
deliver the prison’s books before
bookworm who’s never back-up and ongoing training from head
can start
Christmas as she was determined the
happier than when curled office staff and the buying power of a inmates should have their Christmas
up reading by the fi re, a keen cook large organisation, but are also able to
small – often
gifts. So he dragged himself out of
or gardener hungry for new ideas or run their own businesses independently.
a husband
bed and delivered 300 books to the
a parent whose kids are constantly Distributors can start small – often a
and wife
prison. On seeing the poorly Julian, the
demanding bedtime stories, the chances husband and wife team will begin with customer apologised and immediately
are that at some point you’ve bought a a single van, leased storage and minimal
team will
sat him down, gave him a cup of tea
book from the Book People. Its network investment, for example – but as their
begin with a
and turned the electric fi re on. She has
of independent distributors cover the business takes off more vans can be
single van…”
been one of his most loyal and friendly
whole of the UK, visiting offi ces, shops, added, staff can be taken on and calls customers ever since!
schools and many other places of work increased and, before they know it, Julian also raises money for charity
to bring books directly to its customers they are running a hugely successful through his work – something he has
and to ensure that affordable books are business that is at the heart of their in common with many Book People
available to all. local community. distributors. Five local hospitals are
To become a distributor involves Distributor Julian Bevans’ bookselling given money or books, equating to 10
becoming part of a family fi rm that has business has been in his family for 21 per cent of the sales Julian makes, and
become a true British success story. years. In 1994, Julian joined the business over the last year he has donated more
The company started selling books which had been started by his father in than £5,000 to hospitals in his area.
from founder Ted Smart’s garage and 1988, and now Julian’s father has been To become a Book People distributor
over the past 21 years has seen its able to retire and Julian and his wife run it is essential you are self-motivated,
winning formula take it to the enviable the business themselves. Julian brings well organised and someone who pays
position of market leader in the direct books to people across the county of close attention to detail.
bookselling industry, winning the Staffordshire and visits a huge variety Of course, to book your place with
coveted Direct to Consumer Bookselling of workplaces – from nursing homes the UK’s leading direct bookseller,
Company of the Year Award at the to hairdressers, garden centres to it’s also very important that you love
prestigious Bookseller Retail Awards. pubs – meaning that he has become a books too: that’s what would make you
The key to the Book People’s popular and well-known member of his an ideal Book Person! To find out more
success is that its distributors have community. call 0845 606 4276. ■
November 2009 www.businessfranchise.com
BF032_The book people_Nov09.indd 1 14/10/2009 16:35
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132