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Franchise Focus


Martin recalls. “My business mentor was excellent. Between us, we generated about £10,000 worth of enquiries over that first weekend – despite the cold weather!” Following Martin’s launch, he began to plan marketing his new business, starting with a series of leaflets, telephone calls and special offers.


“These days I am constantly busy with work generated by word-of-mouth recommendation from happy customers,” he says.


Martin Hughes


Driving forward


Thanks to high profile national marketing, more and more motorists are getting wise to the benefits of the ChipsAway repair system


investment level: £29,995 PLUS VAT


methods really is a simple choice for customers to make, and ChipsAway franchisees like Martin Hughes are reaping the benefits of growing demand from a massive, multi-billion pound marketplace. Seven years ago Martin left his job as a service manager for a large motor dealership to join the UK’s leading automotive paintwork repair brand, ChipsAway. A strong launch ensured he had his first


D


week’s work booked in from day one; after that Martin says the phone started to ring and he’s been busy ever since. Nowadays, Martin’s work diary is generally full for four weeks ahead, which has led him to plan for expansion.


52 | Businessfranchise.com | February 2012


uring such difficult economic times, the cost of a ChipsAway repair compared to the expense and inconvenience of traditional body shop


Martin ensured he did his research


before finally deciding on ChipsAway. Firstly, he attended one of their free Open Days, which the company holds at their Midlands-based head office.


“I turned over £4,500 in my first month and I’ve been busy ever since”


Having completed the comprehensive training course, Martin launched his new business in November 2004. He was supported by a ChipsAway business mentor; an existing ChipsAway franchisee who helps new franchisees in the first few months of starting their own business. “I already had a lot of experience in dealing with customers and their cars, but I was really nervous about my launch,”


“I’d like to take on another vehicle and an employee to help me build the business,” he confirms. “There’s certainly plenty of work out there and a real opportunity to develop a management franchise with the support of the ChipsAway team. I’ve enjoyed my last few years – particularly the flexibility and freedom of being my own boss, without having responsibility for a team of staff. However, now I’m 52 and looking forward, I’d like to take more of a management role in the future and take my business to the next level. I’ve established an excellent reputation locally and referrals continue to flow in, so my next step is to develop my business structure to achieve that goal.” He describes the support he’s had from


ChipsAway as ‘fantastic’. “The team at head office are always there for you if you have any queries or problems – not that I need much help these days – and the other franchisees in the network are really supportive too.” ChipsAway is the UK’s leading automotive paintwork repair specialist, with a nationwide network of around 350 specialists providing high quality on-the- spot repairs to minor damage such as paintwork scratches, bumper scuffs and kerbed alloy wheels from fully equipped mobile workshops. Repairs are completed within a matter of hours and at a fraction of the cost of traditional body shop repair methods. With 34 million cars on the road and


more than 17 million repair opportunities each year, ChipsAway estimates that it currently only deals with three per cent of market demand!


“I just wish I’d started with ChipsAway when I was younger,” Martin concludes. “I reckon I’d definitely have had three or four vehicles on the road by now!” n


chipsaway


Website: www.chipsaway.co.uk email: uk@chipsaway.co.uk Phone: 0800 980 5423 classification: Automotive


Investment: £20k-£50k


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