Franchise Focus Scoring a home run
Australian franchise Local Appliance Rentals thrives despite the tough economic climate
INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM£49,577 The majority of franchisees work
from home and love the flexibility that this gives them – along with the fact that the business only operates Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm with no nights, weekends or public holidays – in contrast to so many other business models where owners are often working long hours, seven days a week. “With a Local Appliance Rentals Ltd franchise, the hours that you work are flexible and there are many franchises operated by women who can run the business from home but can also pick up the kids from school,” adds Kenneth. One of the features of this franchise is the online software system called SAFRA. This custom software is used to run the entire business from producing contracts, to ordering goods, keeping track of payments and customers and making tax simple and easy to calculate at the end of the year.
“Under these tough economic conditions, the industry has proved recession-proof ... Local Appliance Rentals Ltd actually experienced substantial growth, unaffected by the current climate”
L
ocal Appliance Rentals Ltd is an established franchise with more than 80
franchisees in Australia and New Zealand – something it has achieved in less
than three years. As founder and CEO Kenneth French explains: “Prior to starting our franchise operation, we had been running Local Appliance Rentals for many years and had a very profitable business model that we wanted to share with others.” The franchise rents a large range of household appliances to consumers including fridges, washing machines, flat- screen TVs, laptops, smart phones and furniture. The rental term is usually over a two-year period and the customer is able to own the product at the end of the rental term through a zero pound ‘gift-it’ offer. The rental industry is well established in the UK with several large- to medium- sized operators working within the industry. Until now, however, there has not been an opportunity to join
a franchised operation. Under these tough economic conditions, the industry has proved to be recession proof. With so many businesses struggling during the global financial crisis, Local Appliance Rentals Ltd in fact experienced substantial growth with sales unaffected by the current climate.
Kenneth says that the rapid growth that Local Appliance Rentals Ltd has achieved in less than three years is only possible because of the outstanding performance achieved by its franchisees. Kenneth comments: “Many of our franchisees have voted with their cheque books, with four of our franchisees having purchased multiple territories and another five having upgraded their territories to the next level as they have decided to expand their businesses.” Kenneth says that they recently welcomed a member of staff who left their role at head office to become a franchisee, and: “you can’t get a better endorsement of the business than that.”
Potential franchisees will have an opportunity to meet the team, including its international sales director Sacha Caller, at the National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham in October. Sacha is also a multi-unit franchisee with several franchises in and around Melbourne that are already running successfully under management. Sacha says: “We are looking for keen, motivated franchisees in all areas of the UK but we also have several opportunities for master franchises for the more experienced operator.” Sacha is offering two territories for the price of one for the first three franchisees from the October show. n
LOCAL APPLIANCE RENTALS
WEBSITE:
www.localappliancerentals.co.uk EMAIL:
byron@localappliancerentals.co.uk PHONE: 0777 3339 444 CLASSIFICATION: Appliance rentals
October 2013 |
Businessfranchise.com | 121
Investment: £20k-£50k
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