Market Focus
What are your plans for the future of the business? We aim to develop the business into a multi-showroom enterprise over the longer term, with plans being drawn up for two further outlets in the North West.
Mail Boxes Etc.
What are the benefits of a retail- based franchise?
At MBE, we pride ourselves on offering support and advice to other businesses. We have the ability to be extremely flexible – to meet tight deadlines, for example – which can be invaluable to customers. We hold a reasonable amount of stock for our printing, packing and shipping, but we rely on our suppliers to deliver next day, which makes it easier for us.
In addition, many businesses outsource parts of their operations to us. For example, we act as the post room and the print department for many companies because we have the capacity to do jobs quickly, accurately and often more cost- effectively than in-house.
C olchester-based
businessman Steve Sleigh opened his first franchised Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) store in Colchester in 2000. Now with a second
store in Ipswich, he has received MBE’s own accolade of Franchisee of the Year in recognition of his outstanding achievements and business development, and also for his unique contribution to the success of the MBE network as a whole.
Why did you decide to invest in a franchise?
I had become disenchanted with my job as a sales rep for printing companies and wanted to do something different, preferably working for myself. I was cautious because past experiences of setting up a business meant I was well aware of the pitfalls of being my own boss. Many years ago I’d had my own small printing firm and, at a later stage, a business selling and installing automatic gates and garage doors. In both cases, the marketplace was crowded and the margins were small. It meant hard work and a lot of headaches – and no one to share it with. I’d read about franchising and understood the concept. I particularly liked the idea of working for myself but the real appeal is the back-up and support that comes from being part of a bigger organisation. I also believe it’s a huge benefit being able to talk to other franchisees and learn from their experiences.
Why did you choose MBE in particular? MBE matched exactly what I’d been looking for and things are going really well. I believe MBE’s strength is in its ability to adapt to constantly changing demands as business methods change and, by tailoring services to suit the local marketplace, MBE ensures we provide what customers want.
What kind of challenges has your retail franchise presented?
The challenges we had as far as premises were involved was finding the best location, with one eye on the rental value and the other on foot traffic past the store. Trying to find a balance between the two was challenging but, as they say, the three most important things are location, location, location. Colchester is an ideal town for this business – the business community ranges from self-employed people and SMEs to government departments and large corporations – exactly the right customer mix for us.
What support and training has your franchisor offered?
MBE has given good initial training, which is improved and altered as time goes on based on the changing market and business model. As far as ongoing support is concerned, we receive national marketing support in the form of a website and hard copies of marketing material along with digital electronic versions. This allows us to personalise and print in store, so we can promote ourselves with local marketing, too. General support is just a phone call away.
What are your plans for the future? I opened another centre in Ipswich a couple of years ago, so we are now looking to grow our turnover based on the two centres. Our market is changing, like most of the high street, so we are always looking to move with the times and evolve our products and services.
What advice would you give to anyone considering investing in a franchise? Think hard before you jump. Retail can be hard work but it is great fun – the rapport with the customers keeps you going. Make sure the location of your business is right for your product or service.
Subway
T
he Subway brand continues to keep start-up costs low and seeks ambitious franchisees who embrace the entrepreneurial spirit. One such franchisee is
Fiona Nicholson, who owns and operates one store in Washington, County Durham.
Why did you decide to invest in a Subway franchise? As a family, we have been in business for the past 60 years and we have always tried to stay up-to-date with the constantly changing marketplace, keeping our business moving forward. The car wash facility at our petrol filling station was due for renewal and we realised that the space could be better utilised. I started to research other opportunities that would work well within a petrol forecourt environment. After looking at the Subway website and getting in contact with the regional development agent, Subway seemed an ideal franchise to enter into. It is a well-known brand, one that is on the up in a recessional marketplace and, from the first meeting, Subway seemed very keen to have us on board.
What advice would you give to anyone considering investing in a franchise? Speak to the regional development agent; they are so enthusiastic and know their stuff. I had initially thought our shop area was too small, but one site meeting within a week provided me with a set of drawings and a business plan that showed it was easily big enough and, with a bit of effort, easily achievable. Due to the strict guidelines Subway has, you have to work hard to keep up to the high standards, but it is those high standards that make the Subway brand the number one franchise opportunity in the UK and Ireland, rather than just another sandwich shop.
Would you do it again? Yes! I have learned so much after project- managing the store re-fit and getting the store open. I went into this knowing nothing at all about catering and, with the help offered by Subway, it all came together. It’s not easy, but with hard work and determination we got there. n
February 2014 |
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