One year on...
attracted by the vision of a much better working environment and a healthier, more active lifestyle.
How was business in the beginning – what support and training did you receive then and ongoing? As I am sure any new start-up business will find, it was nerve-wracking in the early days. But having support from the Greensleeves headquarters team, as well as access to other franchisees that could share their experiences and offer help and advice, was invaluable. While it is your own franchised business, you still feel part of a larger team and Greensleeves have an excellent support network on hand.
Describe your typical day. My day’s work is planned and prepared the night before. I leave my house at around 7.30am to be on the first lawn of the day by 8.15am at the latest. On arrival at the customer’s address we assess the condition of the lawn and decide on our application strategy. If the customer is at home we will discuss our plan with them. All lawns are different and vary in condition, so it is important that we take a considered approach. We will treat on average between 15 and 20 lawns in a working day. Visiting our customers a minimum of four times in the year means you get to know a lot of really nice people.
From roots to riches
J
im Stewart of Greensleeves Aberdeen was originally from an executive background within the electronics industry and, when he found himself facing redundancy, he chose to embrace the opportunity and purchase a Greensleeves lawn treatment franchise. Jim now enjoys running his business whilst working in the outdoors and is extremely proud of the success he has achieved in a relatively short period of time.
Why did franchising appeal to you? I was immediately attracted to investing in a franchise because of the proven track record of success they provide, along with the low business failure rate. I felt that the market knowledge, supplier relations,
marketing expertise and defined, tried- and-tested procedures that come with purchasing a franchise were extremely beneficial and that they were things I would not have access to as an independent, start-up business. I was also acutely aware that I would be in an advantageous position in that I could learn from others’ mistakes and receive excellent training. All this, combined with the realistic buy-in costs and exclusive geographic area made franchising the obvious route for me.
Why did you choose an outdoors- based franchise like Greensleeves? Like many people who have spent their professional careers going from car or aeroplane to stuffy office meetings and hotel rooms, the appeal of working outdoors was a real draw. I was very much
What advice would you give a prospective franchisee? What does it take to be successful in this industry? Take your time and select the right franchise for you. The support that I have received from Greensleeves has been excellent and I cannot stress enough the importance of finding the right fit with the franchise that you choose. Talk to as many people as you can, including the competitors in the same market. Be sure to budget and plan realistically and be prepared to work hard – paying a franchise fee is not a guarantee of success. Be resilient; there will be tough times in the early years but, with the right work ethic and the support from your franchisor and your family, you will succeed.
What do you see for the future of your business? With hard work and the support of Greensleeves and those around us, the first 18 months in business have been a success. We have exceeded both our customer numbers and revenue targets, which has allowed us to bring on a full-time employee and put a second van on the road. By the end of year five, our target is to have a robust and profitable company turning over in excess of £200,000, and to have a lot of fun getting there. n
February 2014 |
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