3
Fasih, Sabhi and Wajeeh Hassan, CeX Farnborough
What was your previous occupation and why did you leave? We were helping to run the family businesses which included a restaurant and a cab offi ce in London. The reason for branching out was to become part of a larger retail business with a global branding.
Why did you decide to look into franchising?
A family member who runs a number of large fast-food franchises in the US recommended that we should look into franchising because it would allow us to have the support that we required whilst instantaneously having a reputable brand image.
What were your criteria when choosing a franchised business? After looking at fast-food franchises we decided that it was not the industry for us and, being passionate about technology, we decided CeX was a suitable fi t. The criteria were that the brand was well- known within its market and it was a franchise that had not reached saturation in terms of expansion and market share.
Where did you fi nd out about the CeX franchise? We originally looked at a CeX franchise back in 2006 after reading about it in a magazine, but lacked the funding at that time to go ahead.
What appealed most about CeX? We wanted to be part of the evolving electronics, gadget and games industry. Plus, every time we went into a CeX store, it always had a vibrant atmosphere that we wanted to be part of.
What training did you receive? The training included an initial induction with a follow-up three-day store experience. From there, the requirement was that we each completed a minimum of 300 hours, which included working right the way through from sales assistant to running a store.
How would you rate the training? The training we received really helped us to be comfortable with running a store and prepared me for the journey ahead. We were lucky enough to train in a number of different stores, and the CeX staff have provided me with all the tools necessary to succeed.
What type of support have you received from CeX?
The support mechanism that CeX employ is invaluable in ensuring that our business continues to grow and be successful. Our franchise manager, Alan, has guided us right the way through to opening a store and helped us to avoid the pitfalls, guiding us towards our goal of opening multiple CeX stores. We have also received support from CeX in terms of training, recruitment and ongoing operational support.
How is your business performing in relation to your targets? It’s performing great! We are currently in our eighth month and on course to exceed our target.
Do you feel CeX have fulfi lled their obligations? Yes, everything has been set up in accordance with their promises.
Is becoming a franchise owner how you expected it to be? Yes, 100 per cent. It is a lot of hard work but very rewarding. It is a fun place to work and has fulfi lled my expectations.
What do you enjoy most about your business and how has it improved your lifestyle? We enjoy watching how our actions directly affect the success of the business. Having the day-to-day interaction with a wide customer base means that no two days are the same. It also brings us great joy to see the staff develop as individuals within the business. The family-like atmosphere makes the business a pleasure to work in. Our lifestyle has improved as, even though we work hard, the business as given us more control over our time.
What are your plans for the future of the business? We are heading towards our fi rst Christmas and hoping to achieve our targets for this year. Our future plan is to increase business and look to expand to a minimum of three stores.
What sort of person do you think suits a CeX franchise?
Someone who is willing to give it their all and be fl exible, as well as having a passion for technology. n
CEX
WEBSITE:
webuy.com/franchising EMAIL:
uk.franchising@
webuy.com CLASSIFICATION: Retail
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