Special Feature
gas-elec Mick Eldridge
Mick lives in Porthcawl, south Wales, and has been a gas-elec franchisee for eight years. He renewed his franchise for a second term three years ago.
What attracted you to franchising? I was made redundant from the Ministry of Defence in 2007, and took the opportunity to retrain as an electrician and set up my own business as a sole trader. Business was difficult to start with, and while reading a professional trade magazine I saw an advert for a franchise with gas-elec. I did my research into the franchise and
What drew you to franchising? I was keen to work for myself, but wanted the support and backup of a proven business plan to help me get started. Franchising allowed me to start in business with an existing brand name, along with support and guidance to help get established.
Why did you choose MACC in particular?
I first saw MACC at a franchise show, having never heard of the company before. Despite this, I was immediately attracted by the high quality of the products that are manufactured by the company, and of the innovation that the company shows in their products. I found this exciting and thought it would be something that I could get involved in. The van is a great selling point, well turned out and something that really draws the attention.
What are the advantages of a van- based franchise?
I enjoy being able to work in a variety of areas, to travel around and not be confined to a single office. My work takes me to a variety of locations depending on where the customers are working, from the middle of a large city to some of the most scenic parts of the country could be possible, which is an attractive prospect.
came to the conclusion that this would give me better prospects and a more secure future. Not only would it give me two skills – gas and electrics – there is also proven data that a franchise business has a greater chance of success over an individual business. I visited the gas-elec head office, and met Carol Otway and managing director John Davidson and liked what I saw.
Why did you choose a van-based franchise?
It was a natural choice for me, as I was previously an aircraft engineer and it was the perfect fit for my skills in the gas and electrical trades. It also gave me confidence in my investment because I knew exactly what I was doing and what was expected of me.
Are you happy with the lifestyle that comes with running a gas-elec franchise? I have no regrets about taking on the gas- elec franchise, but as with any business, and being self-employed, there have been challenges along the way. However, you learn from these and your business becomes stronger from the experiences.
How does your previous experience assist you in the running of your franchise?
My experience within the civil service of dealing with employers has been helpful, as my role involves contacting a variety of people, from ‘one man band’ tradesmen, through to company leaders of firms employing many people.
What advice would you give to anyone considering a vehicle-based franchise? You need to ensure you are comfortable behind the wheel, as, by taking a vehicle- based franchise, travelling and driving will become an integral part of the job. For those like me who were based within an office, this can represent quite a change, which, although positive, takes some getting used to. However, it is certainly much more enjoyable being out and about.
What about training and support? MACC takes real care in selecting the right people to work under its name, and, once selected, ensuring they are able to start in the field. My first week as a MACC franchisee involved a week’s training at the company headquarters in France, where not only did I learn about the products and the selling techniques, but I was also able to get an insight into the company and how
In general, I enjoy the flexibility the business gives me, which suits my lifestyle, and a big bonus is the fact I don’t have to do much in the way of marketing, invoicing or payment collection. This leaves me free to concentrate on what I like doing best, which is the engineering side of the business.
How is business going so far? The business over the past few years is on a very stable footing despite the recession; my business loan has been paid off and I’m making a living to suit my needs. As with any business there is always the need to adapt to the changing markets and legislations. We are kept up to date with legislation changes from the technical experts at head office, and we are audited in the field regularly as a means of support and compliance.
What are your plans for the future? This is always difficult to answer. As with anything in life, things can change, but my plans at present are to continue as a gas- elec franchisee until I retire. I am also busy working on my house for the time being; again, the flexibility of my franchise allows this to fit in very well.
MACC Chris Czora
Chris gained experience within sales, customer service and the motor trade before spending the last 10 years working within the civil service. He launched MACC Shropshire in April 2016.
it works at all levels of the operation. The franchise manager has also spent several weeks with me in the field to help me gain early experience in the first few months.
MACC is a growing franchise and there
are a few existing franchisees, all of whom are friendlly and helpful, and are in regular contact to discuss ideas and share tips.
October 2016 |
BusinessFranchise.com | 65
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