Special Feature Granite Transformations


This dovetailed with my own career plans and, since we could see the product concept was a real winner, we decided to take the plunge.


Describe a typical day My main job – apart from keeping the books, planning local marketing and a hundred other tasks – is talking to prospects in their own homes and measuring up existing fittings for worktops, replacement cabinet doors, mosaic splashbacks and other makeover elements. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, preparing the templates, working in the factory and helping out with installations, as needs be.


R


ob Lister has been a Granite Transformations franchise owner in Newcastle for almost a decade. He has won a major title as the brand’s


current Franchisee of the Year, and became known as ‘the turnaround king’, after transforming declining local sales into a full order book and increased order values.


Why did you decide to become a franchisee?


I was formerly a golf teaching professional in Durham and found the job enjoyable, although the hours were somewhat sporadic. I was looking for something more secure, with a pension fund at the end, and wanted to create a nice little business where I could have time off and spend the odd day with my elderly parents.


Is this what you have achieved? Things didn’t quite work out like that – I’ve become a bit of a workaholic and spend at least six days a week looking after all aspects of the business, from templating and installing worktops to sales, with Sundays off for doing the books. Still, I’m enjoying the life and I’ve built up a fantastic team around me, so at present everything’s great.


Why did you choose Granite Transformations?


I became familiar with the brand and its highly distinctive product, ‘the top that fits on top’, when my then wife and I were considering a kitchen makeover. We were visiting the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, where Granite Transformations was exhibiting its diamond-polished granite worktops. We immediately loved the product and asked a guy on the stand how we could get a quote. This was the early days of the franchise and there wasn’t a showroom in the far north, so this chap suggested we might like to become franchise owners.


How have you found the training and ongoing support?


I like the fact that the Granite Transformations corporate owners, the Italian-based Trend Group, ensure continuity of supply and a stream of new product ideas. The support I receive from RSG Europe, and its livewire CEO, Danny Hanlon, is absolutely fabulous. I have seen the quantity and quality of franchisee marketing and technical support grow to 100 per cent, and the advertising material, sales literature and consumer website gives me a real competitive edge. As the network has grown and sales revenue has accelerated, there have been more resources to plough back into the brand and you can certainly see where the money’s been spent.


Mobalpa


What appealed to you about Mobalpa? Initially, it was the product offering. As discussions progressed, however, I became more impressed with the level of services and processes available within Mobalpa.


What interested you about this sector? I was developing properties in London and abroad and felt a synergy between this hobby and Mobalpa’s offering.


What training and support did/do you receive?


The training and support from Mobalpa is rigorous and includes a period of time spent at Mobalpa headquarters in the French Alps and time spent at Mobalpa’s pilot store in Warrington, Cheshire. Overall, I spent nine weeks training prior to the opening, and Mobalpa continued to support me once the store was open.


“Our bank was very supportive and, having had experience of other franchises in the network, they were more than willing to help us”


How’s it going so far? What sort of challenges have you faced? Since we’ve opened, we have seen many enquiries without any means of advertising. Customers have been most impressed with the standard of the showroom, product quality and overall service. My main challenge has been recruitment, which I am still looking into developing.


Describe a typical day I’m an early riser, so I try to arrive at the store an hour prior to opening, which gives me time to brief the team for the day ahead. In this sector, every day is different due to client requirements and expectations so it tends to keep you fresh, ready and excited.


What do you see for the future of your franchise?


I have high expectations in terms of the development of my franchise and plan to expand further.


38 | Businessfranchise.com | July/August 2014 B


iola Apooyin was working for IBM as a delivery project manager before becoming a franchisee for Mobalpa Richmond 11 months ago.


Would you recommend franchising to others? Yes, definitely. The level of experience, support and processes of the franchisor is key to the success of my business.


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