Special Feature
Nigel Gamble
In 2014 after a long and successful media career, Nigel decided he wanted a new challenge and started his own lawn care franchise, Lawnkeeper Aylesbury
that he would provide the necessary advice and support but without interfering in the business.
What did you do before franchising? I worked in the museums sector for an international organisation that produces audio and multimedia visitor experiences for museums, galleries and visitor attractions all over the world. Prior to that I worked in television production management, including 25 years at the BBC.
Why did Lawnkeeper in particular appeal to you as a business proposition to begin with?
For some time I liked the idea of a lawn treatment franchise, working in the fresh air and providing the opportunity to start my own business that was relatively low risk, and for which there is a strong market. I liked the Lawnkeeper franchise as it was small and would be a new brand name in my territory. I also got on well with the franchisor Sam Langrick and could see
How does your previous experience assist you in running your franchise? While lawns didn’t feature in my previous production management roles, running a business requires me to use a wide range of transferable skills, such as finance, management, scheduling and customer service. By being honest, reliable, polite and knowledgeable when talking to potential customers, I found that having no previous sales experience was not a problem at all.
What are the advantages of a van- based franchise?
For me the main advantage was being able to work from home and not have to spend four hours a day commuting. I now step out of my front door, jump in the van and I am at work!
How has your life changed since investing in the franchise? Do you have a good work-life balance? Being my own boss means that I am in control of my own destiny and don’t have the stress of constant demands from other people in different time zones.
What training and support did you receive from your franchisor? The training provided was comprehensive and enjoyable, and covered all aspects of the business, from lawn botany, products, use of machinery, finance, marketing, and the use of our CRM system. The support of Sam Langrick, the franchisor, and the other franchisees is invaluable, and being a small team we all benefit from meeting every six months to discuss all aspects of our businesses and plan for future developments.
Have you got any plans for to expand your franchise?
The business has continued to grow since launching in September 2014 and we now employ temporary staff during the busy spring and autumn periods. At some point soon a decision about when to recruit a full- time employee will need to be made.
What advice would you give to anyone considering a franchise? Make sure you do your homework; it’s a big decision. You need to remember that, as a startup, the money doesn’t start rolling in until you have sufficient customers to keep you busy every day, so get out there and deliver those leaflets!
September 2017 |
BusinessFranchise.com | 21
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