Event Preview Event sponsor: Case Studies
wanted for her family. After 13 years as a primary school teacher, she started investigating options that would allow her to develop her passion for early years development, while being master of her own work schedule.
A creative approach to the work-life balance brings success
The challenge of juggling work and family life prompted former teacher Helen Naraine to rethink her career options.
A
fter the arrival of her daughter in 2014, Sutton Coldfield-based Helen soon realised that her career in teaching just didn’t offer the work-life balance that she
Deciding that a franchise offered the best platform for starting out in business, Helen visited The National Franchise Exhibition to gain a better understanding of the franchise model and to meet a variety of different brands. With her husband and daughter alongside her, Helen met with several companies at the event, but her experience of working with children and her creative leaning meant that there was a clear affinity with The Creation Station. The award-winning provider of children’s arts and crafts experiences offered everything Helen was looking for. She says: “I went to The National Franchise Exhibition with an open mind, but after meeting the team from The Creation Station and gaining a full understanding of the training and support they offer, I knew that this was the company I wanted to be part of.” In April of this year Helen won The Creation Station’s award for Best New Franchisee. She comments: “Winning the award was a real highlight for me. It reflects how much I have enjoyed challenging myself over the last 18 months and how well the franchise model has fitted in with my lifestyle. My primary goal when I first considered investing was to achieve a better work-life balance, but the numerous other rewards have exceeded my expectations.”
Chris attended The National Franchise Exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC in 2016.
Although he’d done some prior research on how to get started with a franchise, Chris entered the exhibition with no target sector or brand in mind for his investment. Zero Dry Time caught his attention as it offered a service he hadn’t come across, that of dry cleaning carpets and upholstery.
Chris felt that a franchise with Zero Dry Time offered him the chance to enter an untapped market in his area. Being able to spend time at the event with founder David Muirhead and existing franchisees convinced Chris it was the business for him and he opened his franchise soon after.
Long-term ambition fulfilled with a franchise business
Chris Cox had tried a couple of different career paths before he decided it was time to pursue his dream of being his own boss.
A
s 2015 drew to a close, Chris started researching ways he could start up and run his own business. Realising that investing in a franchise could help him fulfil his ambition,
Chris comments: “The clear advantage that a franchise offers is that that you are getting an ‘off the shelf’ business, which you can get started with immediately. The product development, marketing and support is all in place to make the business a success for you – that’s what your investment buys you.”
Chris has certainly found success with his Dudley-based franchise, winning an award for ‘Best Newcomer of the Year’ from Zero Dry Time.
His candid advice to anyone wondering if investing in a franchise is right for them is: “Book yourself a ticket to The National Franchise Exhibition. You need to meet with a variety of brands to get a full understanding of what they offer and which would best suit your way of working, skillset and interests.”
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BusinessFranchise.com | September 2017
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