Women in Franchising “
visits and helped me to gain experience and confidence, which was extremely productive, as I strongly believe that learning on the job is the best way to progress!
What training and support is available on an ongoing basis? There is always additional training or workshops being organised by head office. My eldest son, Connor, has recently joined me in the business full-time, and Tim Evans, the head office franchise manager, has dedicated a number of days to working alongside him to provide one-to-one support and training.
Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else
Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx
reputation. I’ve proven to be great at both, which is evidential from the number of customers that have recommended me to their family and friends. I’m extremely proud of the commitment and devotion that I have given to ensure my business is successful over the years. When I started out, I was a mum with three young children, so I ensured I was 100 per cent determined to take on a franchise and juggle parental responsibilities. Despite multitasking between work and family life, I would like to think that I’m a brilliant mum and a thriving businesswoman.
How has life changed since you launched your franchise, and how is the work-life balance?
“Greensleeves is a fantastic opportunity for any female
gardening enthusiasts to join such a successful franchise network”
How have you found being a woman running her own business? I have had to prove to myself and others around me that I am good at what I do, but who doesn’t? As the boss, I have occasionally found employing staff difficult because some people don’t like working for a woman and I do have high expectations of my employees. I don’t think that being a man or woman defines how successful you are – that comes down to hard work and an excellent
My work-life balance is always a juggle. Life has changed dramatically because I genuinely enjoy spending so much time doing my job. I adore working with great people and chatting to existing and new customers every day! Despite being a busy businesswoman and mum, my husband and I always make time for our family.
How was trading in the beginning and how is business today? In the early days, times were tough as Greensleeves wasn’t a household name back then, unlike today. However, I worked hard to build my business and delivered high-quality customer service, which has paid off tremendously. I’m now starting my 11th year with Greensleeves, so I must be doing something right!
Any standout moments so far? Despite employing additional staff, for me, nothing is more satisfying than scarifying my customer’s lawns, especially in the spring months to ensure they achieve a
lovely green, thick and healthy lawn. A proud moment of mine is having Connor join the company full-time. I thoroughly enjoy working alongside him, and together we make a fantastic family-run business.
What are your plans for the future? Now that my eldest son has joined the business, we are looking to expand and have another staff member on the road by 2019. We also have plans to relocate the business out of our home and move into a larger office and storage facility in Shrewsbury later this year. This will be more productive for me personally, as we will have everything and everyone under one roof.
Would you recommend a Greensleeves franchise to women? I would definitely recommend Greensleeves to anyone interested in joining an outdoor franchise. It is a fantastic opportunity for any female gardening enthusiasts, like myself, to join such a successful franchise network. It allows you the freedom to be your own boss and manage your working hours, so that you don’t lose out on quality time with your family while also building your business.
Any other advice for aspiring franchisees? From personal experience, I would advise other franchisees to expand their business. It does take a lot of time and effort – a process that I’m still working on – but I believe that the bigger the franchise is, the more successful it will be, meaning better rewards. Starting my own franchise was one of the best things I’ve ever done and I wish all aspiring franchisees the best of luck!
May 2018 |
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