A pinch of pizzazz will lead to success
WHAT makes a great franchisee? Winners of the British Franchise Association HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards should know.
Janis Anderson, the Aylesbury franchisee with domiciliary care provider Caremark, is Franchisee of the Year and Female Franchisee of the Year. Janis, 54, says: ‘A good franchisee sticks to the franchisor’s system, but also comes up with innovations.’
Janis introduced the Caremark Independence Clubs, which provide outings such as picnics, birdwatching and bowling for Caremark’s clients, who are mainly elderly or have learning disabilities.
She says: ‘Once your franchise is established, work with the franchisor to see if you can add a bit of pizzazz.’
Ron Maynard and wife Shirley won the Microbusiness Franchise award. They run a Card Connection greetings card franchise in Oxford. ‘It’s about discipline, following the franchise guidelines and building good customer relations,’ says Ron, 60.
Siggy Wilberg, the Domino’s Pizza franchisee in Swindon for 24 years, won the Long Service Franchisee award. Siggy, who is Domino’s oldest franchisee at 69, says: ‘Outlets do not attract customers by themselves — you have to keep coming up with new ideas.’
Customer Service Franchisee of the Year, Nick Dee Shapland, who runs the ServiceMaster cleaning franchise in Newbury, Berkshire, says: ‘You need to work on the business, not just in it.
‘I introduced a human resources department to develop our 450 staff — t he result is great customer service.’
Young Franchisee of the Year, Steven Prime, 28, the Esquires Coffee House franchisee at the Coventry Transport Museum, says: ‘I chose a franchise for franchisor support. It’s a good way into business for young people.’