e x c l u s i v e interview
both complements the curriculum and
pitch and Richard Farley said; “You girls Farley had been at the helm – which
supports all the government activity to
have blown me away”. would have been extremely pleasant…!
help reduce obesity.
It became apparent that we really knew Lara: Although terribly distracting!
Do you feel it is beneficial
our business and we didn’t have any
to offer non-competitive
chinks in our armour. Peter Jones asked
Are you still convinced it
activities for children?
if we would sell. We replied no. He
was the right decision?
Nell: Absolutely and it gets children
then asked, “What would you do if I
Both: Yes!
more active. If a child’s hand and eye
offered you £1.5 million?”
co-ordination isn’t terribly good they
Lara: We featured on the follow up
never get picked for any of the teams.
series last August and they asked us
Often a child that may have learning
whether we regretted it. In the end,
difficulties has very low muscle tone so
we got a much better deal, only giving
they are very flexible. Suddenly, they
null
What is so lovely
about a franchise
up 15 per cent of the company.
business is you
can put their head down on the floor
when everyone else can’t.
have the benefits of Has it helped with
running your own

pr
null
omoting YogaBugs?
Both: Yes. Definitely.
On the other side of it, if the child is
business but with a
quite sporty, it helps with their agility group of consultants
Nell: We got about 1,000 emails
and stamina, thereby reducing injury.
at your beck and call
the next day from as far as Malaysia!
How did Government
We also met with a lot of potential
investors.
bodies that you initially
approached receive the idea
YogaBugs became a
of YogaBugs – were they
franchise last summer;
immediately supportive?
what was it that made you
Nell: We have had meetings with the
think franchising would
Department of Health, but we are also
take it to the next level?
working quite closely with regional
Lara: YogaBugs’ teachers love yoga,
schemes to see how we can come
love children, want to get out and
alongside the curriculum. I’ve got a
teach, and are incredibly talented.
meeting with the head teacher of a
The feedback we were getting was
school next week to see how we can
“wouldn’t it be lovely if you could offer
complement what they are doing and
a placement service”. This way, training
support their learning objectives.
support could be offered for the
operational role, for example, dealing
Lara: We’ve already had a number of
with invoices, selling themselves,
franchisees that have been successful in
writing letters, etc. After delving further
winning contracts with schools – one
into it, a management franchise looked
franchise in Surrey has 27 schools on like the right way to go.
for a 12-week programme.
Perhaps we should have explored it
Nell: I think what is so lovely about a
You gained fame through
further, but after more thought we
franchise business is you have
turning down an offer from
turned it down. We weren’t prepared
the benefits, opportunities and
the BBC’s Dragons’ Den in
to dilute our business to such a point
independence of running your
2006; what was it like?
where we would then lose control. own business, but with a group of
Nell: The lights are on you; it’s reality I think the greatest thing was the consultants at your beck and call who
TV so they are going to try to make endorsement – Peter Jones thinks our aren’t breathing down your neck
your life pretty difficult for you – that’s business is good enough! because they have assessed and worked
why it makes good TV. It was an together with you over a period of
incredible experience, but the best You have moments where you think time. They have effectively selected you
moment was after our three-minute wouldn’t it have been brilliant if Richard just as you have selected them.4
Franchisor News | 13
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