Business Franchise June

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Mairi Gallagher
Martin Beanlands (pictured, left)
‘We ﬁ nd they have good process and project management skills, and are used franchisees need a certain level of professionalism,
to working in a disciplined environment. They can identify what does and doesn’t which we get from the military,’ he adds.
work, and they have vast experience of following orders and direction. And of Former policemen also do very well, he adds:
course they have high levels of motivation, and are good at motivating their team.’ that Cardiff franchisee Richard Trevivian, who was then
Yet while prospective franchisees may have a shining track record in the forces a police ofﬁ cer, ﬁ rst heard about the franchise after
or police, many have few business skills – which is where a good franchisor helps, his mother-in-law visited a franchise exhibition,
says Mark. ‘As the master franchisor we provide the knowledge of the market and is now using his knowledge of the law
place, the Chem-Dry system and process, business skills and marketing skills for to build a business complying with strict
franchisees to grow and develop their businesses.’ The combined skills are a recipe new legislation.
for success. Using the strengths built up through years of
Franchising is not for everyone, franchisors are quick to point out: any discipline is key to success in franchising, say franchisors
prospective franchisee who wants to re-invent the wheel, or thinks he can do who advertise regularly in services magazines and
better by departing completely from the established business model, would do would like to recruit more. ‘We’ve had a couple of
better to look elsewhere. So those franchisees who have the discipline to commit ex-services franchisees down the years who have been
to an established model do very well, says Mark. excellent franchisees, and we’d love to recruit more,’ says franchise manager
‘Franchising is a proven business solution – we always say to our franchisees, Janet Walmsley. Discipline and dedication are key, she adds: so Mairi Gallagher,
“follow the system”.’ Chem-Dry’s established business model as personalised for from Dunbartonshire, moved from a police dog handling role to a new life as a
a local market is a winner: ‘Franchisees are able to manage their own businesses, successful Oscar franchisee.
and add their local accents to the Chem-Dry name,’ says Mark. Good franchisees come from all walks of life, says Robin Page, franchise
So what are franchisors looking for in a prospective franchisee? Many good director at Cash Generator – franchisees include an ex paratrooper, former
franchisors turn down more applications than they can accept, when applications police community support ofﬁ cer, warrant ofﬁ cer and RAF ofﬁ cer. ‘Ex-service
are patently unsuitable: at Chamberlains, Graham admits to turning down personnel seem to ﬁ t the mould of our business exceptionally well, and as
applicants he believes do not look the part, and would not meet customers’ a group of individuals, seem to have a natural born ability to develop a most
exacting standards. successful business,’ he says. Most perfected their commitment, focus and
Good communication skills are increasingly important too in a security industry communication ability in the services, and now use those skills brilliantly as
which is becoming more sophisticated and well-regulated, he adds: ‘Prospective franchisees, often going on to open other outlets too.
Steve Angel
Former Royal Marine Steve Angell and his partner Tina And relying on the expertise built up by Ovenu,
Mason took a huge leap into the unknown with an Ovenu with its 100 franchises nationwide and turnover of
franchise, but Steve knew that the discipline he’d learned in £3 million, meant that even without business
the Marines would make it work. After time spent touring experience, the Stafford-based pair could make a
with his band and then time preparing military married success of their business from the start: they now
quarters, they wanted to set up a business cleaning ovens have three Ovenu territories, and a turnover of
– but knew they had no business experience. £50,000 annually.
So when they found Ovenu on the Internet, they knew ‘Our business is now very successful, and we’re
its tried-and-tested formula would work. ‘The discipline booked up for months ahead,’ says Steve, ‘and that’s all
I’d learned in the Marines kept me going,’ says Steve. because we had the discipline to follow the formula.
‘You have to put your trust in the voice on the end of the We put in the hard work to build the business, and it’s
phone, because there’s no point in trying to re-invent the working brilliantly – I’d never go back to working for
wheel when someone else has already made it work.’ anyone else now.’
www.businessfranchise.com June 2008
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