Baptism of Fire for Blazes Home-Based Franchisees
 Steve Bate - Blazes Home-based Central Heating Franchisee |
As the government's boiler scrappage initiative builds up a head of steam, Blazes Home Based Central Heating (HBCH) franchisee's phones have gone into meltdown.
Says Steve Bate, who took on his franchise in October as a part-time addition to his successful printing enterprise: "I wanted a Blazes Home Based Central Heating franchise as a bolt-on to my existing business, but since the Boiler Scrappage Scheme was officially announced in January, I've gone from taking roughly ten calls a week to over 100!
"It's a nice problem to have, and I know that once the scheme finishes things will become more manageable. But it just goes to show how powerful, and successful, changes at the top are for individual operators such as myself."
The Boiler Scrappage Scheme, which was announced in Alistair Darling's pre-budget report at the end of last year, and launched on January 5th this year, is hoped to encourage some of the estimated 4.5 million households with G-rated boilers to replace them with A-rated boilers, which emit less carbon.
The response from the public has been so enthusiastic that the Energy Savings Trust, which oversees the scheme, has struggled to clear the backlog of applications. In the first month alone, around 40,000 people applied for the £400 cash back vouchers, snapping up a third of the 125,000 available.
Adds Steve: "There's been a bit of a reprieve while people wait for their vouchers to come through, but the great thing is that we're getting in front of more of our target customers, and my database of prospects has ballooned over the last few weeks."
Blazes' HBCH Nottingham franchisee, Chad Hussein, who started his new business in November 2009, also running it alongside another day job, agrees: "I'm getting a lot more enquiries and now have a bigger database as a result of the scheme," he says. "A lot of people just want information, so it's important to qualify them on the phone. But the scheme is helping to speed up the conversion process. For people who are ready to get a new boiler, the £400 voucher is the extra little nudge they need."
With more than 30 areas of the UK already covered by Blazes nationwide network of Fireplace and Heating Centre showrooms and HBCH franchisees, Managing Director, Michael Eyre, is optimistic about 2010.
"Blazes' home-based business is a relatively new concept, yet has enjoyed a rally of responses from potential franchisees since it came to market a year ago," he says. "This demonstrates that we're doing something right. It's a fantastic proposition for individuals who either want to work full-time or part-time. Now, with the Boiler Scrappage Scheme, there's even more opportunity for people who want that additional revenue stream."
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