Entrepreneurial Lancashire Couple who Launched Business from Garden Shed Crowned Runners-up in UK’s Top Franchisee Awards!

L-R : Brian Smart (Director General, bfa), Catherine Hayes (Head of Franchising, HSBC plc), Martin and Debra Beanlands, Yvette Taylor (Business Advertising Manager, Express Newspapers) and Sir Bernard Ingham (President, bfa)

“HSBC has been supporting the franchise industry for more than 20 years and we congratulate Martin and Debbie Beanlands on being named Runners-Up in these prestigious annual Awards. Their success story is not only representative of hard work and commitment, but is also testament to the support provided by a successful franchising business model. HSBC recognises the valuable contribution franchisees such as Chem-Dry make to the UK economy by creating local businesses, wealth and jobs.”
- Cathryn Hayes, Head of Franchising for HSBC Bank

A husband and wife team from Earby who launched a carpet cleaning franchise from their garden shed, have been crowned Runners-Up in the 2006 British Franchise Association/ HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards, sponsored by HSBC Bank and Express Newspapers.

Today, Martin and Debbie Beanlands run a £1 million business that scooped the Silver Prize in the ‘bfa/HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards 2006’ plus an HSBC cheque for £3,000 at a glittering gala dinner held last night at Birmingham’s Motorcycle Museum.

The prestigious bfa/HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards – the highlight of National Franchise Week (2-9 October) – were launched in April as a celebration of the best-performing franchisees in a booming industry worth an annual £10 billion a year and employing over 360,000 people in the UK.

Martin Beanlands and his wife Debbie travelled the world for 18 years before leaving the RAF, and needing a new future in civvy street.

Purchasing the Chem-Dry franchise seemed like a leap into the unknown – Martin and Debbie were out of their ‘comfort zone’ - but they signed all the documents, attended a four and a half day training course and then were on their own.

A year later, the couple had beaten their projected forecasts by 50%, an achievement they attributed to ‘following the Chem-Dry plan’ and calling the business development team for help and advice – sometimes on a daily basis.

They were not on their own, and had used the franchise formula to help them build up their knowledge of the industry and acquire the necessary skills to run a successful business.

This was back in 1997 and the ‘business’ was Martin and Debbie working from the garden shed and the back bedroom.

Now they have a 10,000 square foot purpose built industrial unit situated in Earby, directly on the Yorkshire/Lancashire border, nine vans, 8 franchise areas and 14 dedicated, hard-working members of staff. They have come a long way and the plan for the future is to consolidate what they have achieved and focus on maintaining their existing domestic and commercial accounts, as well as securing new business wherever possible.

The judging panel, chaired by President of the bfa, Sir Bernard Ingham, was looking for franchisees who could show how they have achieved ‘Success Through Support’ – the theme for this year’s Awards - by illustrating how their franchisor’s support structure has been instrumental to their success.

Cathryn Hayes, Head of Franchising for HSBC Bank, said: “Judging these Awards is always a difficult task but we felt Chem-Dry demonstrated drive and commitment to make their business a success, working closely with the franchisor and following the system.

“They have invested in staff, premises and equipment to enable them to grow – and we are delighted to recognise their success in these awards tonight.”

Director General of the bfa, Brian Smart, added: “The franchise sector is home to some of the UK's most successful brands. These brands have been built on the fusion of a franchisor driven to build and support a network and franchisees who are committed to developing their own business.

“The awards recognise the very best franchisees and how their focus and drive, when supplemented by the support of a franchisor, grows sustainable, powerful businesses."

“Martin and Debbie are an inspiring example of such a partnership working at its very best - and we congratulate them on their win in the 2006 Awards.”

Media enquiries or requests for interviews to Claire Abercrombie or Katie Ellerker at Aspect Communications on 0208 673 2020/ 07790010509/ 07960 222 054

Notes to editors:

The HSBC Group

HSBC Bank plc is a wholly owned subsidiary of HSBC Holdings plc, and a member of the HSBC Group. HSBC Holdings plc serves over 125 million customers worldwide through some 9,500 offices in 76 countries and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle East and Africa. With assets of US$1,502 billion at 31 December 2005, HSBC is one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC is marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.

National Franchise Week

How often have you sat at your desk and wondered what it would feel like to ‘Escape the 9 to 5’ and be your own boss? National Franchise Week is an ideal opportunity to explore the world of franchising as a proven and established way of starting your own business. Sponsored by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, supported by Yell, and organised by the British Franchise Association in conjunction Venture Marketing Group, National Franchise Week will be taking place on 2 - 8 October and features a number of exciting events such as regional discovery days, the annual Franchisee of the Year Awards and the National Franchise Exhibition. The aim of National Franchise Week is to raise awareness of franchising as a successful business model. Franchising in the UK is a £10.3 billion industry that encompasses 759 franchise systems and employs 364,000 people. For more information on events throughout the week, visit www.nationalfranchiseweek.co.uk or contact Dina Morton (01491 578 050).