Bridget Maendl and Sehrinaz (Naz) Celebioglu, are the first exclusively female partnership in Mail Boxes Etc.’s fast-growing and increasingly diverse national network of over 125 franchised stores across the UK and Ireland. They opened their store in Waterloo, London, in June 2011.
Neither of these two enterprising ladies was looking for a franchise to buy when they first discovered Mail Boxes Etc.. Bridget was working for an estate agency franchise when her husband became interested in Mail Boxes Etc. and asked her to look at it for him. She was very impressed but wanted another opinion so she asked her friend Naz, who has an MA in international business and management, to cast her professional eye over it. Independently of each other, the two decided that Mail Boxes Etc. offered a very exciting opportunity and was just the sort of business they would both like to become part of themselves. Meanwhile, Bridget’s husband decided to stay working in his existing business.
Whilst Naz and Bridget recognised immediately the potential for the franchise, they were cautious about making the next move and took a full year to consider the proposition very thoroughly. They researched franchising, looked in depth at other franchise systems and talked extensively to franchisees in various parts of London.
At the time, Bridget and Naz knew each other quite well but were not particularly close friends. They were confident that they could work together very well and, objectively, they decided to combine their different – yet complementary – skills and talents into a strong working partnership. Bridget would draw on her vast sales and marketing experience and assume responsibility for this area, while Naz would use her financial and administrative expertise to grow and manage the business.
Both had some experience of their own business: Bridget as a partner in an electrical company with her husband and Naz as a finance administrator. Naz saw having a franchise as a way of being able to set up an independent business, while Bridget wanted to be her own boss. She commented: “I always work hard so I thought it would be good to get the reward myself.”
After agreeing each other’s areas of responsibility, they started the franchise in new premises and worked hard to get the business off the ground. Their efforts were rewarded with an excellent start – “much better than expected,” says Bridget – and they received glowing testimonials from their growing and loyal customer base.
They both liked the fact that there are several distinct areas of the business, with the flexibility to push those services which might be slowing up while enjoying boom sales on others. Currently, shipping is accounting for almost 75% of the business – and growing. They agree that getting the franchise off the ground, just like any new business, required plenty of effort to create brand awareness and that giving some extra service, for example collecting parcels from time-poor customers without charging for the collection, created much goodwill.
Having made an excellent start, Naz and Bridget are not letting up. “We had to create awareness so people would understand what we do, but we can’t be complacent now. We must continue to work just as hard to maintain our presence,” they said. “There are limitless opportunities for us to grow as so many new businesses are springing up in this area now, mainly creative ones such as film companies and art galleries.”
Naz is from a family of entrepreneurs: she is the youngest of seven siblings and they all have their own businesses. She came from Turkey to study at Westminster University and after graduation liked the UK so much she decided to stay. Bridget, originally from the West Country, was a specialist in residential property and lives in North London, not far from Naz.
