Julian Strauss was all done with work, he’d even retired. But when that got a bit boring in May 2011, he decided that a new business challenge would be the perfect thing to keep him occupied.
Having worked at different levels in various areas of the automotive industry, Julian was already well-informed about the notion of becoming a franchisee – a form of franchising is common for car dealerships. As well as liking the idea of being in charge of his own destiny, working for a reputable company and a secure brand also offered all the credentials he needed.
Asked if making the move into franchising was an easy decision, Julian said: “For me it really was. In fact I think the entire thought process took about 10 minutes! I’d been considering another company to buy a franchise with for a long time, but the application process dragged on and on. In the end, they told me that I couldn’t have a territory in the area I wanted, so it was instantly game over as far as I was concerned. My partner then found information about Mac Tools on the bfa website whilst researching other potential franchises.
“When I contacted Mac Tools, the first question I asked was if I could get a territory in Thurrock. For me, this was essential. I didn’t want to be travelling miles every day and getting home late – don’t get me wrong, I was looking forward to working hard, but it needed to be on my terms. Once I knew the territory was available, there were only a few questions I needed to ask to clarify things in my mind, but I was pretty much set.”
Julian has two grown-up children and enjoys sailing his yacht when he gets chance. His partner is an avid horse rider, with Julian proving to be a reliable stable-hand after choosing to no longer participate himself. He does saddle up in another way however – on his Harley Davidson.
Julian has a BSc (hons) degree from Loughborough University in Automotive Retail Management which has provided fundamental knowledge throughout his work.
“Originally I hadn’t been looking to buy a franchise at all; I had been considering buying and running my own garage,” he said. “It wasn’t until my friend, who has his own garage, asked why I would want to come out of retirement and worry about all that, like dealing with staff wages and so on. Why didn’t I just find something that looked after me? I realised he was right, and that reinforced the attraction of a franchise.
“Franchising in general is good as long as you pick an established brand because all the groundwork is done for you and you’re just latching onto their tried-and-tested methods. I would recommend making sure you have enough money saved to pay for living costs while you set up your franchise to give yourself time to generate a comfortable living.
“Do your market research and look at your personal circumstances, what would be your worst case scenario? I’m doing alright, and I’m enjoying it. I’m out all day and barely do 50 miles worth of travelling. The Mac Tools business model is good, and based on the potential income, it pays for itself. When you first start out, Mac Tools provide you with about 150 contacts in the area and suggested routes. The brands more or less sell themselves though, so most products are easy to sell if you know how to approach it.
“Now I’m settled into my routine, I think I definitely made the right decision to pick Mac Tools over other companies. I see myself as a bit of a maverick, and Mac Tools allows me the freedom to run my franchise, my way. I’m very happy to be doing something I enjoy, and I know there’s always excellent support available if I need it. The Mac Tools training strategy is very good and they’ve paid a lot of attention to detail – I’m a firm supporter of staff development.
“My plans for the future are to keep working on my territory as there are still areas that I don’t get a chance to visit. I’d like to step-up a second van if the economy improves because I think the territory is big enough to support an expansion plan. Otherwise, I’m just enjoying being a Mac Tools man, so I don’t plan to retire again just yet.”
