Location: Eastbourne & Hastings
When offices opened: Sept 2008 & Nov 2012
Annual turnover: £2m combined (almost!)
Number of staff: 11
What did you do before becoming a Northwood franchisee?
I worked in sales for 20 years at various levels before opening Eastbourne, starting as a door-to-door salesperson and progressing to company director
Why did you go down the franchise route, and why Northwood?
A proven track record of success is often more attractive than having to reinvent the wheel. Given that we had no previous knowledge of the industry and Northwood offered an attractive USP, we decided to invest.
What differentiates Northwood from the competition?
Not just the USP but also the way they positioned themselves. Northwood treated us as a valued individual rather than “just another investor”, they had good quality marketing material which gave me confidence in the company. They also actively encouraged me to speak with any of the current franchisees before investing, which also gave me a lot of confidence.
How did you raise the finance?
HSBC business loan.
What training and support did you receive initially when setting up?
All our staff were fully trained to a very high standard by experienced staff at the franchise at no cost to us as a business other than travelling and accommodation costs.
What ongoing support do you receive ongoing?
A lot! Even after many years of trading there are still situations that I prefer to discuss with experienced professionals before making a decision. We certainly wouldn’t be where we are today without their continued support.
What is a typical day for you as a franchisee?
Golf after a late breakfast! But on the days I go to the offices I spend time listening to my staff and looking for ways to develop the businesses as well as taking care of any urgent matters. I also deal with the finances.
What marketing tools do you use to grow your franchise?
Radio, leaflets, newspaper, property portals.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced in owning & running a franchise?
The early days required a lot of energy making sure we continued to grow at an acceptable rate in order to stop losing money, but that was part of the business plan.
How has becoming a franchisee changed your life?
I no longer have to get up at the crack of dawn to travel into London to work a 15-hour day and come home after my family have gone to bed! I see a lot more of my family and now even get to work with them. I also have the ability to make sure the work environment we have is happy, professional one where each member of staff is recognised as an individual.
In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?
Someone who recognised their own strengths and weaknesses and recruits others to do the work they can’t do themselves, for me I need a really good admin team while others need sales people to support them.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of buying their first franchise?
Make sure you’re buying something that is of interest to you, the more interest you have in the work, the less it feels like work. Also make sure the business can deliver the returns you need and above all make sure the franchise support is as good as Northwood offer.
What are your plans for the future of your franchise?
To continue to grow and develop the offices we have while also growing our own property portfolio.
Would you do it all again?
Given that I have opened a second office in Hastings, I think I can safely say “Yes”.
