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The Barrett & Coe photography franchise began in 1995 and was founded by Andrew Coe, whose family business opened in 1854, making it one of the oldest photography businesses in the world. Barrett & Coe still adheres to the principles of its founder: “to actively seek quality rather quantity.”
Barrett & Coe studios operate at the upper end of the photography market offering exceptional customer service and high-quality photographic products. We specialise in finding talented people with no previous experience of professional photography, or business, and train them to become very successful photographers across the UK.
Our studios are usually 500 to 1,000 square feet in a secondary location, such as a trading estate, not a prime area or shopping mall. This enables costs to be kept to a reasonable level. Car parking for customers is essential. The interior of each studio is modern, comfortable, and relaxed, with exciting portrait displays. Creative images are enhanced further with a superb product range containing a mix of traditional and contemporary frames to suit every home.
Commitment to our franchisees is total, with an unrivalled support programme producing, on average, 70% of a franchisee’s sales. In areas where a Barrett & Coe studio is not yet established, we have a network of recommended and approved independent photographers who share our passion for photography.
Complementing the individual marketing undertaken by franchisees, we have national contracts in place for baby, family and pet portraits with Emma’s Diary, Activity Superstore, and online retailer Wowcher. In addition, there is ongoing local and national promotions to compliment a high volume of enquiries received from our website, email marketing and continuous social media activity.
Our in-house booking team Portrait Appointments have unrivalled knowledge and experience of turning leads and registrations into deposit-paid appointments for our franchisees, allowing them to focus on photography.
Barrett & Coe also underpin two national photography competitions which showcase the best in baby and pet portraiture. Baby of the Month and SuperDog of the Month contribute a high volume of appointments for our franchisees and both competitions offer PR opportunities to celebrate their success when their clients’ images are chosen as winners.
The Barrett & Coe photography franchise opportunity is a lifestyle choice of Passion, Pleasure, and Profit.
The training we give is exhaustive, and all-embracing, owing to the fact that new franchisees bring an array of different skills with them.
Our training is bespoke to each individual. Consequently, the training programme will vary greatly between different individuals, but no stone is left unturned to ensure that each new franchisee reaches the very high standards we set in all the key activities:
Budgeting and Business Planning
This is essential in order to be able to determine break-even point and therefore studio targets. We will go through this process with you and complete a cash flow forecast which is used as a guide to help you achieve your business goals.
Marketing Planning
An essential step in highlighting and organising your focus and time within your working week, in order to ensure you achieve your studio targets.
Studio Visits/Audits
Every new franchisee has the benefit of accessing advice on a number of topics including; potential premises, branding and layout, budgeting, sales and marketing planning and support, session and viewing observations and overall Barrett & Coe studio operations.
Each studio visit is documented in the form of a report with agreed actions, along with an audit which acts as a framework to ensure that your franchise business is meeting the high expectations consistent with a fully branded Barrett & Coe studio.
Session/Viewing Observations
Once up and running, our franchise support continues with a visit to your studios from a member of our team. They will sit in on a photography session and/or viewing appointments in a live environment to highlight any development areas that can be improved on in order to increase sales and average order potential.
National Franchise Days
These take place in nominated locations for all franchises to attend. The day involves a mix of sales, marketing, and photography training.
Bi-Monthly Meetings
All franchisees meet on the first Monday of every other month for a day of training in a centrally located UK venue. Led by franchisee Peter Evans, the day is split into two halves, focusing on management figure analysis, sales and marketing and the other half focusing on photography updates, training, and critiques.
A day in the life of a franchisee involves welcoming clients, photographing them, preparing their images, conducting viewings, and providing the finished portraits.
In addition, the background work involves local marketing, telephone confirmations with clients and corporate partners, and networking.
All of this involves face-to-face and customer service skills to achieve marketing and sales objectives. There is also the general running of the business including financial, operational and administrative systems, and management decisions.
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