Ripples is the UK’s leading bathroom franchise. We have been designing the highest quality, bespoke bathrooms for clients since 1988 and we are now one of the most respected bathroom retailers in the UK. The Ripples retail experience is the vision of founder and Chief Executive Roger Kyme who, having spent many years working at a senior level at Travis Perkins, decided to focus exclusively on luxury bathrooms and the rest, as they say, is history! We pride ourselves on the quality of our products and our exceptional customer service and, as a result, we think we do something a little different to most people in the bathroom industry. We believe that in retailing, the customer’s experience is as important as the products that they buy. And that means we pay special attention to the little things because they are what matter to our clients. We began franchising in 1995 as a family-owned business with family values and wor ethics to match. Since then, whilst our network has grown substantially and our business developed into the successful model you see today, our core business is still family-owned and our values of quality and service continue to define us.
Nothing is more important to us than seeing our network succeed. Our franchisees are winners of such prestigious awards as the Master Retailer Award and the International Designer Award and our network boasts over 80 industry awards to date. Our franchisees operate their beautifully appointed showrooms in a market worth nearly £1 billion and they consistently achieve higher gross profits than the industry average.
Ripples franchisees are so successful because they are as passionate about the business as we are. Passionate about the level of service they provide their clients and about offering and delivering the highest quality products. From conceptual design in-store to seeing the finished bathroom, it’s all about being the very best at what we do. Ripples clientele are looking for more than just a bathroom, they’re looking for
the experience and together, we exceed their expectations.
Initial training. Quality and service are synonymous with our brand; it’s what we do. We know what this means to our customers: quality products, outstanding service, exceptional owners and their staff. We also know that this all starts with us. To ensure our highest level of standards are maintained, all new franchisees follow our comprehensive training programme which is carried out at our flagship franchise showroom in Bath. Over the course of the eight week training schedule, you will spend time with our specialist franchise team who will cover all aspects of your business management, visit manufacturer factories and training facilities and also spend a week working ‘hands-on’ in a Ripples showroom.
Hands-on experience. Each week during your training you will spend time working in a Ripples showroom as though you were its owner, to ensure that you have the experience and confidence to run your own busy showroom. Here, you will: learn to interact with customers, gain confidence and experience to manage personnel, handle the day-to-day business tasks and learn operating procedures.
Who better to learn from? Ripples approved suppliers carry out detailed training in-house at your showroom as well as run external workshops and tours at their factories for all new franchisees. You’re selling their products so it is in their best interest that you are confident and comfortable with your product knowledge. A full supplier training schedule is provided.
We don’t just stop at making sure you have the skills and knowledge to run your business. We also help you to design and plan your very own showroom, giving you the full benefit of our wealth of experience and understanding of our marketplace. Each and every Ripples showroom is one to be proud of and yours will be no exception.
As the owner of a luxury bathroom showroom your main role will be to ensure that the high standards of presentation throughout the interior and exterior of the store are of the highest order each and every day.
You will ensure that each visitor to the showroom is aided and encouraged to discuss in detail the full nature of the bathroom project they are considering so that you can use the many bathroom settings and other valuable Ripples point of sale, to offer guidance and confidence to generate the enquiry.
From the initial enquiry, you are responsible for visiting the client’s home to undertake an initial site survey and to discuss and qualify the enquiry in more detail. This is a great opportunity to further employ the Ripples trusted sales process which is proven to generate a 70% plus success rate.
After working with your in-store bathroom designer on the planned solution, the presentation is undertaken to the client in the Ripples showroom, again using point of sale and other displays to reassure the customer of the product and design specification.
All Ripples franchisees operate their business by purchasing all required client products direct from trusted and approved Ripples suppliers and provide market leading buying prices for these goods. The franchisee is responsible for coordinating all aspects of the sale, from arrival and delivery of goods, to ensuring that all operational and supply chain communication is as smooth and reliable as possible.
As a franchisee with a substantial territory, you will be expected to develop the Ripples brand in your area using the extensive tool kit of opportunities available to you. Showroom events, local marketing and networking are all essential aspects to the growth and development of your business.
Due to the long standing history of the Ripples brand and our association with many of the bathroom industry’s leading supplier brands, many opportunities also exist to develop B2B type sales with interior designers, architects, local builders and other specialist companies who, by association, can help your business grow.
A Ripples showroom is open a minimum of six days a week (Monday – Saturday) and does not open on public holidays. The franchisee must ensure that the showroom is suitably staffed along with other standards consistent with high quality retail showroom franchises.
