Franchise Everything
Let's talk about everything and anything in franchising!
Inspiring with experiences and information from the coal face of the people behind the day-to-day of franchises in action.
We unpack personal journeys in founding and leading franchises, but just as important, are the journeys of people who own and run one or multiple franchise locations.
From fitness, to coffee, to lawns and everything in between, franchising is a buffet of business niches.
And with that comes an even wider range of people and stories to talk to about what they do, and how they did it.
And from the people who support franchises in every kind of way.
Everyone has a story to tell, and you'll often be amazed when they tell it in this way!
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Episodes
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Monday Nov 13, 2023
Making more sales out of existing locations is vital in maximising opportunity, and most importantly, keeping franchise owners as profitable as possible. In this episode, Jeff Vassel, Global BDM for geotech, talks about gathering and analysing the data from a single franchise location and interpreting it for the best possible impact on that location. Key factors in this process such as combining data sources, data variables, data overwhelm, product category analysis, and the key levers used across business, in particular in the QSR space are covered. A focus on the key variables and examples of what that looks like puts some practical, real-world context on how this looks when undertaking the analysis of a locations or locations. The concept of focusing on the characteristics of, and understanding why certain stores 'over perform' plays a vital role in maximising location performance to apply those learnings across a network as best as possible. 0:51 What geotech does in data analysis and planning for franchise companies 1:24 Where to start in the process of analysing a franchise location to help it generate more sales. 2:21 The concept of understanding more about the stores that 'over perform' in a franchise network, why that's important and how it is done. 3:40 How is the analysis physically done today with generating the data needed. 4:30 Combining data and what that looks like from a client, and how much data is available. 5:25 The problem with the large volume of data brands have. 6:10 Interpreting data to make it practical and useful for improving sales and having an impact in the business. 7:05 The most important variables in data that are most often useful in analysis with brands. 8:18 Can the fixes to trading problems be as simple as trading hours, signage location, menu range and similar, and how is that articulated to clients? 9:39 The key levers used across businesses like quick service restaurants (QSR). 11:15 Helping brands adapt their offer to drive thru when they haven't been built for it. 11:49 Product category analysis for product ranges that would perform better in certain locations and how they go about optimising it. 13:26 Light bulb moments with brands on information uncovered in analysis. 14:40 Recommendations for where to start to maximise a location off the data they have or can get. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/3829272w Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4xpbds6e Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2c8ynv8p YouTube: https://youtu.be/jYbsZaIaew0
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Thursday Nov 09, 2023
Franchise owner journey: After buying a one-way ticket from the UK 25 years ago, Rod Reece came to Australia with an Economics and Law Degree, and worked his way up in telco's from door-to-door sales through to managing teams for years. An urge to get away from the corporate pressures of never ending monthly sales targets, and a desire to spend around 12 weeks a year on holidays with the kids home from school, some sliding doors moments paved the way to the Dee Why Hire A Hubby franchise territory. Now a 2023 'Man in a Van' Award winner, Rod has a great take on work-life balance and his keys to success in the franchise. :44 One way ticket to Australia from the UK 25 years ago with an economics and law degree 2:31 Door-to-door selling phone and TV plans with an external contractor to Optus 3:23 Getting made redundant and the impact 5:44 Job satisfaction and family was the priority in finding the next thing to do 7:33 First heard of Hire A Hubby at a soccer match, but had never wanted to buy a franchise for varying reasons 8:30 Sliding doors moment - daughter spilled acetone on a new coffee table and at Bunnings looking for lacquer, Rod came across a Hire A Hubby franchise owner 9:36 Process of buying the business from the existing owner who was actually in Greece at the time 11:13 What is Hire A Hubby Training like? 12:15 Business handover with the existing territory owner in Dee Why and advice from him. 13:43 What does a Hire A Hubby franchise owner do? Rod focuses a lot on the real estate market with agents and property managers. 15:10 Types of jobs worked on in the business and passing referrals on within the Hire A Hubby network or beyond. 16:10 12 weeks holiday a year, how Rod manages that with running the business. 16:49 Taking on staff members to delegate work in the business. 17:20 Award winner 'Man in a Van' - single franchise owner operator without staff. 18:20 Secrets to success in a Hire A Hubby franchise. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/ypmyxncu Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2s43bfn7 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/4teakpds YouTube: https://youtu.be/3sbGVMkNdhI
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Friday Nov 03, 2023
Franchise owner journey: Kervin Merchant came to the Kwik Kopy Blacktown franchise after diverse careers in IT hardware support, and ownership of a hotel in New Jersey in the USA, and finally back to Australia to raise a family. Now entering the $1million turnover club, Kervin’s is a story of going for exactly what you want, while still be very certain first in knowing exactly what that is! 0:30 $1million revenue award announcement with Kervin being welcomed into the Centurion Club within Kwik Kopy at the upcoming National Conference. 1:20 What's it like owning a Kwik Kopy franchise business? Now 5 years into the business Kervin explains what the experience has been like with his team a key. 2:12 Kervin's diverse career path from moving to Australia from India to study IT, gaining his residency and moving into an IT career. 3:50 Moving to New Jersey, USA for an IT job, and ended up buying a hotel while there and changing career with his own hotel business. 6:50 Most difficult thing about owning a hotel - the 24/7 nature of the business. 7:35 Moving back to Australia to raise children, and the start process of looking for another business. 8:34 Criteria to buy a business that fits best for the family and lifestyle, and discovering Kwik Kopy. 10:46 Buying a franchise business that is already operating, and the process of research and due diligence on the business with Kwik Kopy. 12:45 Loving the training in learning about printing and how to run a Kwik Kopy franchise business, and the value of an experienced team. 15:11 The type of help needed and provided to a Kwik Kopy franchise owner in day to day operations, and what Kervin has found very helpful about the business. 16:19 How daunting it was taking over the business from the existing owner and the learning curve as a new owner in the industry. 18:08 The role Kervin plays in the business in day to day operations, and how doing deliveries of completed work to customers makes a huge difference as he can get face to face more often with customers. 20:27 Reasons for success in getting into the $1million turnover club in the business. 21:45 Future planning for Kervin in the business with a focus on the existing location with opportunities for growth, and succession planning for a key staff member retiring after 34 years in a key role. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/bfmrjshh Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4t92yern Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/5x9pau57 YouTube: https://youtu.be/BFuFue4OvMQ
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
CouriersPlease is a small to medium parcel distribution company with a National footprint of 800+ franchise territories. The chat with James centred on some key aspects to the business; :45 What is CouriersPlease, including the size of the network, company ownership, and areas for growth and territory structure, 2:30 Sub-contractor to franchise model - When and why CouriersPlease changed from a sub-contract model to a franchise, 3:30 How franchise partners run their territories with relationships within their customer base being a key part, 5:00 Going above and beyond as a franchise partner and what that looks like in CouriersPlease, 6:29 Investing in a CouriersPlease franchise, what the process is, what you need and how it all works, 8:30 What training do you get as a CouriersPlease franchise partner, 9:25 How a CouriersPlease franchise partner finds new customers and build their business with national sales support, 11:30 How CouriersPlease wins new business as a brand with customers and larger accounts, 12:38 Loving what they do - CouriersPlease franchise partners longevity with one celebrated recently for 40 years in the business, 13:22 Technology in a courier business and the innovations in the brand such as the courier driver app, 15:14 The adoption of tech within the business and used by drivers Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/yreacxkn Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2hucxpyz Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2nm49fpf YouTube: https://youtu.be/NwcoX29KdIs
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
Thursday Oct 26, 2023
From butcher to mining hydroblaster to lawn care - the diverse careers of Ash Gulwell! Ash is now 3 years into his journey of owning a Coochie Hydrogreen franchise region in Gladstone, QLD, with out of the ordinary levels of growth, but his career started very early and in a very different environment. Starting out as a 14 year old running down after school in the afternoons to work in the local butchers, and then again for a few hours on Saturday mornings, Ash got to work hard and pretty early in life. An apprentice since leaving school at the end of year 11, Ash ended up managing stores and in retail all up for 15 years. It was one of his apprentices who suggested working in and around the mining industry, which prompted him to check it out in Gladstone. 8 years later, after working in hydroblasting in a refinery, and moving into managing teams in that environment, Ash knew he wanted to get a bit of balance and control of his path back into his life. A look around at the business market with a broker saw Coochie Hydrogreen put in front of him - a business he knew nothing about. After a call into Head Office to talk about the business, he didn't realise he was speaking to and firing questions about the franchise to the CEO! Impressed with what he heard, and his subsequent research, Ash finds himself 3 years later in a business and region that is growing as he adds additional vehicles to keep up with demand and opportunities. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2n3sz6tz Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2rw9224t Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2fn7mvr4 YouTube: https://youtu.be/6x7R9zGX5rs :35 Describing what Coochie does. 1:54 Starting as a 14 year old with a part-time job in a local butcher shop, eventually onto an apprenticeship. 4:40 After 15 years Ash was enticed to the mining industry in Gladstone, as a hydroblaster at a refinery in the mining industry, eventually leading a team there. 7:10 Wanted to find something in his own small business after 8 years in the mines, to get that personal satisfaction and balance back into what he was doing. 8:36 How he found Coochie Hydrogreen and went through selecting the best fit for him. 9:36 Coochie sounded too good to be true initially for Ash. 11:07 His research into the business, and buying process. 12:25 The fears playing in Ash's mind before he started his business, and the hardest things to learn. 13:35 What a normal day looks like in his Coochie Hydrogreen franchise for Ash. 14:26 What Ash puts his success down to in growing his business. 15:57 What new customers really want. 17:06 What are Coochie doing to the lawns? Describing the process. 17:57 What he tells people asking him about buying into the business, and the future of his Gladstone territory.
Monday Oct 23, 2023
Monday Oct 23, 2023
A mowing round side-hustle in school and then out into running a debt collection business, Brendan Green, CEO of the Hire A Hubby franchise network with 300+ Franchise Partners, career was on a different path until a chance connection changed it all. Clearly an entrepreneur at heart, Brendan had a business mentor while at school, a property developer, and he was co-ordinating other students for him who wanted to earn money by working on the weekend in basic labouring jobs. On leaving school and assuming he was going into property development in that business, Brendan was instead put into the debt collection arm of the business where he stayed for 9 years. He opened the first inter-state branch in Melbourne, taking it from himself and a secretary, to 30 staff in around 18 months. By chance, the lawyer to the property business was also representing Hire A Hubby that had around 30 franchises at that time in Victoria, and wanted to expand into NSW via Master Franchising. He suggested it might be a good fit for Brendan given his capabilities and previous home services experience. Not only did Brendan purchase the NSW rights, but not that long after, he found himself in a position to purchase the National rights with the founder of the brand running the Victorian territory only - a solution that did not hold, with the Victorian region also being purchased soon after. With 300+ franchise locations, and international expansion of the brand into the UK, the Hire A Hubby and Brendan’s story that parallel it, is one well-timed for the explosion in home services market growth we see today. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/49e9rj9t Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/yfyd8txn Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/2w3r9eje YouTube: https://youtu.be/HmRBUTv96DQ 1:00 How Brendan started his business career in his latter years of high school guided by a business mentor who owned a property development business. 1:57 Leaving school straight into debt collecting with a job in another company of the property development business. 3:00 Starting another lawn mowing business on the side to earn more money while he was still working in debt collection. 4:00 Opening an interstate debt collection office and putting the lawn mowing side-hustle on hold. 5:18 How and why he sold the mowing business side-hustle. 6:22 Finding Hire A Hubby from the lawyer that was working with the debt collection business. 7:37 How Brendan got educated on, and his take on franchising in the late 90's at the time. 9:23 Leaving the debt collection business and commit fully to growing his Hire A Hubby NSW region for the brand. 10:38 The growth trajectory of the brand across the early years and where they were selling the territories spread throughout NSW. 12:00 How Brendan went from State Master to National franchisor and the stages and process of growing the business in the early years. 15:37 The size of the Hire A Hubby business and the key areas for growth in the market including the launch into the UK franchise market with some lessons learned over an extended period. 18:20 The role of a Hire A Hubby Franchise Partner in their community with Cert 1 Handyman Licences to Cert 3 Kitchen, Bathroom, Laundry renovation licenses. 21:30 Levels of Hire A Hubby territories and their ranking depending on what the Franchise Partner wants to do in their business. 23:15 The key factors in growth for Hire A Hubby with the greatest impact being with technology and visibility in what Franchise Partners were doing with a custom job management system. 26:22 The role of the Franchise Cloud Solutions in the business as a fully integrated provider of technology to Hire A Hubby and other franchise brands. 26:58 What is attracting Franchise Partners and what has that growth looked like across the recent years. 29:41 Why regional areas can be significant turnover with exclusivity and the fact they are not competing with, but helping each other grow. 30:45 The role of Chairman of the Franchise Council of Australia, and Brendan's passion for franchising.
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Thursday Oct 19, 2023
Franchise owner journey: Pappi Mukasa - Spent 9 years in a refugee camp before making his way to Australia, Pappi had an entrepreneurial calling even after finishing a Civil Engineering Degree with Honours. The urge to have career freedom with his own business was just too strong. 0:26 Pappi's background on arriving in Australia in 2005 after 9 years in a refugee camp in Tanzania after escaping war in 1996 between The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rawanda. 3:00 Getting assimilated into Australia, what it's like, learning english, and the help that he and his family got at the time. In comparison to support services now believing that overwhelm has seen the support services to immigrants reduced. 4:45 What school was like and finishing high school onto progression into higher education studies in pursuit of a Civil Engineering Degree. 5:55 Diverting from Civil Engineering which his dad wanted him to do, and where the passion for business began while in the refugee camp. The passion for business began when using some of the money dad was making as a security guard of $20 a month in the camp, and buying fruit and on-selling it for profit. 7:34 Why and how CouriersPlease - Working as an apprentice in engineering in Regional Victoria for 3 months, and Pappi knew at that point that it was not what he wanted to do. Starting to look for something different, his thinking was directed to online sales and logistics that he saw growing, and had a connection to a person with CouriersPlease, so he called him and understood more. 10:20 Pappi quit his job with a nervous dad worried about his path and financial security. Pappi was prepared to back himself and took the leap and bought the business 5 years ago. 12:00 What training was like and how the business operates for him, and what he found the most difficult part of the business - which was learning the territory that he needs to get around in for deliveries. This took about 6 months for him to feel really comfortable finding his way around. 14:00 Loving meeting people and being his own boss, Pappi describes what his day is like from start to finish with timings and details, the process and flexibility of the business. 15:45 Why change territories - Pappi started on one territory and ran that for about 4 years, and have now moved to the Collingwood territory - all for variety in his day and something new. 16:32 What keeps Pappi going and what he loves about the business and drives him to keep growing it every day. He loves his customers and loves giving the best possible service and support that he can. 18:00 What do people ask him about being a franchise partner with CouriersPlease. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/23tbvxe5 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/vsmk64y9 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/3k4w4zut YouTube: https://youtu.be/TSyFKNwyrrk
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
In this episode with Lili Shi, Master Franchisee Australia, and Eddy Xu, General Manager , we focused on a discussion on 5 key inflection points in the business that have been key in making the brand what we see today, particularly in the Australian market. 0:39 How Lili Shi found the Gong cha bubble tea brand opportunity in Taiwan after trying all different types of bubble tea offers in the market to bring it to Australia - the key moment this happened. 4:14 When Gong cha took over their first competitor location in the Australian market, which for the team was a very special moment signifying how they are making it in this market against previously well-established bubble tea franchise competitors. 6:10 Why did Snoopy approach Gong cha Bubble Tea to help celebrate Snoopy's 70th birthday? This approach by a globally recognised IP icon was a real signal to the Gong cha team that they were having a significant impact and gaining traction in the Australian market. 8:35 What other iconic IP campaigns have Gong cha had in their stores like Stranger Things, Emoji, Bond, Peppa Pig and more 10:05 What has Gong cha done to help its growth in warehousing product and supplies in order to make things more efficient for franchise owners and the team as a whole, with 3 warehouses in Sydney, Brisbane 2, and Melbourne 1. This means the brand is already prepared for 200 stores. 12:30 When Gong cha started to get multi-site franchise owners re-investing into the business and adding 2nd, 3rd, 4th and more stores for individual owners. The scalability and ease of running the business sees many owners having family members also buying stores as well after seeing first-hand how the business runs. 14:10 Gong cha has 7 stores opening within the next handful of months, of which 5 are existing owners buying another store. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/2p9v99y4 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/4nmjsjd4 Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/yswuu3je YouTube: https://youtu.be/n0K95rxX6qk
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
How often are you revisiting your franchise trade area assumptions? Is it as often as every 12 months? It feels like many brands haven't revisited their trade area assumptions since they did their first territory mapping perhaps even a decade or more ago. Jeff Vassel, Global BDM for geotech, explains that brands who are actually serious about maximising opportunities, are constantly using performance data from new franchise locations opened, and cross-checking it with existing location data to see if the trade area assumptions are still correct! Further, many emerging brands (young and smaller), are likely using tools like Google and Apple Maps as a beginning point, and ABS Census data to give themselves some data to act upon. However, that this data mostly doesn't go deep enough or interactive enough for most brands needs, nor are the conclusions from them likely to be robust enough with which to base an entire brand trade area strategy on. The dangers of getting this wrong at the start, without a scientific approach is a threat to a brands growth plans and achieving its market potential. Gathering data in the first place at store / trade level, is a critical input, and then the other sources on top of it, such as the Mastercard Merchant Activity data that Jeff raises in their partnership with Mastercard. According to Jeff, it is not uncommon to see brands carving out territories / trade areas that are perhaps in the realm of 5 times the size than they should be, resulting in significant unrealised opportunity. And in practical terms this might see a franchise with 40 instead of 100 locations as a result. It's the interpretation of the data that also becomes equally as important given the impact of the decisions made, as it is pretty clear that unravelling poor trade area mapping is almost impossible without significant implications, once a franchise gets to significant size. 0:37 What is mapping? 3:45 How mapping is being used at the moment in franchising 4:39 What people are getting wrong in their mapping activity for their franchise trade areas 5:53 How franchise trade area errors are made 6:55 The lack of science behind franchise trade area modelling for many brands and how often it should be assessed and revisited for accurate assumptions 8:45 What a franchisor could do to improve, and how to start with revisiting their territory assumption data 10:00 Destination v Impulse type of business and the impact on territory mapping planning 12:20 The process of building franchise trade zones with data 13:20 Consequences of franchise trade areas that are far too big 15:00 Peoples behaviour patterns and what they look like since covid period 15:53 The importance to keep reviewing franchise trade area assumption data Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/5hce4wr6 Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/bdhymvtr Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/22jf32ms YouTube: https://youtu.be/kepkm1SRGFs
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Where do you even begin in starting a major events company, booking large exhibition halls years in advance, and filling them with exhibitors and thousands of attendees? From a franchise perspective, Tim's Specialised Events company, owns and runs the Franchising & Business Opportunities Expo, and has done so for 10+ years now. In addition to the Franchising Expo, Tim and his team run both the Foodservice Australia Show, and the Food and Hospitality Queensland shows. So his industry experience, knowledge and presence is substantial. Tim started out working in, and becoming immersed in 10 day long boat shows while still at Uni, which upon finishing realised that live shows were his calling. After years of experience working for larger companies, (Tim recalls his first franchising expo where he attended as fresh new events team member in Brisbane back in 1993) including foreign owned events businesses, Tim took the leap and bought his first show in 2011, as he launched his Specialised Events business. The franchising expo came later in 2013, buying the show off another event company - a show that he worked on for many years prior! Tim articulates the immense stress and uncertainty of running an events business during the covid pandemic period, and the pain of cancelling a fully-ready-to-go Sydney Franchising Expo, mere days before it was due to open, with the business having hundreds of thousands of $ on the line. The weight and impact of this difficult period is clear, while retaining all staff and an office running an event business - with no events. Tim's story is one of entrepreneurialism, experience and patience in methodically building a successful events business over a sustained, and at times, challenging period. Podcast Produced by: www.magneticbusinessmedia.com.au Franchise Stories and Knowledge Base (our other website): www.franchisebuyer.com.au Listen or Watch on; Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/48cksbcu Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/2affcnye Amazon Music: https://tinyurl.com/yc3swdkw YouTube: https://youtu.be/Td9kL7QKeFQ