Posted:13-January-2021
Exclusive Interview: "The best thing about Snap-on is the freedom I can afford to give myself."
Name: Alex Hunter
Location: County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Franchise: Snap-on Tools
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?
I’m 28 years old and I’ve been married to my wife for four years. We have a little boy who will be one in October and we have three cats, one dog, a couple of fish and a few birds. We live in quite a rural part of Northern Ireland and I’m really into my Clay Pigeon Shooting - there’s a lot of that kind of thing around here.
After secondary school, where I got 4 GCSEs, I went to Agricultural College and trained to be a Land Based Service Engineer – which involved working with plant machinery and farm machinery. After college, I got offered a job in a motorbike shop. I really enjoyed working there – the training I was given was amazing and I loved the work. I’d always wanted to be my own boss and be in control of my own earnings, so I considered opening my own motorbike shop. Unfortunately, the weather in Ireland is so unpredictable that I just didn’t think it would be viable. The local Snap-on franchisee had been coming to the shop for years, so I had a chat with him about franchising opportunities. This got the ball rolling and within a few weeks, I’d applied for finance with Snap-on and I was enrolled on training.
Why did you go down the franchise route? And why did you choose your franchise?
I always wanted to be my own boss, which is something you can achieve with Snap-on. As long as your prepared to work hard, with the support of the Snap-on model, you’ll be a success.
How did you raise the finance?
I took out a loan with Snap-on finance. At the time, you paid back a certain percentage of your takings every week. As soon as I had paid off my original loan, I went straight back to Snap-on Finance for another one to expand the business! I then employed my dad as an assistant to work for me on the second van for around a year – that was an interesting flip in the father/son relationship! You have to be a real people person to work with Snap-on, something which suits me down to the ground - I really enjoy chatting with my customers every day.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
“The training was great but it was very intense. I had been so sure in my decision to join Snap-on but at first the training made me question whether I could do it. I worked hard to take everything on board but you’re given so much information that I kept panicking I’d never remember it all! Incredibly, when I came back to the UK and started putting everything I’d learnt into practise, it all came flooding back. It’s almost like you’re able to do the job before you thought you could!”
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
The best thing about being a Snap-on franchisee is the freedom I can afford to give myself. I work hard Monday to Friday but once those weekends roll around, that’s time set aside for my wife and son. So many guys, like me, trained in a hands-on role at college and have ended up working evenings and weekends just to pay the bills. With Snap-on, I can pick and choose my own hours.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
To be successful with Snap-on, you need to be prepared to work hard. Building friendships with my regulars is a great benefit to my own sense of enjoyment and satisfaction but there’s a lot of hard work going on behind closed doors to keep the money coming in.
What are your plans for the future?
I’ve ordered a new van which will be arriving in October, I can’t wait for it to arrive! I’m actually blind in one eye so I’ve hired another new assistant to drive the van and help take some of the day-to-day tasks off me. I’m looking forward to seeing how his role will allow me to focus on developing the business further. I’ve done well for myself and set up a business that will continue to provide a comfortable income for as long as I want it to.
Would you do it again?
Yes, definitely. I sometimes forget how much I’ve achieved in just a few years. Setting my own targets and meeting them is satisfying and rewarding in many ways. I love my work, look forward to Monday morning and can prioritise my family to make sure nothing gets in the way of our time together. How many people can say that?
