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Posted:18-September-2014

Franchisee of the Year Finalists Focus: Young Franchisee of the Year

The bfa HSBC Franchisee of the Year Awards, supported by Express Newspapers, take place on 2 October, with 19 finalists vying to win one of six categories and one of those six being named the UK’s Franchisee of the Year 2014. Here we shine the spotlight on the finalists in the Young Franchisee category.

Here are three 20-something-year-olds doing remarkable things: shining examples of what’s possible with a good franchise, boundless passion and the desire to be your own boss, and proving that in franchising if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.

Proving that age is just a number, they serve as an inspiration to other young people looking into business ownership; two of them began straight out of university, and one is the top performer in a 60-strong national network.

Though they run very different businesses, they share in common certain traits: a hard work ethic and an insatiable drive and determination to be successful. Here are their stories.

Aaron Stewart, Marston’s Sheffield & Mansfield (Top image)
Having recently turned 29 years old, Aaron is the proud operator of the top two performing pubs in the Marston’s franchise network, the moderator of its Franchisee Advisory Council and has been approached by the BBC to appear on a documentary. It’s all par for the course for a self-confessed workaholic who says “I live and breathe my business”.

Fiercely ambitious, Aaron left school with a steely determination that saw him quickly make his mark in the pub sector, rising to management level aged just 20, quickly increasing pub turnovers and reducing costs to win multiple ‘Manager of the Year’ titles. But he knew he wanted to run his own business and found his perfect partner in Marston’s, whose support he says is crucial to his success and allows him to maintain focus on developing his business rather than on repairs, administration or equipment problems.

Growth has been rapid and sustained: he almost doubled turnover to more than £1.5m in his first year at flagship site The Fairway Inn in Sheffield, taking on a second site in Mansfield this summer which has already seen a significant upturn in sales under his guidance.

Aaron says his focus on unrelenting standards and his local communities are keys to his results, citing a regular mystery shopper programme, the use of local suppliers, provision of raffle prizes and waiving of room hire charges to local community groups. Staff must be fully committed and meet his exacting standards, but are well-rewarded for their efforts; managers are taken on holiday twice a year in recognition of their role in making the businesses what they are.

Having devised a £999 wedding package that’s been so popular that the BBC came calling for inclusion on a wedding documentary (airing later this year), Aaron has plenty more innovation on the way. He plans to eventually take on 10 franchise pubs with Marston’s and is working with his franchisor on a multi-site model to pave the way for others to replicate his success.

For more information on the Marston's franchise opportunity, please click here

 

Matt Woodall, Revive! Bath
bfa franchisee Revive franchise business“My youth has not held me back when it comes to running a business,” says Matt, in a typically down to earth way. Another 21-year-old graduate-turned-franchisee, in 2009 he combined a desire to be his own boss, his business administration degree and a passion for cars to start out on his own with the support of Revive!. He never looked back.

Increasing turnover by 50 percent in each of his first three years, in 2013/14 he leapt forward 65 percent and into six-figures after taking on his first employee in 2012, getting a second van on the road. A third is planned soon to cope with demand and allow him to step back into a more managerial role.

It’s an unrelenting work ethic, integrity and demanding levels of customer service that have helped Matt get to where he is (“the harder you work, the luckier you become,” he says). Leading by example and proving he can deliver have seen him add a slew of new retail customers and build a substantial business. He’s now in the enviable position of having most of his retail work come to him, by referral.

Admitting that he’s had to learn as he went along, Matt cites the always-available support provided by Revive! as an important component of his business growth. But he’s also highly thought of y head office: winner of Revive!’s service delivery award in March this year, he also regularly conducts out-of-area work on national accounts for the good of the brand.

And he’s also quick to point out that his age has been an advantage in many areas too – particularly in his willingness to work long hours and maintain focus on his business without family responsibilities, and in social media marketing, which he’s excelled at to bring in new leads.

As he says, the fact he started young will only benefit him in the long run and with plans to double turnover within five years and be the manager of multiple technicians and an indoor centre before he turns 40, he’s set to enjoy the fruits of his hard work.

For more information on the Revive! franchise opportunity, please click here

 

Phylly Jones, Pyjama Drama North Surrey

bfa franchiseeIn 2011, aged 21 and newly-graduated with a degree in drama, Phylly became a business owner. In the highly competitive field of children’s drama no less, and with no business experience, no driving license and using public transport and foot power to rustle up customers around her franchise territory.

It might have been too much for some, but what she might have lacked in experience, Phylly has more than made up for with creativity, dynamism, imagination and the support of an established brand. Relishing challenges and overcoming obstacles, her results show what’s possible for the younger generation in franchising.

Driven and entrepreneurial from a young age (she tried to sell her own stories as a six-year-old), Phylly’s tenacity and outside the box marketing has paid off in spades. Having to overcome being both young and a non-parent to attract customers, she says that the passion she exudes, and her high standards, show parents in an instant that she’s the real deal. A high customer retention rate and a turnover that doubled in year 2 attest to that.

Imaginative promotion of her business has paid off handsomely. Building relationships with various organisations, branded charity activity support, free taster sessions, school assemblies and clubs, celebrating alternative occasions – such as the Tour de France coming to Britain – in schools and nurseries, rather than the usual suspects...all have helped Phylly stand out from the crowd. Regular media appearances and savvy use of social media have helped to develop a strong reputation for the Pyjama Drama brand in the local area.

She plans to double turnover again and take on her first member of staff soon as she continues to expand – another landmark and another challenge to overcome. As she’s already proved in abundance, those aren’t things that scare her.

Two years after graduating, Phylly was the owner of a thriving business, had bought a car and was already saving up to buy her own house. If that’s not an inspiration to other young people looking for a great route into self-employment, then we don’t know what is.

 

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