Can-do mentality scoops major industry award for virtual PA supplier Michelle
06-February-2023
They call her Can-Do Collins – and if there is anything she actually can’t do, the judges of the Great British Franchisee Awards certainly weren’t aware of it.
That’s why they’ve given Michelle Collins, owner of Pink Spaghetti PA Services in Chester and North Wales, the highest honour in the franchising world.
And if anyone’s tempted to think it’s a dull life providing virtual PA services to often unseen clients, Michelle says otherwise.
“No two days are alike,” she says. “We’ve worked for high-profile clients including premiership football teams, airports and others, opening up opportunities and experiences that a PA service would not usually access.
“We’ve also handled some unusual requests, including organising a full house-renovation for a client returning from Shanghai, and selling a 30-foot-tall wind turbine, the contents of a café, a retro jukebox and a 6ft wooden soldier.”
Michelle made a profit in her first year of trading, hasn’t needed a marketing budget, and gets 70% of her work from customers who’ve been with her for more than four years.
“She also stepped in at short notice when one of the co-founders became seriously ill,” says Caroline Gowing, Pink Spaghetti’s Franchise Director.
“For six months Michelle became a part of the mentoring and support service for about 15 franchisees.
“It could have been a temporary measure, but as the need for this cover has eased, we’ve looked for a way of keeping Michelle in a similar role, as the benefit to franchisees was so good.
“She has grown as a business owner over the years, developing a style that is looked up to by most franchisees who have started since.”
Michelle says she’d planned to have a year of significant growth in 2020 – until Covid struck.
“The pandemic was tough,” she recalls. “Our team of mums meant a lot of home schooling, and managing lockdown was hard.
“We were supporting many businesses and the pace of change was fast. The work we would do one week for a restaurant would all need changing with each announcement, and quickly.
“We lost clients overnight and others needed more support, but we were well equipped as we were used to home working and had knowledge of working remotely.
“I became ill with Covid and was unable to leave the house for nearly three months, followed by six months of physio to help me learn to breathe properly again.
“It was a real challenge for a business owner trying to lead through tough times, but I take incredible pride that our income only dropped by 5% on the previous year.
“Buying the franchise was a low-cost investment and allowed me to start trading quickly and with confidence in my services.
“I was recognised recently for all this work at the Pink Spaghetti annual conference, winning the People’s Choice award, the Consistency award, the Turnover award and Franchisee Of The Year.”
• The Great British Franchisee Awards are run by whichfranchise, supported by Lloyds Bank, BDO, Worldpay from FIS, AMO Consulting and Chantry Group