Revive! Auto Innovations Franchisee Case Study Feed

Running a Revive! Auto Innovations franchise one year on -

• Name: Tom Giles
• Location: Aberdeenshire
• Franchise: Revive! Auto Innovations
• Date launched the franchise: 29 March 2021

Can you tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying your Revive! franchise business?
I am 50 and originally from Canada with a degree in petroleum engineering from Montana University. I’ve spent my whole working life in the oil industry, moving to Aberdeen with work in 1998.

As a specialist in directional drilling, my job took me all over Europe, rising through management ranks to the post of UK operations manager.

The already volatile oil industry was one of the worst hit by the pandemic, and I was asked to make half of my 57 direct reports redundant in April 2020. A task I hated, and one that led me to question my future.

It was just the worst time. Having to let really good, talented people know by Zoom that they were going to lose their jobs didn’t sit comfortably with me.

I was working really long hours and felt like I was on a constant hamster wheel. My work-life balance was terrible, and I just wasn’t enjoying it anymore. When the call went out for volunteers in the second round of redundancies I applied and spent an anxious two months waiting to see if they would let me go.

Can you also tell us about the Revive! franchise? 
Operating in the rapidly growing SMART repair industry, Revive! franchisees run large territories and manage their own team of technicians who repair damage to car paintwork including bumper scuffs, minor chips and the refurbishment of alloy wheels.

Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose your automotive repair industry? And why did you choose Revive?
As a life-long enthusiast I have owned many cars since moving to Aberdeen and always found it hard to find skilled repairers to carry out cosmetic work on my own vehicles, so I knew there was a strong demand for a top- quality SMART repair service in the area.  Whilst I had excellent management and financial skills, I lacked the necessary knowledge needed to set off on this new direction and all my research kept pointing to Revive!

I knew that following a proven business model was the way to go, and it was just a matter of choosing the right franchise brand.  Revive! came top of all the internet searches I made, and the more I read about the company the more impressed I became.

I went onto forums and all the discussions about Revive! were positive, so decided to contact franchise director Cathryn Hayes to start the application process to buy Revive! Aberdeenshire.

How did you raise the finance?
My redundancy package covered a large chunk of the cost, and the rest was raised through the bank. It was late 2020 and the pandemic had made the banks a bit scared and risk averse.  Revive! gave me a lot of guidance with raising the extra finance. My own bank which I had been with for 23 years wasn’t very helpful, so I ended up going with HSBC and they have been very good. 

It was probably the worst time to raise money. The loan and van finance cost more and I had to put down bigger deposits.

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
I started my training during the pandemic. The Revive! management franchise training programme had been adapted as a result of the lockdown, with classroom sessions being held online rather than at the franchise’s own headquarters complex in Rugby.  I went to the Revive! Training academy for the final week of practical training all of which was carried out following the strictest social distancing procedures.

By the time I went to the Revive! training academy I had already met so many people via Zoom that everything felt very comfortable and familiar making it easier somehow. The time learning the technical aspects of the job was invaluable, giving me a solid foundation on which to learn and the confidence to know I would eventually get to where I need to be. It provided me with many operational insights, knowledge that can only be gained through experience, to call on when dealing with customer complaints or when managing staff in this particular industry.

And training has been ongoing since then. There’s a training plan set out for all of Revive! franchisees at every step of our journey. Every few weeks there is a franchise meeting. We have a Zoom get together for all the guys at a similar stage to me – those who started around the same time. A member of the Revive! training department sits in on the sessions and they hear whatever we need and give us training accordingly. We’ve had a lot on social media and sessions on how to use Google to bring in more sales leads.

How would you describe your day-to-day role as a Revive! franchisee
I spend my day working on the business, not in it. I plan the work schedule for my four technicians, follow up sales appointments with retail customers and make sure that as a team we deliver the highest possible levels of customer service and meet the service level agreements set out by trade customers, which include car dealerships and the Enterprise Rent-A-Car national account.

Provide information on challenges overcome as well as your key successes to date. Please also detail the steps you have taken to manage the business during the Covid-19 pandemic.
I started my business with two technician and two vans and I realised after a few months that I needed to get a third van on the road.  Finding the right people was definitely the biggest challenge – but everyone you speak to will tell you the same thing - it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in.

Most of our business comes from recommendations, and I was proud to win the bronze award for customer service at the Revive! Annual Conference this year.  One of my key achievements has been to get the Enterprise Rent-A-Car contract for our area.  We had to invest in additional equipment and meet their service level agreements (SLAs). One of the SLAs is to repair each car within 48 hours– our average is 16!

Covid hasn’t really affected our business much. Two of my technicians were each off for two weeks with Covid and there wasn’t as much trade work, but the retail side was very busy from day one. As a mobile operation we worked on peoples’ drives fully socially distanced and with people working from home it’s actually been easier for them.

Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
If it weren’t for COVID I probably would never have left the oil industry and not had the chance to start a whole new career as my own boss doing something I love.  I have been able

to spend far more time with my wife Kim and young son Caleb – and even our Cypriot rescue dog Roman gets to ride around with me in the car when I am out quoting for jobs!  

How do you achieve a work-life balance?
In my previous life I was on call all the time and used to take calls at all hours. I started work at 7am and didn’t finish until 7.pm. I still work long hours, but I am at home which makes a huge difference and am strict about not answering the phone after 6.pm or at weekends.  I’m with my family a lot more now and it’s great to be around for when my son Caleb gets home from school.  

If you have staff, how do you retain your best staff and keep morale high and productive; how do you incentivise your staff and recognise success?

I give them responsibility which demonstrates trust and respect. Often I’ll meet them while they are at a job to see how they are doing and even if I just make them a coffee or clean up after them it shows that I am not just sitting in an office somewhere telling them what to do. 

They are involved in the business and want to help it grow. If they want extra training, I’ll arrange that for them through the Revive! Training Academy. 

We have our own WhatsApp group where we upload pictures of finished jobs. We praise each other on that group and they’re proud of what they do.

I can recognise their performance mostly by their revenue as they earn a bonus for each job they do.  They are naturally hard workers and there’s a bit of rivalry between them.  At Revive! we have our own app and it’s on each of the technician’s phone. They can see their revenue for the month so they are always trying to beat each other!

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise? 
Do thorough research and find out as much as you can.

In your opinion, what makes a successful franchisee?  
You have to be conscientious and resilient. A bit canny with money.  Know when to spend and when to wait. Working with people you have to be calm. I would say don’t fly off the handle at every little thing. If something bad happens just roll with it and work through it.

What are your plans for the future?
I have bought a unit which will allow us to take on more work and work indoors in all weathers. I have already taken on a fourth technician and will be adding another van in September.  I did a five and ten-year business plan which took me up to nine vans – there’s a lot of opportunity out there for us.

If you had to do it all again, what would you do differently?
The only thing I would do differently would be to start with three vans. And I would have gone down the franchising route sooner!

Technician turns Boss at Revive! Birmingham North -

When technician Paul Morris turned up eight years ago to repair a customer’s car bumper little did they both know how life-changing the visit would turn out be.

It was love at first sight. Now the couple have two sons and are planning a wedding in summer 2022. They’ve also gone into business together, becoming the new owners of Revive! Birmingham North following its re-sale. Paul is managing the business day to day and Leanne with her background in financial services is managing the finances and marketing.

Having worked as a Revive! technician, Paul knew how successful owning a Revive! franchise could be.  He trained to be an automotive refinisher at college and then worked at several bodyshops before joining Revive! in 2014.

But he didn’t want to be technician for the rest of his life. With a growing family to support and an ambition to be his own boss, when the opportunity to buy Revive! Birmingham North came up Paul and Leanne jumped at the chance. Both new owners grew up within the territory so they know the area well.

Explained Paul: “As I was already working as a Revive! technician I had a good  an understanding of how the business works. We like the knowledge and integrity the company adheres to along with the constant improvements to keep up with the evolving industry.

“It’s an industry I have always been in. Revive! is a renowned brand so it was an opportunity on our doorstep we just couldn’t miss out on.”

Commenting on the completion of the re-sale Cathryn Hayes, franchise director of Revive! said:

“Paul had already been identified as one of our top technicians, so to have a new owner with such experience and long serving commitment to the Revive! vision and values couldn’t be better!  Paul and Leanne impressed us right from the beginning of this process with their complementary business skills and shared desire to grow Revive! Birmingham North into a much bigger business. We welcome them to the Revive! network and wish them every success.” 

The re-sale of Birmingham North straddled the outbreak of the Covid pandemic and subsequent lockdown, but this didn’t hold up the process.  Said Paul: “The power of technology enabled us to complete the process with no issues. Having interviews with the directors over Zoom was great as it meant we were still able to ‘meet’ the team and go through the process smoothly.”

Training too was all by Zoom, but as Paul had already completed the full training as a Revive! technician this wasn’t an issue. He continued: “ The sessions have always been at a time to suit all parties and everyone has been great. Each person we spoke with is so knowledgeable and extremely helpful, they went out of their way to make sure we had the information required to be a success.

“Having regular interaction with people at head office has been lovely. Its shows that Revive really do care and that their support is always there and ongoing.”

The couple currently have three vans on the road with plans to add a fourth as soon as they have recruited another technician. Their aim is to add a van to the fleet each year for the next two years to extend their service across the large territory.

Said Leanne: “We want to expand the service to reach every corner of our territory. The busines has so much potential for growth our aim is to get our name and reputation known across the area.”

Learn more about franchise oportuntities with Revive! Auto Innovations by clicking here.

Securing a Future Beyond Retirement -

Revive!’s newest franchisee is embarking on his fourth major career change at an age when many people are looking forward to retirement!

Graham Cunningham (64) began his working life as a policeman in Derbyshire before leaving the force to take on the Lada and Proton dealership in Halifax.  When the manufacturer pulled out of the UK Graham re-trained to be a naturopath therapist specialising in NLP, Hypnotherapy and reflexology.

But after ten years he missed the buzz of the motor trade and returned to his first love, car sales taking on senior roles at dealerships in Yorkshire.

Looking ahead at retirement and facing a pension shortfall, Graham decided the time was right to set up his own business to secure his longer term financial future.  He knew exactly what he wanted to do – go into smart repair – so he began looking into the options.

Explained Graham: “In theory I knew enough people in the bodyshop business to go it alone by spending a few months learning how to do smart repairs, buy a van and get on the road myself. But I wouldn’t be getting a proven business model nor the kudos of a well-respected UK – wide brand backed up by award winning head office business support. 

“Whilst I was training at the Revive! academy, the Revive! telemarketing team was busy setting up appointments for me with dealerships in my territory, so as soon as I begin trading I can hit the ground running. No way would I have had that if I had decided to go down the diy route.”

Choosing the right franchise was easy too. He continued: “Revive! just stood out head and shoulders above everybody else. I liked the one to one approach and that personalised attention has continued throughout every aspect of my recruitment and training,” he continued. “The training was tailored to suit my own learning styles and whilst I found it challenging and felt pushed at one point, I realised just how much I had learned and how far I had come.”

“Like so many people of my generation I was a victim of the financial services crash of the 1990s when my pension fund failed.  I have to keep working to maintain the lifestyle I enjoy and building a successful and profitable Revive!  business means that I can build a stable financial future for me and my family beyond retirement. “  

Case Study: Johnny Pearson, Revive!, Edinburgh -

No stranger to franchising, the 47-year-old was previously group sales manager for Prime Fitness in Ireland, a franchisee of the énergie Group fitness franchise and set up the company’s first club Fit4less club in Poland alongside co-founding another successful polish fitness brand, Vitality Boutique Fitness.

But then his daughter was born and he realised that he was spending so much time commuting to Poland he was missing her growing up. And with a second child on the way he decided that it was time to take control of his own destiny, move closer to family full time and look for a franchise opportunity where he could be his own boss.

Working within the franchise industry he had been aware of Revive! for several years, and one day was sitting at home in London flicking through a franchise magazine when he saw a Revive! van parked right outside on a neighbour’s drive!  Soon after he happened to see Revive!’s high ranking in the Elite league table of franchises and decided that the coincidences were too great – he had to find out how to own a Revive! territory.

Said Jonny: “As I went through the interview process my opinion of Revive! just got higher and higher.  I gave up my operational role in Vitality Boutique Fitness and other commitments at that time as I realised that to be a Revive! franchisee you have to be 100% focused.  I was delighted to be offered the Edinburgh franchise and I have continued to be impressed by the franchisor’s head office team ever since."

“In my opinion the training and support Revive! offers are unique to the franchising industry.  I had five weeks of intensive training that was tailored specifically to me and my own level of learning. But it didn’t’t stop there. Most franchisors leave you very much alone when you get into your territory but not Revive!  Whenever I need technical advice my telephone call is returned almost immediately, and my head office operations support manager keeps in regular touch to mentor me and make sure everything is OK. There’s a real family feel to Revive! and I’m really enjoying being part of it.”

Learn more about franchise opportunities with Revive! Automotive Innovations here!

Exclusive Interview: "In control of our own destiny with our award-winning Revive franchise" - 24-October-2016

Names: Adam Holmes, Nathan Holmes and Andrew Blackhurst
Location: Cambridge
Franchise: Revive! East Anglia

Tell us a bit about yourselves and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?

Nathan was working as a utility meter reader when he decided that was time to be his own boss and build a business. Andrew was his first employee and Adam (no relation) was working for British Gas.

Why did you go down the franchise route? And why did you choose Revive!?

Nathan:

"I liked the sound of Revive! and was impressed by the franchisors Mark Llewellyn and Terry Mullen. The business model was good and Revive!’s commitment to excellence and high standards aligned with my own values."

How did you meet the other two franchisees and what motivated them to join?

I set up the business in 2007. By 2011 it had expanded to such an extent that I needed additional investment to take Revive! Cambridge to the next level. I invited Andy and Adam to invest. As he had been working in the business alongside me, Andy could see the huge business potential for himself.

My friend Adam although he was enjoying working for British Gas and was doing well didn’t like the thought of the threat of redundancy hanging over him so decided the time was right to take control of his own destiny, accept voluntary redundancy and join me in Revive!

How did you raise the finance?

Nathan’s father took out a bank loan on his behalf, Andy’s parents kindly gave him a loan and Adam’s redundancy package and British Gas shares funded his investment.

What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?

"Revive! has its own training academy and helped to develop the new Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) accreditation standard which all three of us hold."

Delivering the highest standard of work and service to our customers is paramount so keeping on top of the latest developments in technology and techniques is very important to us.

What is a typical day for you as Revive! franchisees?

There is no such thing as a typical day. As directors we each have defined roles but flexibility is the key. Having 14 employees, a fleet of 8 vans and a static workshop to look after keeps us all on our toes. One day we could be helping out in the workshop and the next visiting a dealership to inspect their damage vehicles.

As we have grown so have our standards and procedures, all of which are customer centric. We all keep our hands on the tools a few days a week to stay current with technique and products, meaning we can assist when needed.

What challenges have you faced?

Hiring staff can be challenging. We strive our selves on being the best in the industry for customer service meaning we are looking for the best possible candidate for every role in our company.

The biggest challenge for us is our work being seasonal, this shows us great demand in September and October, March and April where we work longer and harder to not let our customers down.

Has running Revive! East Anglia changed your lives, if so how?

Yes, we are all in control of our own destiny. It’s given us the drive to grab life and make the most of every experience.

What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?

"Being part of a franchise is key to starting a successful business. It gives you support and knowledge that you may never has access to otherwise. If you’re a competitive person, it will give you the opportunity and push to want to be the best with in your network."

What are your plans for the future?

Our plan for 2020 is to double the current size of our business. We potentially will look at other static sites with in key towns to show the same success as our Cambridge office.

Would you do it again?

In a heart beat.

To request our FREE and non-obligatory franchise prospectus so as to read more on our offering, click here.

Exclusive Interview: With a franchise network, you too can overcome business challenges! - 22-February-2016

Franchisee: Anthony Wilcox
Territory: Sussex Coast
Franchise: Revive!

Anthony launched his own Revive franchise for nearly 3 years. When he first started there were a few challenges but with the help and support of the franchisor, his business is getting stronger and stronger. He now has 2 employees and 2 vans, and is looking to buy another van very soon.

What made you change what you are doing?

Before I became a Revive franchise owner I was working in London doing wealth management job. I had moved to Brighton but found the travel too much. I also started to dislike my job – I was selling things to people that weren’t right for them!

My mum had always had her own hairdressing & beauty businesses so I decide to look into franchising.

Why did you look at this sector?

I have always liked cars. So I looked into automotive franchises that needed customers and provided an essential service. Not only did I look into SMART repairs, I also considered estate agents & MOT businesses as well.

Before I got into this sector, I did my own research; I knocked on doors to see what would give me the best response.

What made you join Revive!?

Primarily, I chose Revive! because I liked the business model. I also liked that they worked with dealerships, that they didn’t have a minimum royalty, a minimum stock level and they offered me a large territory.

What are your Key Challenges?

My key challenges was that, in the early days, I had a few complaints and had to redo work. It cost me my time and money. It was also a challenge having a new employee because I needed them to be doing 4-5k a month in their van.

What are your long term objectives?

Firstly I would like to get to 15k by the end of September beginning of October. I was absolutely buzzing to hit the 10K mark, now I have a new goal.

Then in 2-3 years I would like to buy another territory, my neighbouring one. Therefore, I would have 6 vans and 2 territories.

What makes you better than the local competition?

I have stiff competition… a strong business of 60 vans. However, as they are so big, they can’t control the quality of service that I provide to my customers.

What are the 3 things you most enjoy about your business?

• The phone always ringing
• The success
• Running the business

What are the three best things that Revive! do that I can tell a new franchisee?

• The continual support
• We use the best products
• The Ethics & Network

What do Revive! do really well?

• The support of Bookkeeping & Payroll
• The Building Brand
• And that Revive! don’t sit still. They are out their getting more work, looking of ways to be better, bigger but continuing to be focused & service driven.

What could I say to a new franchisee to get them excited?

I would ask them what excites them – is it money, success or growth…!

What skills do you think a new franchisee needs to have?

The need a business sense, be able to communicate, sell themselves, look at the bigger picture and understand the service they are giving.

Former treasury manager to help motorists save on bodywork repair costs - 23-May-2014

Former treasury manager and business analyst Wesley Sinclair, 42, has set up his own business, Revive! Edinburgh, visiting customers to repair scuffs, scrapes and minor damage on their vehicles. He has joined one of the largest and most reputable SMART repair networks in the country.

Wes, from Bruntsfield, was ready for a new challenge and has always wanted to run his own business. He decided to take the plunge and retrained to be an accredited cosmetic smart repairer. Now in his first month of trading he is already building up a customer base and securing regular business with local car dealerships.

Wes says: “I’ve always had a keen interest in cars and motorsport so it made sense to look for a business that involved something I’m passionate about. I had been planning to start my own business for ages and I think my wife got so fed up of me talking about it she told me to get on and do something about it!

“I like that Revive! has led the way in getting Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) for cosmetic smart repair. My standards are high and I wanted to be involved in a top quality business.”

Wes has big plans for his new venture: “There are always going to be opportunities for a business like Revive! because people are always going to have scuffs and scrapes on their vehicles. Sometimes motorists put off getting minor damage repaired because they think they will lose their no claim bonus or have to meet the cost of an insurance policy excess, but in fact there’s no need to get their insurer involved or have the hassle of taking a car to the bodyshop as most jobs cost less than the average policy excess and we come to you to do the work,” he added.

“My aim is to earn a reputation for offering the best mobile bodyshop service in Edinburgh. In a year’s time I’d like to be in a position to take on a member of staff and add another van to my business.”

Revive! franchisee enjoys benefits of a recognised name - 12-May-2014

Franchisee: Chris Lyons
Territory: Cheshire
Franchise: Revive! Auto Innovations

How are things going?

I am now into my second year and things have gone incredibly well, better than I had hoped for, there have been some challenges in developing the business but the Revive brand is recognised by most dealerships, the brand values are useful in developing conversations about how we are different.

What do you enjoy most?

I have greatly enjoyed building a successful business and seeing the growth since taking on the franchise has been very rewarding, but doing a great job for retail customers and getting good feedback and referrals gives me a real sense of satisfaction.

Why did you choose Revive!?

I wanted to become self-employed and take on a business where the model allowed me to grow a business with my own initiative and hard work but knowing that there was support available from the franchise company.

I researched options before choosing Revive and found that their business model and support looked the most likely to fit what I was looking for and this has proved to be the case.

What do you like most about Revive!?

Although you run the business as your own there is a great back office support to help you focus on service delivery and business growth, an example of this is the very efficient accounts team.

Did you like the conference? What did you enjoy most?

I have attended two conferences now and have been impressed with the professionalism that comes through in the conference delivery.

This year the guest speakers where from diverse business and sports backgrounds but both gave great insight and instruction on how you could do things different or new to help build your business.

Enjoying the challenge of a Revive! franchise business - 19-November-2013

Franchisee: Denzil Evans
Territory: Revive!
Franchise: Northampton

1. How has your role within your business changed since you made your initial investment?

I have been working within the Revive! organisation for some time now and interestingly held multiple roles. I started as the Senior technician managing the local franchise and we managed to turn the business from something haphazard to a decent business with 5 technicians. I have always been keen to continue to develop my own personal role as otherwise it is easy to tread water and moved firstly into a training role, training new franchisees and then took on a business development role supporting and developing franchisees. It seemed a logical step to then take on my own business as I understood many facets of the business.

My own business has built slowly but surely making sure that as well as winning new accounts we ensure we keep our existing ones. My role is now to manage the business and the growth effectively as managing people is an interesting challenge.

2. What was it that appealed to you about Revive!, as a vehicle-based franchise?

One of the key advantages I had was being an ex- Revive! UK employee. I already knew about the formula/goals etc. of Revive! having worked at HO for a number of years in numerous different roles within the company, but being self-employed did still present a lot of challenges.

A van based business does offer a number of advantages: it is a higher profit ratio than most premises based businesses and a key advantage is that I can go and find work instead of work coming to me.

While it may seem straightforward to support and develop franchisees in an employed role, it is very different doing it for yourself. But, I had seen enough Revive! franchisees growing very successful businesses that I definitely wanted some of the action. Seeing and helping the Revive! franchisees in my role as Business Developer really made up my mind. I knew that I wanted to get out and be my own boss instead of being in the office. I finally took the plunge do this myself and make the big change of being self-employed. Although it has been hard work I have fully enjoyed the challenge.

3.To what extent does owning a vehicle-based franchise give you freedom that you may not have had in previous positions?

To be able to pick and choose your hours is definitely a plus and to be able to take a day off in week if required, it is much easier to prioritize my family life. You only get out what you put in though, so if I do have a day off in the week I will either work later on the other days or do a Saturday to compensate. I like being in control of my own future. It can be a rollercoaster sometimes with your best day followed by a terrible day but that is all part of working for yourself. The great thing is that no two days are the same and the variety keeps the interest very much alive.

4.What are your plans for the future of your Revive! Business?

I plan to get up to 4 vans by next year. Then hopefully get an extra van a year on the road going forward. My main goal is to get 5 vans in the next few years and just to continue to grow my business. Eventually the ideal scenario would be for me to potentially come out of a van myself and spend more time managing, expanding my business and finding work for my employees. I think that this will take a little while to achieve but it is something that I am working towards.
 

Determination drives Basingstoke Revive franchise business to record heights - 07-October-2013

Newly launched cosmetic vehicle repair business Revive! Basingstoke is celebrating a hugely successful first month of trading, with sales 135 per cent above target.

The impressive performance beat all previous ‘first month of trading’ figures for Revive! franchisees across the UK. Total sales are 22 per cent higher than that of the previous record holder.

Experienced car repair specialist Michal Lepiarz set up the franchise in July and worked tenaciously to establish his business with regular work from local car dealerships. These contracts now form 70 per cent of total sales, which is boosted with retail work that he often carries out at weekends.

A combination of proven expertise, gained from ten years working in the industry, and sheer hard work underpinned Michal’s success. The business is a team effort, with his partner Irmina assisting at weekends and with paperwork.

“We saw from the outset that Michal had the makings of a good businessman, as well as being an excellent car repair specialist,” says Mark Llewellyn, Managing Director of Revive!. “When he resolved to beat the previous new franchise record, we knew he would be a strong contender. However, this level of success is unprecedented – he has blown us away. This is just the beginning. We are eager to see how Michal’s business grows and will be here to offer support whenever he needs it.”

“I knew that setting up contracts with dealerships would be the best way to get my franchise off to a good start,” says Michal. “Thanks to my training with Revive! I was able to approach dealerships confidently with a strong business case. I’m really excited about what the future holds and looking forward to developing the business.”

Revive!’s customers include car dealerships, fleet operators and private motorists. Smart repair is a quality, cost effective and time-saving alternative to taking a vehicle to a bodyshop for minor paintwork repairs. Costing far less than most insurance policy excesses, the work is fully guaranteed and carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, minimising vehicle downtime and protecting the owner’s no claims bonus.
 

Revive franchisee enjoys new hands-on career - 20-September-2013

After just two months since start up, Scott Gosbell owner of Revive! West London has hit all of his sales targets and is delighted with the way his mobile SMART repair business is going.

Revive! specialises in repairing minor scuffs and scrapes to vehicle bodywork and alloy wheels and has the largest accredited network of smart repairers in the UK.

Originally from Coff Harbour in New South Wales, Australia, Scott (37) moved to London eight years ago to be nearer his wife’s family. His career to date has been spent in business and finance, latterly working as area support manager for the Big Yellow Storage Company.

“The time was right for a change” said Scott. “I’ve always enjoyed car detailing and have an interest in cars and the corporate life was beginning to wear me down. Instead of always having to meet other people’s targets I decided I’d far rather set my own and work towards building a profitable business for me and my family.

“After years spent behind a desk the idea of getting stuck into a real hands on job that has proven potential for substantial growth appealed to me. The Revive! business model allows owners to develop a multiple van operation which is exactly what I want to do.”

Being based in West London Scott has been working on some top of the range cars. His first job was on a brand new Mercedes SL500 and last week he repaired minor scuffs on a £278,000 Bentley Mulsanne.

In addition to getting national account work from Revive! head office Scott is growing his customer base by word of mouth and talking to interested passers-by as he works.

“Most of the time I am painting cars on the owners’ driveways so get chatting to people who are walking by. As an estimated 50% of all cars on the road today have some sort of minor bodywork damage most of the motorists I speak to are interested to know more about the SMART repair technique and how much it might cost to have their car done.

“It’s brilliant –going to work is something to look forward to again. No two days are the same, I get to meet new people all the time and this new challenge is exactly what I needed.”

Revive!’s customers include car dealerships, fleet operators and private motorists. Smart repair is a quality, cost effective and time-saving alternative to taking a vehicle to a bodyshop for minor paintwork repairs. Costing far less than most insurance policy excesses, the work is fully guaranteed and carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, minimising vehicle downtime and protecting the owner’s no claims bonus.
 

A Revive! Franchisee's story: Accreditation and Success - 06-February-2013

Revive!’s network of expert technicians provide a mobile service repairing scuffs and scrapes to vehicles paintwork. Initially the techniques and products used resulted in inconsistencies in terms of service and quality. Now the service has really come of age with the introduction of the Cosmetic Repair ATA, an IMI backed accreditation that professional repairers can achieve, as a standard of quality

Adam Smith opened his business in September 2009 and now runs a four van fleet. He recently gained his Cosmetic Repair ATA.

Adam says of the experience:
"When you do a job successfully for a number of years it is always interesting to review these against a new standard. With the ATA I was surprised at the new things I have learnt but I have carried these forward into my business. There is no doubt that these techniques have improved the quality of my work. Going forward it is essential that I get all of my team accredited as soon as possible."

In the month of July 2012 alone, Adam’s business turned over almost £29,500+VAT. Adam puts this down to good systems, a great service and some hard work from his team.

“I believe that with our service ethos and the quality of workmanship that we can provide, we are streets ahead of anyone else in this sector. This is why we are in demand – and I see no reason for this demand to do anything but grow. More and more people are using mobile repairers and there are few people that can match the quality that Revive! offers.”

The Revive! Training Centre and Franchisee Training programme has been given IMI approval and Revive! can now train and assess candidates to award the Cosmetic ATA standard to technicians who meet the IMI’s exacting standards.

Nathan goes for gold with Revive! franchise - 28-January-2013

August 2012 will go down in UK history as the month that team GB did the country proud in the Olympics – and for Cambridge businessman Nathan Holmes it also marked his own personal achievement -smashing the company’s national record for monthly sales!

Nathan from Huntingdon set up Revive! Cambridge five years ago, a mobile repair service specialising in repairing minor scuffs and scrapes to vehicle bodywork and alloy wheels. He started with just one van and now there are five on the road. In August the company carried out £34,500 worth of work for local car dealerships, fleet management companies and private motorists.

He said:“ Month by month I could see the sales figure rising, but even I was staggered when I realised that we were heading for our biggest total ever, beating the previous month’s figures by over £10,000.”

Revive! has the largest network of smart repairers in the UK and has its own IMI accredited training centre. Each technician owns his own business covering 105 regions throughout the country. The previous record was held by Revive! Luton for achieving sales of £29,500 in a single month.

From the beginning Nathan knew he wanted to build a business not just be a one man band. His strategy for growth saw him adding another van and technician each year and three months ago recruited a business development manager to drive expansion.

Revive! Cambridge carries out work for most of the major car dealerships in the area and has just added the Bentley Dealership to its customer list. Whilst most of the work comes from garages around 20% of the team’s time is spent repairing minor scuffs and scrapes for private motorists who have heard about their outstanding service.

Nathan continued: “It’s not just luck – we have all worked extremely hard to ensure that the business grows through reputation. Customer service and quality of work is the key to our success. I make it my policy to speak with customers properly, and train my technicians to do the same. Our work has to be of the highest quality, and everyone knows that I will be checking on jobs to make sure that standards are maintained. If I am not happy with the work that has been carried out we’ll do it again, and people know that.

He added: “I am incredibly proud of my team, Adrian Holmes, Stuart Lavender, Ollie Hine and Andy Blackhurst. We’re officially the best in the country – and plan to stay in that top slot for the foreseeable future!”

Smart (small to medium area repair technique) repair is a quality, cost effective and time-saving alternative to taking the vehicle to a bodyshop for minor paintwork repairs. Costing far less than most insurance policy excesses, the work is carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, minimising vehicle downtime and protecting the owner’s no claims bonus.
 

Bristolian Revive franchisee makes a smart move - 14-December-2012

25-year old Ashley Kelly, who lives in Yate, is launching his new business this month, Revive! Bristol, specialising in repairing minor bodywork damage, wheel damage, and scuffs & scrapes on vehicles.

Born and raised in Bristol Ashley attended Chipping Sodbury Specialist Technology School before undertaking a 3 year panel beating and body repair Apprenticeship at the Parkway Transport Technology Centre, part of City of Bristol College. As part of his apprenticeship Ashley worked for a car dealership in Chipping Sodbury and when he’d finished his course he continued on in their body shop.

Eight years on and Ashley started thinking about moving on to new pastures. Becoming his own boss had been a long held dream.

“I thought starting up my own body shop would be too risky as the overheads are so high, then I came across Revive! It’s a mobile business and I have everything I need in my van. I travel to customers’ homes or places of work and can repair minor scrapes, bumper scuffs or refurbish alloy wheels there and then.

Ashley continued: “The techniques and equipment we use at Revive! guarantee an excellent result and the prices are very competitive. Most of the time the cost is less than the insurance policy excess so it doesn’t affect customers’ no claims bonus.”

Ashley’s territory covers the whole of Bristol and surrounding areas. In the future he hopes to expand his operation by taking on additional vans and employing staff.
 

Never Mind the Rain - Revive's Franchise Business is Booming! - 11-October-2012

Despite being one of the wettest Junes Berkshire has ever seen, for one local businessman rain didn’t stop him achieving his best trading performance to date.

Huw James, owner of Revive! Reading set up the mobile bodyshop business two and a half years ago, repairing scuffs and scrapes to vehicle paint work and alloy wheels. Takings during June were up almost 20% compared to the same period last year making it his record month so far.

Repairs are usually carried out in the open air, either at the customer’s home or workplace, but last year Huw wisely decided to rent a small workshop in Nettlebed – so when the rain comes down he can carry on under cover.

Demand is high for top quality mobile repairs. Costing far less than the average insurance policy excess, work is carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, taking away the hassle and inconvenience of having to take the vehicle to a bodyshop for repair.

Said the 48 year old father of two from Lower Shiplake, Henley on Thames: “Revive! has an excellent reputation in the industry for carrying out top quality work. Most of my business comes as a result of word of mouth – customers are so pleased with the finished result that they recommend me to friends and colleagues and I am just getting busier and busier.

“The weather has been horrendous, but because of my unit I can still offer a full mobile service – I go to the customer in my spare car, pick up their vehicle and then take it back to the workshop where I can work away happily out of the rain and then drop it back to them when it is finished.

“Had it not been for the weather I would probably have added another van to the fleet by now, but I can’t complain – June was my best month so far.”

Revive! Reading was set up in 2010. The former logistics manager had always wanted to be his own boss, and after thorough research he decided to buy the Revive! franchise for his area.

After just twelve months the workload had increased to the point where Huw needed to take on another person and add another van to meet the demand. Former mechanic Dan Webb, also from Henley, welcomed the opportunity to join the thriving company last year and turnover has since doubled as a result.

Added Huw: “I like the fact that I am part of a network of people, all supported by head office but still running our own businesses. The training we receive is second to none and our own local workloads are supplemented by national account work sourced for us by Head office.”

Revive! has one of the largest networks of technicians across the UK and is the preferred supplier of SMART repairs to major car dealerships and fleet operators. Customers include Alfa Romeo Fiat, Lex Autolease and Mercedes.
 

Graduate Matt Revives his career with franchising - 24-July-2012

Despite the fact that country is officially facing its worst recession since the 1930s, for one local business the future is looking bright.

Thirsk based mobile bodywork repairer Revive! has recruited a new employee and is adding another van to cope with the demand for its top quality repairs to scuffs and scrapes on vehicle paintwork and alloy wheels.

Psychology graduate Matthew Harland (24) initially joined the company on a temporary basis while he looked for a permanent job – but is enjoying the work so much has decided to make a career out of it.

Since graduating from Lincoln University the Bedale man has been searching for a job that both interested and challenged him, and his role as a Revive! technician does both.

He said: “I have been really surprised by how much enjoy this job. I didn’t realise just how precise and technical it could be. The standards are very high and there’s a lot of processes involved to make sure you get it just right every time.

“I have always liked being around cars and working with people. It is very rewarding to see how pleased customers are with the end result.

“I was impressed with the training I received and I can see there’s a great deal of potential for me here. We’re doing really well and I am looking forward to helping to grow the business.”

Revive! Owner Roger Boothman has been running the company for four years and has seen a steady increase in customers year on year. Commenting on the appointment he said: “I am delighted that a candidate of Matt’s calibre has decided to make a career with Revive! He has a natural aptitude and I am impressed with his work. I have no doubt that he will be a real asset to our business.”

Revive!’s customers include car dealerships, manufacturers and private motorists. Smart (small area repair technique) repair is a quality, cost effective and time-saving alternative to taking the vehicle to a bodyshop for minor paintwork repairs. Costing far less than most insurance policy excesses, the work is carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, minimising vehicle downtime and protecting the owner’s no claims bonus.

Never Mind the Rain - Revive franchise businesses are Booming! - 24-July-2012

Despite being one of the wettest Junes Berkshire has ever seen, for one local businessman rain didn’t stop him achieving his best trading performance to date.

Huw James, owner of Revive! Reading set up the mobile bodyshop business two and a half years ago, repairing scuffs and scrapes to vehicle paint work and alloy wheels. Takings during June were up almost 20% compared to the same period last year making it his record month so far.

Repairs are usually carried out in the open air, either at the customer’s home or workplace, but last year Huw wisely decided to rent a small workshop in Nettlebed – so when the rain comes down he can carry on under cover.

Demand is high for top quality mobile repairs. Costing far less than the average insurance policy excess, work is carried out at a time and place to suit the customer, taking away the hassle and inconvenience of having to take the vehicle to a bodyshop for repair.

Said the 48 year old father of two from Lower Shiplake, Henley on Thames: “Revive! has an excellent reputation in the industry for carrying out top quality work. Most of my business comes as a result of word of mouth – customers are so pleased with the finished result that they recommend me to friends and colleagues and I am just getting busier and busier.

“The weather has been horrendous, but because of my unit I can still offer a full mobile service – I go to the customer in my spare car, pick up their vehicle and then take it back to the workshop where I can work away happily out of the rain and then drop it back to them when it is finished.

“Had it not been for the weather I would probably have added another van to the fleet by now, but I can’t complain – June was my best month so far.”

Revive! Reading was set up in 2010. The former logistics manager had always wanted to be his own boss, and after thorough research he decided to buy the Revive! franchise for his area.

After just twelve months the workload had increased to the point where Huw needed to take on another person and add another van to meet the demand. Former mechanic Dan Webb, also from Henley, welcomed the opportunity to join the thriving company last year and turnover has since doubled as a result.

Added Huw: “I like the fact that I am part of a network of people, all supported by head office but still running our own businesses. The training we receive is second to none and our own local workloads are supplemented by national account work sourced for us by Head office.”

Revive! has one of the largest networks of technicians across the UK and is the preferred supplier of SMART repairs to major car dealerships and fleet operators. Customers include Alfa Romeo Fiat, Lex Autolease and Mercedes.
 

Car fanatic Paul Mann launches Revive! Tamworth - 22-February-2011

1. Always use a good quality wash system – cheap detergents can damage shine or fade paint.
2. Use high quality chamois or micro fibre cloths to dry the vehicle
3. Do not valet vehicles in bright sunlight
4. Regularly apply a high quality wax to the vehicle – at least once a month
5. Remove all watches, bracelets, rings or other jewellery before applying wax.
6. Don’t apply/polish wax in circles, always use straight lines
7. Regularly apply a treatment to the interior of the vehicle e.g. leather to stop it drying and cracking – use a good quality leather care cream
8. Garage vehicles when not in use and avoid parking under trees for any length of time
9. Have the vehicles inspected regularly by an expert to identify scuffs/ scratches or stone chips
10. Get minor scratches, scuffs or stone chips repaired as soon as possible to avoid corrosion – nip minor damage in the bud as corrosion can seriously affect the trade-in or re-sale value of the vehicle.   

Revive! franchisee enjoys a flexible life - 01-November-2010

Revive franchise owner puts down some business roots in High Wycombe - 24-September-2009

Successful future for Revive franchise owner - 19-May-2009