Posted:13-January-2021
Exclusive Interview: "The training and support is on-going, there is always someone to talk to."
Name: Kieran Kyme
Location: Rossendale, Lancashire
Franchise: World Options
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you were doing prior to buying a franchise business?
I worked in the warehousing industry for a company working shifts, quality checking, manual labour, data entry and checking orders. There was really not much of a future in it as I could see, but it was a job and it paid the bills.
Why did you go down the franchise route? What made you choose your industry? And why did you choose your franchise?
I wanted a career that would provide for my family. I chose this industry because I saw a lot of benefiting factors, there was more earning potential and more flexibility in lifestyle. Through social circles I’d met quite a few people who had their own business through joining the World Options franchise. I saw how well they were doing, buying homes, new cars and they looked like they lived a good lifestyle and the franchise business had helped them achieve this. I thought it could offer myself and my partner as a family a better lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle I wanted for my family.
"I thought it could offer myself and my partner as a family a better lifestyle. It’s a lifestyle I wanted for my family."
How did you raise the finance?
Through saving and help from family.
What training and support did you receive initially and ongoing?
I initially had 3 days training at the World Options support centre, learning how to find customers, using the online portal and computer systems. We were taught everything we needed to know about the shipping industry. After that over the coming months World Options have provided me additional freight training and sales training. I’ve also received development support and advice from other World Options franchisees. The training and support is ongoing, which is good. There is always someone to talk to if I have a question. Its like you have the backup of a team of people supporting you if you have any queries.
What is a typical day for you as a franchisee?
In a typical day, I start by putting together a list of all the customers and prospective customers that I am going to call in that day. I’ll make those calls in the morning and then follow up my conversations with emails to the people I’ve spoken to. I sometimes visit customers and visit new prospective customers by going to their office premises to introduce myself and see who might be interested in using our services. Then account manage my existing customers, if I have any who need assistance with their shipping I’ll follow up their queries to help get them resolved.
What challenges have you faced?
At the beginning I found it challenging finding customers who would change their shipping provider and signup to what I was offering. I overcame this by getting advice from other franchisees and seeing how they were handling calls and how well they were doing. This helped spur me on to keep going. I realised that there are lots of different avenues you can go down when looking for customer. Realising everyone is different is the key.
I started to carefully listen to what a potential customer was saying and find out their needs. Then tailoring every conversation and phone call to adapt and offer them a service that fits in with their shipping needs. I found customers started to listen to me more, when I started to listen to their needs. Then it became so much easier. Now I have quite a large number of customers who depend on me and the services I provide, which feels like a great achievement.
"Now I have quite a large number of customers who depend on me and the services I provide, which feels like a great achievement."
Has becoming a franchisee changed your life, if so how?
Yes, my time is my own. If I need to spend time with family I can. My franchise business has given me great opportunity for the future to earn more than I’ve ever earned before and be financially stable.
What is the most invaluable piece of advice you could give someone looking to buy their first franchise?
The best piece of advice I would give is: Believe in the product and not to give up.
At the start I wasn’t so motivated, a few bad calls would get me down. I then let my determination take over, and that’s when everything changed for me. I brought a few customers on board, and I realised I can do this. I started to believe in the product and realised, the product does work.
What are your plans for the future?
To build my business, to carry on bringing more customers on-board using the World Options online shipping portal. My business is going from strength to strength right now, I can see the a hard work paying off. It would be great to eventually have the business run itself, some World Options franchisees have their own staff which allows this. In the future, I’d like to employ people so I can take a back seat and live a more comfortable life.
Would you do it again?
Yes, I would. I have flexibility, freedom and I’m working towards a successful future. The future is looking very bright and very exciting.
Learn more about franchise opportunities with World Options here!
Interested and want to know more about World Options?
The World Options basic profile outlines aspects of their franchise opportunity
