Something Old, Something New

There are so many inspiring stories in the franchising world. Especially stirring are the ones about individuals who take that big leap from having a good idea in humble beginnings, to a successful national/ international franchise network. Yet this has so often been the case in the franchise world - thousands of careers are created from a simple solution to a widely felt ''''need'. Those careers, in turn, fulfil the needs of the franchisee - to run their own business, choose their own hours, and yet have all the training and support they require, plus the use of a very good name in their industry.

Kumon Australia and New Zealand, Aussie Pooch and Formal Wear Express are all successfully franchised businesses that started with three very good solutions to three very different 'needs'.

The needs these companies resolved, although strikingly different, all had one thing in common: they were all based on excruciatingly ordinary and common problems. Such as the fact that neither dogs nor their owners enjoy the hassle of traditional 'dog-bathing' (read: chasing the family pet around the yard with a bar of soap and a freezing garden hose). Or the fact that almost all little children hate doing their maths homework. Or the fact that men hate shopping.

CELEBRATING TWENTY YEARS OF FRANCHISING SUCCESS

Take Kumon, for example - the oldest company of the three. The Kumon learning system was founded in Japan in 1954 by a mathematics teacher, Toru Kumon, who created a series of handwritten worksheets to help his first son, Takeshi, learn maths.

Mr Kumon was convinced that his son could solve the types of problems covered in high school, if the skills required to solve these problems were taught by matching them to his own actual ability level. His hunch was right, and by the sixth grade his son was able to solve integral and differential calculus problems. Takeshi achieved this - and started actually enjoying his homework - by spending only 30 minutes a day on his father's worksheets. From these humble beginnings, the Kumon Method has gone on to earn a worldwide reputation for excellence and results.

Kumon has study centres operating in over 42 countries worldwide. Over 3.2 million students around the world are using its study techniques. The Kumon Method was introduced to Australia in 1984 and New Zealand in 1995, and since then over 300,000 students have studied maths, English and Japanese using its proven techniques. Unlike most educational programmes, study plans are individually tailored to suit the specific needs of each student and are designed to help them to develop their full potential. Kumon programmes extend from preschool to tertiary level. They are effective for both student extension and children needing extra help. Kumon is a study system for students of all ages and abilities designed to assist them to excel at school in maths, English or Japanese.

The aim of Kumon is to 'develop the potential of each individual'. Kumon aims to develop not just academic skills but also lifelong learning skills. By nurturing basic numeracy, reading and writing skills they give children the tools they need to reach their full potential

OVER A DECADE OF EXPERIENCE, AND STILL GROWING

Aussie Pooch is a somewhat newer company, and one of Australia's fastest growing and most successful franchises. Started by Chris Taylor in 1985, the company was initially a service of grooming and clipping dogs in a parlour. In 1990 it was expanded to include one mobile unit for bathing dogs at customers homes. This was such a hit in her local area that Chris rapidly expanded the service to several trailers. Still the demand grew. Early in the 1990's it became obvious that franchising the operation was the way to expand the business. Thus Aussie Pooch Mobile was created. And today over 130 trailers are operating throughout the world.

Aussie Pooch started in Queensland on the Redcliffe Peninsula just North of Brisbane and has now expanded throughout Australia, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Malaysia and in the UK. Chris operates the business with a loyal and highly organised administrative team, Franchise Area Development Managers (FADM), master franchisees and a dedicated team of trainers. Over the years they have continually updated training methods to reflect changes in the Pet Industry and innovations in the Service Industry. They have in place a Franchise Advisory Council (FAC) formed by experienced franchise owners - who give advice and support to all the owners and operators in their immediate area.

Their trailer designs have also changed several times to increase the efficiency, comfort- and safety of the Franchisees. The result is that their Franchisees and their representatives don't just hydro bath dogs - they interact with their customers with advice on diet, skin conditions, grooming and dog ailments. These interactions often lead to identifying problems and directing them to their local vets.

Aussie Pooch Mobile take pride in offering people the chance to achieve the dream of working for themselves, providing a proven business system that's affordable, well structured and easy to operate. They realise that the franchisees success plays a major role in their overall business growth - they provide support, training and business systems to enhance profitability and success, and meetings for franchisees to liaise with other franchisees to further their product, service and business knowledge. There are also newsletters, on road visits, business analysis, marketing and advertising campaigns.

" I was surprised at how in-depth the traineeship was," says Aussie Pooch Mobile Franchisee Neville Pritchard. "After about two weeks I had all my equipment, my brand new trailer and I was ready to go. I was not alone out there though - I received ongoing support." Neville came to know Aussie Pooch through his Dalmatian "Jadzia".

"Jadzia really looked forward to her sessions with my Aussie Pooch Mobile operator, Brett," says Neville. "I was impressed by the service and the extent of Brett's knowledge. "I was working as a chef at the time and I was sick of the shift work, stress and long hours," he continues. "My wife Liz and I were planning to start a family in the near future, and I wanted to have more time available to spend with them. One day Brett mentioned that a neighbouring franchise territory was for sale." Now Neville operates this franchise Tuesday through to Saturday each week, washing around 60 dogs. "I make good profits," Neville enthuses. "My wife Liz and daughter Sharayah are happier now that I spend more quality time with them. This has been the best career move I have ever made."

A FRESH FACE AT THE CUTTING EDGE

Formal Wear Express is the youngest of these three parent companies. Yet it is equally at the cutting edge of its industry. Geoff Edge and Bob Setterfield launched the company at the Sydney Business and Franchising Exhibition in May 2001.

However, the company had been a long time coming. Geoff, who had over 30 years experience in the suit hire industry, had realised that men do not enjoy shopping, and getting a wedding group together at the one shop during working hours is almost impossible. He believed that there was a better way to service the market, and undertook the pilot scheme that became the forerunner to the current systems. He conducted the research and development model for the company in 1996, and this was followed by three years of fine tuning and preparing for franchising.

Greg feels being a relatively younger company gave them the advantage of being able to look at other successful franchise operations to gain insight into what was acceptable in the market. From there, they moulded together a team of specialists and produced a business plan, and then raised the funds required to finance the fledgling to the next level.

They then chose a legal team that really knew franchising, and developed a Franchise Agreement that is fair and balanced. Being a newer company, they also had the advantage of knowing in advance what would be legally required of them in terms of corporate compliant Disclosure Documents and Company Manuals. It is now five years down the track, and Formal Wear Express continues to improve their operation with over 75 territories in operation.

Operating from home via an attractive and distinctively signed van, the Formal Wear Express Franchise operator carries the latest styles in suits and accessories. The van is also fitted with a display rack, portable workbench, blind-hemmer (specialist sewing machine) and press for on the spot alterations. While the lucrative wedding group market is the primary target, there is a growing market for suit hire for other special occasions such as school for-mals, award ceremonies and job interviews. The operator also carries a range of shoes and 'add-on' items to add extra dollars to the bottom line.

The range of stock is designed to suit the needs of the operators and their territory. Back up stock is held at the National Support Office in order to provide suits and accessories to the Franchisee when he/she has already hired out the stock on hand. This support service ensures that an operator does not miss out on business through not having sufficient stock. The facility also enables the Franchisees to carry a cost efficient level of stock and not need to have on hand sizes and styles that they may ordinarily only need occasionally. This, and the low overheads ensure that Formal Wear Express Franchise owners can service the client cost effectively.

"The Australian Franchising fraternity has a great depth of excellent value opportunities supported by many of the best Franchisors in the industry in their particular fields," said Bob Setterfield -CEO at Formal Wear Express. "We are proud to be a part of the Franchise Council of Australia and appreciate the support of this association and our franchising colleagues," he added.

By Tiffany Jones of Which Franchise? Magazine