Retail Boom
- Article 3 of 3
- Business Franchise, February 2012
Rob Buckley reports on why franchising in the retail sector is still a lucrative business
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Why did you decide to open a Zip Yard franchise?
I'd been a driving instructor but I was working unsociable hours and bad weather meant I could have no money for weeks. Then I saw an advert in Business Franchise magazine for Zip Yard, my wife saw the potential and after I'd looked at five or six Zip Yard centres in Ireland, I was convinced.
Did you need to know anything about sewing?
No. To take someone and train them up would take years. Zip Yard provide you with your first few seamstresses and they're all high quality.
What sort of customers do you have?
All sorts. We even have celebrities, including footballers' wives, because we're in an affluent part of Manchester.
How have your first few months been?
Fairly stressful! It's a new business venture and we've just had a child so it's been a mad few months. But it's been 100 times better than expected. We've more than recouped our investment and we did that in week three. What other business can you go into and do that?
Tutti Frutti
Yusri Othman opened the first UK Tutti Frutti franchise in Covent Garden, London, at the start of the year.
How did you hear about Tutti Frutti?
One of the shareholders messaged me on Facebook. I was in hospitality for eight years, working in different hotels, including Selfridges, so I was experienced. But everybody has to have a turning point in their life when they can either change or stagnate and this was my time.
Are there any things that make Tutti Frutti different?
The franchisees don't get charged any royalties.
Did you need any training?
I knew the gist of how to run a shop but then Tutti Frutti gave me more specific training. The American head office sent over trainers for two weeks and they trained me in how to make the dishes, troubleshooting the machines and so on.
How have sales been so far?
Extremely good. It's our flagship store and very prominent. Covent Garden has plenty of tourists and it's business-orientated, too. I'm already looking for a new warehouse!
Subway
Mark Wilson is group operations manager for Frasers Retail and has two Subway stores based in the company's petrol stations, with more planned to be opened later this year
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