Northfield Case Study

Andy and Diane work as a team and emphasise to customers the family business aspect. Diane only started working in the shop two years ago but it gives her the flexibility to work around the demands of having a daughter at school with a busy after school life.

Andy worked as an Area Manager for a national joinery and kitchen company and was looking to start his own business. Diane came from an Import/Export background working in an office, therefore had no retail experience but had good customer service skills.

Diane says “working in our family business with my husband obviously means I see a lot more of him than ever before, but so far it seems to work. I now do not worry if I have to leave early or if our daughter has a day off school as I have the flexibility to be there for her.  I started by doing the administration but soon started selling as a lot of the more mature customers seem to be more comfortable dealing with a female”
Andy says” I was looking to start my own business in retail but the only premises I could rent were small shops, I realised that if I wanted a larger retail business from day one then franchising was the answer.  
I  took on the franchise in Northfield which opened in March 2005. Despite early setbacks such as, the Rover car factory, less than a mile away, closing down shortly after we opened and a couple of weeks later road works starting, to build a relief road around the high street which lasted 2 years and has only just finished. Even with this adversity we broke even in year one and grew the business so at the end of year two we have achieved sales 54% higher than year one.

We are now in year three at Northfield and the sales continue to grow as we build a reputation in the area for value for money and excellent customer service.  I can honestly say that I have never had any regrets about taking on the franchise.  I am in control of my own business with a support network of other stores in the area as well as head office.  We have excellent products with great group buying power from our suppliers which means we can sell at extremely competitive prices.