Trending Feature Business Franchise Jan/Feb 2022

trending franchises

VOL 16 ISSUE 02 jan/feb 2022

the four best

franchise sector opportunities

the anatomy of a brand how to maintain a successful family franchise

making the right decision on a franchise business franchise MAGAZINE 31

franchising feature

Incredible offer for Stormer Music franchise partners To celebrate this fantastic partnership, Stormer Music has announced they are offering the first five franchise partners a premium upgrade on all studio gear.

“We’ve played and taught on Yamaha gear since we started our business and are so excited to be able to partner with them to keep up that tradition and ensure our students are given the highest quality education on the highest quality instruments available”, states CEO at Stormer Music, Phil Stormer.

Yamaha Music, the world’s leading musical instrument manufacturer, and Stormer Music are excited to announce an exclusive brand education partnership that is a first of its kind.

Both brands have a passion for music education to be done right and effectively.

Stormer Music also partners with other amazing and reputable brands such as the Australian Institute of Music, Ernie Ball, Australian Music Therapy Association, Western Sydney University, Home Education Association Inc., and Brightside Music.

Music has seen a significant increase in interest as people have sought after more meaning and joy in their lives. Music has been a place of joy and solace, particularly for young people who have struggled during the lockdown saga.

to Yamaha gear and resources, allowing students a gateway to

With successfully implementing their systems, processes and classes to run fully online, Stormer Music has doubled in size during the last year with three new schools opening.

advanced music learning.

Visit: https://www.stormermusic.com.au/music-news-sydney/

The partnership will allow all Stormer Music schools to have access

CouriersPlease adds value to customers with Optus and Thinxtra-powered IoT asset tracking According to Phil Reid, Chief Operating Officer at CouriersPlease, the company’s growth has also seen transport cages – which carry from 60 to 600 packages each – increasingly disappearing due to theft or being left sitting at customers’ facilities, leading to its deploying of Optus’ Thinxtrapowered IoT solution.

Parcel delivery service CouriersPlease has

CouriersPlease delivers across Australia

deployed Internet of Things (IoT) asset

through its 850 franchises and 350 delivery

tracking technology from Optus, running

partners. The company has seen an 80%

on Thinxtra’s 0G Network and devices,

increase in business in the last two years as

to support its business growth, as well as

a result of the online shopping boom, and

reduce instances of lost transportation

now moves more than 30 million parcels

Reid says, “We have doubled our assets, and that introduces increased risk. As our business continues to expand, it has become crucial we can track their whereabouts in real time. This will nullify losses of the expensive cages, which cost $1,000 per unit, while allowing us to keep pace with higher volumes of deliveries.

We looked at various vendors, including 4G options, and partnered with Optus and Thinxtra as they offered collaborative asset tracking backed by battery powered LPWAN-based IoT sensors, that we don’t need to mess with or replace for years, making it an extremely cost-effective value proposition.”

cages and operating costs.

annually.

https://www.couriersplease.com.au/

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Pinot & Picasso is Australia’s #1 paint and sip franchise

SpeedFit Franchise Opens New Store in ACT Australia’s largest EMS (electronic muscle stimulation) personal training franchise company, SpeedFit, continues to expand nationally with its first location opening Kingston, ACT on Monday 6th December, bringing the total number of open With a BYO twist, Pinot & Picasso has had exponential growth since opening in 2018, with over 60 studios now successfully operating across Australia and New Zealand.

studios in the chain to 27.

Despite lockdowns across the country, SpeedFit has continued to grow and open new studios as more and more people turn to this

This must-try creative experience allows for all artistic abilities to let their imagination run wild, in a permanent, purpose-built studio with help from a professional artist. Leaning more towards the Pinot than the Picasso, each session is filled with laughter, music that makes you sing, and the gratifying surprise at the end of the class when you realise you created an artwork that looks far better than you expected.

efficient, 20 minute workout for their health & wellness fix.

The success of this franchise can be attributed to a low-initial investment, minimal ongoing overheads, a new age approach for positive work culture and of course, the popularity of the sessions.

With a HQ team of experts, the success of the company has allowed the head office team to double in size over the past year, ensuring every aspect of the business is managed and accessible in-house. Pinot & Picasso have created a supportive community for their franchisees, encouraging them; “you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room, but they can be the most dedicated and successful” Founder, James Crowe. For too long, people have worked full-time jobs that they don’t enjoy. With the Pinot & Picasso business model, you can choose the hours you work, turnover triple figures yearly and wake up every day to a career, side-hustle or investment that fulfils you.

is the future of fitness and after researching everything there was

If you’re interested in franchising with Pinot & Picasso please enquire here: https://www.pinotandpicasso.com.au/franchise/

The new SpeedFit studio is a first for the ACT and will be owned and operated by local Canberra businesswoman and health enthusiast, Lanette Helene. Lanette has spent the last 26 years working in the health space as a Pilates instructor and is the owner of seven Pilates studios across Canberra.

Lanette Helene, Owner of SpeedFit, Kingston, ACT, said, “SpeedFit to know about EMS, I knew it was also my future. Even before I had tried a session for myself, I knew I wanted to become a franchisee.

Matej is very clear with his passion and drive for the business, and it reminded me of me.”

Matej Varhalik, CEO and cofounder of SpeedFit, has welcomed this addition to the franchise, “It is a great thrill to see the SpeedFit brand expanding across Australia...Based on my own personal experience with EMS, I have always been passionate about introducing more Australians to this way of training as it can have so many applications across a wide range of ages. I am pleased to see us now entering the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and am excited to have Lanette leading the way.”

For franchise enquiries please contact: franchise@speedfit.com.au business franchise MAGAZINE 33

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FEATURE ARTICLE

Trending Franchises of

2022

Welcome to Trending Franchises of 2022, a shortlist of the most successful franchises to invest in the coming year.

The past two years have brought unique challenges to franchise businesses across the Australia and New Zealand, and we have compiled a list of industries that have proven to supply a popular product and a resilient marketing model despite the effects of covid19, but in some cases have, in fact, thrived under lockdowns, and have brought a new successful supply and demand opportunities to the market.

Aged At-Home Care The need for aged at-home care has grown exponentially over the last two years. In 2021, we featured care-giving as a prized need in the community. As families have been separated due to travel restrictions, and new at-home work has brought pressures of juggling caregiving and work more difficult, at-home care for seniors, children or vulnerable persons has created a need for reliable and experienced at-home care services.

Our recent feature on local franchise Home Caring highlighted the opportunity to provide an important and compassionate service while also serving as a profitable business model. These services not only offer a sustainable model - with demand being high with several excellent and established franchises to choose from, but also stay especially relevant in our current climate, with a national focus on health for the more vulnerable in the community.

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Home Caring (which offers a 50/50 partnership model) allows clients to be entrusted with reliable carers in the comfort of their own home, with personalised care.

Home Caring franchise manager, Bill Lockett, says the industry is an ideal one to embark on for any eager franchisee: “Our franchise model works because it gives our franchisees everything they need to build and grow their business, from care industry training to marketing assistance, finance management and skills and recruitment”

As families have been “ separated due to travel restrictions, and new at-home work has brought pressures of juggling caregiving and work more difficult, at-home care for seniors, children or vulnerable persons has created a need for reliable and experienced athome care services.

”

contactless option in a covid-normal world, but are also efficient in an increasingly busy society. The success of this business model is shown as is corabates with a wide range of other goods and services, which provides a buffer if one business declines in popularity and another increases. The flexible nature of the work is also attractive to workers, which attracts workers who both want steady full time work in a structured business model, or for those looking to earn extra money and are happy to work irregular hours to bolster another main job.

Health and Fitness Franchises Outside of life shrouded by the pandemic, health and fitness franchises are a solid model to invest in. This can include health food services, gym franchises, to overall well being industries in a world where people are educated more than ever on how to improve their quality of life.

Domestic Cleaning Services The need for domestic cleaning service has also skyrocketed during the past year. In this edition, we profile 1300 Cleaning Group as one example of the many business franchises that have excelled in recent times, with a market demand that is hard to come by. It is no secret that the property market continues to grow, and so does its need for cleaning services. 1300 Cleaning Group specialises in exterior cleaning, an invaluable service that mostly only professionals can manage.

However the need for domestic cleaning has also grown. While families are still separated with tentative border openings and closures, or with working parents juggling remote working where they need extra help, clients look towards a trusted business, with established training and great communication to be entrusted with the utmost professionalism, and an entrusted franchise proves no better model.

goods across the country and overseas, the momentum behind this industry pelts up and shows no sign of slowing down.

As Australia’s national post system is snowed under with this new market, often making news headlines or government press conferences surrounding warnings of expected delays. With these delays brings an opportunity for delivery and courier services to thrive. According to statistics conducted

by IBIS world statistics, the market size of the Courier Pick-up and Delivery Services industry in Australia has grown 3.2% per year on average between 2016 and 2021.

Delivery services are desirable as a safe,

Clients are also curious to try new avenues, and this allows a market to branch out from cookie cutter models that dominated the industry 15 years ago. This industry has room for the most qualified experts or alternatively any new business enthusiast who is ready to embark on a new industry. The perks of entering into the fitness franchise model is the vast variation of options that are open in the market, and can cater to many different demographics.

Virtual fitness franchises have also proven to be an adaptive model for those who are restricted with time or travel, with many fitness franchises continuing to implement both options into their model.

According to a report titled “Cleaning Services Market-Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecasts, 2014-2022” published by the Allied Market Research, the global cleaning services market is expected to reach $74,299 million by 2022, growing at a rate of 6.2%. In consideration that the Australian domestic cleaning business is currently worth 12 billion dollars, this is an exciting market for any franchisee (experienced or new) to embark on!

Delivery/Courier Services The seamless induction of courier and delivery services in our day to day lives have most of us wondering how we lived day to day without them. From food delivery, to online shopping, to transporting important business franchise MAGAZINE 35

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expert advice: Sara Pantaleo | Deputy Chairperson & Victorian Regional Director of Family Business Australia

How to maintain a successful family franchise On the face of it, a franchisor is an innovative entrepreneur that comes up with a great concept.

As their business begins to take off their dream of going bigger becomes more of a reality and in order to scale up their business without investing significant capital, they make the decision to franchise.

As CEO of a franchised chain of Italian restaurants for over 20 years, I oversaw the business grow from twelve restaurants to the largest Italian food licenced restaurant across Australia, with international sites too.

Can you genuinely grow an extensive franchise system without systems, processes and structure?

This involved navigating the business strategies and governance and managing the relationship dynamics of eight different families which had the ownership.

In my experience, you can grow to a certain level. However, you cannot grow to a larger size without solid governance. It is necessary to replicate time and time again and grow nationally and internationally with consistency.

The need to have a business structure that protects reputation, Intellectual Property (IP) and nurtures the relationship with the franchisees is crucial. The system also must consider any marketing funds and how these are administered, funds spent and transparency with franchisees. This does not happen by accident.

According to the Family Business Survey 2021 by Family Business Australia & Family Business New Zealand and Grant Thornton, transition-ready businesses show more resilience and have better governance.

Transition-ready organisations reported: • 50% are more likely to have a documented strategic business plan • >2X more likely to have a formal process for incorporating family values into the formal planning process • >2X more likely to have a family constitution or charter • >2X more likely to hold stakeholder meetings or forums • >2X more likely to have a formal board of directors • 6X more likely to have a formal conflictresolution mechanism • 27% decreased income in the preceding year • 58% increased income in the preceding year

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Three circle model of family business Legend:

1

1. Family Member

Family

2. Non-family member 3. Family member who world for the business but does not have ownership interest

2

3

Business

7 6

4

5

Ownership

4. Family member who has ownership interest but does not work for the business 5. Investor/owner 6. Non-family employee wwith an ownership interest 7. Family member, owner and employee

What is Good Governance?

A good franchising structure has a clear purpose and vision for the brand and aligns with the head office franchise team, the franchisees, and how the customer is serviced.

In addition, it needs a strong compliance culture with all the industry laws, workplace safety, and the Franchise Code of Conduct.

It includes having robust business systems, policies and procedures that separate duties and authority but also systems that reward and recognise employee success and nurture a strong culture of collaboration.

A good franchising structure has a strong relationship with franchisees and mechanisms for them to be supported, have the opportunity to be heard and align with the franchisor’s strategic goals.

Good franchise governance is good business governance. Things such as: 1. Setting culture and how the business behaves 2. Setting realistic executable strategies 3. Understanding and setting level of risk (balancing risk versus opportunity) 4. Clarity and systems for a healthy employment framework – Both at franchisor and franchisee level (some liabilities can be passed to franchisor under the Franchise Code of Conduct) 5. Acting in accordance with the law and making informed decisions 6. Managing relationships of all stakeholders (team, suppliers, franchisees and customers) 7. Ensuring the viability of the business and brand protection (setting measures, tracking and taking action. Crisis Management Planning) Franchisors need to ensure a strong relationship with franchisees and ensure that if conflict or disengagement arises, all the team understands, and everyone knows what their role is.

It is essential to be innovative and aligned with today’s customers so that the franchisees have confidence that their investment continues to have value. But equally important is to never stand still and track, review, assess and adapt.

agreements that deal with the ownership and succession, will ensure that the business will continue for multiple generations.

What if the franchise business is also a family business?

How to set up good business governance

Family-run businesses do not always start with solid systems and processes. They don’t always think about setting up the business structure for expanding to a franchise business.

There are numerous training courses on directorship and governance for businesses.

Unlike corporate organisations, a family business is built on trust and informality by the founder. However, as the business grows and more employees are hired, structures and processes are needed.

So, the effort in building strong governance is worth it and will pay dividends.

In my business, our executive team worked with numerous business advisors, being a family business we also had access to Family Business Australia (FBA) and their resources. v

Formalising ownership structures, power and processes can sometimes stir up resistance in a family business. So, it’s best done early on.

Family businesses need two separate sets of rules, one regarding how the family will behave and relate to the organisation and the other regarding how the family will behave and relate in the business.

Good family business governance ensures that the family has a strong culture of stewardship, protects the business for future generations to come and ensures that the business strategies are set up for growth and profitability. It also needs to take into consideration the ownership and succession plan.

Family businesses need to have robust conflict resolution processes so that disagreements do not impact how the business is run. They need to deal with the family dynamics as well as the business strategy and structure.

Having a family charter/constitution sets out what is important to the family and how they will induct family members into the business.

Having a business board and/or shareholders

Sara Pantaleo, former CEO of La Porchetta and Deputy Chairperson & Victorian Regional Director of Family Business Australia.

About FBA FBA is a not-for-profit membership association whose purpose is to empower and support family businesses to thrive and prosper for generations to come.

Family Business Australia has Accredited Advisors who specialise in assisting family businesses get their structure right and have a variety of online educational courses specifically for family businesses such as the Family Business Governance and Directorship Course and Planning Succession for Family Business.

For more information visit www.familybusiness.org.au or call 1800 249 357. business franchise MAGAZINE 37

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SNAPSHOT: MY CABIN MATE

My Cabin Mate

introduces flexible cabin-rental business opportunity Australia and most of the world today are increasingly adopting the following trends: • Work from home; • A separate home-office space; • The ability to operate a business without commercial and retail costs; • The growing short stay vacation industry (Airbnb); and • The luxury of exploring the outback in the comfort of tiny homes and portable cabins.

My Cabin Mate has partnered with DC Strategy to set in motion its plan to expand around select Queensland neighbourhoods and further key cities around Australia.

Australia’s leading long-term cabin provider evolved out of a need to service the portable cabin, tiny home and home-office space sector. Made to be an affordable way for people to extend and expand their space to live and work out of without the hefty expenses of relocating or renting an expensive office space.

With the rise of Airbnb and other platforms offering lucrative short term stays, My Cabin Mate has helped people grow new revenue streams as the market booms by means of cabin hires. While also supplying cabins for the expansion of office space, portable homes, granny flats and a space for aspiring entrepreneurs to be able to operate their business with far lower expenses. The goal - as ever - is to make it affordable to combine living and work spaces, without the fuss of council consents or commitments to permanent structure.

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Gavin Aiken, the founder of My Cabin Mate has been in business for over 30 years’ operating successful businesses ranging from transport, earthmoving, and the construction industry. He saw a gap in the market not serviced effectively which was placing portable cabins on residential addresses providing extra space to accommodate a growing family or a work from home business.

Without the fuss of council consents or commitments to permanent structure, the cabins are set up and removed within an hour in most cases. “All of our exceptional cabins come hassle free, they are very easy to deliver, and once our team has installed it for you, there is nothing left to do but enjoy your new space.” said Gavin Aiken.

“Our world-class cabins are hand crafted and built from the highest quality materials that money can buy.” Every single cabin is fully insulated and elevated with high quality wooden flooring and curtains which create a welcoming space for you and your guests.

Key Benefits of franchising with My Cabin Mate range from full marketing and training support, and working out of the comfort of your own home whilst owning multiple sites if desired.

With a business model as simple as booking in rental cabins, delivering them to clients, collecting and maintaining the cabins, and proactively repeat; why would you not own and operate a My Cabin Mate site from home?

My Cabin Mate has obtained a central platform where franchise partners will have access to videos and training manuals, making it an attractive business opportunity with simple systems and processes.

My Cabin Mate is searching for owners to successfully launch and grow its franchise business network across Australia by means of a tried and tested business model obtaining a low entry costs.

New franchise partners will benefit from customers who are actively placing orders directly off the website, ensuring continued growth and loyalty through their ongoing marketing campaigns both online and off.

To be part of the future with My Cabin Mate, contact Nadia Evans at: nadia.evans@dcstrategy.com

Compulsory business hours don’t exist and living a balanced life is important.

My Cabin Mate offers the benefit of multiple site ownership. As a franchisee, you’ll have the first right to refusal and the opportunity to expand into neighbouring territories. This is a truly unique aspect within the My Cabin Mate franchise model and could lead to exponential growth.

About DC Strategy Founded by Rod Young in 1983, the Australian end-to-end consulting, legal, recruitment and brand and marketing firm was created to assist entrepreneurs from start-ups and SMEs to NGOs, government bodies and large corporations to develop sustainable franchise networks. www.dcstrategy.com

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EXPERT ADVICE: Doug Downer is The Franchise Guy ™

THE FOUR BEST FRANCHISE SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES

Doug Downer is The Franchise Guy ™ with over 30 years’ experience in Franchising and having helped launch and support over 70 franchise brands in Australia and New Zealand, has operated at every level in franchising – Master Franchisee, Franchisor & Multi unit franchisee.

There are so many opportunities to choose from but there are Four sectors that are showing the most significant growth but it’s not just the sectors, it’s the brands within those sectors that are revolutionising their sector by reinventing the way their sector is performing.

The sectors showing the most growth is Fitness & Health, Fast Casual dining, Home Services, and Personal Care.

At Franchise Ready we have launched over 30 franchise brands in 2021 across each of these four sectors and this has given us the opportunity to observe firsthand the growth of these sectors and the need for brands to be differentiated and reinvent their sector.

FITNESS & HEALTH There are over 8000 gyms in Australia and New Zealand with over 32% of the population having a gym membership and nearly 50% of the population participating in regular exercise, we know there’s a demand to fitness and health related offerings. We have seen the meteoric rise of functional fitness and 24/7 gyms, so to get cut through in this sector, operators need to differentiate themselves and take this sector to a new level.

Fitillion is Australia’s newest and most innovative gym franchise, Fitillion introduces personalised team training to both the studio and the home gym environments. Each member receives customised workouts for their skill level and fitness goal, as well as a tailored meal

Fitillion is Australia’s newest and most “ innovative gym franchise, Fitillion introduces personalised team training to both the studio and the home gym environments.

”

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plan, with recipes & shopping lists, or home-delivered meals. To stay on track with their fitness goal and body transformation journey, each member receives a Fitillion home smart scale, which provides industry-leading accuracy for body fat and muscle mass readings.

“Four gruelling years of software design, industrial engineering and sports science have made all of this possible. To Fitillion franchisees the automation means less admin, lower running costs and higher profitability than other gym brands, so that they can focus on the most important stuff, like hiring great instructors and growing a community of motivated members.”

Mike Kunitz (Founder – Fitillion)

FAST CASUAL DINING Fast casual restaurant concepts offer the convenience of fast food without the full service of fine dining. ... Fast casual dining

consists of a more inviting sit-down ambiance. The menu consists of better-quality ingredients than can be found at most fast-food establishments. The fast Casual sector has long been the darling of the food sector because it takes the best elements of both fast food and fine dining. Customers want speed and convenience, but they don’t want to give up quality.

Bao Brothers is cutting a swathe through the fast casual dining sector by competing directly with the burger boys through an Asian inspired menu of exceptional quality products. Bao Brothers was founded by brothers Dave Griffin and Nathan Martin. Starting at festivals and market stalls, graduating to food trucks and now through an ever-growing portfolio of bricks & mortar locations. The inspiration for the menu was created by Dave Griffin through his experience in Hatted restaurants where he saw the need for quality food and experiences to be brought to the Fast casual dining sector.

they had in their portfolio. They created a new business focussed on Rug Cleaning through a hub and spoke model with mobile vans on the road picking up rugs and completing a range of 15 additional home services like tile & grout, carpet cleaning, upholstery and pest services.

“Out of adversity comes opportunity, we’ve created a model with flexibility for our franchise partners to scale and grow a business to suit how large they want their business to be.”

(Michael Rantall - Founder)

“Our mission has always been to the shake up the QSR Fast Casual Space, from the very beginning we have always focused on the product, we wanted to take elements that you would normally see in a restaurant with the same quality and innovation put it into the Fast Casual Food giving us banging menu items and condiments think Black Garlic Mayo, Kaffir lime Chilli Jam, peanut praline, Tom yum mayo” (Dave Griffin – Co-Founder)

In a country where one of the leading “ cancers is skin cancer, providing a space for people to get their bronze on without the life damaging affects is one of the things I’m incredibly passionate about.

”

PERSONAL CARE With the continued rise of social media, image is important, but more importantly we all deserve a little pampering, the ability to take some time out and do something for ourselves. Google Search Trends shows a 250% increase in self-care related searches. Men and women of all age ranges believe that self-care is an important part of making healthier lifestyle choices and many of them believe that self-care practices have an impact on their overall well-being.

HOME SERVICES With many of us locked down at home for the past eighteen months through the pandemic, the inability to travel or venture out of our homes has brought about two situations that have positively impacted the home services sector. Many households have more disposable income and because we have been spending more time at home, we are seeing all the things that need to be done around the home.

Who Who Home Services is a great example of this, Who Who founded by Michael and Katrina Rantall had a hugely successful business in the carpet cleaning sector with over 200,000 customers.

The pandemic meant they could no longer enter people’s homes, and this required them to pivot and focus on the other home services

Whether it’s a mobile nail salon like Nail Call founded by Heidi Powrie who brings the experience to homes and workplaces, or the self-tanning phenomenon of Tan Lounge founded by Charley Costin, where they offer a subscription model where you can get an affordable and amazing tan whenever you want, that’s right 24/7 for one low subscription monthly cost.

“In a country where one of the leading cancers is skin cancer, providing a space for people to get their bronze on without the life damaging affects is one of the things I’m incredibly passionate about.

At Tan Lounge, we pride ourselves on being inclusive for all body types, all genders, and all occupations. We see people from all walks of life come through our doors whether they’re a mum, working in corporate, modelling and acting or even a tradie – each one finds something important in their tanning routine each one feels better walking out than when they did walking in. and it is so much more than a tan.” v business franchise MAGAZINE 41

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EXPERT ADVICE: Matt John and Katherine Ruiz | Co-Directors | Anatomy Studios

The Anatomy of a Brand Anatomy Co-Directors Matt John and Katherine Ruiz share insight into how branding can drive meaningful connections and has even led to business growth during covid for their hospitality clients.

The resilience and adaptability of the Australian hospitality sector throughout the pandemic is truly commendable, and something that Anatomy Studios directors could see would be a “make or break” time for many in the industry.

Branding and incubator agency Anatomy Studios specialises in retail FMCG food and QSR brands, which contributes to 70% of Anatomy’s revenue. The agency acted quickly to ensure their client base pivoted where necessary and leveraged highly relevant and engaging strategies as a means of safeguarding income for both client and the Anatomy studio itself.

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“

Sustainability is an issue that is also top of mind for consumers with 51% of those surveyed actively purchasing foods and drinks with less plastic and packaging.

”

Anatomy Co-directors Matt John and Katherine Ruiz say that the key to their partners success over past 18 months has been almost entirely attributed to focusing on creating a compelling brand and customer experience.

Anatomy’s QSR and FMCG expertise has meant that their clients have not only survived but have actually flourished throughout the pandemic and Anatomy itself has doubled its business over the past 18 months.

Representing some of Australia’s favourite food brands such as Roll’d Vietnamese and Soul Origin, Anatomy has earned a reputation for turning its clients into commercial powerhouses. Indeed, Soul Origin and Roll’d Vietnamese have grown by 123% and 110% respectively.

Katherine Ruiz says, “Creating a memorable customer experience is key for brand growth. Customers remember how a brand made them feel. Whether it’s nostalgia, joy, excitement or even curiosity, a customer’s experience can establish loyalty and trust and ensure they come back time and again.”

“The notion of creating emotional connections to brands is not new, however it is something that has become increasingly important in recent years as customers have become incredibly savvy around branding and have also demanded more from branding too.

“Trends in consumer behaviour show just how important branding is when it comes to people making purchasing decisions.

Branding has evolved to not simply be a look and feel, but brands have evolved to more resemble personalities in their complexity.

Indeed, brands have even begun taking a stance on social issues – something that would have been virtually unheard of only ten years ago. For brands to begin commenting on social issues is a huge evolution in branding trends. It’s easy to see why a brand would be cautious to comment on most social issues, as it could risk alienating those who have differing opinions.

However the current social climate is one where a brand is almost required to have an opinion,” says Katherine Ruiz.

Toluna’s recent, Understanding the 2021 Consumer study reveals that Australian shoppers are more inclined to look for brands that align with their values. 69% of consumers in the study they would go out of their way to engage with brands that align with their values and 34% claimed they have already stopped supporting brands with conflicting values.

Sustainability is an issue that is also top of mind for consumers with 51% of those surveyed actively purchasing foods and drinks with less plastic and packaging.

“In terms of product branding and packaging, we are also looking to ensure packaging is as sustainable as possible and waste is reduced. These types of factors play a huge role in a consumer’s engagement with a brand and it’s imperative that we address these issues openly without greenwashing.

“Businesses across the board understand how important it is to connect with their customers. Branding is often the first touchpoint a consumer has to a brand and so much can be communicated through great design and branding. In particular, through the pandemic, we knew it would be important to communicate a sense of normality wherever possible, and that our clients’ businesses were going through this tough time along with everyone else.

“Establishing strong branding in quixotic times is crucial in maintaining rapport with customers. The “look” and “feel” of a brand can make or break a client’s branding. If the customer can’t connect with the brand, then you’re going to lose them,” Ruiz continues.

Anatomy client Roll’d Vietnamese were determined to keep their staff employed through the pandemic and offer reliable employment when so many hospitality businesses were forced to lay off staff. The business used the time to expand, rather than contract and coming out the other side of the pandemic the business is now in a strong position and looking to expand internationally.

Roll’d’s recent venture into 800 Coles stores across Australia via an FMCG product range and in-supermarket stores is testament to

Anatomy’s ability to amplify Rolld’s brand presence in the Australian food and beverage industry.

“Since launching an FMCG range into Coles, Roll’d has experienced exponential growth with Nuoc Mam, Spicy Hoisin Sauce and Rice Paper, the top three best-selling products. The incredible reception of this new range wouldn’t have been possible without our efforts in establishing a real connection between Roll’d and their now loyal fanbase over the past ten years,” Matt John says.

John also notes that the pandemic has been a catalyst for new virtual brands to pop up as an additional income stream for food and beverage brands. This is something Anatomy have been instrumental in setting up for their clients. John says, “As we continue to deal with the unpredictable nature of Covid, brands are increasingly turning to online platforms to remain relevant and accessible.

Virtual brands, which exist exclusively online and offer a delivery-only service, present a unique opportunity to increase turnover and widen product range. Adding on a virtual brand typically results in an increase of between 10-15% of sales.

“For food brands such as Concept Eight, who own the Noodle Box master franchise, embracing a virtual brand format means that brands can open up to a broader audience and maximise revenue,” John concludes. v

About Anatomy Studios Anatomy studios is a branding studio with offices in Melbourne and Sydney.

Anatomy Studios believes that the world doesn’t need another product or service. It needs brands with a message to inspire change.

Anatomy work with brands that are brave enough to stand out for what they stand for.

For more information visit: https://anatomystudios.com.au/ Source for Toluna study https://www.cmo.com.au/article/689283/reportpandemic-shapes-habits-shakes-brand-loyalty/ (published 24 June 2021)

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FRANCHISEE IN ACTION: SNAP Print & Design

Making the right decision on a franchise As we ended 2021, many people were taking a step back and a breath to review their life and make a call on their professional future.

Some were calling it the ‘Great Resignation’ but for many it was simply a case of answering the age old question... ‘am I doing what I want to do and what I want to do in life?’

What is apparent, many who have found themselves working longer hours and under increased stress during the ‘Work from Home’ period, were making the call to work for themselves, but as anyone who has ever branched out on their own knows, that is easier said than done.

This is where the decision to look into a franchise business can come into play, as taking on a business in a known brand with marketing support can be very tempting, and that was the position that Romil Shah found himself in.

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Snap Print & Design’s Business Support Manager Mitch Dowzard says that Romil’s story is one that reflects why Snap is one of the leading franchisors in the country.

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Romil, who emigrated to Australia in 2013 from India found it tough to find full-time work, eventually finding a position with Fuji Xerox after six-months which started him on a course that led to a position at the Snap Centre in Burwood, NSW in 2019.

“Six-months into my role at Snap COVID hit, so it was a challenging environment for all, but having spent most of my working life in the print industry here and overseas, I felt that as I headed into 2021 that it was the right time for me to step up and run my own business,” said Romil Shah.

That decision was prompted by living

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through the lockdowns and restrictions, which meant working all hours and as Romil began to think more and more and following discussions with his wife Preepi and family back in India, and with the Snap Burwood franchise available, Romil knew it was time for him to take the next step in his career.

“Print was always going to be the industry of choice for me and whilst I looked at other print franchises, Snap with their history as a business and being one of the finest franchises in Australia, added with their move into the online space – it was the clear first choice for me.”

So, from December 2021, Romil will take over Snap Burwood NSW and as he awaits the handover Romil says that Snap have been fantastic with their support on what is needed to run a successful franchise business, that this support has gone beyond anything he could have expected or imagined.

“They have been fantastic, the whole team, their support is amazing, Snap have wonderfully experienced people and it does

Six-months into my role at “ Snap COVID hit, so it was a challenging environment for all, but having spent most of my working life in the print industry here and overseas, I felt that as I headed into 2021 that it was the right time for me to step up and run my own business.

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• How will they help you through the process of establishing your business?

• Is there a support network of fellow franchise owners to act as mentors?

“These are all things that Snap offers to its new franchisees and are key to running a successful franchise operation – regardless of the industry,” said Mitch.

For Romil, he is looking forward to the handover and getting into running his business.

“My family have been so supportive, here and back in India and I cannot wait to get started and with such support there is no way that I won’t succeed.” v

not matter your background, whether from print or any other industry, the team at Snap will give you everything you need to excel,” said Romil.

Snap Print & Design’s Business Support Manager Mitch Dowzard says that Romil’s story is one that reflects why Snap is one of the leading franchisors in the country.

“It’s a big decision to take on a new business and when you look at many franchise operations there is a lot of support upfront, but the key to success is the ongoing support, what happens in those first 12-18 months after you get the keys.”

Mitch says that before you make that call on a franchise, you need to ask some key questions.

• How interactive is the support office?

• How much support will you get once you have opened the business?

• How long will that support be for?

• What is the level of access to the support office?

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franchising feature

EXPERT ADVICE: Brian Keen | Founder | Franchise Simply

New franchising post COVID Just when I thought business had reached a peak in transforming from old fashioned face-to-face delivery to a sleek digital model, I found I was wrong.

In the past year or so, there’s been another significant jump in the number of potential franchises which have upped their game, not only in the way they are structured as digital businesses but also in the kind of business involved – slick, simpler niched businesses seem to be the way to go.

Having been involved with franchised businesses since the 80s, I have seen how businesses passing my door reflect the latest changes. And the latest I see are not really new, they simply reflect the increased pace of change generated by COVID. Over the past few months, I have seen business people who have long had a traditional service business suddenly realise they’re ready to take the step into franchising simply because they’re also ready to simplify and take the step into becoming a sleek digital business. Previously, these business owners were buried in the day to day running of the business and they just couldn’t see how they could step away. Nearly two years of COVID though, has brought the realisation that it is possible to step up and leave others to get on with the job.

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Three mindset changes are involved.

The first involves the boss giving away control Lockdowns have meant that staff have had to go out alone, only connected to the boss through Zoom or phone and often quickly cobbled together, difficult to use operations showing what is to be done and how.

So, getting good, cloud-based systems up and running or upgraded into something efficiently usable by staff in tricky situations has been an essential part of this transition.

Systems like this are an essential foundation for successful delegation and it is well managed delegation that allows the business owner to step away from the day to day and live a more fruitful life.

A franchisor with a gutter business comes to mind. Installing, cleaning, and maintaining gutters can be a dangerous job. And, as a service business, it involves the tradies doing the job also having to deal with the client.

It is essential every step, from customer relations, including converting the sale, to climbing onto the roof and fixing gutters and roof plumbing, that the job is carried out with care for safety, professionalism, and a smile. Not something often associated with trades-based service businesses in the past.

The franchisor involved here originally held his 10-year-old database with thousands of

contacts on an excel sheet. His marketing was based on word-of-mouth referrals and text messages. His training and operations were held in his head. So, although he and his staff provided an excellent service, his franchise journey has also involved a journey into automating many parts of the business.

Most loved by the franchisor, his staff and franchisees are the cloud-based operations systems he created with our help. This has meant he no longer needs to be directly involved with every job because his systems provide answers to questions on how to get stuff done.

We have examples of so many similar tradebased service businesses (garden maintenance, cleaning and roof restorations and so on) with long held dreams to franchise, suddenly coming to us post COVID and saying, ‘I am now ready to franchise. COVID has given me the time and exposure to digital business methods to be confident about making the change from day-to-day management of my staff to delegating responsibly with the expectation they can do the job my way without me’.

This realisation may never have come without lockdown time and forced exposure to the digital world and the need to let staff get on with the job without helicopter management given by the changed environment associated with COVID.

While lockdowns and losing “ jobs have given us time to create, COVID has also given many of us the confidence to change our lifestyle.

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Second, new businesses on the block New kinds of business come up all the time and yes, I know, the gig economy has been around for ever. But somehow, COVID seems to have pushed people into thinking outside the box and more and more new business ideas seem to be emerging, many bringing the gig economy to new sectors.

Most are based on niching existing business types.

Perhaps the time to think given by lockdowns and the need to find other ways of making money when the day-to-day job disappeared encouraged the creative juices.

So many examples reported in the press come to mind – many associated with local, small-production gourmet food. Rural smallholders making cheese and selling it direct online (thanks to Australia Post’s fast food delivery services) and the boom in really good home-based doughnuts come to mind.

The markets are a great way to test these types of specialist product. For example, Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers, who focus on serving gnocchi-based dishes in their restaurants, now have seven outlets in two years. They started by testing their gnocchi and sauces in their local markets then, when they realised how popular the dishes were, they set up their first restaurant and take-away outlet in Paddington, Brisbane.

Other categories of franchises are also becoming more niche. Food trucks have been around for a while but they are increasing in popularity or cleaning businesses focused on very specific areas of the market and, if you play it right, specialist markets can be a great place to concentrate on small ranges of clever merchandise.

Third, the impact of knowing the life we want to live and having the money to live it While lockdowns and losing jobs have given us time to create, COVID has also given many of us the confidence to change our lifestyle.

money and the business confidence to take steps we would usually procrastinate over.

This property boom in Australia has given us options.

And what I am seeing is the associated cash injection and renewed confidence is the thing that is encouraging business owners to make changes and take the next step. All the way from my granddaughter setting up her first surfboard design business to the most experienced business owners deciding now is the time to simplify, automate and delegate and build a franchise group to leverage themselves from working in the business to working on it with an eye to not working at all in the future maybe. v

Many of us have decided that we: • Don’t want to work long hours in our own or someone else’s business • Don’t want to commute for ages every day • Don’t want a city lifestyle so much anymore • Do want more serenity • Do want more control over what we do with our lives and who we spend it with What this means we are moving homes and changing the way we work or do business to leverage our way out of the day-to-day.

Then there is the current property boom.

What this has done is given so many of us the

Brian Keen has been involved in the franchise industry for more than 30 years and, today, is the Founder of Franchise Simply. His on-theground business experience as a multi-unit franchisee, franchisor and consultant helping many of the big names create their own franchise systems and growth over the years has been fed into Franchise Simply, helping today’s SMEs grow their business by franchising. www. franchisesimply.com.au business franchise MAGAZINE 47

franchising feature

SNAPSHOT: Hydraulink

What to look for when

buying a successful franchise have experienced redundancy, or are sick of lengthy quarantine waits with Fly In Fly Out (FIFO) work, are turning to franchise options to secure their future and financial freedom.

Hydraulink franchises can either be mobile service businesses (like the one pictured above from Portland, Victoria), or full hose centres, which can have mobile service businesses linked to them.

In our experience, here are five things to look for when purchasing a franchise: 1. Market Opportunity.

Hydraulink National Franchise Manager, Wayne Abbott discusses the most important things to look for in a franchise, and how to determine which opportunity is the best fit.

The franchise sector is growing, and despite the impacts of Covid-19, its contribution to GDP was up on the previous year. There are scores of good franchise opportunities out there, but how do you pick one that’s going to set you up for success, right from the start?

For years, Hydraulink has provided proven business systems where individuals and families can invest to grow a successful business of their own to secure their future.

Hydraulink operates through more than 400 services points across Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, and is a dynamic brand poised for further growth in these regions.

Just about every piece of machinery – fixed or mobile – relies on hydraulic hoses and fittings to function, so there is an inexhaustible supply of customers, which will only continue to grow as machinery becomes more sophisticated. These customers are particularly looking for qualities Hydraulink seeks to embody throughout its organisation and network for franchisees – a focus on high quality, outstanding service, and total safety and standards compliance.

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It’s important to determine the market opportunity and size, and see how robust the market is during different times such as the pandemic. It’s also worth considering what the demand is for products and services and whether the product is essential by keeping many industries moving. Then, look at the ability to compete in a mature market due to buying power, better product sourcing, and group marketing.

2. Financial Performance.

Look at both ends of the spectrum here – see how financial performance stacks up for start-up and mature franchises already in the system. Look for sound financial performance amongst franchisees, low turnover rate of franchisees (with few terminations), examples of best practice, and the ability for multiple site ownership.

3. Culture.

This can be crucial to an individual’s success within a company. It’s important to investigate the company’s foundation, culture and support. Check its approach to training and safety practices, as this is often a good sign of how invested the company is in its franchisees.

4. Differentiation.

What sets this franchise opportunity apart from other equivalent opportunities currently available? For example, does it enable you to make a desirable lifestyle change, learn a new skill, provide additional financial security, be in charge of your own career direction, or have the outstanding support of a proven model?

5. Advantages.

Look at how the franchise model compares to direct competitors. Does it suit your budget, and does the company provide financial support for approved candidates? Look at the ability to grow and develop within the business, and expand to multiple sites for those that are ambitious and entrepreneurial.

Once you’ve found an opportunity that ticks all the boxes above, and looks to be the real deal, talk to an existing franchisee, and see how the company continues to support them throughout their business journey. If the company supports its franchisees, they will encourage you to speak with them first-hand.

Investing in people: The Hydraulink Difference Hydraulink has always believed in investing heavily in the future of its workforce, and this is paying handsome dividends throughout the organisation. Hydraulink’s flexible franchise model is structured to support and advance people as far as they can go, right through to owning their own business, and boosting jobs and skills in their local communities.

As part of the company’s commitment to supporting all of their franchisees, Hydraulink provides ongoing training and support through its own highly regarded Hydraulink Academy, a comprehensive and customised induction program. Additionally, the company provides ongoing marketing support – without a separate marketing levy charge.

So, for those self-starters out there looking to take control of their future, now is a great time to look at franchise opportunities.

We’d be delighted to have you speak to our franchisees and hear their success stories.

Hydraulink has particularly found that people with a mechanical aptitude, experience in automotive, diesel and plant mechanics, fitting and turning, pipeline drilling, maintenance fitting or aircraft aviation make excellent Franchisees for their industry.

For franchise enquiries, please contact Wayne Abbott, National Franchise Manager – Hydraulink Australia, Ph: 0455 478 699, wayne.a@hydraulink.com.au Or visit www.joinhydraulink.com to discover franchise opportunities near you.

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