Franchises for Couples UK Oscar Pet Foods

John & Sharon Frith own an Oscar Pet Foods Franchise in Kent.  After years of working in an office they decided that it was time to leave the rat race and embark on a rewarding career together…. 

Why did you decide to take on a Franchise?

“In January 2003, the penny finally dropped that there should be more to life than being stuck in a stuffy office or crowded commuter train. It was time for change. Sharon and I reasoned that if we took the ‘plunge’ and pulled out of the rat-race, it should be for something that was enjoyable and rewarding. Our mutual love of animals drew us towards the pet care industry.”

Why did you choose an Oscar Pet Foods Franchise?

“After many hours of research, we came to the conclusion that we needed the guidance and expertise of an established franchised company. Having investigated several franchises, it was Oscar Pet Foods who impressed us most.”

“Oscar hosted a ‘Discovery’ evening which gave a concise overview of franchising within the pet food industry. It was from here that we knew an Oscars Pet Foods Franchise was for us!”

“From the beginning, Oscar made it very clear that owning a franchise would call for hard work, motivation and building relationships with customers. All these things were familiar to us and we were ready to step up to the challenge.”

When did you get started?

“In May of the same year as the Discovery Evening, we signed on the dotted line! We were like dogs off leads.”

What Training/Support did you receive in the beginning?

“As soon as we had signed, we embarked on an intensive training course at Oscar’s head office.  Over the following two months, Oscar organised a further 5 training days within our trading area.”

“Oscar’s training programme encompassed every aspect of running a business. We had to take on the role (and even wear the hat) of a delivery driver, accountant, nutritional advisor and customer care worker.”

What were your first 6 months like?

"The first six months were especially hectic as we had so much planning and organisation to take care of. Oscar’s Franchise support team were especially invaluable at this time, and neighbouring Franchisees with considerable experience were also on-hand to offer pearls of wisdom. There were hundreds of decisions to be made everyday and occasionally we had to put our hands up and admit that we could have done some things more efficiently. We took the pressure off ourselves by rationalising that you have to break an egg to make an omelette!"

How did your Training help you?

"Our training programme taught us to allocate Mondays for calling existing and potential customers. We structured our week by splitting the area we covered into four regions and nominated a delivery day for each one. This framework meant that our time and fuel costs were streamlined from the outset."

What is your average day like?

"Most mornings start by loading pet food on to the van for delivering that day. We try to anticipate anomaly sales on the round by keeping a selection of popular items on board at all times. The beauty of repeat-business is that the delivery route soon becomes second-nature. Deliveries are usually finished by lunch-time, leaving the afternoon free for local deliveries or attending to the all-important paperwork and banking. We usually attend local shows in the Spring and Summer months. Some of these events can take many hours of preparation, but it’s a great outlet for introducing Oscar’s Complete Pet Care Service to the public and their pets."

Any regrets?

"The only regret we have about starting an Oscar franchise is that we didn’t do it sooner! The safety-net of having expert guidance from Oscar’s Nutritionists, Behaviourists and Veterinarian has given us the confidence to steadily build our business. "