Successful Franchises UK Furniture Medic

Richard Audsley (pictured below) is a Furniture Medic Franchisee operating in East Berkshire.  Here he tells Select Your Franchise why he chose to invest his future in Furniture Medic...

What is your Background?  

"I left school at 18, spent 16 yrs in the construction industry, 16 yrs in IT and electronics, encompassing project, sales and general management. Overall I have had a varied career which has proved invaluable experience for running Furniture Medic."

Why did you choose Franchising?

"At 54 I was made redundant and Franchising was a good solution. It provided a relatively low risk way of restarting my career using a business model that was proven, and provided support for a new business venture."

Why Furniture Medic?

"I started Furniture Medic in 1999.  and this was my first time earning using my hands rather than with office bound jobs.  My father ran his own furniture making business so it has always been inbuilt in me to run my own show.  As you can surmise from my background it matched my skills, interests (DIY, project management, practical problem solving) and a deep rooted core interest i.e. Furniture.  I enjoy mending things and producing a finish with wood.  In truth I didn’t need to look any further, I knew it fitted me."

What are the Benefits of a “Furniture Medic” Franchise?

"It is a well established organisation, and is the market leader in its field.  It has proven systems with technical and commercial support for initial training and ongoing assistance.  Through the central call centre it provides instant business to new starters and thereafter.  A national network offers benefits to corporations and to franchisees alike.  Furniture Medic has links to other ServiceMaster Brands which broaden the resources available to us.  It upholds high standards."

What is your Typical day like?

"The content and my itinerary is extremely varied.  I now spend 4 plus days a week making customer visits. This will involve between 60 and 100 miles per day driving in my “mobile workshop” (white van).  My franchised area covers Berkshire and North Hampshire.  On average I visit 20 to 25 customers per week." 

"As well as the visits and doing the restoration work, I have to fit in the admin and office activities, such as report writing, preparing quotations, doing the accounts, sourcing materials.  I am assisted by my wife who makes all the customer contacts for appointments and a multitude of other matters that any small business demands."

What Training / Support do you receive from Furniture Medic?

"The initial training lasts 2 weeks.  This covers technical and commercial subjects and leaves one, inevitably, but reasonably, wanting more!  It is therefore a foundation and therefore prior experience will influence the new franchisees speed of “take off”.  The first six months can be hard work."

"Once away from the initial training there is help for the initial business set up.  Thereafter there is access to the specialist trainers for advice, both technically and commercially.  There are regular road shows for up dates on new products and new national contracts.  This is an opportunity to meet with fellow Medics, as also at annual Conference.  The technical team have a role to research and introduce new products to improve our working techniques.  There are top up training courses on specific subjects.  For instance, this year I have attended courses on Sales techniques and also for First Aid skills."

Why is Franchising a good Career Option?

"For me it has provided the means to being my own boss, I have freedom to explore my range of skills.  It is rewarding to solve people’s problems.  There is enormous variety, no day is the same.  There is a lot of scope, and opportunity to create different avenues that are best for an individual’s talent."

What advice do you have for prospective Franchisees?

"I strongly recommend that all prospective franchisees spend time out with one or more Furniture Medics to see what it is really like and whether they should take the plunge."

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