Successful Franchises UK Professional Car Cleaning

Former Vodafone store manager, Matthew Baker (pictured below) has made the switch from mobile   phone to mobile foam! After 35 years in retailing, Matthew has embarked on a new career as a mobile car valeting franchisee, with Professional Car Cleaning (PCC), the latest offering from leading franchise specialists, the ChipsAway Group.   

A change of direction...  

Disillusioned with retailing, Matthew had decided to look for something completely different to do with his life. He spotted the PCC opportunity in a franchise magazine and it appealed, so he booked himself onto one of the company’s informal fact-finding Discovery Days.

“I have always loved looking after my own cars – currently I drive a high performance Subaru Impreza – and I take great pride in keeping it in top condition, so when I read about PCC, it seemed the perfect opportunity for me,” he recalls. “I liked the straightforward nature of the business proposition – no gimmicks or technology fads. On the other hand, there is skill involved and you need to understand how to run a business. I enjoy meeting people, have customer service and sales skills and I felt that PCC would be a great way of using my experience, whilst completely changing career direction.”

Matthew called into the PCC offices on a couple of occasions with further questions, and says the team were always more than helpful. He adds, “The management team is clearly the backbone of the business – although PCC is a new franchise, the team have years of expertise and market knowledge, and they are clearly committed to the success of their franchisees.”

Matthew got off to a flying start... 

Following an intensive week of training, Matthew was accompanied on his first few customer visits by General Manager Adrian Stiehl. “Adrian’s mission is to extend the training with some practical help on your territory to get you started,” Matthew explains. “In theory, he aims to help build your confidence by coming with you on your first cold calls, but in my case we generated so much work from my first call, that I hardly needed his assistance at all!”

At Matthew’s very first appointment, he reports that people were literally coming out of offices all around him, asking for him to valet their cars. “I crammed in as many as I could that day and handed out leaflets and cards to people wanting to book an appointment for later in the week. For the first seven days, I worked almost non-stop – I was grateful when the Bank Holiday came round and I could have a rest!”

The PCC service sells itself... 

None of this surprises Adrian Stiehl. “We tell our franchisees that they have to get out there and knock on doors. Once potential customers see them in action, the service more or less sells itself. It sounds almost too good to be true, but it’s a pattern we see repeated again and again,” he comments.

Matthew has continued to be busy, with new and repeat business, much of which has been gained through word of mouth recommendation. “There are other valeting companies on my patch, but there is more than enough business to go round and I have a definite edge. The PCC van is very visible with eye-catching livery; I look smart and I’m a professional person. All those things, combined with the ‘wow’ factor of the valet itself, immediately attracts attention and reassures people that I’m going to a do a good job with their car. It’s a question of meeting – or surpassing – expectations. People are prepared to pay good rates for a job well done.”

The benefits of a ChipsAway association...

He has also benefited from a mutual relationship with local ChipsAway franchisees. Many ChipsAway customers, having had their paintwork restored to its factory finish, look to preserve that finish by having their vehicles valeted professionally on a regular basis, and ChipsAway franchisees are more than happy to pass on the details of a PCC colleague. Similarly, PCC franchisees can return the favour where customers who pay to keep their cars looking at their best want small scratches and scuffs removed quickly and at a competitive price.

Matthew reflects on his decision... 

Only a few weeks into his new business, Matthew is certain that he has made the right decision. “It’s great to be your own boss. You can take pride in your own achievements and set your own targets,” he concludes. “Already I’m ahead of my initial projections and am confident that by the end of year two, I will be earning between 30-40% more than I did as a retail store manager.”

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