We launched our company ‘thebestof’ as a franchised brand in July 2005, helping the best local businesses become super successful, by providing them with a range of innovative marketing solutions.
The UK network grew rapidly and we received the accolade for the fastest growing UK franchise ever.
As the brand has grown across the UK, we have had increasing interest from other countries which naturally fuelled our ambition to take the business international - and so here we are having now launched the business in Australia.
I hope that through sharing our journey in Australia, it will give fellow entrepreneurs an insight into the processes and challenges presented.
We felt that, despite the time difference, and the considerable trek to get there, Australia was the perfect country to engage with new customers.
We were keen to work with an English speaking market, as starting your own business is demanding, no matter who you are, and we just don’t have the time to take an evening class in another language at the moment!
We did intense research into the Australian market at the local level and gained the strong sense that there is a taste, and support amongst Aussies, for ‘local’ goods and services provided by high-quality local providers - which is the absolutely key pre-requisite for our brand to thrive.
There is no near competitor to thebestof out there, and our conversations with small business owners revealed an eagerness and enthusiasm for what we were doing which energised us to move forward.
Even if there had been a business offering a similar service, I don’t think this would have prevented us launching
It can vary between different business sectors, but in my experience, competition can be healthy, and shows you that the concept is working, just ensure you learn from them, differentiate yourself and make sure your business is that bit better!
A quick word about the legalities regarding franchising in Australia - for entrepreneurs looking at taking a trip Down Under, it’s quite different to the UK system and more arduous so be prepared for that.
All businesses are as successful as the people involved and we’re delighted to have found an experienced, credible and passionate master franchisee that has run several successful franchises in Oz.
When we got in contact, he was immediately keen on the idea, and it’s great to have someone on the ground in the country who cares about, and believes in the business as much as us.
It certainly helps you to sleep at night knowing the business is in great hands, even when we are not there in person.
Starting a business in a different country has its risks, but it also has great rewards if you believe in what you are doing, and you have the confidence to say,
‘We are going to be super-successful, and this is the path towards achieving our dreams.’
Our master franchisee is now well underway bringing on board franchisees in Australia using broadly similar methods to those we use in the UK, such as PR, exhibitions, PPC and e-shots.
It’s amazing watching the business take shape. It’s early days but the initial feedback, from both the businesses we are working with and the consumers using the service in Australia, has been fantastic with many telling us that it is, just what the doctor ordered.
