Tag Archives: Franchise

The Wheel Specialist Strengthens UK Network

Leading alloy wheel refurbishment and customisation franchise, The Wheel Specialist has announced the opening of its latest Wolverhampton unit. New franchisee, Thailand based businessman Michael Ayling, has invested almost £1m in 5 operations across the midlands and is looking forward to watching his business empire flourish.

“I was looking to put down firm roots back in my native UK and wanted an investment that would show me a generous return on my investment” explains Michael Ayling. “I chose franchising as I know from experience, setting up alone takes time, and The Wheel Specialist franchise could be up and running quickly. I also believe in the brand and the quality of the workmanship they produce which is why it has become the number one consumer choice in the UK.

“The Wheel Specialist already has outlets across the UK so I decided to locate my franchise units across the East & West Midlands finishing up in Lincoln, my home town,” continues Ayling. “Our focus over the coming months will be to continue with the excellent service of the brand and develop business with the public and encourage repeat business from car dealers and traders.”

“We recently opened our 20th UK Wheel Specialist unit and aim to open another 10-15 over the next couple of years, creating employment across the nation,” confirms Ginny Murphy, CEO, The Wheel Specialist. “We are delighted to welcome Michael Ayling and his team and wish him every success in setting up Wolverhampton.”

The Wheel Specialist has over 20 years of experience in specialist alloy wheel refurbishment and over 40 years technical know-how and development in leading powder coat technologies and techniques. With thousands of happy customers and hundreds more being added each week there is growing demand for our own unique brand of specialist alloy wheel refurbishment and customisation.

Director of The Wheel Specialist Ginny Murphy Wins Woman Franchisor of the Year

The Wheel Specialist are extremely pleased to announce that director Ginny Murphy won the Woman Franchisor of the Year award at the fourth annual EWIF (Encouraging Women into Franchising) Awards.

EWIF was founded in 2008 and is a national non-profit organisation that support women interested in becoming a franchisee or franchising their business.

The theme for 2013’s EWIF Awards was ‘Inspiring Women’ and our Managing Director, Ginny Murphy certainly lives up to that designation. Since launching the franchise in 2007, The Wheel Specialist has grown to form a network of 18 franchisees with sales in excess of £3.5 million in 2012, an increase of 14% from 2011. The network still continues to grow at a remarkable rate with a further 5 franchise units already signed for start-up this year.

Ginny’s philosophy is to provide as much support as possible, in all areas of the business to franchisees, which has resulted in the company’s natural organic growth through referrals and recommendations.

Ginny is thrilled to have received this award, commenting “we pride ourselves in always striving to do all we can for the business and all of our franchisees, we work hard and achieve amazing results, I am so pleased that this has been recognised”. Ginny goes on to say “the significant network growth, undeniable success and profitability of the franchise, coupled with the unwavering support offered to all franchisees, is second to none and our continued success speaks for itself”.

The Wheel Specialist has over 20 years of experience in specialist alloy wheel refurbishment and customisation and over 40 years technical know-how and development in leading powder coat technologies and techniques. With thousands of happy customers and hundreds more being added each week there is growing demand for our own unique brand of specialist alloy wheel refurbishment and customisation.

The Wheel Specialist Glasgow North Wheel Repair Reviews.

The Wheel Specialist Glasgow North has been servicing the public and trade throughout North Glasgow, Cumbernauld and the Central Region, for all of their wheel refurbishment needs.

Offering top quality wheel refurbishment and second to none customer service.

Hear it straight from the people who know best, the customers, below are just a few of the many glowing reviews The Wheel Specialist Glasgow North have received.

 

“Scott and his team did an outstanding job on my 20″ Carrera S wheels. I was very careful choosing a supplier and went to visit Scott to chat through the options, understand the process and see the various wheels “in the flesh”. He was very responsive and helpful, assisting me to choose the best finish to go with my pride and joy.  The quality of the job was superb, and talk about attention to detail… even the balancing weights were painted in the new colour.  Very professional job and great service.”
Regards
Sean

“Thanks Scott, for the excellent job you did on my Mercedes CLS.I came to you with a vibration problem which was not a balance issue and you took the time and trouble to help me out even though it gained you nothing .After I decided to replace the offending wheel, the job you did on all four wheels was superb. I could not be happier with the service or the price….you even took the time and trouble to drive me to and from the railway station!

I have used other companies for refurbishment in the past….I will only use one in the future.”

 Thanks again, Robert Dickson.

Wolverhampton Branch of The Wheel Specialist to open in May

Are your wheels letting you down in Wolverhampton – but can`t afford to spend ££££`s on buying a new set.

May will see the launch of the newest branch of The Wheel Specialist- Wolverhampton.
Manager Stuart Richards and Steve Perry with a team of specialist technicians will be providing Wolverhampton with a top quality same day total wheel refurbishment service.

It was very important to provide the people of Wolverhampton with a business that we could be confident that every customer received the best in market products as well as great customer care. The Wheel Specialist is a rapidly growing nationwide network of franchisees providing 1000’s of customers with exactly that, I am really looking forward to getting started” says Stuart.

Breathe new life into your existing car by having your wheels professionally refurbished at The Wheel Specialist. Scuffed, curbed, corroded or damaged wheels can be transformed into their factory-fresh former selves, or try something bespoke if you fancy something a little different.
With a vast range of finishes available and on display within a welcoming and comfortable showroom you will be sure to find something that is right for you.

For over 30 years The Wheel Specialist have been providing quality affordable durable refurbishments to both public and trade. The company’s many clients include renowned motoring journalist and presenter of TV shows such as Top Gear and Fifth Gear, Quentin Wilson.

What makes The Wheel Specialist different?
Stuart explains “What makes us different is that we can refurbish the whole wheel, some smart repair systems only touch up the face and this simply provides a temporary resolution to the problem, we fully prepare the wheels to remove damage and corrosion, before applying a 3 or 4 extremely durable thermo treated finish, that is how our finishes last such a long time. By using such superb quality processes and bespoke equipment, I just know that the people of Wolverhampton will be blown away by the results”

“Having the opportunity to work at The Wheel Specialist gives me the ideal opportunity to work within a market that I have great enthusiasm for, wheel refurbishment is such a fast growing market as it covers such a great spectrum, whether you are looking for a new funky finish to give your car a unique look or simply looking to revamp your vehicle with new-look wheels The Wheel Specialist can help, we use unique products and bespoke equipment and processes to create the most durable and desirable wheel finishes” adds Steve.

So Simple…
All you need to do is drive in or drop off, there is no need to be without your car for days and days you can have your new look wheels in just one day, plus they are fully guaranteed.

For an instant quote call Wolverhampton team on 01902 490118, or pop in for a visit at
Unit 10 Echo Way
Spring Road Industrial Estate
Lanesfield Drive
Wolverhampton
WV4 6UA
Or visit the website www.thewheelspecialist.co.uk

The Wheel Specialist appoints new General Manager

The Wheel Specialist has announced the appointment of Dave Galvin to General Manager for the growing alloy wheel refurbishment franchise. Dave has a wealth of franchise experience, having previously been Senior Franchise Manager for Card Connection and more recently UK Franchise Sales Manager for the pizza franchise Papa John’s.

In his newly created role in the ever expanding business, Dave will be responsible for overall franchise network development and growth, including attracting multi-site operators and identifying opportunities to create additional revenue streams.

Dave said: ‘’Having known Ginny Murphy, MD of The Wheel Specialist for the past two years, I have been aware of the phenomenal growth and success of the business in that time. When I was offered the opportunity to become an integral part of its future success, it was one I simply couldn’t refuse and I look forward with tremendous enthusiasm to helping grow the business further and making The Wheel Specialist into a household name.’’

The Wheel Specialist announces record figures.

The Wheel Specialist today announced a year of record sales and growth in 2012 with revenue growing by 14% compared to 2011 to achieve annual sales of £3,597,000. A huge part in this was played by the success of the improved website which received 320,183 hits, 78% of which were new visitors.

2013 looks like being another bumper year with January sales up 47% on 2012 despite the bad weather, with like-for-like sales increasing by 20% for the month.

The Wheel Specialist currently trades from 17 branches nationwide with branch number 18 due to open in Chester on 18th March 2013. A further 6 are planned across the UK which will be rolled out during the remainder of the year taking the total to 24. The unique franchise offering continues to grow with unprecedented demand and is increasingly being seen as a real alternative investment opportunity.

Annual Conference recognises top performers.

The Forest Hotel, Solihull, hosted The Wheel Specialist 3rd Annual Conference on Saturday 9th February with a 100% attendance of its nationwide franchise network.

The franchise reported sales growth of 14% over 2011 with total revenue exceeding £3.5 million. 2012 saw the opening of five new franchise branches and 2013 will exceed that figure with openings in January, March and April. An additional five branches are already signed to roll out during the course of the year, taking the overall total to 24.

An awards ceremony took place with the top performing franchisees achieving recognition. The top three accolades were:

The Wheel Specialist Franchisee of the Year – Vernon & Sarah Kerr, Fareham

The Wheel Specialist Best Customer Service – Mark Harnden, Nottingham

The Wheel Specialist Best Sales & Marketing – Vernon & Sarah Kerr, Fareham

Two additional awards were given to recognise dedication and commitment and were presented to Will Rush, Leeds and Adam Bignall, Fareham for their loyalty to their respective employers for more than five years’ service each.

The Wheel Specialist Managing Director Ginny Murphy commented: ‘Our ethical approach to franchising and unrivalled support infrastructure has played a key part in helping our franchisees grow their individual businesses in a challenging economy and this is reflected in our significant continued growth and also the full attendance at our conference.’

Pothole plague risks a rise in tyre related road casualties.

The current ‘pothole epidemic’ blighting the UK’s roads is not only causing an added financial burden for fleets and councils, but it’s also in danger of leading to a rise in the number of tyre related road casualties.

The stark warning has been issued by TyreSafe and comes after the consumer watchdog ‘Which?’ found that councils in England and Wales paid out £22.8 million in compensation to drivers for pothole related damage in 2012.

“Hitting a pothole can cause a number of tyre and wheel problems which can have a serious impact on road safety,” explained Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe.

“Visible damage such as buckled wheels or lumps in the tyre are the most obvious signs of a problem which must be addressed by a qualified professional. However, hidden problems such as cracked alloys can be just as dangerous.”

Indeed, such is the scale of the pothole problem that one TyreSafe member reported more than 100 customers with damaged alloy wheels visited one of its outlets in just the last month alone.

Furthermore, following the recent conditions for the formation of potholes, many road experts are now predicting months of motoring misery ahead.

“If drivers do hit a pothole, it’s important that they check their tyre pressures regularly over the next few days to see if there is any gradual loss of pressure,” added Jackson. “Hairline fractures in the alloy wheel can lead to air escaping and low pressure can have devastating consequences.”

Correct air pressure is particularly important for safe driving. Not only is handling and cornering affected by low pressure, but when driven under-inflated for prolonged periods, tyres are more likely to overheat and suffer from rapid deflation.

This type of event can be extremely difficult to control as it often occurs at high speeds on motorways risking the life of the driver, vehicle occupants and other road users as well.

Other pothole related damage that drivers are being advised to look out for include cuts, lumps or bulges in the tyre as well as any changes to the vehicle’s feel or handling which can be a sign of misalignment.

“If you are in any doubt about the condition of your wheels and tyres, we’d advise popping along to your nearest tyre retailer so they can give them a thorough inspection and make sure they’re safe to use,” concluded Jackson.

Drivers unsure of their correct tyre pressures can find details in their vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler cap or on a plate on the driver’s door sill. Alternatively they can use TyreSafe’s free iPhone app or check online at www.tyresafe.org.

Can You Afford to NOT Answer the Phone?

Can You Afford to NOT Answer the Phone?

In today’s modern consumer environment customers want information NOW, they will not wait. The fundamental act of answering the phone in theory is very simple, however how many times have you called a business and it has not been answered?

You cannot express how important it is to answer your phone. Customers have the luxury of choice; if they cannot get through to you because no one is answering the phone then they will go elsewhere. Customers are impatient; they WILL NOT keep calling until you answer.

We understand that it can get very hectic in the workshop but if the phone rings, someone needs to answer it. The phone should ideally be answered in at most three rings, don’t leave it too long or customers will hang up.

Put yourself in the customer’s shoes, would you keep calling until someone answers the phone? If a customer cannot get through after two attempts, which has happened on numerous occasions with head office, then that customer will be lost. Simple as that, a customer will not wait around to keep calling you because you cannot answer the phone.

Do you really think that the customer thinks that it is because you are busy?

NO – They think:

  • You are closed
  • You are a one man band
  • You are unprofessional
  • You have gone out of business

Why go to all the trouble of attracting customers if you are not going to answer the phone?

Tips:

  • Have a number of cordless mobile phones so you don’t need to run in to your office when the phone rings.
  • Keep a phone in your pocket.
  • Turn the ringer volume up to its highest setting.
  • Give each of your members of staff a phone, and train them how to answer it. This way if you can’t answer it they can.
  • Don’t leave phones lying about, this way you lose them and they run out of battery.
  • If you miss the call dial ‘1471’ so that you can call the person back.
  •  Install an answering machine with a correct and branded message but return the call, ideally within 30 minutes.
  • Out of hours divert your phone to your mobile – it really does make a difference to the customer.

Don’t let your customers slip away please answer the phone before they become someone else’s customer!

 

Looking for a new business opportunity?

New Year – New Career!  Is franchising the answer?

Are you looking to take control of your future in 2013?

We are all aware that looking for a new job can be a long and difficult process; maybe you aren’t even sure what you want to do?

Do you dream of a better future? Being your own boss? Or being in control of your own destiny?

Have you considered franchising?

Franchising gives you the opportunity to own your business but with the benefits of working with an established brand, learn from the experts and have a team supporting you all the way!

Do you have a passion for cars?

The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity may be just what you are looking for.

Key Facts about The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity:

  •  Market Leaders – The Wheel Specialist Franchise network offer a unique same day service of top quality alloy wheel refurbishment.
  • The only nationwide wheel refurbishment brand operating from fixed premises.
  • Vast target market covering both the public and trade sectors.
  • Large and exclusive territories giving you the opportunity to achieve optimum growth.
  • Benefit from an excellent return on investment.
  • The Wheel Specialist Franchise gives access to a website that generates leads whilst you sleep!
  • Full training is provided in all aspects of running a successful business; this gives you the opportunity to learn a brand new trade.
  • Unlimited success – you are the key to your own success however we are there to guide and support you all the way.

If you are interested and want to know more please visit www.thewheelspecialist-franchise.co.uk or call our support team on 01564 784 991 – We would love to hear from you.