Tag Archives: Professional Wheel refurbishment

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

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Franchise Events, Head Office News

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The Wheel Specialist appoints new General Manager

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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.’’

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Diamond Cutting, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Careers, Head Office News, Recruitment at TWS, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity

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The Wheel Specialist announces record figures.

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Franchise Events, Head Office News, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity, TWS Products

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Annual Conference recognises top performers.

Posted on February 18, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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.’

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Diamond Cutting, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Franchise Events, Head Office News, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity

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Pothole plague risks a rise in tyre related road casualties.

Posted on February 14, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Diamond Cutting, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment

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Can You Afford to NOT Answer the Phone?

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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!

 

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Head Office News, Social Networking, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity, Uncategorized

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Looking for a new business opportunity?

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Diamond Cutting, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Franchise Events, Head Office News, Recruitment at TWS, Social Networking, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity, Uncategorized

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An Interview with Ginny Murphy

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

The wheels keep on turning

AN INTERVIEW WITH GINNY MURPHY, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE WHEEL SPECIALIST, ABOUT THEIR FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITY

Who is The Wheel Specialist?

The Wheel Specialist is the UK’s premier alloy wheel refurbishment expert and is the only national brand with a nationwide presence operating from fixed premises.

After more than 40 years at the forefront of paint application and powder coating, recognising the unprecedented national demand for alloy wheel refurbishment, the Wheel Specialist began to offer the franchised business opportunity. It now boasts 17 branches across the length and breadth of the UK, with more planned openings in the first quarter of 2013.

The Wheel Specialist has been delivering this unique franchise opportunity for the past six years, offering a proven business model that can provide a rapid speed to market.

What does The Wheel Specialist offer?

The market for alloy wheel refurbishment continues to grow annually with statistics showing there are now over 120 million alloy wheels on our roads.  Our franchisees benefit from our bespoke CRM system which allows them instant access to that market. The system allows customers to generate an instant automated quote online 24/7, which are then automatically allocated to the nearest branch for follow up. In the past year our CRM system has issued in excess of £15 million worth of quotes.

The system is driven by an extensive online marketing campaign which allows us to harness the benefits of all the various online media sites to ensure SEO. Earlier this year the success of our online marketing was recognised when we were selected as finalists for the Franchise Marketing Awards 2012, an achievement we are extremely proud of.

All franchisees benefit from an initial bespoke training course dealing with all different aspects of the business ranging from technical to sales and marketing. Once you are up and running, we continue to assist you with our experienced and devoted franchise support team there to guide you as required.

Why are we different to work with?

The Wheel Specialist operates as an ethical franchisor and you will benefit from having your own totally exclusive territory. We have a close working relationship with all our franchisees and do not tie you in to buy expensive products – we have in fact a number of preferred suppliers that are sourced to give our franchise network preferential rates.

We are pioneers are what we do. Our franchise model is borne from a long-established business that is proven to work which allows us to constantly review and refine our processes and procedures for continued success, advised by our industry leading research and development team.

The Wheel Specialist is the only such franchise to operate from fixed premises. This allows the franchisee increased earning potential that is unable to be matched by a mobile unit. It also enables us to offer a same day service whilst maintaining consistently high standards, something which is echoed in the glowing testimonials we receive on a daily basis.

What does the future hold for The Wheel Specialist?

Our aim is to grow our network at a controlled rate for the benefit of our existing franchisees and we continue to research new ideas as we do. Despite the present economic climate we are seeing growing interest in our opportunity as brand awareness increases. We opened five new branches in 2012 and will exceed this figure in 2013, with three planned openings in the first quarter, Durham/Sunderland being the first on 14th January with Chester and Wolverhampton not far behind.

Our Aberdeen branch, which recently completed its first full year of trading, has returned the best start-up year figures ever seen within our network.

We are also experiencing more enquiries from people looking at our franchise as an alternative investment opportunity.

For more information call: 0845 017 6464 or visit www.thewheelspecialist-franchise.co.uk

 

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Diamond Cutting, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Franchise Events, Head Office News, New Openings, Social Networking, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity, Uncategorized

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Happy New Year – Happy New TWS!!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Admin| Leave a comment

Another new branch opening VERY soon in Durham – watch this space for more details!!

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Diamond Cutting, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, Franchise Events, Head Office News, New Openings, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity, TWS Products

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Shiny New Wheels in time for Christmas!

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Admin| Leave a comment

Don’t forget, all TWS branches are open in the run up to Christmas and with our same day service there is still time to treat your car to a new look before the big day. Contact your local branch for a late booking offer.

Posted in Alloy Wheel Care, Alloy Wheel Refurbishment, Car Customisation, The Wheel Specialist Franchise Opportunity, TWS Products

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