Karmen Wakelin Rebecca Arriola

COPY CAT Karmen Wakelin – ENDOTA SPA, Adelaide, SA truggling to balance work and family Buying the business formal meetings and social gatherings Sand tired of the work-related travel, “I used my personal savings to buy into the where we come together and bounce 30-something Karmen Wakelin opened ideas around.” Top: Karmen Wakelin first two franchises, and the second two from Endota Spa. her first Endota Spa in Rundle Street in were bought with equity against the others. Right: Rebecca Arriola 2004 with friend Kylie Leopold. The former We’re still young and ambitious, and we Growing and managing of Hairhouse Warehouse. corporate employees then opened a second bought into this industry at exactly the right Owning multiple franchises also means in 2006 and a third in 2008, with their time – we have seen exponential growth increased workload, and a manager is fourth spa scheduled in December this year. across all the spas and there is still room for now employed in each spa while an The business partners researched both further growth and development.” operations manager oversees all three. franchise and independent businesses As with any business, Karmen says the This provides much needed assistance before settling on Endota Spa. “We both hardest part is human resources – ensuring in a business where their first spa on wanted to work part-time and many of legislation, awards and conditions are met. Rundle Street experienced a 40 per cent the functions associated with running Offsetting this are the rewards that growth in the first year. a business are taken care of by the come from running a highly successful After their fourth franchise opens this franchisor,” says Karmen. “Endota also business and being part of a network of December, Karmen will have been in the gave the support and assistance to enable like-minded people. business for six years but doesn’t rule out us to break into the market very quickly.” “Most Endota franchisees are young further expansion in the future. “If the right Although more expensive to purchase than mums like me, trying to juggle the demands opportunity and location comes along then an independent non-franchised business, of work and looking for a better quality of course we’ll be tempted. I don’t think Karmen is adamant it’s worth every cent. of life. Endota provides a network of both we’re ready to sit back just yet.” Rebecca Arriola { – HAIRHOUSE WAREHOUSE, Adelaide, SA ebecca Arriola purchased her first Even though she sold her original salon 12 Rhairdressing salon at the age of 18. months later, she says: “It was hard and we It took her 11 years to realise she wasn’t worked our backsides off for 18 months – seven satisfied with what she had. days a week, but the rewards were amazing.” “I loved the salon but I knew deep down And the rewards were amazing indeed, I needed something more,” she says. with Tea Tree Plaza increasing its sales by 100 “Something that I could grow and develop. per cent in the first few weeks. “Even central The minute I saw Hairhouse Warehouse with management was calling us asking what we all the buzz and life about it, I knew it was were doing.” Rebecca says. “When we bought perfect for me. It just yelled funky.” our second store two years later we were Together with her partner Tim, Rebecca ready for the challenge – 12 months earlier now owns stores in Tea Tree Plaza, Rundle we wouldn’t have been, but after two years we Mall and Harbour Town as well their were getting just a little bit relaxed about it original store in Colonnades. Buying their and we decided we needed the challenge and first Hairhouse Warehouse store in 2006, excitement of opening another store. they purchased their second in 2008, with “We hesitated over the third – that was a number three acquired in 2009. bit scary, a bit like buying your first one over Their latest acquisition in Harbour again. But in the end we decided we just loved Town was purchased this year. the lifestyle and we were being offered a great Rebecca and Tim were awarded the opportunity with Hairhouse so we thought Ready-made Hairhouse Warehouse Franchisee of what the heck.” Rebecca says her mother the Year in 2009. needed a strong cup of tea when told they’d An increasing “Although the franchises are bought a third, but after the fourth … expensive, the products are much Rebecca laughs: “Well, I think the family number of women cheaper and Hairhouse does all had got used to it by then.” are becoming the fit-out, so the franchise is franchisees, much easier to set up and run More balance than an independent salon,” Although Rebecca is still involved in running attracted by a ranchising is a fast growing trend in by the end of this year, with more than 12,000 says Rebecca. the stores, she now has experienced managers proven formula Australia and is proving especially female franchise units in Australia. in each. “I have terrific managers and that and high-profile popular with business savvy women According to WhichFranchise Australia, Getting funding gives me time to take my girls to school and looking to step off the corporate many franchisors now actively seek out women Rebecca says she used attend their sports days and concerts,” she branding. Ftreadmill and into their own business. to run their stores. a loan to finance the says. “I feel I have some balance back in my Aine Dowling The latest Franchising Australia survey With franchisors offering training and franchise and kept her old life.” So what’s in the future for Rebecca? reports on this shows that the number of female franchisees, on-going support, high profile brand names, salon running while she was “We plan to use Harbour Town as a training who independently own the business, rose from less expensive products, lower risk and greater building her first franchise centre for our staff ... The customer is our growing trend in 11 per cent in 2006 to over 17 per cent in 2008, nflexibility, is it any wonder that women are business at Colonnades. “The addition business and they need to know they get the small business. busiand, on that basis, looks likely to tip 23 per cent turning to franchiseess ownership? of Colonnades was a big step for us to take.” very best we can offer.” u 32 / BUSINESS CHICKS LATTE SPRING 2010 / 33 COPY CAT TOP 5 attributes you need to succeed as a franchisee 1. Have a desire to make money. Rachel laughs: “I knew it was going 2. Be able to identify and learn from mistakes. Rachel Meuris to be a lot more work but they knew 3. Be willing to sell things to people. – BASKIN-ROBBINS, BOOST I was an experienced franchisee and, 4. Be able to organise and motivate yourself and others. JUICE AND SALSA’S FRESH for my part, I was more than happy to 5. Be able to function as part of a group. (Source: Kate Groom) MEX GRILL, Glenelg, SA become more involved with the Boost Group. And the opportunity to be in a food court with constant traffic, rom family trips to Queensland unaffected by the weather or seasons, Fin her early 20s, Rachel was just too good to pass up.” developed a love of Baskin- Robbins ice cream and when Policing her time she decided to purchase her own In the summer months Rachel business in 2006, the famous often works 60 to 70 hours a week Baskin-Robbins brand was first but strong organisational and time and foremost in her mind. management skills honed in her “It’s the perfect product,” says previous career as a police officer Rachel. “It’s popular, it’s well- help her through. “Yes, I work hard,” known and it’s established in the she says. “But like any business, you marketplace – why try to reinvent get out of it only what you put in … the wheel?” I employ team leaders in each of the Rachel approached Baskin- stores who train and supervise the Robbins and, with her own money staff but I’m still very hands on, and plus a bank loan, persuaded them I know exactly how my businesses to let her open the first Adelaide are developing both within the franchise in Glenelg. marketplace and financially.” Rachel’s biggest challenge is Getting juiced up balancing family and work. “As In 2008, the premises next door to a mother, of course, I feel guilty her Baskin-Robbins ice-creamery sometimes, but my family is very became available and Rachel proud of what I’ve achieved, jumped at the chance to open Boost and I know I’m a great Juice. “It’s a similar concept to female role model for my Fancy a franchise? Baskin-Robbins – just a different children. My success product,” says Rachel. “I wanted has shown them that If a ready-made business sounds another well-known and market- if you work hard and tested brand and I was impressed want something badly appealing to you, don’t be fooled into by the professionalism of the Boost enough, you can thinking it’s going to be easy street. Investment Group (the company achieve anything.” behind Boost Juice). I could ate Groom runs franchising consultancy have opened Rachel’s Juice but it KStarfish Consulting (www.starfishconsulting. wouldn’t have the same impact com.au). She says people often choose a franchise in the market.” because they have the desire and personal skills Samantha Jones Earlier this year, Rachel was – CONTOURS, Geelong, VIC to be in business but aren’t driven or don’t know approached by Salsa’s Fresh Mex how to create something from scratch, or they want Grill (also the brainchild of the a change of role or industry.

Load more