Advice for Pirates

[Mary Fisher]

That's what we've found.

They're not idiots.

If they earn enough for their needs there's nothing wrong with it. What's the point in accruing more money than you need?

Mary

[Owain]

Do you think it would work in places other than Medway? Then you could franchise it.

Owain

[Andy Hall]

Didn't you realise before you got home then? ;-)

There is a lot of value in that if you find the right customer - perhaps someone who would like to self build or add a lot to a property but doesn't have the time to project manage it.

However, the other side of the coin is that you would be have to do it well.

I've had several instances of firms who've promised proper project management and not done it with the result that the project was late, incomplete or not completed properly. When this was pointed out to said companies in the context of money being deducted because of it, they were really shocked. Their reaction was that the result had been more or less delivered and in only twice as long as the agreed timescale and that should be OK.

This was even after close questioning up front on project management and expediting of work. When I actually look at what would have been entailed to do it properly, it would have been very little other than making sure that subcontractors met their commitments and having a hammer to make sure of that.

So I think there's an opportunity, but customers could be demanding. I'm harder than most on expecting people to deliver on commitments or making me aware of risks, but I suspect this would be a market area where you would need to make sure you can exceed rather than met expectations.

[Andy Hall]

What's the point in not? What a curious idea....

[Andy Hall]

That would be a very good idea. I suspect that there are a lot of people who would like to do the work, but lack the business common sense.

[The Medway Handyman]

I reckon it could. The Medway Towns have some advantages; population of

250,000 in an area 15 x 10 miles, commuter land being only 30 miles from central London, fairly wealthy, high property prices.

I think any area meeting the same or similar requirements would work. So The Reading Handyman, The Newcastle Handyman, The Norwich Handyman etc.

Don't know much about franchising though..........

[Guy King]

The message from "The Medway Handyman" contains these words:

Is there an Ikea near you? You can do quite well by assembling flatpacks.

[Andy Hall]

There's already a rent-a-grandad organisation that does these.

The trouble is that because the IKEA products are so cheap, people's expectations of what they will pay to get them assembled is fairly small as well.

[Andy Hall]

There are franchising trade shows where honest and less than honest franchisors try to get people with some capital to buy a franchise. You could go to one of those and see what there is and how they are sold.

One of the main things is that you would have to find ways to brand and productise what you are doing. In a way, it's not unique either and easily copied. Creating and protecting a brand is expensive. Productising what is on offer isn't. In effect, that can be as simple as producing a menu of typical services and prices. Of course, prices will vary across the country. It might be interesting to try some of the obvious ones to see whether there is a price variation regionally.

The other part that you would be selling is the business model. Of course you know that it works for you, with your personality in Medway. People in Rotherham might be different. Nevertheless, business acumen has a value.

Another thing that could perhaps be done is to have an in-franchise tool rental arrangement. You could probably better HSS prices quite easily. Another possibility might be group buying of materials from national BMs with local delivery.

[Owain]

I can find only two googleresults for rent-a-grandad and one of them's Hungarian.

I suppose some people would be willing to pay more for not having to collect it from the shop...

I wonder if there's a service for people who secretly want to enjoy bargains from Lidl, Aldi, etc, but have a phobia about going into cheap shops? "Your Poundland bargains delivered in an unmarked van and with the cheapy labels carefully removed."

Owain

[The Medway Handyman]

Nearest one is in Thurrock Essex, but I do get a lot of flatpack assembley work. B&Q, Homebase, Argos and some IKEA.

IKEA do have thier own assembly service, but they seem expensive. I've assembled IKEA stuff in Whitstable - 25 miles from me and 40 miles from IKEA.

[The Medway Handyman]

Always suspected a franchise benefits the franchisee more than the franchisor.

Food for thought. I reckon population & wealth in a given area are good enough.

Indeed. I think the book first, then the franchise idea if the book doesn't work - it could also be the training manual.

You need to be cash rich, tax poor to operate in tool hire. Group buying is difficult in our discount world.

Some good thoughts Andy though - thanks.

[Guy King]

The message from "The Medway Handyman" contains these words:

Since I've got a big trailer, perhaps I ought to offer a "Collect from Ikea and assemble" service. They charge like a wounded rhino for delivery.

[The Medway Handyman]

They do have an in store 'deliver & assemble' service and I suspect they get a rake off from it. Could be a good earner, people don't have vehicles big enough and a phobia about self assembly.

[Andy Hall]

Not having to go to IKEA has a lot of appeal.

Nah. That's stretching it a bit far

[Andy Hall]

McDonalds have done OK out of it.

I think it's a good start.

Protecting the business idea becomes important. Once you publish the game changes.

It was really some ideas to tie the franchisees into working with you.

For example there are furniture repair franchises where the franchisee has to use the products of the brand.

I was trying to think of things along this line - be they goods or services. One obvious one would be web site use.

[Guy King]

The message from "The Medway Handyman" contains these words:

Particularly since we're 20 miles from Ikea.

[Guy King]

The message from Andy Hall contains these words:

As have Kentucky Fried Rat.

[Brian Sharrock]

In my area (Brighton conurbtion on the south coast) there's an outift that'll do your IKEA shopping and deliver to your door. {Nearest IKEA is in Croydon - with Thurrock perhaps more convenient). I've never used it but it's giving somebody a living.

Finding myself in Poundland (Brighton) I purchased a bottle of branded bath foamy-stuff for one-pound! Next time I was in Tesco I sought out the price of the item. Tesco had it for £1.48 ! [Did I mention Tesco's 'Buy two pay for one' offer?]

[Guy King]

The message from Owain contains these words:

This was why Kwik Save had their windows painted out. So your neighbours couldn't see you shopping there.