In principle, I am engaged in creating sales leads, talking to customers to win the business, measuring their windows, providing quotations and finally, fitting the blinds.

If that sounds all too easy, I assure you that the secret to success is in the detail. This business is relatively straight forward, as you are able to concentrate on the sales and fitting side, all products are manufactured for you, to your exact requirements. The conversion of leads to actual sales is your obvious goal.
Anyone with a window is a potential customer. It is an enormous advantage to have a strong brand like Homstyle by Vantana behind you.

Having a shop helps enormously to build credibility with the customers and as a base to demonstrate our range of products. In an average week I will spend between 1.5 and 2 days in the shop. I employ a young lady to cover the remaining 4 days. I also now employ a professional fitter so I can concentrate on selling.

I do work 2 or 3 evenings a week, as many customers are at work in the day. I like to get all parties present at a sales call, to close the sale at one visit.

When I first started with no staff or shop, this was the most difficult period, because I was doing the lot! Once you have overcome this initial 6 month period things get easier. For example, if I want a holiday, my fitter can cover for me. A good fitter is a Godsend, as they can create many recommendations for more business when a great job is done. Sales leads are generated in a number of ways and these are vital to the development of the company. We advertise in the local press, the shop creates leads, we occasionally do leaflet drops and shopping mall handouts too.

The business is promoted at no cost to us in Yellow Pages, the BT Phonebook and on the Internet, all by Vantana the Franchisor.

I recently got a professionally branded van. This creates sales leads as it advertises the service whilst parked outside the customers home.

Are special skills required? I would say that you have to have interpersonal skills, selling means getting on with people. You also need practical DIY skills, as it will be you measuring and fitting. You also need the drive and the energy to succeed! Vantana provide a comprehensive 2 week training package and further training sessions to suit.

Money. You can earn well in this business, the rewards are good where margins have not been eroded by forced discounting to win business. The range of products I offer are the best in the market, so it is up to me to sell on these strengths, not to offer cheap prices.

Future growth? I will expand with another retail outlet when the time is right, another fitter, an additional sales person, the sky is the limit"

It costs just £20,500 to obtain a territory selling Homestyle by Vantana products.