My Franchise Beats the Competition

After becoming increasingly disillusioned with his employees, Phil Pinkney decided it was time to look for a forward-thinking franchise that would let him realise his potential.

'I held a senior position for a travel franchise that wasn't moving with the times,' recalls Phil. 'However, it did give me a good understanding of franchising, which helped me to know what to look for in terms of training and support.'

Looking to invest in a franchise with his Brother-in-Law, the two came across a Belvoir franchise in Andover, Hampshire that was being re-sold. They thought it was such a great opportunity that they took it from there.

'What particularly appealed to me about Belvoir was their strong branding and the fact that they are very forward-thinking and always looking to the future. It's a business that doesn't stand still and recognises that it has to adapt to an ever-changing marketplace, and this was very attractive to me.'

With no prior experience in the lettings industry, Phil was given a three-week period of training, which he states was 'extensive, covering everything you can think of, from legal to operations to marketing.'

Citing franchisor support as a major factor in his choice of franchise, Phil reports that Belvoir has been more than adequate: 'I know that there is someone to call upon as and when necessary and that's what I think a franchise is all about.'

Launching in November 2005, Phil inherited a number of existing customers but has since doubled that in only six months. 'After a period of settling in, the business has been like a whirlwind - it has really taken off,' enthuses Phil. 'The future looks promising and our target is to double the business again within the next 18 months.'