Summary of Operation
Retailer of second-hand electronic and digital entertainment products. We trade in video games, DVDs, mobile phones, digital electronics, computing, vision products and music CDs.
INVESTMENT REQUIRED £200,000 - £250,000 + VAT
Before launching his Great Yarmouth-based franchise, Matt Kozuch worked within the CeX corporate team for a number of years. After seeing the proven business model produce impressive million pound turnovers year after year, Matt decided to take control of his future and make the move from CeX employee to franchise owner.
A year after the successful launch of his store, Matt is delighted with how his business has developed and has enjoyed the benefits of being his own boss.
“Running my own business is an amazing feeling and working in an environment I love makes it doubly worthwhile,” enthuses Matt. “My team has enjoyed being part of the business so much so that we have had very little staff turnover.
“My store has exceeded expectations and I love being my own boss while also being part of a bigger group for the support it offers.”
As an already experienced member of the CeX network, Matt’s franchise training was tailored to his knowledge and requirements. However, franchise owners who are new to the CeX concept are provided with comprehensive training and valuable hands-on experience, ensuring they have all the skills necessary to run their business successfully.
“The ongoing support has been fantastic,” continues Matt. “From helping with product transfers to having Operations Managers from the corporate team assisting us. The ongoing support has allowed me to make the most of my business and ensure I control costs to maximise my margin and profits.”
As well as receiving ongoing support from a dedicated CeX Franchise Manager, the franchise package also includes ongoing updates, limited competition, stock and pricing advice from experts, ongoing support including intranet, hands-on setup, site identification, design and outfit and a bespoke EPOS system.
The CeX business model allows customers to buy, sell and exchange a focused yet complementary range of products including mobile phones, video games, DVDs, computers, electronic gadgets and CDs. With 175 stores established worldwide, 151 of which are based in the UK, CeX has quickly become one of the UK’s fastest growing and most popular second-hand entertainment franchises.
As with any new business, the first year of trading can be a challenging yet rewarding period. However, with the help of the CeX franchise team, Matt has been able to overcome his first year hurdles with great ease and already has plans to expand his retail empire further by opening his second store.
“The main challenges with a store like Great Yarmouth, which has seasonal influence, is maintaining the correct stock levels,” explains Matt. “This has been helped by support received from other CeX stores, being able to move stock out to the rest of the group means I can ensure I make the most of the peak periods while reducing overheads in the lulls.
“I would recommend a CeX franchise to anyone who has a passion for gaming and technology.”
Reported by Tiffany Brooking