“I was confident that the potential for profit and growth was strong in the city, which has a good representation of MBE’s target markets.”
Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) York franchise owner, Jane Muffitt, wanted a new direction after a long career in the hospitality sector, which had taken her all over the world and brought her into contact with the rich and famous.
She had worked in hotels, on ships and international theme parks, including Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney World. She spent a month in India training the crew for P & O’s “Oriana” and met the Queen and Prince Philip at the luxury liner’s launch.
Jane first came across franchising when she worked in a hotel franchise. When she decided she needed a change, she began some serious research and re-discovered franchising’s benefits and advantages that offered reduced risk, positive brand identity, a proven business model and ongoing support.
Originally from West Yorkshire, Jane chose to return to her roots with a MBE franchise. “My first impression, gained from meeting franchise owners, franchise support staff and the head office team, was very positive,” Jane says. “I was confident that the potential for profit and growth was strong in the city, which has a good representation of MBE’s target markets including the university, tourists throughout the year, local businesses and an affluent local population.”
Jane has been running her store for six years. In the last 18 months she has concentrated on developing the antiques part of the business, working with auction houses to pack and ship rare and valuable items to all parts of the UK and abroad.
Some of the more interesting items have included a couple of Chinese dishes which had been listed by the auctioneers as being worth around £30, but which actually fetched £11,000 and were shipped back to the Orient, and a pair of very large stuffed sea eagles in a glass cabinet which went to a private buyer in London.
Jane wants to continue to grow her successful and profitable business and to start planning for retirement so she can realise her ambition to live in the French Alps. “It would be wonderful to have unlimited access to the slopes in the season,” she concludes. “In the meantime, I am enjoying all the variety of my business and the people I meet every day.”