Australian Franchise News – 28-02-12
Despite difficult economic conditions, national pool and spa care franchise PoolWerx has maintained strong growth becoming one of only three brands to secure nine consecutive listings in the BRW “Fast Franchises” rankings.
PoolWerx is the only brand outside retail fast-food to appear in the rankings every year since they were introduced. The other two brands to feature nine times were Nando’s and Oporto.
PoolWerx Founder and CEO John O’Brien said the company had stood the test of time thanks to outstanding commitment from its Franchise Partners.
“Ultimately brands are only as strong as the people that represent them every day and for PoolWerx those people are our Franchise Partners across Australia and New Zealand,” he said.
“Our number one goal is to provide the Franchise Partners with all the necessary tools to build and run profitable, successful businesses. This is critical to the future of PoolWerx, because their ongoing success means the business as a whole can thrive and grow.”
“Providing the tools to succeed has always been at the heart of the PoolWerx vision and I’m very proud of our progress as a company over the past nine years; from generating $6.4 million with 104 outlets in 2003 to $63 million turnover from 273 outlets today.”
Mr O’Brien said the company had plans for expansion, but also growing existing Franchise Partner profits.
“We have a strong focus on growth, especially internationally, but not at the expense of our domestic network. Our priority is supporting existing Franchise Partners and we’ve invested over half a million dollars in the past 24 months doing just that.”
“We have restructured our franchise royalty program to give Franchise Partners every incentive to take their businesses to the next level and invested heavily in extra support staff and a custom designed point-of-sale and data management platform.”
In late 2011 PoolWerx also launched its online store using a unique ‘bricks and clicks’ model where Franchise Partners profit from sales made online.
“It’s these initiatives, along with a willingness to constantly re-examine our systems and management practices, that have allowed us to grow in-spite of economic pressures.”
“By expanding into new markets while continuing to support our fantastic network of existing franchises I’m confident that PoolWerx will be a ‘Fast Franchise’ again in 2013 and I look forward to making it 10 in a row.”