Do you think a healthy lifestyle and image has become more important to Australians in the last five years and is this driving growth in your Contours Express franchise
?
Yes this is most definitely the case. Australians are becoming more health conscience with increased media attention on topics such as obesity, osteoporosis and nutrition.
More recently lifestyle programs such as The Biggest Loser have highlighted the importance of initiating a healthy lifestyle and the benefits that can be achieved. This has certainly driven growth in the Contours Express franchise model as more people look to become involved in the wellness industry and capitalise on the consumer awareness. Contours Express is also the only system utilising weight bearing equipment which has been proven to prevent osteoporosis and increase bone density.
What type of people do you look for to become franchisees and what attributes do they require in order to succeed?
Contours Express is an extremely successful business model due largely to its simplicity and relatively low start-up costs. We therefore intensely screen the large number of leads received and determine their suitability based on:
Business acumen – have they operated a business before? Are they looking at a long term business plan?
Motivational fit – do they have a genuine desire to help others?
Sales experience – what previous sales and/or marketing experience does the candidate have?
Interpersonal skills – do they have the ability to build rapport?
Understanding of franchising – are they willing to contribute to the group, share experience and learn from others?
What is the cost of your franchise and what does that include?
The franchise fee is $34,900. It covers your own protected marketing area, training, operations manual and access to our extensive sales and marketing intranet sites. In addition, our equipment package is $14,000 for the 16-piece CardioFit exercise circuit.
Describe the training and ongoing support you provide to franchisees?
Franchisees receive nine days of training encompassing three days of theoretical training on business operations, three days practical training in an existing studio and three days support with a Contours Express trainer during the opening period. Support is ongoing with our corporate office taking an active role in building each and every Contours studio. Franchisees maintain a monthly sales diary which is sent to head office and allows us to monitor results and develop training plans if and when required.
What is your strategy for the future growth of the system and how many franchises do you expect to have in five years time?
With over 50 franchises sold in our first 12 months we are well on the way to achieving our goal of 300 studios Australia wide. Many franchisees are aiming to own multiple studios which when combined with a steady lead flow should see sales in excess of 100 franchises in the 2006 calendar year. The growth of the business will be determined by the success of each individual studio. Ensuring every studio is profitable in its own right with sustainable customer numbers will be the focus over the next 12 months, establishing Contours Express as a recognised brand with a reputation as a strong and reputable franchise model.
24-May-2006