The Natural Way to franchising

According to the Natural Way franchise , six years ago Flav Garn found herself in a demoralising retail role with little autonomy and missing the caring aspects of her previous career as a registered nurse. She decided it was time for a change.

Knowing that she would enjoy the challenge of running her own business, Garn answered a newspaper advertisement for the health franchise.

“I didn’t know much about it,” she admits, “and I wasn’t particularly interested in pushing pills or getting involved in franchising as I felt it might be too restrictive. However, when I looked at it further I found that The Natural Way spends considerable time and resources developing herbal, vitamin and mineral formulations as well as eating plans that are designed to give clients a holistic and healthy approach to weight loss, which I really identified with. Also, I was quite happy with the level of freedom to make my own decisions offered by The Natural Way’s business structure and I found the support from the franchisor was handy. I certainly didn’t feel that I was on my own.

“The other very important point for me was a low entry cost for a reputable, proven business.”

Garn opened The Natural Way Rockhampton in October 1999 and says she hasn’t looked back.

“The business works because I believe in the product. This is not just another diet, it’s focused on health and wellbeing. So many diets are destined to fail because they try to be quick fixes and aren’t based on sound nutritional and health needs,” she says.

“The business has grown virtually as a result of word-of-mouth. Clients walk out of here with more energy, feeling better than they can remember and that enthusiasm rubs off on those around them. It makes coming to work a pleasure. I am on a constant high because it’s so rewarding to witness a client’s success. You really do get out what you put into this business.”