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A united approach to business

Sarah Stowe

United is a petrol and convenience retailer established in 1999 and which began franchising in 2007.

What has been a success story for your franchise in the last 12 months?

An improved retail offer through store upgrades and the continued roll out of CafŽ Up store footprints.

How many franchisees do you have?

We currently have six franchisees.

How many outlets are company-owned stores?

All our sites are managed by either franchisees or commission agents.

What is your point of difference from your competitors?

We are a wholly Australian owned and fully independent business.

What is your strategy for growth over the next two years?

We are working on continued investment in store upgrades and an increased focus on converting more sites to franchisee run operations.

How do you manage interstate franchisees – through masters or directly?

We will support interstate operations directly; we have about three about to convert within the next two months.

What is the focus of your marketing/advertising campaign/spend this year?

The company is putting significant investment in raising franchise awareness through PR articles, advertising and mini commercials. It is also starting a research study to better understand customer better and develop a branding strategy.

How do you manage ongoing training – is it face to face or online?

It’s a combination of both. All sites have continued access to company intranet for updates on training and merchandising info and the operations team is responsible for face to face training.

What will it cost to set up a franchise in your system?

A typical investment is between $500,000 and $600,000 – all inclusive.