The new general manager at Battery World Australia is promising franchisees will have more say in the running of the business. The newly appointed Rowan Hodge is also predicting bolder branding and swift expansion of the retail network.
“Battery World is poised for a period of rapid growth. Our strong and stable rise to number one in the marketplace will be more than a strong foundation, it will be our launch pad. From here we can leverage our strong brand,” Hodge said.
“The brand presents wonderful opportunities for entrepreneurial Australians looking for a growing business, fuelled by the evolution of battery technology and as the modern lifestyle trends towards continual connectivity.
“There is huge satisfaction in being your own boss. I cut my teeth in the franchise sector owning two Dominos Pizza stores in Townsville in the nineties. To this day, despite moving around the world for various roles, my proudest moment was seeing team members becoming business owners themselves.”
Hodge has most recently been general manager of franchise operations for Quest Serviced Apartments; his previous fran
“I love the franchise sector for the opportunities it provides as well as its critical role in Australia’s economy,” Hodge said, “I have been very impressed by Battery World’s growth story and have watched as the brand has evolved and gained significant market share as a specialist battery retailer. There is such a wealth of talent within this franchisee group and we aim to draw on this intellectual capital to propel our future expansion by ensuring they are in the centre of the business.
“We have 82 stores with a further three set to swing open their doors before the end of the year. Beyond this our goal is to achieve further store growth of 25 percent in the next three years. We are building on a 17-year history of solid performance. In addition to welcoming new talent, we also have ample options for existing franchisees wanting to continue their own wealth journey in the network.
“My immediate goals as general manager are to ensure we as the franchisor offer guidance and support to all franchisees, help to raise network sales so the franchisees can make better profits and lift the value of the franchise as a business.
“While Queensland is where we started, we are set to drive the business to the enormous markets of Sydney, New South Wales country, metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria.”
Hodge joins the team as Battery World rolls out a world-class new RMS system, NetSuite. This will allow the individual Battery World franchisees to improve the point of sale experience for customers and staff, while tailoring control of the business with stock, labour, cash and account capability.