Apollo Blinds is
Britain’s biggest window / blinds franchise.
It has 75 franchises in the UK and Ireland and its franchisees have
the most extensive collections of window blinds, awnings and
shutters in the industry.
Apollo Blinds is
part of the Hunter Douglas Group – the world’s largest
manufacturer of window blinds. Benefits of being part of the Group
include the high quality of products and the constant innovation
which means an Apollo
blindsfranchise is always a leader in
bringing new products and ranges to market. And then there is the
competitive wholesale pricing structure which franchisees enjoy
because of the sheer scale of Hunter Douglas’
production.
The
UK window blinds retail industry covers a broad spectrum of
products, from decorative to functional, domestic to commercial,
and was recently estimated to be worth around £1.2 billion.
Window blinds are certainly no longer seen purely as window
covering solutions for the kitchen, bathroom or conservatory. In
fact, the Apollo Blinds range includes options for
every room in the house, and the office and garden too!
Apollo Blinds is
one of the original members of the British Franchise Association
(BFA) and has been active in promoting the concept of franchising
for more than 35 years.
The brand
Apollo Blinds is
the UK’s largest retailer of blinds and one of the top three
most recognised window blinds brands. We have the most
comprehensive range of blinds which includes:
- Vertical
- Venetian
- Roman
- Roller
- Wooden
- Conservatory (Pleated and
Pinoleum)
- Awnings and canopies
- Plantation shutters
Extensive research on our customer
base reveals that a typical person who buys from an Apollo
Blinds franchise has a middle or higher income and tends
to buy better quality products. They will have a keen interest in
home interiors and prefer to get professionals in for inspiration,
advice and installation. They are happy to pay for a better quality
product and enjoy the assurance of buying into an established
brand.
Apollo Blinds has
aligned itself to other similarly aspirational brands such as Next,
Barker & Stonehouse and Habitat.
A choice of franchising
opportunities
There are two ways to become part of our Apollo
Blinds network.
The first is a retail franchise where you run a
showroom operation. It will appeal if you have previous experience
in window blinds or the retail industry. You will be fast-tracked
straight to a showroom franchise and our dedicated team will work
with you to identify just the right location within your chosen
territory to ensure the maximum footfall to your store. They will
work closely with you to take care of the legal contracts regarding
the leasing of premises and fitting it to the same standard as all
our other retail stores.
The second is a new mobile franchise concept,
Apollo at Home, where you will operate from a fully liveried van.
This is a new development from Apollo Blinds and offers the same
range of products and high standards of service provided by members
of our retail network. Apollo at Home is a soft-start entry into
the lucrative blinds retail sector without the initial need to
invest in costly shop premises and will help you to ‘earn
while you learn’ in the first two crucial years of trading so
you develop a rounded set of skills without the overheads of retail
premises.
Training and support
As
a new franchisee you will be placed under the care of a dedicated
Franchise Manager, whose role is to help with your training and
launch, and provide ongoing, personal advice.
The first step will be attendance on an initial
five day training programme which covers all aspects of our
business. Key elements include an induction to the Hunter Douglas
Group and the marketplace, our business operations, the Apollo
Blinds product range, window blind installation, health and safety,
customer care and our proven marketing and sales strategies. A
comprehensive Operations Manual is loaned to you for the duration
of your trading licence which outlines all our business
practices.
When you launch your business, your Franchise
Manager and his or her team will fully support the opening of your
new Apollo Blinds operation, and will provide further on-site
training and operational backing as required. There will be ongoing
regular visits to each franchised business, and sales, marketing
and technical advice will be available by phone every working
day.
In addition to this, there are regular and
ongoing sales training seminars for members of our network. Our
Sales Training Manager provides personal support and training to
ensure that you are totally confident when presenting our brand and
products to your customers.
What we’re looking
for
We
will entrust both our name and reputation in you and our time and
energy into helping you make a success of your Apollo Blinds
franchise.
Our standards are therefore high and we have a
clear idea of the attributes that make a successful Franchise Owner
and are prepared to take the time to ensure that we enter into the
most promising relationships.
You will be practical and good with people and
have the drive, dedication and commitment to both us and our brand
values. As a sales oriented individual, you will be self-motivated
and have a commitment to delivering exceptional customer
service.
Opportunities
We have opportunities across the UK and Ireland.
Three key areas where we are actively looking to get franchisees as
soon as possible include:
- South East of England
- South West of England
- The Midlands
Facts at a glance
- Cost: from £14,900
(including license fee)
- Categories: Retail, home
furnishings, mobile/van franchising, home improvements
- Number of franchisees:
75
- BFA membership:
Full
- Training provided:
Yes
- Ongoing support: Yes
