All about Apollo
Apollo Blinds is Britain’s biggest
blinds store chain. It has 85 retail 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 Apollo Blinds 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 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 Apollo Blinds 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 opportunitiesacross 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: 85
- BFA membership: Full
- Training provided: Yes
- Ongoing support: Yes
