The first Thresher manager-turned-franchisee has taken over her shop as the specialist retailer places online ads for stores still seeking franchisees.
Mandy Miles, former manager of the Tupsley branch in Hereford, said: “I couldn’t have afforded a successful business outright because it would have been so expensive, but the franchise scheme was brilliant. In truth, Thresher did all the hard work for me, but I am now my own boss and run the business as I want.”
Franchise development manager Fyl Newington said: “She is the first of quite a few people now coming through the process.”
Miles has already set up a home delivery service with a taxi firm to make the most of the World Cup and barbeque weather.
“Of course there is going to be some risk involved with running the store as a franchisee rather than manager, but there will also be so much more excitement and satisfaction,” she said. “Because I know the store and my customers I am totally confident I can sustain and grow the branch.”
Thresher Group has teamed up with website BusinessesForSale.com and its sister site FranchiseSales.com to advertise stores which have not yet found franchisees.
In a press statement BusinessesForSale.com said all 600 stores earmarked for franchising would be advertised on its site, but Newington said it would only show those where Thresher bosses are not already in talks with internal or external applicants.
He would not confirm how many Threshers managers have opted to take on franchises