Apollo Blinds winners waltz over to Vienna

Apollo Blinds

Apollo Blinds winners waltz over to Vienna

June 1, 2007

The top performing franchisees at Apollo Blinds were whisked off on a five star luxury weekend break in Vienna as a reward for helping the company boost its turnover. The incentive scheme run by Britain’s biggest blinds store chain generated a 15% sales increase in the six months to the end of April this year as compared to the same period last year.

The top performing franchisees at Apollo Blinds were whisked off on a five star luxury weekend break in Vienna as a reward for helping the company boost its turnover.

The incentive scheme run by Britain’s biggest blinds store chain generated a 15% sales increase in the six months to the end of April this year as compared to the same period last year.

The party of franchisees, and their partners, were treated to an all expenses paid three-night stay in the Austrian capital for finishing in the top 15 of an Apollo Blinds sales league table. Each of the company’s 85 franchise businesses were set individual targets and the 15 who achieved the highest sales over their targets boarded the plane bound for Vienna.

The scheme had been heralded a huge success by Apollo Blinds general manager, Patrick Harrison, not just because overall sales are significantly up, but also because of the camaraderie and team spirit it has created throughout the network.

“The weekend was fantastic from start to finish and everyone had a brilliant time,” said Patrick.

“But they earned it because their sales performance during the scheme was tremendous and we wanted to reward them for all their hard work.

“It is the first time we have run such an incentive scheme and it has clearly had the desired effect not only by increasing sales but also by demonstrating our commitment to our franchisees.”

Isobel Brown who has a franchise in Stokesley near Middlesbrough made the trip with a friend as husband Bill was unable to travel. She said the weekend was out of this world and would recommend the company run another scheme soon.

“In our business the whole family has worked its socks off and of course we see the benefit to our franchise because of the extra money in the till,” she said. “But it’s great that the company recognised what we have done and Vienna was absolutely fantastic.

“We were in the lap of luxury all weekend and it was so well organised. Apollo Blinds has really set a precedent with this incentive scheme and if it runs another one, I’m sure competition will be even fiercer between the franchisees to go on the next trip.”

The franchisees stayed in the Grand Hotel and visited some of the city’s leading attractions such as the world famous Spanish Riding School and were taught how to do the Viennese waltz. They were treated to an exclusive performance of puppetry at Schönbrunn Palace and dined in some of the capital’s most prestigious restaurants.

The incentive scheme was one of a raft of new measures the company introduced as part of the overhaul of the business which was implemented by Patrick Harrison when he took charge of the business little over three years ago. He was the mastermind behind the development of the new branding for Apollo Blinds which has seen the company shift its position in the marketplace and prosper as a result.

“Apollo Blinds has come a long way in the last couple of years and it’s important that everyone has an opportunity to celebrate in its successes,” said Patrick.

“The incentive scheme is just one of a number of ways in which we are empowering franchisees to strive to make their businesses successful and profitable because if they prosper so do we.”

Apollo Blinds is already planning its next incentive programme.