Apollo Blinds
Description:
Apollo Blinds is the UK's largest retail blind store chain, with over 75 stores throughout Britain and Ireland.
Opportunities:
Franchises available in all areas of the UK and Ireland.
Business Type:
Franchise.
Minimum Investment:
£14,900.
Financing Assistance:
Yes, through a third party.
Training Provided:
Yes.
Home-based:
Yes.
BFA Full Member: Yes.
Apollo Blinds launches new Apollo at Home franchise
September 30, 2008
Apollo Blinds is launching Apollo at Home – a new entry level opportunity to become part of the UK’s largest and most successful window blinds franchise network – which will be unveiled at the National Franchise Exhibition at Birmingham’s NEC (3rd–4th October).
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Apollo at Home is a new van-based franchise model which will see franchisees trading from fully liveried vehicle using the Apollo Blinds brand. Investors will run their own franchise selling and fitting the UK’s most extensive range of made to measure window blinds and accessories direct to consumers. The new low-cost start-up model has been developed as part of a plan to create an easy start into the world of blinds retailing for potential investors who want to become part of Britain’s biggest blinds store chain. The introduction of Apollo at Home means new franchisees can start trading within a matter of weeks of making their initial investment. And the company has a very detailed list of available geographic areas, including the Midlands and the South of England, where it is aiming to recruit up to 100 new franchisees. The cost of an Apollo at Home franchise is just £15,000 and covers everything including a licence fee, training, all sales aids and collection books and a marketing launch for the business to get new franchisees off to a flying start. Speaking about the development of Apollo at Home, Apollo Blinds’ new general manager Gary Chambers said that the company was keen to broaden its appeal to potential investors by creating a new lower-cost entry point. “Apollo Blinds is a fantastic franchise opportunity for any potential investor and the creation of Apollo at Home makes it even easier to become part of the UK’s leading blinds company,” said Gary. |
 Key benefits
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“We have been in franchising for more than 35 years and are well known as a retailer of window blinds but we want to complement that with a mobile operation which would appeal to a new type of potential investor.
“Because the entry level cost of Apollo at Home is considerably lower than that of a full Apollo Blinds store franchise, we are predicting that it will appeal to people with sales experience who want to make the leap and turn an interest in home interiors into a business.”
Mr Chambers is keen to point out that the Apollo at Home franchise will operate to the same rigorous standard as its network of 85 retail showrooms in the UK and Ireland.
“Apollo at Home has been developed as an entry level to Apollo Blinds and we are predicting that within two years franchisees will be in a position to run a full retail franchise,” he said.
“The low start-up costs and low overheads are crucial in giving franchisees every opportunity to see a return on their investment at an early stage. They can then build up their skills, customer base and business acumen sufficiently to enable them to move to the next stage with Apollo Blinds and own their own store.”
Apollo Blinds has prioritised the following areas for recruiting new Apollo at Home franchisees: South East, South West and the Midlands.
