Apollo Blinds
Description:
Apollo Window 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:
£10,000.
Financing Assistance:
Yes, through a third party.
Training Provided:
Yes.
Home-based:
Yes.
BFA Full Member: Yes.
Janine exemplifies the new Apollo Blinds
If anyone exemplifies the new Apollo Blinds, it is Janine Brown.
The 26-year-old from Stokesley near Middlesborough has taken over the helm of the family franchise business first started by her parents more than 20 years ago.
She heads up a team of eight and has ambitious plans for the business going forward.
The platform for Janine’s ambitions has been the new look of Apollo Blinds, because she recognised straight away that the company is about more than just selling blinds.
Janine is leading the way as one of a new generation of Apollo Blinds franchisees who recognise that Apollo Blinds provides interior design advice and consultancy. And it is this advice that results in sales of blinds.
“When Apollo Blinds unveiled its new look 18 months ago I immediately saw the future and what was possible for my franchise business,” said Janine.
“Apollo Blinds is firmly positioned at the consultative end of the market and that suits me just fine because it is what I trained for.”
Janine studied art and design at college and had plans to start her own interior design company.
After leaving college, where she studied art and design, Janine started a career as an interior designer dressing show homes for house builders. She then started her own interior design company, but getting it off the ground proved difficult because it is a profession that can often take a long time to become established.
Around the same time, her parents suggested she take over the family franchise business and she has not looked back since.
“Interior design is my passion and my Apollo Blinds franchise allows me to do what I love,” she said.
“We have built a good reputation locally for going beyond what is expected of a window blinds company by providing advice about how our products contribute to the overall décor of any room.
“People come to us with tiles, fabrics and wallpaper samples and ask us to help them coordinate.”
And this approach is paying dividends, not just in terms of increased sales but also enhanced reputation.
“The new brand reinforces everything we want to achieve with our Apollo Blinds business,” she added.
“When people come to our showroom they can see the quality of our products and the little extra touch we have added, such as having the latest interior design magazines available for customers to read to provide an extra resource of ideas and inspiration.
“And it’s these things that our customers are noticing and we are getting plenty of repeat business and recommendations as a result.”
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