Priority development : Australia
Countries/Regions already covered : Australia

SafetyQuip is Australia’s only franchised player in full scope Workplace Safety Supplies and services.

A developed SafetyQuip franchise has a counter-sales base anchoring one or more mobile units, providing competitive range and pricing, yet the personal service of a local business. It’s a potent combination – the kind of ground floor opportunity McDonalds was 20 years ago and Subway 10 - yet already nominated a finalist 'Franchisee of the Year' 05/06.

It's rare these days to find a ground floor opportunity. How many pizza businesses and quick print centres can any market absorb? But look behind the scenes of Australian business for a strong growth market and it's there, in workplace safety supplies and services. Business already spends more than $1 billion a year on safety, and increasing government focus on enacting and policing workplace safety regulations has created an expanding boom for suppliers.

Safety products include breathing, skin, eye and ear protection, work wear, height safety, signage, anti-fatigue mats, spill cleanup products, first aid kits and so on. They're needed by a vast range of businesses, which traditionally have sourced from monolithic suppliers fielding sales reps covering large slices of territory. The result has often been impersonal service and poor advice – leaving a significant void, particularly in the small to medium enterprise market.

Typically, a gap like this would be swiftly filled by small business, but there is a catch. You might be willing to provide the kind of personal attention only a local business can offer, but to field the large range required, compete on price and have access to technical backup, you need to be big.

The solution is SafetyQuip – a national franchise network offering buying power, technical support and highly developed business systems to individual franchisees, who provide local, personalised service. This service is enhanced by a business model which, when fully developed, sees franchisees in a white collar role operating a retail safety shop with multi-mobile reach. In fact, the first SafetyQuip business to reach this level was nominated a finalist Franchise Council of Australia 'Franchisee of the Year' 05/06.

Your safety is our business.
SafetyQuip offers a wide range of
safety products and consultancy services. Our
prices are competitive and we are hell bent on
delivering quality customer service.

As you might have noted, most franchise systems' promotional literature includes the phrase 'full training provided' however sometimes it is extraordinarily simplistic. In many cases, it involves the technical side of the business only with lip service given to the business management and growth side of the equation.

At SafetyQuip, your training is taken very seriously. Initial training extends over six weeks, the first three in classroom sessions in the National Support Office at Noosa Heads, followed by supervised field work. Some areas covered include:

• Workplace Safety Training - the essential modules first, but this part of your training will never cease. The more you know, the less you depend on contracted consultants, the better your customer relationship management, and the fewer your overheads.

• Product Training - you need to know what you are selling to whom, with what risk index and comparative advantages.

• Business Training – doubtless you already have a degree of business knowledge so segments are treated as they specifically apply to a SafetyQuip enterprise. 18 subjects to cover.

• IT training, business and Intranet - our purpose-developed software is the engine room of your business and you must learn to drive and maintain it. Around 50 subjects involved.

This might sound like a handful and it is intensive, however it's professionally handled and perhaps oddly, most trainees find the whole process fun.

On the support side – this is integral to the SafetyQuip culture. You have access to our intranet, experts on call, field visits, there's a great annual conference and we're as close as the phone.

SafetyQuip franchisees come from all walks of life and widely differing backgrounds. Most have had no previous experience in the safety arena.

Frankly, the primary requirement is passion. The desire to work hard and positively to grow your business (and its rewards).

However you do need or will gain advantage from having:

• Broad business experience and knowledge.

• A degree of intellectual stamina and willingness to undertake education.

• Preferably, a life partner who wishes to work in the business with you.

• To be able to live with periods of stress and long hours.

• To be comfortable with the responsibilities of sharing a brand.

• Microsoft computer skills or willingness to complete an appropriate course.

• To be a ‘people person'.

• To be determined to progress through all phases of the business model.

• Access to sufficient capital.

• To be comfortable in an industrial sales environment, and have confidence in your ability to sell.

Greater detail is provided in our Business Outline pack.

Safetyquip
- - - -
First Floor, Swanston House, 26 Sunshine Beach Road - Queensland 4567 - Noosa Heads - Australia