- Business & Professional Services
- Care & Elderly Services
- Children
- Cleaning
- Commercial & Industrial
- Communications
- Delivery & Haulage
- Dropshipping
- Food & Catering
- Health & Beauty
- High Street Retail
- Homecare & Property Maintenance
- Lettings & Property
- Motoring Services
- Pest Control
- Petcare
- Print & Promotional Services
- Services
- Travel & Leisure
- Vending
Step in the right direction
Foot solutions offers an exciting proposition for anyone looking to start their own retail empire
Following his graduation, David Dwyer worked for eight years as a civil servant. He then moved on to become a self-employed retailer of a chain of convenience stores, which lasted for 20 years. Then six years ago he sold this partnership and spent nine months as a retail manager for a large building and gardening supplies showroom.
David had known about the concept of franchise systems for some time, after attending business shows in Ireland for the best part of 20 years. When he first heard about Foot Solutions, he was at the Dublin Franchise Show in November 2007.
INTEREST
“I had an existing interest in first aid and medical businesses, having been involved in the Irish version of the St John ambulance crew, and I was also very keen to do something that involved helping others,” says David. “When I first came across the Foot Solutions venture, I realised that they were operating in quite a niche market. There were no imminent competition and the product was really good.”
Foot Solutions is the world’s largest health and wellness franchise focusing on foot care and proper fit. It has a proven business model operating in over 200 locations worldwide. The customer service it delivers, combined with the latest technology, makes it difficult for companies to compete with Foot Solutions in an online shopping environment, making its niche franchise opportunity a great investment and an exciting proposition for anyone looking to start their own retail empire.
“A number of unique selling points included the good margin that was on offer and the good opportunities for growth,” says David. “As I am generally interested in the health and wellness sector, I understand that there is an expanding market due to the aging population, which potentially makes it more resilient in a downturn.”
There are now approximately 14 million people in the UK aged over 60, and this is projected to increase by 50 per cent over the next 25 years. Over half of new cases of foot care come from people over 65 and 58 per cent of these customers are choosing to receive their foot care through a private provider rather than the NHS. This is just one of the six areas where Foot Solutions’ market growth is set to boom.
“Using a mixture of personal finance, bank lending and some leasing, it was only two and a half months before I bought my franchise in September 2008,” explains David. “The training commenced shortly after, with two or three weeks in the USA and one week of training in another store prior to my own launch in the south of Dublin. I was also lucky enough to have an additional team member supporting me during my opening, although this is not normally the case.
“The training was very good and I was continually supported and monitored to ensure things were on track. Foot Solutions even put together a 120-day plan that kicked in after signing the lease and involved everything needed to bring me up to speed, ready for when the doors opened. The 120-day plan included incredible detail, right down to how many staplers and scissors to order for the stationary supplies.
“Going forward, there is always help at the other end of the telephone and updated resources are easily available to us with direct access to medical staff in the USA for any queries.”
ADVANCED
Foot Solutions uses the most advanced technology combined with a full understanding of biomechanics of feet and gait, along with the highest quality footwear, to fit each customer’s feet. Using its customised solutions delivered through the company’s retail stores, Foot Solutions improves comfort and body alignment and helps customers achieve better health through their feet. The company enjoys repeat custom because it provides bespoke solutions with an attractive range of footwear.
Foot Solutions has five market niches, which include health and wellness, medical/therapeutic, active/sports, comfort and style, and arch supports and orthotics. Many people use its in-store services to buy all their footwear, from trainers to fashionable office attire. This includes people with long-term foot conditions and injury, or those that simply want the best for their feet. Foot Solutions offers personal service delivered by trained experts and is popular with people who are looking for comfort without compromising on style.
“For anyone who is looking into buying their first franchise, I would recommend - before even getting involved - that you decide what you want to get out of it,” says David. “Plan how much time and effort you are prepared to put into it and if franchising is therefore a viable option to achieve this.
“I would definitely consider buying another Foot Solutions franchise as I’m really enjoying it. And as for my plans for the future? Well, watch this space.”
Best foot forward
Foot Solutions, a new retail footwear franchise, is defying the economic downturn
Shortly after completing his first year in retail, Andrew Scowcroft and his wife Karen are actively looking for another retail location to open their second Foot Solutions store. Despite neither Andrew nor Karen coming from a retail background, and the fact that we are in the middle of an economic downturn, Andrew is extremely confident in growing his retail chain.
“When I first heard about Foot Solutions I was intrigued to find out more, as it appeared from the offset to be different to most other franchises out there,” Andrew explains. “Since then my suspicions were confirmed in that this is a rare opportunity to work in what is a very successful business from the US, which is not currently spread across the UK.”
Professional
Andrew adds: “Upon further research, I was pleased to see the professional set-up of the franchise, which is matched by the service delivered to its customers. Having completed my first year’s trading and making a profit in the current economic climate, I am now more confident than ever that this is a fantastic and extremely rewarding business.
“This leaves me with an incredible and rare opportunity to take advantage of the current soft property market and really good deals from landlords. I am actively looking for my second store, but don’t plan to stop there. I believe that Foot Solutions will be a household name inside the next couple of years and I want to be a big part of that.”
While some traditional retailers have struggled during the recession, Foot Solutions, a specialist retail concept, has thrived. The company began its roll-out in Ireland in 2007 and currently has 10 successful stores across the UK and Ireland, as well as a number of new stores in planning.
Described by Footwear News as ‘Footwear’s answer to Starbucks’, Foot Solutions is a specialist shoe store that combines expertise and technology with some of the world’s finest footwear. Working closely with its customers, the company provides footwear and arch support solutions for their casual, dress, athletic and diabetic needs. Whether they have a specific requirement or simply want the most comfortable shoes, Foot Solutions provides them with expert advice and top-of-the-range solutions that can improve their health and, in some cases, deliver life-changing benefits.
Delivering ‘Better Health Through Your Feet’, customers (who tend to be over 35) vary from those who have specific foot or related problems to those who simply want the most stylish and comfortable shoes available. One of the key advantages of a Foot Solutions franchise is the level of repeat and referral business, as a high percentage of customers are referred by friends and members of the medical community such as doctors, physiotherapists and podiatrists.
Entrepreneurial
The ideal profile for a Foot Solutions franchisee is someone who is entrepreneurial and looking for a new opportunity, or who comes from a business or corporate background and would like a change of direction. Existing franchisees come from a mix of backgrounds and receive extensive training in Foot Solutions’ products and technology at the company’s state-of-the-art pedorthic training facility and laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia. Back-up support is also provided.
Franchisees enjoy all the benefits of owning and running their own companies using comprehensive systems that guide them through all aspects of the business - from getting started to maximising returns on their investment.
Already established in over 250 locations across 15 countries, Foot Solutions is seeking individuals and companies who recognise the company’s enormous potential and are able to develop a sustainable business in their area. A range of multi-unit and single-unit franchises are available across the UK , and investment levels are in the region of £180,000, which includes the franchise fee and all associated set-up costs.
For more information call 00353 (0)818 333 668, email uk@footsolutions.com or visit www.footsolutions.com.
add to cart