Australia
16 September 2007
IT began with a humble video library.
Now Bribie Island couple Glen and Kerrianne Hickman are on the way to fulfilling their bold vision of becoming "the world's first choice in home appliance renting" with their Mr Rental franchise growing to 50-plus stores throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Mr Rental was among the winners at last week's PricewaterhouseCoopers Regional Excellence in Franchising Awards, being named the Queensland/Northern Territory Emerging Franchise System of the Year.
The Mr Rental concept was born in 1991 after the Hickmans found they were making more from renting VCRs and TVs than they were from video rentals.
The couple built up the business locally before launching the franchise in 2001, then opening 30 stores within two years.
The Qld/NT Franchisee of the Year was Andrew Robertson, who steers two Worldwide Online Printing franchises in inner-city Brisbane.
In the four years since he bought Worldwide's Spring Hill franchise, Mr Robertson has quadrupled annual turnover and grown his team of staff from three to nine.
He pays employees a salary plus a share of profit, an arrangement to which he attributes a positive work culture and low staff turnover.
In July, Robertson acquired a second Worldwide Online Printing franchise in Rowes Arcade, Brisbane city.
Cairns-based Dianne Williams, of fresh chicken retailer Lenard's, won the Qld/NT Woman in Franchising prize, having impressed judges with "her relentless drive and profound commitment to both the community and Lenard's brand".
Source :
www.news.com.au
