8:35pm Friday 31st August 2007
By Joanna Lean
AN entrepreneur who gave up a career in the Army to launch a franchise, has his sights set on a national final and the £5,000 prize money that comes with winning it.
Chris Webster, has reached the national finals of the 2007 British Franchise Association Franchisee of the Year Awards after impressing the BFA panel of judges with his success, and he now hopes to be crowned BFA Franchisee of the Year 2007'.
The 35-year-old originally started working as a technician for a car painting service, before recognising the huge potential of the business and taking on his own car painting franchise.
Working closely with his former employers, Chris has developed structures, strategies, and a reputation for reliable customer service that has propelled his business forward.
The Great Sankey resident and his team at Revive! check cars on the forecourt, run a priority day service, have a simple price structure and create extra value for dealers by offering repairs to their customers.
These efforts have had a significant impact on his balance sheet and he was delighted when, in May this year, he beat the monthly sales figures of his former work place.
The business is performing 30 per cent ahead of last year, mainly, says Chris, due to his relentless focus on customer service, which will continue to drive the company forward.
The BFA awards were launched in April as a celebration of the best-performing franchisees in a booming industry, now worth an annual £10 billion to the UK economy.
The winner of the 2007 award, chosen from 12 finalists in all, will be announced at an awards event in Birmingham on October 4, to mark the start of this year's National Franchise Exhibition.
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