| |
||
 |
 |
 |
||
Linda and Patient |
Outside WALKeazy Hi-Res Image |
Home Visit Hi-Res Image |
Press Release January 2006 (pdf version) SMILE 4 MILES – that is the message Linda Winship wants to shout across every high street in the land. The 41-year-old has just launched the UK’s first Podiatry franchise business, Walkeazy, and now wants fellow chiropodists to join her in making her dream a reality. The mum-of-two began offering a chiropody service, including home visits, from her private clinic in Boldon, near Sunderland, in 2004, after working within the NHS as a chiropodist for five years. Linda quickly realised professionalism, customer care and a high level of patient service were vital to her long-term success. With the help of husband Michael, Linda has developed a successful High Street business model and she is now offering other qualified Podiatry professionals the opportunity to join her in making Walkeazy a nationwide chain. “People only have one set of feet and they are becoming more and more aware that they must look after them,” said Linda, whose clients range from five to 95. “I want to bring chiropody into the High Street – there is no reason why it should hide away in tiny clinics.” Since Linda first opened her clinic in Boldon, business has been brisk. “With the NHS there is not usually the time available to get to know your clients and address their very individual needs – Walkeazy does that,” said Linda. “My clients receive a 30-minute appointment and as well as sorting out any medical problems, we can discuss long-term foot care and give them a massage so they literally feel they are walking on air.” Linda is hoping fellow qualified chiropodists will share her vision and consider joining the Walkeazy franchise. “I want to help modernise the industry and offer fantastic customer service. Any podiatrist who takes a franchise must be qualified to degree or diploma level. “They could already work in the NHS, for a private practise or, indeed, want to convert their existing business into a Walkeazy clinic.” It is not just the elderly who are attracted to Linda’s clinic.
“People have become much more aware of their feet and realise that
they must take care of them from an early age. My clients really do come
from all walks of life, young, old, footballers, runners, walkers Walkeazy clinics will offer on-site treatments and a home visit service and franchisees could soon find themselves recruiting fellow podiatrists to help run their service either full or part-time. The full cost of a Walkeazy franchise is estimated to be around £16,500 plus VAT. This includes the franchise package for training, medical equipment, business methods, advice and staff uniforms, a budget for decoration, facia signs, and other start-up costs. In addition, franchisees will need to secure premises and take a lease, with the help of Walkeazy. Banks may loan you a percentage of the start-up costs depending on status. Linda anticipates that turnover for each clinic will be £51K the first year, rising to 59K the second. “The average NHS chiropodist earns around £22k a year after four of five years service,” said Linda. “On projected figures a Walkeazy franchisee should earn more than that in the first year and hopefully go on to earn much more the longer they trade.” Each franchisee will pay a monthly on-going fee which is 10% of gross turnover but net of VAT. This breaks down as 4% for marketing and 6% business development support. On-going fees are standard in franchising and cover brand awareness building and day-to-day operational advice (including website development.) These figures will decrease as the franchisee achieves certain levels of business turnover.
To find out more about becoming a Walkeazy franchisee call Ken Rostron
on 01325 245094, email kr@franchisecompany.co.uk or visit www.walkeazy.co.uk |
||
| Copyright(C) 2006 Walkeazy
Ltd. Web Design by Positive Promotions @ www.positive-marketing.co.uk |