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42 Business View Australia - November-December 2015
of time. We have different packages
so we teach them those packages.
We also do top-up training. We also
put our people through an essential
business tools course.”
Relationships
with suppliers
“We have a number of suppliers,”
says Mike Stringer, “Australia is such
a big country and every state is so
far away from each other that a lot
of our suppliers are state-based. So
where we might have recommended
Autosmart in some states for our
chemicals, in some states they do not
operate so we find an alternative.
“In terms of the chemicals and the
equipment we use, we deal with local
suppliers. We do not deal with the
major manufacturers. We also do not
get involved in the selection of vans
as the franchisees can bring their
own van, anything from a $12,000
- $13,000 van to a brand new van.
In terms of our national suppliers,
probably the large ones are the
insurance company and our web
developers whom I deal with directly.”
Plans to expand through
web-based marketing
In an effort to boost customer service
and automate operations, last year
the company developed an online
booking system. A person who wants
to get their car detailed need not
phone the company. They can simply
log on to the Car Care website and
fill out a web form. The system will
automatically inform the concerned
franchise owner in whose territory
the customer is located about the
requirement.
FRANCHISING