North London franchisee, Pia, is The Christmas Decorators' newest business partner and has made a successful start already
What did you do before joining The Christmas Decorators?
I was working for the City of London Corporation at the Guildhall, working as an event coordinator for less than a year. Prior to that, I had just come out of university, studying International Business.
What made you choose The Christmas Decorators franchise?
As both a creative and business-minded individual, The Christmas Decorators seemed to be a perfect fit. The attraction of earning enough money between September and January and then using the rest of the year to grow the business for the following year interested me.
I had the backing and support from my father and other family members, knowing I had a strong network around to help me finalised my decision. Although I am the youngest franchisee, this decision to come on board at a young age gives me a great platform for my future. I am learning to work for myself, be the key decision-maker for my own business and delegate tasks out. I am also in control of my own time and can make decisions that’ll benefit the growth of my business.
How useful did you find the initial training?
It was great for me to put my International Business knowledge from university into practice for my very own business. You are not able to learn everything in a short amount of time before the season begins during training, but franchisees and the head office are there to support you whenever you need. You’ll find that you learn a lot of practicalities on-site yourself.
What kind of support have you received from the head office team?
Although everybody is super busy throughout the installation season, I was never let down with support from the head office. Whether it was a technical question about how many sets of lights can be connected, stock and delivery queries, finance and invoicing questions or design and creativity ideas, each person at the head office was there to support within their field.
What do you enjoy most about being part of the business?
I enjoy building relationships with my clients and seeing their happy faces once the installation has been completed. Christmas is a delightful time for all and it’s so thrilling knowing that you’ve made their holiday even better! I also love the creative side, being able to pull some unique and lovely ideas together for my clients. Being part of the franchisee network is wonderful too as there are many ages and walks of life, it is great to have a large common interest that is unique to us.
What advice would you have for anyone thinking of taking on a territory?
Ensure that you have a network around you to support you during the season, for example, hands to make garlands. Organisation is a key skill to have as well as great customer service and people skills. This is a very unique franchise that is joyful yet demanding.
Enjoy each season as much as you can and it is great to know that there is always an end date – 25 December! There is endless growth and potential within each territory, you’ll build a great passion for Christmas and for expanding your business as much as you can!
