My franchise story: from trainee to top performer

Iain Wallis’ Revive! franchise is now a leading light in the SMART repair specialist’s network

When Iain Wallis first met Revive! managing director Mark Llewellyn on a rugby pitch in 2006, he never imagined he would end up as one of the top performers in the SMART repair specialist’s network.

Iain was between jobs when Mark offered him the opportunity to train as a SMART repair technician at the Revive! training academy in Rugby. He quickly rose through the ranks at the academy to become training manager, before joining Revive! Northampton, later taking sole ownership of the franchise after buying out the previous owner.

With four technicians, three vans and a specialist wheel van on the road, Iain’s business is now one of the network’s top franchises. He’s also a member of the Revive! Accelerated Growth Programme, a business development mentoring scheme devised exclusively for the company’s top performers.

Change of mindset

But it hasn’t always been plain sailing. Iain’s biggest challenge was changing his mindset of being a business owner.

He explains: “I knew when taking over the business that I didn’t want to stand still. When I was in partnership with the previous owner, he took a lot of the admin roles. I soon realised I needed to adapt things to a way that would work for me. I’ve taken a step back from being hands-on to focus on driving sales and profit - and it’s worked.”

Eye on the ball

Support from Revive! head office helped give Iain the confidence he needed to step up to those challenges. Revive! has its own field-based business development managers, as well as a suite of business growth workshops to boost franchisees’ sales, marketing and management skills.

“The services Revive! head office provides for me help free up my time to look at business growth and driving sales and profit,” he says. “I’ve attended most of the workshops and always come away with something useful.

After a recent sales workshop, I put a couple of action points into practice and, low and behold, they worked. We’re now getting more work out of certain dealerships that I probably wasn’t maxing before.”

Energised and excited

If it hadn’t been for that chance meeting at the rugby club, Iain’s life would have been different. He’s now built a business for himself and his family - and taken charge of his own future.

“What I enjoy most about running my own business is the autonomy and the independence,” Iain says. “It gives me flexibility in my work life. I can drop off and pick up the kids from school if I need to. I’m always thinking about the business, but I feel energised and excited as I can see the potential. It’s really satisfying being a business owner.”

Over the years, Revive! has invested in building an experienced team to support franchisees, a comprehensive targeted training programme and a leading-edge IT platform, which has transformed the business. No wonder that in 2018 the company won the British Franchise Association HSBC award for franchisee support.

At a glance Revive! Auto Innovations (UK)

Established:

2004

Number of franchised outlets:

60

Location of units:

nationwide

Investment range:

£32,000

Minimum required capital:

£15,000

Contact:

franchising@revive-uk.com revivefranchise.com