Capturing precious memories has enabled a Great British photography brand to plan for global expansion
After another exciting year, which has seen Photography for Little People expand overseas to Singapore, Hong Kong and Macau, the company is ready for further global expansion, and is looking to award master franchise licence to suitable candidates.
Photography for Little People is the UK’s family fine art mobile portrait studio franchise, founded in 2008 by mother and daughter team, Jan Massey and Melanie Kemp. It specialises in taking impressions of children’s hands and feet, as well as maternity, newborn and family photography; the youngest baby to have had their impressions taken was just six hours old. The company quickly grew from renting a barrow in Gateshead Metro Centre shopping complex to taking over a high profile unit there and has since photographed thousands of children. In 2007 Jan and Melanie were named North East Entrepreneur women in Retail and, spurred on by the popularity of the service, they took the decision to franchise the company.
All franchisees are trained to a high standard, which is reflected in their images and bespoke pieces. Melanie trains new members of the company and continues to work behind the camera, while Jan focuses on the marketing and recruitment side of the business. Photography for Little People now has more than 20 franchisees throughout the UK.
The company offers a hands-on business to its franchisees that provide outgoing photography enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to build a thriving Supplied with a complete franchise package that includes all the tools and training they need to get started, as well as the support of the franchisor, franchise owners are well equipped to succeed.
The market for family-orientated, high-quality products and services is positively booming. The desire of parents to capture their children’s fleeting youth in photos and keepsakes is universal. No matter the wealth, background or circumstances of families, images and impressions of hands and feet taken by a professional remain a treasured investment. With the number of children and families growing fast the demand for these services is simply exploding.
In the UK, Photography for Little People attends all of the national baby shows and has a high profile. Hong Kong launched at the national baby show at the beginning of Febuary 2015 and completed their third national baby show at the beginning of August 2015.
The Hong Kong master franchisor, Hing Tsang Kwok (Hinky) was trained in the UK and Hong Kong with his team and works closely with UK Head Office to develop the brand in his area. Hinky says: “Photography for Little People is beyond beautiful. The training we received was as close to real operations as possible, yet never missed the essence of it all: the joy. Having the UK franchisor in Hong Kong to help out with our launch jump-started our business in no time. We love the unique products and the impressions of hands and feet are a wow! Beautiful memories that are captured forever.”
The UK operation continues to grow with more than 20 franchisees and Anna Moreland, one of its newer franchisees, launched at the NEC Birmingham baby show. “I knew the baby show would be huge,” she observes, “but I was blown away with the reception Photography for Little People received and I loved meeting new families. The PLP team was on hand to show me how to make the most of the exhibition and I am delighted with the results. I wanted a career that would complement my role as a mother and use some of the skills I had developed as a teacher. I knew straight away Photography for Little People was exactly what I was looking for.”
If you are looking for an exciting opportunity to expand your business interests and would like to add a “beautiful business” to your portfolio please contact Jan Massey, Franchise Manager for more information.
jan@photography forlittlepeople.com
www.photographyfor littlepeople.com
Tel: 01207 299500