Boots plans to double number of franchises

Boots Opticians has this week announced plans to more than double the number of stores in its franchise programme following the success of the pilot scheme launched two years ago.

The expansion effectively means that roughly one in 15 Boots Opticians practices will now be a franchise. The total number of UK practices currently stands at almost 300.

The franchise venture was introduced to eight practices in 2003, which it said has produced 'outstanding customer feedback, favourable responses from employees and excellent returns for Boots and our brand partners'.

After 'refining and adapting the franchise' scheme, the company said it was now ready to expand the programme with 12 additional practices in the UK. Recruitment of brand partners will take place over March and April.

The proposed 12 locations to be franchised are: Crawley, Dartford, Gateshead Metro Centre, Halifax, Kingswood, Liverpool Clayton Square, Luton, Melton Mowbray, Newcastle under Lyme, South Shields, Stevenage and Tonbridge.

'We are pleased with the performance of our existing franchise programme and we are now proposing to extend the pilot which will give us the opportunity to observe performance across a broader range of formats and different locations,' said Boots Opticians professional services director David Cartwright.

Under the programme, which is available 'to Boots and non-Boots people', brand partners are permitted to trade for five years as their 'own boss' under a limited company structure and providing contractual conditions have been met, can renew for a further five years with no further cost.

The company is offering potential brand partners a fully-fitted practice, tailored business plan, access to an established customer database, operational knowledge, a systems package for sales and financial reporting and the support of a business development manager.

'This venture presents a cracking opportunity for dispensing opticians and optometrists to run their own business under the Boots brand and interested parties should visit the Boots website,' said head of professional resource and development Richard Edwards.

For further details visit: www.bootsopticiansfranchise.com