The Blinds Network Company Ltd
“A great deal for your customers -
Start your own blinds business with this opportunity
FAQs for the Blinds Network Company
1. What qualifies The Blinds Network Company to offer a business opportunity selling and fitting blinds?
Well, we’ve done it ! If you read our about us page you can find out more about our backgrounds, but basically we have run a successful blinds and awnings business for 4 years now, and have set up another 4 that have all made a profit.
2. So why haven’t you set this up as a franchise?
We believe in win win partnerships. If you buy a Franchise you are often constrained by the Franchise systems. This will often include hours of operation, uniform, equipment and stock to name a few. With our opportunity this is YOUR business. We will give you a system to follow and support just like a Franchise, but you are free to operate as you wish and we will adapt our support to help you and your business. You are in the driving seat at all times.
3. So why don’t I just set up on my own?
Good question and you are free to do so. But I would point out that you will pay more for your blinds from suppliers by not being part of our buying group which offers discounts on a complete range of blinds, shutters and awnings. Your individual turnover will never compete with the total of turnover of all of our business partners combined, which is what our discounts are based on.
There is also the question of our experience. There is a saying in business – never experiment with your own money! We have tried most things and wasted lots of money (thousands actually) so you don’t have to. Our fee sets you up in business along the correct path from day one.
4. What is the fee?
We charge £1999 + VAT to set you up. This includes sample books, sample blinds, an advertising pack and of course training. We also charge 10% of your turnover which covers the work we do supporting you and processing your orders. Unlike most Franchises though we cap this at £10,000 turnover ex VAT, and of course the fee is vastly offset if not actually completely covered by the savings you make from our buying group. A minimum fee of £200 plus VAT applies after your first 3 months, as you should be easily achieving much more than this if you put in regular and consistent effort.
5. So what is the support you talk about?
Too much to go into – you need to have one of our information packs (subject to signing a confidentiality agreement of course) which we are happy to provide. Email us or give us a call – you can get our details from the contact us page on this web site.
6. How long is the agreement?
What agreement? Well, we do have an agreement but you are free to leave anytime you like if you wish to do so – this is YOUR business. Most business partners feel that the discounts available make it worth staying anyway, and our experience tells us that most people don’t start a business because they are good at running a business. They start it because they are good at selling and fitting blinds and are happy to let us deal with the rest.
7. Can I see accounts for your business?
No problem. You will need to sign a confidentiality agreement though.
8. Am I under any other obligations such as having to buy minimum amounts or paying minimum fees?
Certainly not! It’s your business and you run it at the level you want.
9. What if I don’t want to sell one of the products ranges such as curtains or awnings?
That’s fine with us. We can either help you cover that item by supporting it from head office or through another party.
10. What guarantee do I have that this will work for me?
The honest answer is that there can’t be a guarantee of that sort because this is your business and you control it. However, we do guarantee to continue to provide support and to sell products at highly competitive prices as long as we are able to obtain them ourselves from the manufactures – and we can’t see any end to that because we are free to choose who we buy from. Perhaps the most re-
11. What about holidays and sickness? How do I deal with them?
Fitting window blinds is obviously not an emergency service so a few days out of circulation don’t tend to matter that much. If you were completely independent running your own business you’d just have to take the hit and lose money. Insurance can be obtained for long term sickness or disability and that’s down to you. However, we do try to give some basic help with cover when we can and as time progresses Business Partners in adjacent areas can cover for each other.
We hope this has answered your questions, but feel free to contact us for a no obligation chat if you are interested in finding out more.
Visit our contact page here or call 0845 2011781 to find out more.