Business coach Tony Meredith shares his top strategies for helping Jim’s franchisees achieve growth and take their businesses to the next level. From increasing basket size to converting one-time customers into regulars, Tony shares practical tips that any franchisee can implement.
Today we’re chatting with Tony Meredith, a business coach based in Brisbane who focuses on sales, leadership, and mindset.
Tony has been working with Jim’s Pool Care for the last three and a half years, helping both franchisees and franchisors take their businesses to the next level. He also works with other divisions within Jim’s Group, including Jim’s Handyman and Jim’s Building Inspection.
But Tony’s expertise doesn’t stop there. He has a whole range of clients outside of Jim’s Group too, such as a plastics manufacturer and a renovation styling business.
The goal for all of these businesses is the same: to help them grow. In this post, we’ll dive deeper into Tony’s work with Jim’s franchisees and how he helps them achieve growth.
So, let’s get started!
Wanna Take Your Business to the Next Level?
Tony’s focus is on sales, leadership, and mindset, and he’s been helping businesses grow for over four years. His clients include businesses in a wide range of industries, including plastics manufacturing, renovation styling, and HR service provision. But today, he’s here to talk about how he can help Jim’s franchisees.
So, what does Tony do specifically with Jim’s franchisees? He works with Brett Blair, the divisional head of Jim’s Pool Care, and helps him take his business to the next level. He also coaches franchisors and franchisees to help them grow their businesses.
Tony spends the first four months with all new Jim’s Pool Care franchisees and works with them on local area marketing to complement Jim’s centralized marketing efforts.
But let’s talk about growth strategies for a moment. Many Jim’s franchisees are solo operators who make good money, but they often struggle to take their business to the next level.
Tony believes that the biggest inhibitor of growth is time. As a solo operator, you need to free up some time to be able to recruit and train employees. So, Tony advises franchisees to think differently about bringing on new employees. Instead of waiting until they hit a certain revenue threshold to hire someone, they should hire someone sooner so that they can free up their time to focus on growing their business.
Tony cites the example of a franchisee on the south side of Brisbane who was forced to get an employee after he injured himself. Tony worked with him to train the new employee and adjust his expectations about what the employee could achieve in the short term.
Tony emphasizes that franchisees need to recognize that they work for their employees, not the other way around and that they need to provide clarity and support to help their employees become competent in their roles.
But finding and keeping employees can be a challenge for many Jim’s franchisees. Tony advises franchisees to start with the end in mind when looking for employees. Who are they looking for, and where are they hiding?
Facebook groups can be a great source of potential employees, and franchisees should be specific about the types of people they’re looking for to make it easier for others to refer potential candidates to them.
When it comes to keeping employees, Tony believes that engagement and empowerment are key. Employees need to feel that they’re trusted and that they’re being trained and recognized for their contributions. Money is important, but it’s not the only factor that determines whether an employee stays or goes.
Growth Strategies for Jim’s Franchisees
Many Jim’s franchisees are solo operators who make a good income from their business. But what happens when you hit a ceiling in your revenue and can’t seem to take your business to the next level? This is where Tony Meredith comes in. He has some valuable insights on how Jim’s franchisees can grow their businesses and take them to the next level.
Increase your basket size
The first strategy is to increase your basket size. In other words, when a customer makes a purchase, add something else to their basket or shopping cart. This is a technique that McDonald’s has been using for years with their classic meal deals. By offering a drink and fries with a burger, they can increase the total amount spent per customer.
Jim’s franchisees can apply the same principle to their businesses.
For example, if you’re a Jim’s Pool Care franchisee, you could offer a pool cleaning package that includes a chemical treatment, filter cleaning, and pump check. This way, customers are more likely to choose your package over a competitor’s because they are getting more value for their money.
Increase your average sale price
The second strategy is to increase your average sale price. Tony suggests that franchisees should not be afraid to raise their prices. “You want to make sure that you’re competitive, and Jim’s prides itself on offering great value,” he says.
Franchisees can increase their prices by adding more value to their products or services. For example, if you’re a Jim’s Cleaning franchisee, you could offer a premium cleaning service that includes additional services such as deep cleaning or carpet cleaning.
By providing more value, customers are more likely to be willing to pay a higher price.
Increase the frequency of your customer interactions
The third strategy is to increase the frequency of your customer interactions. This can be particularly effective for Jim’s Pool Care franchisees who rely on regular customers for their business.
By turning a quarterly visit into a monthly one, franchisees can build up a base of regular clients.
To achieve this, franchisees can offer customers a maintenance plan that includes regular visits and check-ups. By providing regular maintenance, franchisees can prevent larger issues from developing and create a reliable income stream from loyal customers.
Convert one-off customers into regulars
The fourth and final strategy is to convert one-off customers into regulars. It’s always easier to sell to someone who already knows and trusts you. By providing outstanding service and staying in touch with your customers, you can turn those one-off jobs into a steady stream of repeat business.
One way to do this is by following up with customers after a job to see if they were satisfied with the service. Franchisees can also use email or SMS marketing to stay in touch with customers and offer them special promotions or discounts.
There are plenty of strategies Jim’s franchisees can use to grow their businesses. By focusing on increasing their basket size, average sale price, customer interactions, and repeat business, franchisees can take their businesses to the next level. With the help of a business coach like Tony Meredith, franchisees can implement these strategies and achieve their goals.
Personal accountability in business
Tony Meredith has been coaching businesses for over four years, and he’s seen many clients who have that “oh, sh*t” moment a couple of days before meeting him. It’s understandable to scramble and do everything at the last minute, but that’s only a short-term solution.
The ultimate goal is personal accountability.
Tony believes that you should get yourself accountable for your business. Do it because it’s the right thing to do, not just because you want to impress a business coach. He encourages his clients to implement things that will benefit their business.
Personal accountability is all about taking responsibility for your actions and decisions. It’s about owning up to your mistakes and being proactive in finding solutions. When you are personally accountable, you are in control of your business and your life.
There’s an abundance of information available to businesses. However, Tony emphasizes that it’s not just about the information you have; it’s about implementing it.
The Jim system provides enormous amounts of information for all franchisees and franchisors, but it’s up to you to implement it.
Tony believes that the ultimate business success comes from implementing the things that you know you should be doing. In other words, it’s about implementation over information. You can have all the information in the world, but if you don’t implement it, it won’t do you any good.
Fortunately, as a Jim’s franchisee, you have access to a wealth of information that can help you grow your business. From centralized marketing efforts to training programs and support from your franchisor, there’s a lot of help available to you. But it’s up to you to take advantage of these resources and implement the strategies that will help you achieve your goals.
Tony cites the example of the Jim’s Pool Care division, which provides new franchisees with four months of support and training in local area marketing. By taking advantage of this program and implementing the strategies they learn, franchisees can increase their visibility in their local communities and attract more customers.
But it’s not just about the resources provided by your franchisor. There are also plenty of external resources available to help you grow your business. Tony recommends attending networking events and industry conferences, as well as reading books and listening to podcasts related to your industry.
Ultimately, it’s up to you to take responsibility for your business and to take action to make it a success. As Tony says, “Personal accountability is key.” You need to get yourself accountable for your business and do it because it’s the right thing to do, not just because someone else is telling you to.
So, as a Jim’s franchisee looking to take your business to the next level, take advantage of the resources available to you and focus on implementation over information. With the right mindset, the right strategies, and a willingness to take action, you can achieve your goals and build a thriving franchise business.
Conclusion
In conclusion, taking Jim’s franchise business to the next level requires more than just working hard. It requires a strategic approach and implementation of growth strategies.
With the expert guidance of a business coach like Tony Meredith, Jim’s franchisees can learn practical tips to grow their businesses, from increasing basket size to converting one-time customers into regulars.
But it’s not just about the strategies; personal accountability is also key. Take responsibility for your business, and focus on implementation over information to make it a success.
Grow your business, take advantage of the resources available to you, and start taking action today.
Contact us to learn more and take your business to the next level!
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