Thorntons lowers franchise fee
Chocolatier, retailer and franchise operation, Thorntons, has unveiled plans to celebrate it’s 100 year anniversary with a series of initiatives over the next 12 months.
A new Chocolate Jubilee logo has been designed and will feature on the latest franchise adverts from October.
Thorntons opened its first store in Sheffield in 1911 when Joseph William Thornton handed the keys to his teenage sons and told them: “Make this the best sweet shop in town!”
Now, nearly a hundred years later Thorntons is a chocolate legend and high street favourite with a growing number of franchises across the UK.
The really good news for card retailers wishing to join Thorntons’ franchise programme is that the entry fee has been reduced from £15,000 to just £5,000.
‘We wanted to do something really special for our Chocolate Jubilee,” says Han van Reen, Thorntons’ franchise development and recruitment manager. ‘Hopefully we will be giving those retailers who have been thinking of joining us a little nudge with this offer.”
The reduction starts in October and continues until the end of June 2011 – so retailers have 8 months to make up their minds.
Interested stores will still need to meet Thorntons’ franchise criteria on shop size, environment and location as well as pass a credit check but once those hurdles have been cleared retailers can reap the benefits of the saving on the initial franchise fee.
“We’re looking for the right retailers in the right locations,” adds Han. “But mostly we’re looking for operators who understand the power of the Thorntons brand and want to grow their business in partnership with us.
“They will still have to make the initial invstment of £25 - £30K for the shop fit and things like air conditioning but if they hit their turnover target for the year that money should be recouped in less than 12 months.
“And after that, the franchisee has nine years where the profits go straight to the bottom line.”
But despite the numerous success stories out there from Thorntons franchises, Han admits it can still take longer than expected for sme retailers to make their minds.
“Some retailers we have been in contact with for a number of years and although everything is ready to go there have been a variety of reasons why it hasn’t happened yet,” he said.
‘In fact we had a retailer in the south west who took two years to make the decision and after four weeks of trading told us they wished they’d done it sooner.
“So with this reduction in the franchise fee we want retailers to feel that there has never been a better time to join the Thorntons franchise programme.”
Thorntons is also planning new initiatives for 2011 based around the idea of “How easy is it to open a chocolate shop?” with a potential launch at Spring Fair in February.
In the meantime the June 31 deadline next year should give prospective retailers enough time to make their minds up.
For more information contact:
Tel: 0845 0750056
Web: www.thorntons.co.uk
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