In a boost to beat the recession further support has been introduced at Contours, the women’s fitness studio chain that started with one studio in regional Victoria in 2005 and has grown to boast a count of more than 200 studios nationally and a membership of 50,000.
An average of two Contours studios open each week and now more than 40 per cent of franchisees operate multiple units. The brand has been ranked in BRW’s Fast Starters 2008 list.
The user-friendly business model and extensive studio support are aspects that CEO Justin Wilshaw sees as key in its appeal. Those considering the purchase of a Contours franchise – particularly those with no business or fitness background – are looking for a stable system that will allow them to achieve their business goals, coupled with quality products and services, he says.
Franchisee support
Contours’ support for franchisees includes an operating system, support, a variety of revenue streams and an intranet one-stop-shop for all franchisee needs. This e-learning centre provides franchisees with greater tools to train their staff, and the franchisor with a cost effective mechanism for ongoing training of the franchise network.
This year franchise support continues apace at Contours with a newly recruited additional support team based at head office and in each state. An expanded training and workshop program is now available for franchisees and their team members across all elements of the business.
Strategic marketing and communications will also play a strong role to ensure the brand continues to maintain its position.
Our business model allows our franchisees to grow, says Wilshaw. We proactively recruit as most franchises do but to set ourselves apart from competitors we focus on organic growth. From a headquarters perspective, it’s always very rewarding to see our franchisees open their second studio – as it’s a clear indication of the success of the first studio. While our unprecedented expansion and multiple award wins are certainly great achievements, our proudest moments come from our internal recognition of our franchisees.