In Scott Watkins’ first month after taking over the Kwik Kopy Knoxfield business, he recorded an 11-year best month result. It was an incredible outcome for this first-time business owner who swapped his corporate career for the rewards of being his own boss.
Scott grew up in a “nice, strong, family environment”, listening to tales of small business over the kitchen table. He admits it is a competitive family: his brother has also run his own franchised pharmacy and as an elite athlete conquered the Arctic Circle in an unsupported race. Scott grew up with a drive and ambition from an early age.
He couldn’t wait to leave university and get started in life, and got a job with Mercedes Benz Pacific.
In his nine years with Mercedes he became the youngest department manager for the wholesale team, and worked across sales and marketing, liaising with agencies and field development.
His next step was further up the corporate ladder as head of marketing and product management for a $33bn German-based global organisation. Scott led an in-house graphics and print team of 40 people, and travelled the world.
Making the business dream a reality with Kwik Kopy
“But I always had a dream of my own business,” Scott says. “I wanted something small and bespoke, that cared about people. I’m not technical, I’m a people person.”
So when he came across a Kwik Kopy centre for sale, Scott, his wife and his father all did due diligence on the business.
“We walked away from that, and then Kwik Kopy head office rang us and said, ‘chat to this person’. We ended up negotiating with the owners of Knoxfield and three days later had a heads of agreement.
“I love speed. I’m impatient but detail oriented. So, I love the Kwik Kopy mantra ‘We Make Possible’.”
It was an easy decision for Scott to leave behind the corporate world.
“I was tired of board rooms, travel and office politics. I was ready to run my own race, forge my own destiny.”
Scott’s need for speed was apparent from day one: in the first three days the team installed a new kitchen, painted the toilets, purchased new furniture and landscaped the exterior.
“The centre had one-way vision signage, it was hard to find the door! The site looked vacant and empty. So by 2.30pm on the first day we had cut down trees and put up new signage.
“I don’t want clutter, we’re a professional organisation, and I have come from quality brands. I take pride in my own business,” he says. “This was a beautiful facility, had good staff, great potential; it was a sleeping giant that needed attention.”
Two of his corporate team joined Scott in the business venture, and he retained the existing centre production manager.
Ready to outperform the competition
Scott is confident in his talents for business building.
“In my presentations for Kwik Kopy, I had to review the competition. My answer to why I would outperform them was ‘they don’t have a Scott Watkins’. I didn’t mean to be arrogant, but I love helping and saying yes,” Scott says.
“I had a clear structure, a 30, 60 and 90 day plan of selling old assets, clearing out and connecting with clients. Now, for the next six months, the focus is on communicating and sharing what we are capable of.”
The business, located in an industrial area, is strong on digital print services. Scott was keen to strengthen bespoke labelling and packaging and has boosted this side of the business, attracting breweries, wineries and coffee roasters as customers.
He believes tangible marketing material is making a comeback. There is print and signage material everywhere, from road works and vehicle branding to business cards, he points out. A standout business card is a call to action; it’s much harder to remember someone’s name from a sea of digital contacts, he says.
Scott has put significant investment into new equipment to enhance productivity and quality to market.
Proud of the business success
Despite his drive and ambition for the business, Scott isn’t setting his sights on being the boss of a multi-million-dollar operation.
“I want a family-oriented business; one that looks after customers and staff,” he says.
Scott’s father, in his mid-70s, helps out in the centre and his 11- and 8 year-old daughters are already learning the small business work ethic.
“They both empty rubbish bins, my eldest daughter helps out with social media,” Scott says. “They are learning that not everything is gifted on a platter.”
Scott has a clear growth strategy for the next few years – and it involves giving back.
“I want to get younger staff involved in the traineeship program, showing the future in franchising to people who support me.
“I love Kwik Kopy; I was incredibly impressed with the training and support, the network is very strong and capable, and Kwik Kopy is an important force to be reckoned with in print and design,” Scott says. “It has all the systems and tech strengths the business needs.
“It’s not really a job, I’m having a ball. Sometimes after work I will sit on my laptop at home, but there’s no animosity, no corporate bullying. There’s no ego in the way, it is just real people having a go – and I can wear shorts if I want! I’m proud of what we’re building,” Scott says.