When Anthony Windram accompanied his mother on her courier runs in his school holidays, he had no idea it would lead to a flourishing business and a $300,000 income.
“I was introduced to the business by my mum. There was excitement about controlling your earnings, building something really big, that’s what I loved.”
So when he left school in 1991, Anthony joined his mother Joan, a CouriersPlease contractor. Before long they had built up the client base enough to split the territory, and Anthony was heading up his own business for the first time.
“I was pretty young and I just wanted to be successful. I wanted cars and houses, the usual toys,” Anthony admits.
Delivery run uncovers passion for business
What he discovered with his own CouriersPlease mobile franchise was a passion for helping people in business.
“I like to make people smile. When you’re delivering parcels, you are part of their system, helping businesses do business,” he says. “It’s very satisfying.”
A courier franchise is a Monday to Friday job, with early morning starts. Anthony arrives at the depot by 6am, sorting out freight, and by 8.30am, he’s taking the loaded van out for deliveries. The working day then wraps up by 4pm.
He says teamwork and collaboration are important, and the network of drivers is supportive of each other.
While the basics of parcel delivery have remained the same over the decades, CouriersPlease’s investment in technology has made the delivery system seamless.
“We have streamlined processes, like the CPGo system, which is excellent, I appreciate that. I can scan a parcel and pinpoint the destination on the map, and it tells me where to go. I don’t have my head in a street directory now!” Anthony says.
“Success in this industry requires consistency, punctuality and a smooth workflow,” he points out.
Growing a CouriersPlease mobile franchise
While Anthony has focused on providing excellent customer service through timely deliveries, he’s also harnessed the mobile franchise model to grow his business.
“It’s a brilliant system; you buy a run, manicure it, build it and then sell it. I’ve done that several times.”
Over the years, he has owned five courier franchise territories, splitting those into seven unique runs to diversify and grow his business interests.
In the early days, Anthony operated the Victorian runs as a solo courier franchise. Then as his young family became more independent, he teamed up with his wife Denise for the Hoppers Crossing run. The pair then took on territories in Derrimut, Deer Park and Ravenhall.
The business has proved quite a family affair. Their son Lachlan followed in his father’s footsteps, helping out in school holidays. And then in 2017 when Denise took on an operations role with CouriersPlease, Lachlan stepped up and bought a split run himself.
When it comes to growing the mobile franchise it’s also important to seize opportunities to quote for business, Anthony adds.
“Follow the competition and be smart enough to grow your business off the competitors,” he suggests. “If you see a competitor delivering locally, approach the business and ask if you can quote for the service.”
Delivering financial freedom
Anthony has clocked up an impressive 33 years with the courier franchise and is still focused on growth.
“I now have the one territory, and I’m looking to add one more, the Altona Meadows and Seahome area,” he says.
Today Anthony is enjoying his business as much as the day he snapped up the franchise opportunity. A high level of job satisfaction and excellent financial gains have kept him committed to the mobile franchise brand.
“I’m pretty comfortable with my life, I like the outdoors element. And I get a buzz making people happy while building my wealth.”
Anthony appreciates the financial freedom he has achieved through his courier franchise.
“It’s been huge, I’ve given my family everything I can. We have holidays, investment properties, a holiday home in the country and a good income,” he says.
“I’ve had a quality time with CouriersPlease; lots of job satisfaction, and it’s been fun,” Anthony says.
Pictured above: CouriersPlease CEO Richard Thame awards Anthony with the Franchise Partner of the Year 2023 trophy.