Presented at the 2009 MYOB Excellence in Franchising Awards, this award was presented to Price Attack‘s Carol Jarred and is for excellence in personal and professional achievements by a woman in the franchising sector.

Kate Johnson of Women in Franchising (WIF), an initiative of the FCA, says “Carol won the award based on her outstanding business achievements, leadership philosophies and initiatives, positive influence on other women, contribution to the franchising industry, contribution to the community and professional development.”

Jarred co-owns the 128-store strong national company, which specialises in professional hair care, with her husband Barry Jarred who is the managing director, while still owning and operating the Indooropilly franchise.

Jarred began her career in the franchise beauty industry as a Price Attack franchisee in Bendigo.

“In 1990 we sold the Bendigo-based business and moved to South Australia to take up the first Price Attack master franchise for South Australia and the Northern Territory.

“This part of our career was quite fast and exciting and we opened our first store in Adelaide, followed by a further 10 stores within 22 months.”

Relocating to Queensland they bought two underperforming stores and turned them into profitable businesses, and found their true passion.

By November 2007 the couple were the franchisors of the system and their first achievement a re-brand.

“The roll-out of the new brand image began in August and it has been very well received incorporating a new logo, business cards, advertisements, store fit-outs, uniforms and computer system.”

Jarred said she hoped her award win would help encourage other women to strive for success in all aspects of their life. “I’m often asked if a work/life balance is achievable and my answer is yes. I raised two children while I transitioned from franchisee to master franchisee to franchisor and I can truly say I had a good lifestyle balance which came down to organisation, time management and delegation.

“In my experience women are very committed hands on operators – they simply need a system that is easy to follow and that offers them support and flexibility.

“At Price Attack we attract a lot of females because they feel comfortable working in the beauty industry and find our franchising model suits someone that wants to run their own business but still have the support of an experienced franchisor and time for their family.”