Where it all started - Rowan's Bristol Case Study
Rowan was our very first franchisee to join the Outdoors Project back in 2014. Although the franchise was very different then, the mission hasn't changed. Rowan is pretty much the embodiment of this mission and of wh
at it means to be a part of the Outdoors Project Tribe. As a result, Rowan's been someone that both new and old franchisee’s, as well as HQ ,go to for advice.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND YOU BECOMING THE VERY FIRST OUTDOORS PROJECT FRANCHISEE?
Before starting the Outdoors Project Bristol I worked in the adventure industry, which involved travelling the world and then working in the UK for a Brighton based children’s charity. At the charity I met Joel [the Founder of the Outdoors Project]. A couple of years after Joel left the charity to set up The Outdoors Project and I saw what he was doing, really liked it and asked him if I could set up in my home town of Bristol, to recreate what he was doing in Brighton. That turned me into the very first franchisee back in 2014! My experience was a perfect fit for taking on the Outdoors Project franchise: I love adventure and have a passion to pass this on to the next generation.
HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED SINCE THESE BEGININGS?
These days I don't lead as many after school clubs because I’ve got a really great team around me. I still like to do some of the sessions though as I think it's important to do the things that are good fun. There's a reason you get into it in the first place, so my day is divided between running sessions, bit of marketing, bit of sales, bit of kit prep that kind of thing it's really varied which is part of the appeal. Over time, things became all rather serious with becoming a Limited Company, registering all our clubs with OFSTED and finally; getting an accountant! The after school clubs multiplied whilst holiday clubs became more and more varied, equipped and full of children.
"I get a lot of support and advice on best practices and marketing. I get gently nudged in the right direction but am free to choose how to run my operation and in what direction"
WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU GET FROM THE OUTDOORS PROJECT HQ
Starting up, I had a lot of involvement from the Franchiser, including a multiday visit of the premises and a visit both to my own premises and a visit from myself to the franchiser. Going forwards I get a lot of support and advice on best practices and marketing. I get gently nudged in the right direction but am free to choose how to run my operation and in what direction. The backbone of my business is the website and the sessions plans. The website has continually been improved, so that customer can book without me having to interact with them. The sessions plans are what makes us stand apart from other providers. Joel and his team create very clear activity’s, based on things kids love, which means I can continue to offer both something new and a quality experience to kids coming to my clubs.
NOW YOU HAVE A SIZABLE BUSINESS WITH MULTIPLE CLUBS ACROSS BRISTOL, HOW DO YOU FIND THE FINANCIAL RETURNS FROM THE FRANCHISE?
I make a good living from The Outdoors Project and I’m able to support my family. I’ve got two young children and they've been able to be looked after at home since and they're now while my youngest is just turned four um so i'm able to support them and and also spend time with them i very much like my job there's obviously lots of different elements to it the bit which i'm really passionate about is the working with the children side of things and so that never gets boring but yeah there's lots of variety lots of different skills to be used and lots of problems to solve i particularly enjoy sorting out kit funnily.
"I make a good living from The Outdoors Project and I’m able to support my family."
FOR SOMEONE STARTING OUT WHAT DO YOU THINK IS REQUIRED TO BE AN OUTDOORS PROJECT FRANCHISEE?
I'd say if you were going to become a franchisee you definitely want to like working with children and love being outdoors those are the only two things that I needed. The rest you can learn.
LASTLY, ANY ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE THINKING OF TAKE ON A FRANCHISE?
I have found buying a franchise a huge benefit, as so much of the ground work has been done for me, enabling me to start up the business quickly and start earning money without having to go through lengthy and costly trials and errors.
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