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The reality behind the massive marketplace for ChipsAway franchisees…

Every minute, someone somewhere becomes another potential customer for ChipsAway International, the leading 'on-the-spot' automotive paint repair specialists. Whether it's a stone thrown up from the road, a key scraping against the door, or an out of control shopping trolley clipping paintwork in the car park on a busy Saturday morning, chips, bumps and minor scruffs are an inevitable part of car ownership.

Unsurprising then that recent research has confirmed that the majority of the 27 million cars in the UK are in need of ChipsAway services. As if this were not good enough news for ChipsAway franchisees, research findings also concluded that over two thirds of car owners with minor paint damage were seeking a quick, cost-effective repair to their paintwork, but would not contemplate the expense and inconvenience of using a traditional body shop.

This is the reality behind the phenomenally successful ChipsAway franchise. Launched in the UK in 1994, ChipsAway has become the dominant player in the so-called SMART automotive repairs industry (Small and Medium Area Repair Technology). Using a unique system developed and patented by ChipsAway Inc. in the USA, ChipsAway was able to offer a faster, more convenient way of repairing minor damage to automotive paintwork - and at a radically reduced cost.

Car owners no longer need to book vehicles into a body shop for days at a time to have whole panels treated simply to remove a small scratch or chip to their paintwork.

Small wonder the concept took off instantly. In offering 'on the spot' repairs, ChipsAway had effectively extended an already busy marketplace. Indeed, since its launch over nine years ago, demand for this type of cosmetic automotive repair has increased by 42% in the UK and is still on the rise.

Today ChipsAway has over 300 successful UK franchisees, between them completing some 300,000 repairs per year. Naturally, others have latched onto this lucrative sector, but ChipsAway remains the largest and most successful of the independent SMART operators - the brand the market respects.

"Quite literally, we have hardly 'scratched the surface' of this huge market," says ChipsAway Managing Director, Steve Bignell. "Our franchisees are all incredibly busy, and we need to expand our network simply to keep up with demand for ChipsAway services - from fleet and private customers alike."

ChipsAway franchisees have the choice of operating from a fully liveried ChipsAway vehicle, fitted out as a mobile workshop, or they can opt for a ChipsAway Car Care Centre. Mobile franchisees offer customers the added convenience of taking the service to direct to a customer's home or work premises, whilst Car Care Centres operate from business units with ChipsAway signage prominently displayed.

Whichever route they choose, franchisees receive an extensive package of benefits designed to give the best possible start in business. In addition to their dedicated and protected territory, franchisees receive sufficient initial stocks of paint, chemicals and tools to generate £10,000 worth of revenue. All attend an intensive training course before their launch - held at the company's West Midlands based Head Office, followed up with one to one territory-based support. They also have the opportunity to take advantage of further training in specialist areas as required and are mentored on a one to one basis by an experienced franchisee, until they are 'fully-fledged'.

According to Steve Bignell, potential ChipsAway franchisees worry about three things - Can I afford it? Can I make money? Can I actually do the repairs? "The answer to all three questions is yes, yes and yes," Steve says. "We run our special Open Days free of charge to anyone interested in our business simply to prove the point. Visitors can chat to established franchisees about their business - some are earning up to £2000 per week - and they can see and try for themselves just how easy it is to repair all manner of scratches, scuffs and bumps using the ChipsAway system."

The general public form only a part of the market for ChipsAway services, other potential customers include car dealerships, business fleets, rental and car hire organisations. Currently, ChipsAway counts amongst its trade customers such prestige names as Rolls Royce, Bentley and Porsche, as well as Avis and Hertz car rental giants, and contract leasing operators such as Arriva and PHH. According to Steve Bignell, these names reflect the exceptionally high standard of ChipsAway repairs, and indicate the sheer scope for franchisees.

Steve concludes, "The SMART repair sector is continuing to grow rapidly. By 2006, it is forecast that the number of repairs carried out on vehicles will rise by 8% and ChipsAway estimate that growth in SMART repairs will significantly outstrip that.

"These are the facts behind the success of ChipsAway. A massive marketplace that increases on a daily basis, overwhelming demand, and unique world leading technology, incorporated into a brand that delivers high quality invisible repairs quickly, conveniently and cost-effectively. That's what makes ChipsAway the dominant name in SMART repairs, and the fastest growing franchise organisation of its type in Europe!"