A Day In The Life Of A Wireless Toyz Franchisee

In the last decade, the cell phone market has undoubtedly become one of the most rapidly growing industries in the United States, and it remains so today. In 1995, only 11% of Americans owned a cellular phone. Today, that number is up to a staggering 84%; in no exaggeration, almost everyone owns a cell phone in our country. The implications of this social trend are far-reaching, but in terms of the business world, it means that cell phone sales is potentially one of the most profitable industries available, and many retail franchises, having recognized this, are taking advantage of this $143bil industry.

One such franchise business is Wireless Toyz, a franchising operation that is steadily gaining traction across the nation. Opened in 1995 as a single store that made 95% of its revenue from pagers, Wireless Toyz turned a technological corner not long after, moving into the cellular phone market, and has exploded in recent years, now ranked #169 on the "Franchise 500" list, #98 on the "Fastest-Growing Franchise" list, and #1 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2008 list of "Wireless Stores." In 2006 alone, the business added 66 new franchises, an astounding expansion that brought the company to a total of 200 locations, an accomplishment that they are rightfully proud of.

But how is that degree of success practically built; what does a franchise operation of that stature look like at the ground level of daily retail operations? Wireless Toyz’ Senior Vice President, Finance and Growth Richard Simtob has a good deal to say on many topics surrounding franchising, and one of those is what sets a Wireless Toyz store apart: "we were founded on the realization that even knowledgeable consumers of wireless products and service are overwhelmed by rapid changes in technology, confused by too many choices and intimidated by ‘techie experts.’ A successful Wireless Toyz franchisee actually looks forward to every frustrated customer and unique problem that walks in the door. Patience is a plus, but what really characterizes our consistent sales leaders is a passion for solving problems, one customer at a time." That’s it: Wireless Toyz ultimately succeeds because the franchisors, franchisees, and employees genuinely want to address and solve the problems of the consumer.

On a more operational level, there are numerous other factors that play into the continued excellence and growth of this franchise opportunity. Many of them originate with the honest desire that the franchisors have to see their franchisees succeed at creating a one-stop shopping experience that customers look forward to walking into. Beginning with extensive training prior to the store’s launch and continuing throughout the lifespan of the store, Wireless Toyz franchisors stay in constant communication with franchisees, engaging them with monthly meetings, inter-franchise networking, and annual conventions. The goal is to know the franchisees well enough from day one so that they can help each store owner adapt their standard business model in a way that will best complement the franchisee’s natural skills and abilities as a business leader. With a strong combination of marketing services that include ready-to-use TV spots, custom intranet and point-of-sale computer systems for everyday in-store use, and on-going training and support from central staff and cell carrier representatives at their disposal, any franchisee is capable of succeeding and helping further advance this powerful business.

With all those tools in mind, Simtob sums up the relationship between franchisor and franchisee by saying that, "The kind of passionate people who tend to succeed in our franchise system generally want to flex their own entrepreneurial muscle and make operational decisions themselves. Many have asked for additional support going into the relationship because of time constraints and other business endeavors. We work with people on a case-by-case basis to build the kind of relationship they want with us. The key is to look for a good balance between system rules and franchisee independence. Most of our franchisees want substantial, but not overly rigid guidance in the areas of real estate, store layout and design, ongoing operational field support, business analysis, training manuals, marketing and advertising."

What Richard Simtob and the rest of the Wireless Toyz central staff is most concerned about is matching their business for sale with the right kind of business leaders who will take their concept and use it to its utmost for personal success and greater brand recognition. They see the entire interaction in terms of relationships as much as they do business.

In describing how a prospective business owner can find the best franchise, Simtob offers a great deal of wisdom, saying, "Like any business you choose to run, you’ll be nurturing it for a long time, and nothing is worse than a marriage without love." Wireless Toyz franchisors and executives love the business that they’re building, not just the money that comes from it. Likewise, successful franchisees that make the most of their business opportunities also love their businesses. That is the key to daily and long-term success, and the model that has been fine tuned and proven successful by Wireless Toyz.

A Day In The Life Of A Wireless Toyz Franchisee - To learn more about this author, visit Candice Clem's Website.

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Anne Barr Anne Barr has over 26 years experience in sales and marketing, six years as a franchisee. She has assisted over 367 business owners and purchasers to achieve their goals in career change, transition and exit strategy. She holds the designation of Certified Franchise Executive from the International Franchise Association, Certified Business Intermediary from the International Business Brokers Association and Board Certified Broker from the Texas Association of Business Brokers. Anne is active in professional organizations, networking groups and volunteers for non-profit entities. As owner/operator of four successful businesses, Anne has proven people skills and enjoys helping clients find the right "fit" in business ownership. Visit www.FranchiseOpportunitySpecialist.com for more information about me and my company. - Visit Anne Barr's Website

George Ludwig George Ludwig is a recognized authority on sales strategy and peak performance psychology. An international speaker, trainer, and corporate consultant, he helps clients like Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Northwestern Mutual, CIGNA, and numerous others improve sales force effectiveness and performance. Though it's George's strategies and processes that help corporations increase productivity and performance, it's his tremendous energy and dynamism that spark the transformation. Again and again, clients remark on his amazing ability to unleash human capacity and inspire men and women to break out of their comfort zones. The result is a whole new type of salesperson. His customized presentations teach achievers to make stunning advances in their lives. From helping salespeople realize cherished dreams to helping corporations exponentially accelerate revenue streams, George Ludwig leaves audiences and individuals empowered, emboldened, and clamoring for more. George is the best-selling author of Power Selling: Seven Strategies for Cracking the Sales Code and Wise Moves: 60 Quick Tips to Improve Your Position in Life & Business. - Visit George Ludwig's Website

Dave Kurlan Dave Kurlan is a best-selling author, top-rated speaker and thought leader on sales development.  He is the founder and CEO of Objective Management Group, Inc., the industry leader in sales assessments and sales force evaluations, and the CEO of David Kurlan & Associates, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in sales force development. Dave has been a top rated speaker at Inc. Magazine's Conference on Growing the Company, the Sales & Marketing Management Conference and the Gazelles Sales & Marketing Summit. He has been featured on radio and TV, including World Business Review with General Norman Schwarzkopf, in Inc. Magazine, Selling Power Magazine, Sales & Marketing Management Magazine and Incentive Magazine. He is the author of Mindless Selling and Baseline Selling – How to Become a Sales Superstar by Using What You Already Know about the Game of Baseball. He created and wrote STAR, a proprietary recruiting process for hiring great salespeople, and he writes Understanding the Sales Force, a popular business Blog and is a contributing author to The Death of 20th Century Selling and 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2. - Visit Dave Kurlan's Website

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Candice Clem Subscribe to Candice's articles (Visit Candice's Website) Candice Clem is a Platinum author on EvanCarmichael.com

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