When husband and wife Kieran and Lyndsay visited The National Franchise Exhibition in 2024, their focus was on finding the franchise that felt like the right fit.
Coming from careers centred around developing relationships, building trust and delivering quality service, the pair were looking for an enterprise they could grow alongside their current professions, that embodies their professional standards and experience.
That mindset was one of the key reasons franchising held such appeal.
“The support you receive when you invest in a franchise was hugely important to us,” they explain. “There’s so much work that happens in the background when you run your own business, so knowing that there’s an established network of franchisees to learn from, and the backing of the head office team, is invaluable.”
The couple attended the exhibition with a clear plan but vowed to keep an open mind.
“We’d done quite a bit of research online, but it was important to us to meet these brands face-to-face, shake their hands and really get to know the people we’d be working alongside.”
“We went to the exhibition with a travel franchise in mind. We’d already filtered the market down to a shortlist and there were three or four travel businesses we specifically wanted to speak to, but we still joke that we could have come away with a pizza van or a coffee franchise if we’d met the right person.”
After speaking to multiple brands, it was their final conversation of the day with Colin Martin-Weekes, Head of Franchise at GoCruise & Travel, that made their decision clear.
“It was just the right vibe,” they say. “Our conversation really focussed on whether we were the right fit for them, and if they were the right fit for us.”
That relationship-first approach left a lasting impression. “We both walked away feeling like it was the right choice for us.”
Following the exhibition, the couple were invited to attend one of GoCruise & Travel’s internal events, where existing franchisees, suppliers and head office staff came together to share updates, discuss challenges and exchange ideas.
For the pair, it was a chance to experience the culture of the network first-hand.
“We literally sat there and absorbed it all,” they say. “There were franchisees there who’d been up and running for 6 months right through to 20 years, so we got a real insight into how the brand operates.”
The openness of the network stood out immediately. “It felt like the door was open: ‘This is who we are, come and see if it’s for you.’ There was a real family atmosphere from day one, with everyone genuinely invested in each other’s success.”
The couple officially signed their franchise agreement in November 2024 and began trading in January 2025, based in Bourne, Lincolnshire but serving customers nationally, and even internationally.
Like many first-time business owners, the learning curve has been steep. From setting up marketing campaigns to managing suppliers and finding the right accountant, there have been a lot of firsts.
“We’re passionate about building this business, and the practical and emotional support we’ve received from the network has been priceless.”
“One of the biggest lessons we’ve learnt is the value of consistency and resilience. It took time to build up local awareness and a pipeline, but our persistence is paying off, recognised by us winning a prestigious local ‘Best Young Business’ award. We had a far more successful first year than we ever imagined, and year two is looking even better!”
For anyone considering franchising and planning a visit to the next Franchise Exhibition their advice is simple: focus on finding the right brand for you.
“There are lots of franchise opportunities out there, regardless of the sector that you are interested in,” they say. “Do your due diligence. Don’t be bamboozled by big numbers and rush into an investment. Instead, focus on meeting the people behind the brand and finding a company that aligns with you.”
“This is a medium- to long-term investment, so don’t forget to ask franchisors what support they offer beyond your launch to support your ongoing growth!”
Kieran and Lyndsay’s success story is a great example of the life-changing opportunities offered by The Franchise Exhibitions. Contact us to find out more about upcoming events and book your free tickets today!
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