Friday, April 20, 2007
Convenience store franchises
In a world where time is short and money speeds things up, owning a small shop or convenience store could be a sure-fire way of getting an entrepreneur on the road to riches.The modern workday means hours of commuting, sitting in a car or on a train, for millions of people in the US and UK. And for many, this means the daily or weekly shop is something to be avoided and dreaded due to a lack of time, energy or impetus.
Convenience stores, or c-stores, are often located alongside roads, in train stations and at petrol stations, providing the ideal opportunity for enterprising food retailers to make the most of this awkward situation and cash in on the ease of use a convenience store provides.
C-stores can sell everything from your weekly shop, including household items, food supplies and bread and meat from fresh deli counters, to a few items of tinned food and self-service items. Of course, while some of the main differences between a supermarket and a c-store is the size and stock levels of the shops, some c-stores are now getting so big they almost crossover.
Prices are also generally much higher than at the supermarket, especially in the UK where the established supermarket giants such as Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury's lower prices to tempt shoppers in. Mostly, however, these larger stores are located out of town, meaning c-stores can take advantage of the smaller, in-town locations, and push up prices due to a lack of competition.
Thanks to this regime, running a franchise c-store can be highly lucrative, although there are downsides a potential franchisee needs to be aware of, such as long working hours and a great deal of administration.
Much of the appeal of a c-store is in its convenience, thus early opening hours and late closing hours are a must. Opening at seven in the morning is the norm, as is staying open as late as midnight.
But the rewards can be high and investment in the store is almost guaranteed a good return for the hardworking businessperson. Anybody considering the sector should therefore conduct their research thoroughly, making sure their finances add up the pros and cons of making an investment.
Copyright Adfero Ltd 2007
http://www.franchisedirect.com
# posted by Franchise Direct @ 6:59 AM 
