5 Things You Didn't Know About Ableworld
Becky Martin, writer
Published at 17/02/2019, Updated on 04/05/2022 , Reading time: 5 min
Ableworld is the largest mobility and home care retailer in the UK, supplying products and services for the disabled and elderly. The company values its customers’ wellbeing; therefore, it only employs the most caring, compassionate and capable employees.
The mobility and home care sector is one of the most rapidly expanding retail areas, and with statistics indicating that in ten years’ time, 25 percent of the UK population will be over 65, the demand for products such as stairlifts, mobility scooters, wheelchairs and adjustable beds will continue to grow. Founded in Cheshire in 2001, Ableworld opened eight of its own outlets before franchising the business model in 2008. It has ambitious future development plans, intending to capitalise on the growing mobility product demand, whilst still providing quality products with great value for money.
The Ableworld franchise is currently on the lookout for franchisees who want to be part of its success and help the elderly along the way. If this sounds like an exciting business opportunity, you need £80,000 as a total investment, but could start a franchise for as low as £25,000, with major banks potentially covering the majority of the finances and total initial investment costs. Franchisees emerge from a variety of career backgrounds, including, retail, sales, teaching, armed forces, health and construction. To run this franchise, investors will need great communication skills, business insight and professional customer service.
Ableworld’s aim is to enable its customers to enjoy a more independent, comfortable and active lifestyle. Take a look below at five things you didn’t know about one of the best franchises in the homecare and retail industry:
- The business has two divisions.
This home care retail franchise involves two complementary streams of income: a stairlift business and a retail outlet. It isn’t essential to have any previous retail or home care experience as extensive training is provided. Franchisees will however need to be empathetic and be passionate about improving lives. As there are two divisions, and due to the nature of the required skills, this home care franchise opportunity is perfect for a couple, with one person managing the store and the other concentrating on the stairlift business.
- There is an abundance of stores.
The franchise is constantly expanding, with more stores opening up and down the country. There are currently over 30 outlets in the UK, providing a helping hand to those in need, from Inverness in Scotland, all the way down to Southampton on the South Coast of England, to Colchester in East Anglia, and over to Cardiff and Llandudno in Wales. No matter the location of the store, customers can always expect to be treated with the same respectful, caring attitude and be able to choose from the same product range.
- The business benefits from carefully selected staff.
Staff have been trained rigorously so that they can provide the most helpful service. Also, staff must pass a DBS check, so there is added reassurance that you and your loved ones are in safe hands. Employees also take part in free mobility aid demonstrations, so you can get a real sense of how the product works and whether it is right for you. Ableworld offers free information on how to make the most out of your mobility aids in the form of conversations with customers and free information leaflets. Visitors can also benefit from the product-range catalogue and a handy highway code for mobility scooter users, that can be taken away and read at home.
The home care retail business is clearly doing something right - despite many retailers suffering in recent years, Ableworld stores were up 23.5 percent on last year over the Christmas and New Year trading period.
- The business has ethical values.
Being an ethical trader is paramount to Ableworld, with it refusing to pressure customers into purchasing items, and not selling items online that need an assessment. This guarantees that customers are buying the perfect product for their individual needs, not the priciest mobility aid. By only selling these products in-store, staff can ensure that customers are purchasing mobility aids that will help with their difficulties, not cause complications further down the line. Also, staff speaking to customers in person ensures that customers don’t make any unnecessary purchases. Every mobility aid on the website can be ordered with Click and Collect, to make sure it remains in stock. If a customer does opt to Click and Collect a product that requires an assessment, the staff in store will explore whether the mobility aid will suit them and if it doesn’t, there is no obligation to purchase the item. Items which are not sold online include: stairlifts, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, beds and mattresses, electric wheelchairs, bath lifts, and riser-recliner chairs.
On top of this, the franchise gets involved in the community and helps those in need. At Christmas, it collected over 100 shoeboxes for its Elderly Shoebox Appeal and delivered them to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.
- Ableworld is a trusted and recognised brand.
There is some concern in the UK that market traders, direct selling companies and ‘one man brands’, set up their business only to close down months after - leaving their customers helpless, often with faulty equipment that is in need of expensive repair work. Ableworld are proud members of The National Association of Equipment Providers (NAEP) and The Community Equipment Retailer Accreditation (CERA). It received the NAEP Accreditation for being a customer-focused, high-quality equipment provider, who provide a faultless standard of service. CERA is a national accreditation for retailers of equipment for disabled people. CERA officials work with retailers to ensure standards of equipment provision are excellent.
Ableworld is also endorsed as a Which? Trusted Trader for its services, installation and repairs, giving customers reassurance that they can have faith in the company to provide the best quality service. In order to earn this title, companies must pass rigorous assessments to determine a trustworthy trader. On top of this, the franchise is recommended by the NHS as a Community Equipment Dispenser.
Becky Martin, writer