Jakob Pii, writer
Starting and managing his own Revive! Auto Innovations business is everything Hicham Bouissa hoped it would be – and more. We decided to check in and ask him questions one year later. Here are his reflections on his franchise journey and the success he has found.
In just 12 months since launching Revive! Uxbridge, Hicham has increased his workforce meeting the increased demand and success of his franchise. It even landed him an award at the UK’s leading SMART repair network conference! Something many Revive! franchisees proudly can say that they have achieved.
Hicham said: “Choosing Revive! was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I haven’t regretted it or looked back. The work is there and demand is high. The enquiries keep coming in. It’s better than I ever imagined.”
What did it mean for you to acquire a local franchise territory?
“The advantage of my business is that it’s all local. So if there are any issues with customers or if my technicians require some paint that’s missing, they are literally just round the corner from me – it’s very convenient!” Essentially, Hicham’s work-life balance is better than ever before, enhanced by the fact that he is on the doorstep of his territory.
If you should put some words about Revive!'s support what would you say?
“The level of support from head office has been brilliant from day one, at the start, I thought it was a matter of you sign up to the franchise, then have a few weeks training here and there and then they’ll just leave you to do what you have to do. But it’s been so good. The training is always available, with regular conference calls and meet ups and the head office team are only a phone call away at all times which is really handy. With so many other things to deal with when you’re running a business, having that level of support helps a lot.”
The training and support provided by Revive! were among the main aspects of the opportunity that initially attracted Hicham to Revive! and he hasn’t been disappointed. In fact, Revive! Auto Innovations will assist you with...
- Recruitment and comprehensive training of technicians: attracting quality staff as Revive! knows this is the foundation of success
- A powerful backend of business analytics systems: combine data analytics with business acumen and execute effective planning
- Marketing and sales training: for Revive! to keep its 5-star rating on TrustPilot, the right brand strategy and digital marketing are pivotal. You will get strong marketing and branding tactics to achieve this.
How did you decide to expand your Revive! team?
For Hicham, the highlight of his first year was making the big decision to take on another technician. “The work was there and I could see the business was growing. But at the same time, it was a bit worrying, but if you don’t take risks, you will not grow as a business. You just need to bite the bullet and then move forward.”
The entire body shop industry faces a skills shortage, which is why Revive! has launched a month-long programme at its own training academy in Rugby to train people with no body shop industry experience to become fully qualified paint technicians.
What do you think of the technician training provided in Rugby?
“This is a really great development,” said Hicham. “Finding the right staff has been the biggest challenge for me, but now I am already taking advantage of the new scheme – my latest staff member is currently at Rugby doing the training and I’m really excited about it."
>> A DAY IN THE LIFE: WHAT IT TAKES TO RUN A CAR REPAIR FRANCHISE
Marketing the business is an area Hicham has discovered he excels at! In addition to the central marketing service provided, Hicham has built up a large following for Revive! Uxbridge on Facebook and Instagram. Realising that a capable social media presence rakes in new clients and referrals. In fact, Hicham scooped up the Instagram Marketeer of the Year Social Media award at Revive!’s annual conference held earlier this year.
So what are Hicham’s plans for Revive! Uxbridge moving forward?
“We obviously want to continue growing the business. My plan for next year, probably by the end of the year, is to have at least four technicians. From there I want to grow the business as much as possible, getting closer to my ultimate goal which is to have at least five or six technicians.”
You can become the next Hicham by investing £50,000, with the option of third-party financing 70% of the start-up capital. Then you will enjoy the rising demand in the UK for vehicle repair.
When contacting Revive! Auto Innovations, make sure to check out how to begin your car repair journey and our exclusive tips for getting a successful business plan together. Use these resources as questions to ask Revive! by clicking on "REQUEST INFORMATION" at the top of this article.
Revive! Auto Innovations
Operating in the rapidly growing SMART repair industry, Revive! franchisees run large territories and manage their own team of technicians who repair damage to car paintwork including bumper scuffs, minor chips and the refurbishment of alloy wheels.
Jakob Pii, writer